French Kiss by Gloria J. Goldsmith - Book Tour - Book Review - Guest Post Playlist - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Gloria J. Goldsmith and her new book, “French Kiss,” here on FAB!!  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 Gloria and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

French Kiss

by Gloria J. Goldsmith

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GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

I was DONE! I ditched graduation, dumped my repressed college boyfriend, and dropped my sexual insecurities for a wild ride with Destiny. Unpredictable Fate beckoned with a European adventure!

In a chance encounter, I met Jean Louis. From the instant we met, the dashing young Frenchman soothed my bruised heart, rejuvenated my spirit, and convinced me that leaving my old life was no mistake. Together, we set out to explore southern France.

Jean Louis was torn from my life almost as quickly as he had entered it, yet leaving the haunting memory of his caress permeating my every thought. Driven by love and passion, I journeyed to find my lover, even if it meant scouring all the hidden corners of France.

Would I ever reunite with the man I believe to be my one true soulmate? Would I ever hear him say he feels the same for me as I do him? What twist of Fate will it take for me to find him?

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EXCERPT ONE:

There was only one window in the room, which had no screen. To keep out the bugs, we closed the shutter, which still allowed some air inside. That evening, I slept on the couch, right below the window, and the guys lay on the cement floor. The males had no blankets or sleeping bags, but at least they were out of the rain.

Some hours into the night, I was dreaming of Luke. Luke, who loved to tease me by fondling me when I was asleep, by touching my cheek or blowing a strand of hair or slowly stroking my hand. I smiled and wiggled my fingers, and he responded. It was so lovely to feel his antics. I missed his night tricks. His hand was trailing up my arm, and soft lips kissed my palm. Luke. So romantic. Always waking me with kisses.

I let out a sigh, slowly drifting my eyes open. It seemed it had been forever since Luke had brushed my cheek or held me close. I longed for his warmth.

The room was so dark, I couldn’t see a thing. I wasn’t on the waterbed. My heart pounded with alarm. Where am I? My arm was hanging over the side of a couch. Where the hell am I? It was pitch-black.

The fingers tickled a bit more with a kiss on my arm, then came a whisper. Was I dreaming? Or awake? The whisper came again.

I whispered back, “What?” I felt the side of the bed depress. The murmuring voice was now by my face.

“J’ai froid.”

“Luke?”

“Oui. J’ai froid.”

This wasn’t Luke. Not my Luke. A bolt of recognition struck me hard as I comprehended. I didn’t recall his name, it did sound something like Luke, and it was the French guy Marc had brought in from the rain.

My high school French was twisting my brain cells to recall…J’ai means I am, right is droite, left is gauche…and a left faucet is chaud, which means hot, and right is froid—COLD. He is cold!

I patted the couch, and he squeezed onto the settee with me. He cuddled his arms around me, kissed my cheek, and we returned to slumber.

All three of us woke as the morning sunlight pierced the slits of the shutter. They bounced off the wall and into the room. We had some tea before the two men left. Around dinner time, Jean Louis returned alone, with sandwiches and chocolates. I had unknowingly passed another sex attraction test.

Constrained by the lack of English language skills, Jean Louis spoke very few words. I am an excellent mimic, but my French language skills were limited.

After dinner, sipping our tea, Jean Louis turned to me.

“I wants stay wis you.” I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. For the evening? Sleep on the floor? Sleep with me?

“En bas?” I tapped the floor with my foot.

“Si je dois. Je préfère avec toi.”

I wasn’t sure about all the words, but the last two, avec toi, meant “with you.”

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book was a hot, steamy, passionate, intriguing, and entertaining read!!

This book followed the main character, Nora, a young, shy, timid, simple, plain, girl next door type.  After her college boyfriend dumps her, Nora, feeling even more vulnerable and exposed, decides she needs to shake things up and sets off on a European adventure.  Nora, hitting an all-time low self-esteem level as she sees herself as unattractive and undesirable, decides she needs to discover herself and her sexual anxiety and insecurities.  Nora’s European trip is the perfect place for her to start her sexual journey.

Along this adventure, Nora meets many people, including several that quickly become lovers.  I have to admit there were a few more steamy scenes than I was expecting, and hookups that took place sooner than I would have expected.

This book takes place during the early 1970's, decades before my time, so there was a bit of a disconnect for me.  Normally I don’t find these older books to seem so puzzling or unimaginable.  Perhaps with the generation gap, the unique 70’s culture, and the Euro setting, it all just felt more Greek Mythology (i.e., Ancient Erotica) than real life.  Regardless, it seems there was definitely a different attitude, acceptance, and understanding of casual sexual encounters and inhibitions back then.

I enjoyed the strength, courage, and confidence Nora found in herself.  I loved that Nora's character really grew over her character arc and fully developed into the strong, fierce women she was looking to become.

I really enjoyed the fun, sexy French phrases, which often gave an exciting, flirty accented scene more zest!!  After I spent more than six years of learning French in school and hoping one day to go to Paris, to then have so much of it blurred away after working on a CDC project in Mexico, it was nice to actually recognize and remember the beautiful French language that I had fallen in love with so many years ago!!

I really liked that the author included Nora visiting the European tourist sightseeing hot spots!!  This truly makes the story feel more realistic and credible when real life places are featured.

This book does contain many “R-Rated” scenes and references, not to mention other adult situations, including heavy drug usage.  I guess, as they say, "it was the 70's," lol.

There are many so-called “acceptable,” norms featured in this book that many people in today’s society would definitely not approve of, encourage, or agree with.  Not to mention, many of these things are viewed as taboo – as in don’t talk about them (i.e., a woman’s sexual awakening, casual sexual encounters, illegal drug use, etc.).

Overall, this book was a fun, interesting, and entertaining read!!  However, there were many scenes that did make this millennial blush lol!!  And I think if the reader was alive, especially as an adult during the 70's they would have a better understanding, connection, and appreciation for this book.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!!  I think all contemporary romance readers, romance fans, and admirers of books with strong sexual awakenings and desires, casual encounters, and NSA relationships will like this book too!!  Furthermore, if you are a fan of the wild 1970’s sex, drugs, and rock and roll era, this book is for you!!  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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GUEST POST - BOOK PLAYLIST:

Create and Share a Playlist Inspired by Your New Book:

Music was a big part of the sixties and seventies. It helped fuel protest, created love-ins, marches, and Woodstock.

One of the scenes in the book has the people gathered at the Bistro Fabrice dancing to music played by a new radio station that broadcast music from a boat in the English channel. I created a Spotify list of the various love songs from the ’60s and ’70s.

Check Out My Spotify Playlist Inspired By My New Book, “French Kiss,” Below:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5GqUsmGc3JFpebkYV02izD

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AUTHOR BIO:

As a Special Education teacher, I became fascinated by the English language. I still marvel at how it changes and expands over time. My most pleasurable teaching moments were showing children how a wondrous story can take their imaginations to other times, places, even other worlds. When the pandemic began, I started my first foray into publishing⸺ a nonfiction book, The Sensible Parent’s Little Homeschooler Handbook.

My secret pleasure-writing has always been focused on romance. French Kiss is a Contemporary Romance based on a fictionalized version of experiences during eighteen months of living and working abroad before the formation of the European Union.

Next year, my first Historical Regency Romance That Wylde Woman will be published.  It has allowed me to indulge my curiosity and enthusiasm for history by incorporating in the storyline a historical geologic event which affected weather and farming and even how England’s war with Napoleon impacted clothing styles.

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CONNECT WITH GLORIA:

Website:

https://gloriajgoldsmith.com

Email:

gjgoldsmithauthor@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GloriaJGoldsmith

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/GloriaJ24K

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/gloriajeangoldsmith

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20404062.Gloria_J_Goldsmith

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58913859-french-kiss

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3As4CVB

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3nL7bPb

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3GmaP8T

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09F7T1ZWG

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/French-Kiss-Contemporary-Holiday-Romance/dp/B09GXN6HDY

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Gloria will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card 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 fabulous community outreach projects and 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.