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Monday, November 30, 2020

Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir by Sverrir Sigurdsson with Veronica Li - Book Tour - Book Sale - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Sverrir Sigurdsson and Veronica Li and their new book, “Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir”!  For other stops on their Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Sverrir and Veronica and to increase your chances of winning!

This eBook is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY $1.99!!!  See below for more details.

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir

by Sverrir Sigurdsson with Veronica Li

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GENRE: Memoir/Autobiography

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BLURB:

This vivacious personal story captures the heart and soul of modern Iceland. Born in Reykjavik on the eve of the Second World War, Sverrir Sigurdsson watched Allied troops invade his country and turn it into a bulwark against Hitler’s advance toward North America. The country’s post-war transformation from an obscure, dirt-poor nation to a prosperous one became every Icelander’s success. Spurred by this favorable wind, Sverrir answered the call of his Viking forefathers, setting off on a voyage that took him around the world.

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EXCERPT TWO:

I left Iceland to pursue university studies in Finland in August 1958. I was a nineteen-year-old embarking on my quest to see the world. In my youth I had deeply admired the adventures of the Vikings. Even after the Viking Age was over, young Icelanders often did a stint in Norway, serving a king or nobleman and performing heroic feats in battle. In the modern era, this tradition takes the form of studying overseas and competing in international business and professional arenas. Like my forefathers, I needed to travel to distant lands to prove myself, and then I would return home and use my skills to help make my country one of the greatest in the world.

I was giddy with optimism in those days. Actually, it wasn’t just me. The whole nation was in a state of euphoria. Everything was going right for our newborn republic. With financial aid from the U.S. Marshall Plan, the country reconstructed the ageing fishing fleet that had been decimated by war and neglect. The World Bank, a United Nations affiliate that would employ me many years later, provided loans to Iceland to build the groundwork for an economic boom. Many more bonuses came our way during the Cold War, when the two superpowers contended for our loyalty. Iceland played hard to get, driving the rival suitors to shower her with gifts.

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GUEST POST:

Which Interesting Parts Did I Cut Out of the Story During Editing, and Why?

I’m an architect by training and a geologist at heart.  If it were up to me, I would devote a whole chapter to Iceland’s volcanoes.  But my wife and coauthor, Veronica, thinks I write too much about “things” and not enough about people and feelings.  So I reluctantly cut out or cut short the geological expositions that have no relevance to my story.

However, I still maintain that everyone should learn about volcanoes.  Remember the eruption in 2010, when an unpronounceable volcano named Eyjafjallajökull stopped international air travel for a week?  Well, that’s only a pipsqueak of a volcano.  When you hear about the blow-up of a two-syllable volcano, such as Katla or Laki, you better watch out.  The world wouldn’t be the same afterwards.

This isn’t an exaggeration.  In 1783, a string of volcanic craters in the vicinity of Mt. Laki erupted over an eight-month period.  The lava and poisonous gasses it spewed devastated agriculture and livestock.  As a result, a quarter of the Icelandic population died of starvation.  The dust and sulphur particles thrown up by Laki also blanketed the sky over northern Europe all the way to Egypt.  The weather became searingly hot in the summer and exceptionally cold in the winter, and the sun was shrouded in perpetual fog.  Agriculture suffered, causing famines in many countries.  Historians believe the food poverty that began then was a major factor in the build-up to the French Revolution of 1789.  There’s no question about it—Icelandic volcanoes have the power to change the world.

Another part I had to cut out was the construction of my house, which I designed and built with my own hands on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.  Early drafts contained painstaking details about the project, but I finally decided they didn’t fit in the story.  These descriptions were in the last chapter, called Home, which was about settling down in the U.S. at the end of my Viking voyages.  I should be winding down my story, not starting a new one about building my dream home.  Thus I deleted passages, some with great regret such as the following one on my passion for wood:

“There was no question about it—the inside walls of my house would be wood and nothing but wood.  But what kind of wood should I use? I imagined myself sitting in the front room, watching the morning rays flow through the glass doors and skylights.  The brown tint of oak would dull the light, while the amber glow of pine would enhance it.  Price was another deciding factor.  A huge quantity of boards would be needed to cover every inch of wall and the cathedral ceilings.  Given the affordability of pine, the choice was obvious.

I proceeded to treat the tongue-and-groove boards in my garage workshop.  Sanding them wasn’t really necessary, but I had a tendency to go overboard on the matter of details.  I applied each board to the sanding belt, wetted it to raise the grain, and sanded it again.  A spray of varnish wrapped it up.  This procedure for every single board, each five and a half inch in width, consumed much of my time that fall and winter, but the effort was worthwhile.  When I ran my fingers on the finished surface, the silky touch sent tingles through my body.”

Likewise, this paragraph was reluctantly axed:

“My passion for wood, born in Dad’s basement workshop, actually had roots that dated back to the Viking days.  Wood was the technological breakthrough around 800 AD, when Norsemen mastered the art of splitting, hewing, and shaping logs into all the parts needed to build ocean-sailing ships, an invention that changed the course of human history.  The Norsemen also decorated the bow and stern with carvings of dragon heads and other motifs.  Those who settled in Iceland passed on their obsession with wood carving.  Icelanders carved everything they could lay their hands on, doors, posts, beds, lamps, shelves, spinning wheels, milk pails, bowls, spoons, you name it.  No wooden object was safe.  Everyone could be a carver, but a master of this art was idolized like a rock star.  Wood, as well as bone and horn, was revered material, long-lasting, versatile, and easy to work with.  The tools needed were simple: saw, plane, chisel, knife, and shark skin (now replaced by sandpaper).  A piece of wood was an open invitation to creativity.”

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AUTHOR BIO – SVERRIR SIGURDSSON:

Sverrir Sigurdsson grew up in Iceland and graduated as an architect from Finland in 1966. He pursued an international career that took him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the U.S. His assignments focused on school construction and improving education in developing countries. He has worked for private companies, as well as UNESCO and the World Bank. He is now retired and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and coauthor, Veronica.

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CONNECT WITH SVERRIR:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tssigurdsson

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Sverrir_Sigurds

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20867432.Sverrir_Sigurdsson

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55871711-viking-voyager

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/36kT9KR

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AUTHOR BIO – VERONICA LI:

Veronica Li emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong as a teenager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked as a journalist and for the World Bank, and is currently a writer. Her three previously published titles are: Nightfall in Mogadishu, Journey across the Four Seas: A Chinese Woman’s Search for Home, and Confucius Says: A Novel. Her website is www.veronicali.com.

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CONNECT WITH VERONICA:

Website:

www.veronicali.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veronica.li.39

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/VeronicaLi5

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/veronica-li

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/142534.Veronica_Li

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55871711-viking-voyager

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/39pKCZ0

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BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir eBook is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY $1.99!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/39pzRWD

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/33qVDFC

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Viking-Voyager-Icelandic-Sverrir-Sigurdsson-ebook/dp/B08MDMRM66

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/viking-voyager-sverrir-sigurdsson/1137551692

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Viking-Voyager-Sverrir-Sigurdsson-Veronica-Li/9781645434696

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Viking-Voyager/Sverrir-Sigurdsson/9781645434696

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Sverrir and Veronica will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Trusting a Warrior by Melanie Hansen - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Melanie Hansen and her new book, “Trusting a Warrior!”  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Melanie and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Trusting a Warrior

by Melanie Hansen

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

George Monteverdi always had one goal, to become a navy SEAL. Now that he's both a SEAL and a K-9 handler, saving lives is his priority. When tragedy touches his own life, he handles it—with the help of his crew and his dog, Bosch. Having those guys by his side means he’ll never be alone…though any sort of romance feels like a faraway dream.

Heartbroken after her fiancé falls in love with another woman, Lani Abuel seeks comfort in the arms of a stranger, only to find herself pregnant and alone. She’ll do whatever it takes to be a good mother, which means finally facing the trauma in her past. The last thing she expected was a warrior with wounds all too similar to hers finding his way into her heart and loving her child as his own.

As their worlds entwine, Lani and Geo find the joy and redemption they’ve been seeking. But despite the sanctuary they’ve created, a forever love seems impossible. A K-9 handler who spends most of his time deployed with his SEAL team, staring danger in the eye, is far from what Lani—or her baby—needs, and Geo can’t imagine a future doing anything else.

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EXCERPT THREE:

When they reached the reception hall, Geo and Lani stood just outside the pool of light, watching while the wedding couple danced together on the gazebo. The bride was radiant in a light pink cocktail dress, her groom in khaki pants, the sleeves of his matching pink button-up shirt rolled to his elbows.

“Aww, they look so beautiful and happy together, don’t they?” Lani whispered. “Best wishes to them both.”

Loud laughter drew their attention to a knot of young men leaning against a nearby railing, bottles of beer in hand, their boisterousness and camaraderie instantly recognizable. Geo nodded at them. “Team guys.”

She grimaced, her pleasure at the sight of the happy couple draining away. The bride had not only married her husband, she’d married the whole community and the demands it brought with it. It wouldn’t be an easy or glamorous life, not by a long shot.

“Well, good luck to them both, then,” she said. “They’re gonna need it.”

Geo quirked his lips at her. “Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, huh?”

“Hell, yeah, I got the T-shirt.” Tugging on his arm, she steered them past the wedding and on down the beach. “How about you? What sort of relationship skeletons do you have in your closet?” She’d said it lightly, teasingly, and was surprised to feel his biceps tense.

He didn’t say anything for a few beats, then, “I lived with someone for about a year once. His name was Jake.”

It took a moment for his meaning to sink in. Careful to keep both her face and voice neutral, Lani said, “His name?”

“I’m bi. So yeah, ‘closet’ is a pretty good word for it.”

Risking a glance up at him, she could see how rigid his jaw was, his lips compressed into a tight line. How much trust had it taken for him to reveal that? A pang shot through her. More than she’d ever know.

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GUEST POST:

Where do you find inspiration?

My research and writing life changed the moment I discovered podcasts! Something that’s very important to me is making sure my characters actually do their jobs on-page. For example, in Trusting a Warrior, Geo is a Navy SEAL. I wanted to show him actually being a Navy SEAL. Obviously I’m not one myself, so I’ve found my best source of inspiration, and the best way to add authenticity, is to listen to podcasts put on by actual SEALs. They help me get a feeling for the culture, the unique language, the way they talk to each other, etc. I can get inspiration from the stories they tell of actual missions they’ve been on, just really great insight into that community.

Another source of inspiration for me is music. Even though I don’t usually post playlists for my books, I had so many songs for Trusting a Warrior, and they inspired me so much, I’m including them here! Each one, at one time or another, helped me break through a significant block. Enjoy!

“Honey” by The Brinks

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak

“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

“Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

“Slide Away” by Miley Cyrus

“Real Life Stuff” by Julia Michaels

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

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AUTHOR BIO:

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.

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CONNECT WITH MELANIE:

Website:

http://melaniehansenbooks.com

Email:

http://melaniehansenbooks.com/contact

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009084006829

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/meljoyaz

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melanie-hansen

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/trusting-a-warrior-by-melanie-hansen

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13505006.Melanie_Hansen

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49546704-trusting-a-warrior

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/2HwGKHB

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3600wr4

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3761v8z

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trusting-a-warrior-melanie-hansen/1131793392?ean=9781488036286

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trusting-a-warrior-melanie-hansen/1131793392?ean=9781335474711

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Trusting-Warrior-Melanie-Hansen/9781335474711

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Trusting-Warrior/Melanie-Hansen/9781335474711

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Melanie_Hansen_Trusting_a_Warrior?id=bf2aDwAAQBAJ

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trusting-a-warrior

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Melanie will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Mimi's Paris Dilemma by Elizabeth Cooke - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Elizabeth Cooke will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mimi’s Paris dilemma overwhelms her. She feels desolate, unappreciated, her celebrity status lost. The Parisiennes, the women of Paris, have turned against her. They are sympathique to the fate of a woman incarcerated for murder and reject Mimi, who was instrumental in bringing about that fate.

In this, Book Two of The Mimi Series, new crimes are committed. Mimi again is instrumental in helping solve them because of her sensitive petit nez, which pursues nasal clues where no human can follow.

Where few are aware of how truly skillful the little dog is, they slowly come to realize her value, and Mimi’s reputation is gradually restored to its full power.

Read an Excerpt

“Different indeed,” Nicole exclaimed. “More like unique.

Imagine having a dog as co-anchor on an interview show like the popular TONIGHT!”

“Unique, eh?” Rene countered.

“I can’t wait,” Nicole enthused. “But let us start after the fate of Stephan Ledax is decided and the trial done.”

* * * * *

Three weeks went by before Nicole Marcel and Mimi became full-time co-anchors on the TONIGHT TV interview show. They waited to take up their duties until the trial of Stephan Ledax was over.

Nicole testified before the court, as did Rene Couteau, to the attempted rape in the changing room of the studio. The verdict was unanimous: guilty of sexual assault.

During the course of the proceedings, there was testimony from six other women, relating to the pattern of behavior Stephan Ledax evinced over the period of several years - involving a variety of predatory acts – some even cruel: abandonment, abortion, lack of child support.

Stephan Ledax was sentenced to eight years behind bars. As he was led away by a policewoman, his face was distorted and wet with tears.

* * * * *

And so it came to pass.

About the Author: Elizabeth Cooke, born and bred in New York City, graduate of Vassar College and The Sorbonne, is the author of several books about Paris, where she lived in the 1950s.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethBuffyCooke
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elizabethcookebooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethcookebooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54433406-mimi-takes-paris

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mimis-Paris-Dilemma-Mimi-Book-ebook/dp/B08L9T9YTD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Type Dirty to Me by Roxanne D. Howard - Book Tour - Book Trailer - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Roxanne D. Howard and her new book, “Type Dirty to Me”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Roxanne and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Type Dirty to Me

by Roxanne D. Howard

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Chic Lit, Multicultural

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BLURB:

When hot actor Brem Lockwood enters her life, Madelyn has a choice—stay safe with an online fling or risk her heart for a chance at real love.

Divorcee Madelyn Stacilli has baggage deeper than the Grand Canyon, and her move to New Haven to start a new life is the perfect change she needs. When vicious gossip stunts her plans to open her own business, she can't confide in anyone around her. But online, beneath the blanket of anonymity, she can let loose and find comfort with the mysterious Easton216. Their natural, open relationship is a breath of fresh air.

When British A-list actor Bremond Lockwood rents the house beside her to escape an intense media spotlight and malicious past, he charges headlong into her life. Madelyn grows torn between her steady, emotional online connection and a fiery affair with a Hollywood star. Brem’s intense passion ignites the embers of her sexuality from a long slumber, making her burn hotter than the sun.

Should she stay safe with her online love or risk her heart with the man in front of her? The road to recovery just got a whole lot more complicated.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Madelyn leaned against the car headrest and eyed the FedEx envelope on the dash. Her new bookshop, Book Nook, was due to open in three weeks. Her hands were full, but the worry paled compared to the stress of the last few months. She wrapped her fingers around the steering wheel and thumbed the soft padding. She knew what the envelope held. She had expected its arrival and the potent cocktail of change and loss it represented. She sighed, reached for the packet, ripped open the tab and slid out the divorce papers.

Technically, they’d been divorced for over two months, but her ex had played hardball over assets, so they’d engaged in a game of paperwork tug-of-war back and forth through their attorneys. What a timely relief this envelope was. The cream-colored stationery stapled to the front read— All set, done, filed and dusted. Here is your copy. The paperwork from her attorney was addressed to Madelyn Saunders, but she’d recently changed her surname back to her maiden name, Stacilli. She rifled through the sheets to check her ex’s signature on the last page. Sure enough, he’d signed below her signature.

“Thank God.” She exhaled with relief, returned the papers and stored the envelope in the glove compartment. “Bye, Chris.”

A calmness washed over her. She leaned her head back again, savoring the sensation. Some people sported angry visible scars, jagged surgery marks or gunshot exit wounds in plain sight from their marriage and divorce wars.  Her scars ran deep inside, where they’d festered until the day she’d chosen to walk away.

Her cell vibrated. She lifted the phone from its dock attached to the car’s air vent and looked at the notification. A familiar wave of excitement surged through her. Another private message from Easton216. She brought the phone in closer and opened it.

Easton216: Hey. I got a weird feeling and thought I should contact you. How are you?

Madelyn shook her head, amused. Trust him to get vibes about her. She typed into her phone, smirking.

BookCat: Funny you should ask. I got the papers less than half an hour ago. He signed.

Easton216: Good. And strange, how I felt like I should contact you at the same time. You okay?

Madelyn touched her hair and raised her eyebrows. What a loaded question. In the past, she would have pacified any concerns with a sunny “I’m fine.”

But since her divorce, she’d sworn to be honest with herself, including any future relationships. She and Easton216 were open and candid with each other. Their unfiltered connection took some getting used to, though she found it clear and refreshing. He’d revealed that he’d chosen the moniker Easton216 because of his apparent obsession with baseball, telling her there were two hundred and sixteen stitches wrapped around each single baseball, and that the Easton was his favorite type of bat. She keyed in her response.

BookCat: I’m getting there. It was weird at first, but TBH, I’m better than okay. I’m liberated, and while it’s going to take some getting used to, it feels amazing.

Easton216: Fantastic, Cat! I know he gave you a fight, from what you mentioned before. I’m glad you’re free. Listen… I have to hop on a flight in a sec, but would you like to talk later tonight, after I land?

BookCat: Yes, I’d like to, and I’m glad you messaged me. Same time?

Easton216: You know it.

BookCat: Talk to you then. Have a good day. Be safe.

Easton216: You too. This is excellent news. See you tonight.

She closed the message and redocked the phone, pleased. She’d battled like hell after life had sucked her dry with a supersized straw and threatened to drag her into a bottomless tailspin, but her fate and self-respect were back. The clouds were clearing.

She killed the engine, shouldered her purse strap and got out of the car.

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BOOK TRAILER:

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book is amusing, humorous, charming, intriguing, captivating, and satisfying!!

This book is fast paced with strong, forward-focused dialogue, and well-developed, complex, and motivated characters.  Each character felt easily recognizable in the story dialogue as their established character profile and character traits stood out.

This book was such a fun, enjoyable read that I could not put down!!

I really liked that this book was able to encompass a fun, seductive, sexy, playful side while also remaining in a respectful and considerate fashion throughout this mature contemporary romance read!!!

I really enjoyed that this book featured mature aged main characters.  I don’t often see too many of those books come across my desk and as a millennial I probably wouldn’t say that I intentionally go looking for them either – which after reading this book I’d say is a mistake!!  I really enjoyed reading about this group of characters that have somewhat different priorities and are at different stages in their lives.  But no matter what age you are, it all comes down to the same abc’s in today’s dating world.

This book starts right off with the main character, Madelyn Stacilli, reflecting on her recent divorce.  After spending twenty years in a difficult, unhappy, and emotionally abusive marriage to a man that consistently ignored her, dismissed her, and belittled her – Madelyn was done.  She was over it.  She had only continued to stay for the sake of their son, Josh.  But now that he was grown, had just graduated high school, moved out of their house, and started college; Madelyn knew this was the perfect time to get away from Chris.  Madelyn chose to move to the charming small town of New Haven, Connecticut.  Madelyn was finally able to pursue her dream of always wanting to run/own a bookstore and write a best-selling novel.  She had just finished the novel, submitted it to a New York Publisher, and was anxiously awaiting a response.  Furthermore, while having kept a secret nest egg and the dividends from the divorce she was not only able to acquire a small cottage, but she also purchased a shop downtown that she named the “Book Nook” – her own bookstore and café.  All her dreams were coming true and everything was falling into place.  Then one day she received a mysterious email from someone with the username Easton216.  The email was accidentally supposed to go to someone else, his co-worker, but while she was explaining the mix-up to him, the two of them hit it off. Not before long a couple emails here turned into a few emails there and so forth and before they knew it, they were talking every day!  Madelyn loved the connection, the attention, and the anonymity.  But it doesn’t end there.  A second suitor, a very handsome British actor, Bremond “Brem” Lockwood, moves in next door and starts heating things up on all fronts.  Madelyn is overwhelmed juggling two men, followed by receiving some disturbingly threatening letters from a “petty passive-aggressive illiterate writer” slash unknown subject lol, while also trying to get her new store up and running, dealing with the “unwelcome wagon” community as the neighboring store owners have strongly expressed their disapproval of her arrival, and continuing to tackle and pursue her dreams.  There is so much to this story and it excitingly crosses multiple genres such as romance, contemporary romance, erotic, erotic romance, chic lit, multicultural, mystery, suspense, realistic fiction, and so much more!!  Plus, this book is full of such wonderful, compelling, easy to connect to characters!! 

I really like the main characters.  They were realistic, relatable, and genuine.  I totally loved Madelyn!!!  She was strong, smart, a fighter, driven, determined, caring, and compassionate.  And she clearly is a tad bit rebellious at times lol!!  I loved that she was fighting for her second chance and making the most of it.  She truly deserved to be happy and it was inspiring, motivating, and uplifting to watch her story unfold.  I liked Brem too of course.  He was handsome, cocky, charismatic, aggressively flirtatious, alluring, seductive, desired, benevolent, warmhearted, and generous.  I really liked Madelyn and Brem together!!  There was so much passion and chemistry that just leaped off the pages!!  The author’s writing was hot, seductive, enticing, and intoxicating!!  And then of course there’s the mysterious Easton216…  He’s funny, charming, supportive, caring, polite, romantic, and respectful.  He listens to Madelyn, comforts her, assists her, encourages her, and has a deeper emotional connection with her.  Their relationship is platonic, but does have lots of playful, flirty, witty banter.  No spoilers here!!!  So, I probably should leave it at that as far as the descriptions go and I’m not saying who Madelyn picks!!!  But you will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!!!

I loved all the lavish pampering, attention, and affection Madelyn was getting from her two admirers.  Her response to finally feeling wanted, interested in, cared for, and loved is truly angelic.  After years of living with her selfish, controlling husband that ignored and neglected her, it is about time she receives the TLC she tremendously has deserved and craved.

I loved Madelyn growing into the more confident, self-assured woman that she was always meant to be.  I like strong female characters.  She didn’t quite start out that way, but the climb and growth was fairly quick, and she successfully reached her full potential developmental arc.

I think the author did a terrific job on her character development as these characters were so real and personal on many levels!

I really enjoyed the small-town setting of New Haven and how the town itself is almost like a character and an underlying theme as well throughout the book.

I loved the second chance and new beginning themes that are deeply present in this book.  I strongly believe in both and love reading stories that give characters these special do-over opportunities.  Life doesn’t easily present you with a chance to just completely start over and be someone else.  A second chance at chasing your dreams and making them a reality is truly a gift.

This book does have quite a few predictable scenes. However, there are still some surprising, unexpected twists and turns that you won't see coming!

Currently, this book is not listed to be part of a book series.  This book can be read as a standalone.

This book is pleasantly satisfying with a HEA ending that this reader enjoyed, appreciated, and totally approved of!

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!  I think all contemporary romance readers, erotic romance readers, multicultural readers, and chic lit fans will like this book too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**

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AUTHOR BIO:

Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

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