Fabulous and Brunette: November 2023

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Christmas Cove by Sarah Dressler - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Sarah Dressler and her new book, “Christmas Cove,” 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 $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Sarah and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

Christmas Cove

by Sarah Dressler

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GENRE: Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

With only three weeks left in December, travel editor, America Greene, arrives in the idyllic Christmas Cove to find it... Christmasless!

America needs a story, and fast, so she teams up with the town’s good-looking (and eligible) mayor, Leo, to light up Main Street and salvage her chance at being a full-time writer. The connection between them heats up, halls are decked, sleigh bells ring, and lights twinkle. Just when she thinks the holiday is saved, a nearby city threatens the future of Christmas Cove. With her heart, and career, hanging in the balance, she must learn that Christmas is much more than just a place on a map before time runs out.

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EXCERPT TWO:

Leo watched as America’s eyes lit up. The space was a winter wonderland, complete with dozens of flocked and lit trees. Soft glowing faux candles dotted the room, a live band played at one end, and there was more punch and hot cocoa than one could drink.

“This is beautiful,” America said as she took in the atmosphere.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. Though he couldn’t see if she heard him, her shoulder moved ever so slightly as though she did. “Is this the Christmas you were hoping for?”

“Close,” she said and took a turn around him while delighting in the moment.

America looked like the queen of the ball as they walked to the center of the space, and pride swelled inside Leo that she was on his arm. The crowd hushed and, as though they were witnessing something special, cleared room on the dancefloor.

Though they didn’t know who she was, her confident and relaxed posture commanded attention from everyone in the room. She sent Leo a knowing side glance as he twirled her around before catching her in his arm.

He took her left hand in his and her waist in his right. The room stood still in the breath just before the music began. A Christmas waltz. Leo knew this one well. He took her through the steps, and she followed his lead like a pro.

As the music swelled and diminished to a close, he captured her gaze. She radiated happiness.

“Where did you learn to dance like that?” America said breathlessly.

“YouTube.”

America whacked him in the belly as she laughed. “You did not!”

He liked teasing her. “Of course, I didn’t. My Aunt June insisted on weekly cotillion classes.”

“You surprise me.”

“I try,” Leo said and held her close.

Her arms draped over his shoulders and her head rested near his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered. “This is exactly what I imagined before I came here.”

“You imagined dancing with a dashing, yet approachable public servant in a snow-themed pavilion with a hundred eyes trained on you while your favorite song is played by a live band, while wearing a stunning gown and falling madly in—”

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GUEST POST:

An Author’s First Book isn’t Usually Their First

Christmas Cove is my debut novel, a sweet holiday romance set in a small New England town, but it wasn’t my first book. In fact, Christmas Cove is the fourth book that I've completed. Not to mention the countless first-chapters that I wrote but never took anywhere. The journey from writer to published author can look wildly different and I can only speak of my own experience, and it’s been amazing.

In the summer of 2020, I was preparing to query my first manuscript, a speculative thriller, when I found 5 Prince Publishing. I loved their story and what they stood for. Unfortunately, the publisher did not represent the type of book that I was passionately pursuing for publication at the time. A couple of years later, I had shelved that earlier project and was ready to query my newest manuscript, Christmas Cove. I looked back through screen shots on my phone and saw the one I had taken of the 5PP homepage. Without delay, I went to the website and submitted my novel. The process from there has been a whirlwind of edits, covers, formatting, checking, and checking again for typos, and lastly, promoting the work that I am so immensely proud of, and the story that I’m thrilled to share with the world.

It took me 70 days to write the first draft of Christmas Cove, which at the time was the fastest I'd ever written a whole book. The sequel was even quicker at only 35 days. Publishing is never a fast process though. From the initial idea to the publishing day, Christmas Cove took sixteen months. The book was fast tracked through the process so that the Christmas Cove could be released in 2023 and not have to wait another full year. Holiday books are one of the only genres that people expect to be published at a certain time of year. I’m happy that my readers will have it sooner rather than later.

I’m thrilled to share the news that my next novel, Spring Showers, will be released in mid-2024. Spring Showers is a stand-alone sequel to Christmas Cove. It features a brand-new cast of main characters. While some of the original cast make guest appearances, Spring Showers follows the healing journey of two strangers who are desperately running from their pasts. When they collide at a rained-out wellness retreat, their lives change forever.

The path of a writer is never a straight one. The twists in the road aren't necessarily a bad thing and can help to bring a better story to readers. I’m glad that my first three novels were not published, and may never be, but they were a critical step I needed to take in bringing Christmas Cove into the world.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Sarah Dressler, originally from Florida, now calls the mountains of Colorado home. Beginning her writing career as an award winning fashion blogger, Sarah now writes fiction full time. She has spent her life traveling the world, first as the daughter of a US Air Force officer, and later as a military spouse. She enjoys sunset walks with her husband of nearly twenty years, and raising two very busy teenagers.

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CONNECT WITH SARAH:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thesarahdressler

5 Prince Publishing Author Page:

https://www.5princebooks.com/sarahdressler.html

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/37102991.Sarah_Dressler

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196102112-christmas-cove

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3sKD4wk

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/47CCYWK

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3Rm6JW7

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Cove-Sarah-Dressler-ebook/dp/B0CBD7Q57L

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Cove-Sarah-Dressler/dp/1631123416

Apple Books eBook:

http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6460122265

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-cove-sarah-dressler/1143757383?ean=2940161070123

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-cove-sarah-dressler/1143757383?ean=9781631123412

5 Prince Publishing eBook:

https://www.5princebooks.com/sarahdressler.html

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sarah_Dressler_Christmas_Cove?id=Rl_QEAAAQBAJ

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-cove

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/christmas-cove

Smashwords eBook:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1420736

Universal Books2Read eBooks/Paperbacks:

https://books2read.com/u/m0owMV

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Sarah will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) 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.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Legacy of Evil by James Peyton - Book Tour - Book Blast - Book Sale - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. James Peyton will award a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A banished detective. A body drained of blood. Mexico’s vampires are all too human.

After graduating from Harvard, Artemas Salcido is determined to transform Mexico’s justice system and joins the federal police. He begins solving crimes committed by the rich and powerful and is banished to the village of Bustamante.

On a college field trip to Bustamante’s nearby caverns, the daughter of a US senator is brutally murdered. The FBI, the international media, and a Mexican hit squad tasked with making the problem go away descend on the village. When Mexico’s attorney general tells Artemas his career depends on his cooperation, Artemas realizes his life is at stake.

As other grisly murders occur, Artemas’s investigation uncovers an ancient blood cult connected to a powerful financial cabal that stretches from mediaeval Europe to Mexico's most influential politicians and businessmen. When he disputes his violent colleagues’ bogus solution to the crime, Artemas is marked for death.

Can Artemas’s determination to bring fairness to Mexico’s justice system prevail against the overwhelming power of his government—or will it prove fatal …?

EXCERPT ONE:

Once the handcuffs brushed his shirtsleeve, Artemas slid forward with the lighting speed he’d practiced hundreds of times in the dojo. A front snap kick connected with Raymundo’s pistol, sending it spinning toward the ceiling. Right foot midair, Artemas repeated the kick, driving his foot into the PGR man’s crotch with a satisfying thwack. As Raymundo gasped and bent over clutching himself, a third snap kick to his face lifted him off his feet and dumped him onto his back.

Artemas caught sight of the other man closing in from behind. He uncoiled his body and delivered a powerful reverse side kick to the man’s solar plexus, doubling him over. He followed up with a snap kick to the face. Like his colleague, the man landed on his back, choking and groaning with pain.

AUTHOR BIO:

Award-winning author James Peyton’s intriguing settings and memorable characters in his thrillers come from his years of international work and travel. The first two editions of his four-part thriller Artemas Salcido series are now available on Amazon; Legacy of Evil and Terror Crossing, to be followed by La Buchona and Not For Sale. Peyton’s stand-alone adventure thriller, The Royal Fifth, was released in 2022. James has had five acclaimed books published on Mexican cooking, history, and culture. Peyton's writing reflects a depth of understanding and a unique perspective that sets his work apart.

CONNECT WITH JAMES:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/216986.James_W_Peyton
http://www.jameswpeyton.com

AMAZON BOOK BUY LINK & BOOK SALE INFO:

Buy the eBook for only $0.99!!!

Amazon US eBook:

https://amzn.to/417yDrZ

GIVEAWAY INFO:

James will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 20, 2023

The King Who Lost His Colors by Glen Liset - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Glen Liset and his new book, “The King Who Lost His Colors,” here on FAB!! For other stops on his 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 $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Glen and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

The King Who Lost His Colors

by Glen Liset

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GENRE: Children's

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BOOK BLURB:

Can a friendly traveler from the Far East restore a brilliant forest in one week? King Daniel lives in one of the most beautiful areas in all of Northern Europe, but tragedy has struck and no one in the kingdom of Colorwood knows how to cheer up the saddened king. The King Who Lost His Colors will take you on a trip back in time to a place where the simplicity of nature's beauty is able to entertain a kingdom.

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EXCERPT TWO:

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book, “The King Who Lost His Colors,” is a fun, exciting, enjoyable children’s read filled with nature, natural beauty, hope, wonder, and possibilities!!

This book is full of fun, bright, beautiful illustrations that are sure to keep readers engaged.

This book is perfect for bedtime story time and as a learning to read to book.

This book is quick read at only 38 eBook pages cover-to-cover.

This book is appropriately “G” rated as there is no swearing, no gory violence, no adult situations, and no sexual content.

This book is currently not part of a book series and therefore can be read as a standalone book.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!! I think all young readers and their families 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:

Glen Liset is a former advertising executive with 35 years of experience in direct-mail, newspaper and email marketing. He was one of the owners of Super Coups, a cooperative direct-mail advertising franchise that Success Magazine rated as one of the top 100 franchises in North America in 1994. He was the founder and owner of Coastal Coupons, the vice president of Griffin Connect email marketing and a portfolio account manager for The Cape Cod Times. He is the father of four children and has told many bedtime stories.

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CONNECT WITH GLEN:

Website:

https://www.glenlisetbooks.com

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22338042.Glen_Liset

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60750417-the-king-who-lost-his-colors

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/49vDHue

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/3SPRNAL

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/King-Who-Lost-His-Colors/dp/0228869862

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/King-Who-Lost-His-Colors/dp/0228869870

AbeBooks Paperback:

https://www.abebooks.com/9780228869863/King-Who-Lost-Colors-Liset-0228869862/plp

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-king-who-lost-his-colors-glen-liset/1141304756?ean=9780228869863

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-king-who-lost-his-colors-glen-liset/1141304756?ean=9780228869870

Dymocks AU Hardcover:

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-king-who-lost-his-colors-by-glen-liset-9780228869870

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Glen will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Saving Madonna by Kate Bristow - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Kate Bristow and her new book, “Saving Madonna,” 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 $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Kate and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

Saving Madonna

by Kate Bristow

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GENRE: Historical Fiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Is a painting worth dying for?

Inspired by real events, an unforgettable story of love, courage and sacrifice to save a country’s heritage.

Italy 1943. As the Allies bomb Milan, Elena Marchetti reluctantly gives up her coveted job as an art curator in the city to return to her family farm near Urbino. She takes up a new role assisting Pasquale Rotondi, the Superintendent of Arts in the region, in protecting works of art from all over Italy that have been hidden in the relative safety of the countryside.

At a family celebration, Elena reunites with Luca, a close childhood friend. A shattering event instigated by the occupying Germans deepens their relationship, and they start planning a life together. When rumors surface that Italy’s art is being stolen by the German occupiers, Pasquale hatches an audacious plan to rescue the priceless paintings in his possession. Elena and Luca are forced to make an impossible decision: will they embark on a dangerous mission to save Italy’s cultural heritage?

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EXCERPT TWO:

Luca was getting frustrated. Two weeks had passed since he had stood up for Elena during the argument about the truck, and he was no closer to procuring her any sort of transport. He had visited all the neighboring farms, except for the one owned by Signor Bruni, to find out if there was any chance of borrowing a vehicle. He had not been surprised to learn that nobody wanted to give up their precious trucks or cars. Even those who had been without fuel for months still clung to the hope that somehow they might be able to find some. It did not help that very few thought that helping the superintendent was a priority given the more immediate issues they were dealing with.

“I have six children to feed, two cows that are ailing, a fence that needs mending, and more besides,” complained Signor Conti when Luca had stopped to talk to him that afternoon after coming upon the farmer struggling with barbed wire on the edge of one of his fields. “I can tell you now, moving some paintings around is not at the top of my list. I can’t imagine you’ll find many takers in these parts, son.” Signor Conti looked at him kindly. “I am not saying I want the Germans to take them either. Don’t get me wrong.” He let off a stream of expletives, as if to emphasize how much he despised the occupiers. “I just think we have to focus on what we can control rather than the things we can’t.”

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GUEST POST:

World-building can be the most important element of your book. What media outlets, role-models and real-life inspirations did you draw from while writing this book?

This is a photo of the view of the valley from the rear of my Italian home.

Writing a novel about a place you call home forces you to look at everything you take for granted with new eyes. I am fortunate enough to own a five-hundred-year-old farmhouse just outside the beautiful Renaissance city of Urbino in Italy, and it has always troubled me that such an incredible area with an inspiring history is not better known to outsiders. So when I stumbled across the true story of Pasquale Rotondi and his dramatic quest to save ten thousand pieces of priceless artworks from the occupying German army during World War 2, I saw an opportunity to write a novel about it and at the same time share this extraordinary part of the world with readers.

In ‘Saving Madonna’, my main protagonists, Elena and Luca, live in two neighboring farmhouses in the countryside. I based Luca’s home on my own, and as I had restored the house when I purchased it and knew it intimately, I was able to recreate on the page what living in such a home would have been like in the 1940s. Elena’s home was similarly conjured up from the homes of my Italian neighbors.

This is the Rocca in Sassocorvaro, a key location in my novel.

The main events in the story take place in two locations. Sassocorvaro is a small town fifteen minutes from my house dominated by an ancient fortress, the Rocca, which has a starring role in the book. It was interesting to visit the Rocca once I started writing and to look at everything afresh. I spent some time talking to one of the knowledgeable people who works there and it turned out that Silvano had known Pasquale Rotondi personally. This was an exciting moment for me and Silvano’s patience and knowledge were instrumental in helping me develop the character and the story.

This is the façade of the Ducal Palace in Urbino, another critical location in the book.

The other important location is Urbino and particularly the Ducal Palace which dominates the city. I have visited the palace on numerous occasions over the past twenty years, usually bringing my house guests on a lightning tour of the art gallery within. But once I was committed to writing the novel, I found myself revisiting again and again by myself, studying every room, every brick, every painting, to ensure that I was doing the place justice. I even had to rewrite several chapters after one visit when I realized that an arch through which I had driven a truck in my imagination was nowhere wide enough for such a thing to occur in real life!

Writing historical fiction means having to do a lot of research to ensure that you have your facts right. That task was complicated for me because many of my most valuable sources were written in Italian, a language I have a basic understanding of but not much better than that. So reading and interpreting those articles took a significant amount of time but I am happy that I made the effort. I believe that readers appreciate it when writers strive for verisimilitude and I try very hard to double check anything that I claim to be true. My dear friend Angela Petch, a bestselling writer of Italian historical fiction, sent me numerous notes on one of my drafts, asking me questions about Italian road signs during the war and what happens when dynamite decays. These are the friends you need!

As for my Italian characters, some of them are based on historical figures and the rest are amalgams of people I know. I have been joking with my Italian friends for years that I was stealing their names for my characters. My wonderful friend Gianni who has retired from his career in a Milanese bank was amused to discover that he has been recreated as a cheeky eight year old boy. I did make sure that none of my villains were recognizable as friends of mine!

I hope that readers are not only inspired by the courage shown by the Italians in ‘Saving Madonna’ in protecting their cultural heritage despite the danger of doing so but that those same readers might also be inspired to plan a visit to Urbino and its surrounding countryside. If you do you will discover an unspoiled part of a country that attracts millions of visitors a year. It offers stunning beaches, mountains and valleys, beautiful hilltop towns and villages, historic attractions and incredible food and wine. But above all you will find a welcome from some of the warmest people I know.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Kate Bristow was born in London. She fell in love with reading when she got her first library card at the age of four. Her first attempt at writing and publishing for a wide audience was a local newspaper typed laboriously at home on her mother’s typewriter while at primary (elementary) school in north London. It is surely a loss to cutting-edge journalism that only one issue was ever produced. Kate divides her time between her small-but-perfectly-formed modern home in Los Angeles and her five-hundred-year-old farmhouse just outside Sassocorvaro in Italy.

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CONNECT WITH KATE:

Website:

https://www.katebristow.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/katebristowauthor

https://twitter.com/katebristow

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/katebristowauthor

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44975258.Kate_Bristow

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198628782-saving-madonna

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/49v7CCw

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3Mz75Wh

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3MAOAAP

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/3smAAE7

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Saving-Madonna-Kate-Bristow-ebook/dp/B0CHDVLV4X

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Saving-Madonna-Kate-Bristow/dp/B0CHXQT34Q

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Saving-Madonna-Kate-Bristow/dp/B0CLK24H4Y

Universal Buy Link:

https://1link.st/katebristow

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Kate will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

One Love For Liv by Marianne Arkins - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Marianne Arkins and her new book, “One Love For Liv,” 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 $10 Amazon Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Marianne and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

One Love For Liv

by Marianne Arkins

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GENRE: Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Liv is out to prove her high society fiancé is cheating on her. Can she do it without breaking a nail—or falling in love with Mike, the mechanic?

Olivia "Liv" Leigh, wealthy socialite and spa owner, suspects her fiancé of cheating on her. Drastic steps are required to discover whether appearances are deceiving. And if those steps require a bit of stalking, a change of appearance, a hippo-sized dog named Spike, and sacrificing her manicure to clean house for a sexy-but-sloppy man whose neighbor is determined to break several of the strangest Guinness World Records, why should that be a problem?

Mike Peck, a happily single auto mechanic, is more than content sharing his bachelor pad with piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and a sneaky ferret. But when a half-crazed woman in a bad wig shows up on his doorstep, what's a nice guy to do?

Why, invite her in, unknowingly help her in her search for the truth and, in the process, fall head over heels with a woman who's never been less his type.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Liv leaped back and slipped between two parked cars, squatting down to hide for a moment until she realized she couldn’t see anything. She duck-walked up a few cars until she could lean down to peek underneath and watch Daisy’s feet to note when she moved on.

Utterly focused on the sight before her, she had no warning before the driver’s door beside her swung open, clipping her sharply on the head. She flew backward, sprawling into the street and thumping her skull on the pavement. Tires squealed nearby as a moving car whipped around her flattened body.

“What the—?” From a million miles away, a man shouted in surprise. She heard the thump of footsteps but couldn’t seem to open her eyes. “Hey, lady.” A huge, heavy hand shook her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Something warm and wet swiped her face, both reviving and disgusting her. She kept her eyes closed and limply swatted at it. Her hand hit fur. “Ugh.”

“Spike, back off.”

Spike? What was going on? She gave a low moan and tried again to force her eyelids to obey her will, finally succeeding after a Herculean effort. A tanned face covered in five o’clock shadow and smears of black grease swam in front of her. Next to him, its neck surrounded by a studded black leather collar, sat the biggest brown dog she’d ever seen. The creature had drool suspended from its mouth and it looked as if it had swallowed a sneaker with the laces hanging out. Dear heavens, was that what had licked her?

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

Wow!! I absolutely loved this book!! "One Love for Liv," is a fun, sweet, charming, romcom read filled with realistic characters, entertaining storylines, and amusing plot points!!

I could not put this book down nor did want to as I quickly devoured this book in just one sitting!!

I really liked main characters Liv and Mike. I instantly connected with Liv as she was easy to relate to and I felt a kinship with her. I loved her smart, sweet, silly, sassy, and spirited demeanor. She was a very entertaining character and I found myself having many LOL moments at her expense!! Everything from Liv and Mike’s adorable meet cute, the hilarious moving slipper, the meeting of Rhett, the mysterious ice cube tray trick, the cooking and cleaning debacles, etc. had me ROTFL and I was glad to have been reading this book at home lol!! I really liked Liv and Mike together and enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book.

I really enjoyed the author’s unique ability to thoroughly describe scenes filled with realistic themes and relatable characters, therefore, allowing for the reader to stay fully immersed in the story.

This book is a super quick read, comprised of sixteen short chapters spanning across 206 eBook pages.

Currently it seems this book is not part of a book series. Therefore, this book can easily be read as a standalone.

For readers that like neat and tidy endings, this book’s HEA is tied up with a bow and is sure to leave readers completely satisfied.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!! I think all sweet romcom readers will be sure to 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:

Marianne is originally from California but currently living in the lovely state of Utah with her daughter, two dogs, two cats and one adorable foster hamster. She can’t imagine a world without romance or not having stories rattling around in her brain. There are nights when she dreams a complete story and watches it acted out in her head. Those are the times she wakes up and grabs for a notepad to jot down the important parts – without turning on the light – and hopes it’s coherent in the morning. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and heavily involved and indebted to her group of writing friends.

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CONNECT WITH MARIANNE:

Website:

https://mariannearkinsauthor.com

Facebook Fan Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Marianne-Arkins-111996717795365

Facebook Personal Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mariannearkins

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Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1452737.Marianne_Arkins

Goodreads Book Page: