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Tuesday, December 19, 2023

A Curse of Magick by Diane Gallagher - Book Tour - Book Blast - FREE Book - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Diane Gallagher will be awarding a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

“A desperate princess, a handsome warrior, and an ancient magick to determine their fate.”

As daughter to the High King, love doesn’t come easily to Gráinne. Having turned down hundreds of suitors, she is being forced to marry Finn, an old, ugly yet powerful general. While outside the marriage hall, Gráinne bumps into Diarmuid, Finn’s handsome foster son. From that moment, Gráinne knows if she is to have any chance at love, he is the one she must marry. She begs him to take her away from this unwanted wedding. When Diarmuid refuses, Gráinne, desperate, places a curse on him; help her or die.

Diarmuid is a warrior who only wants to serve loyally, but when the princess sets her sights on him and casts her curse, he must make the most difficult choice of his life. Does he help her, taking their chances with a vengeful Finn, or does her refuse her, leaving her to her fate, and risking his own death?

With both their lives on the line, Gráinne and Diarmuid must fight to use Ireland’s ancient magick to escape from Finn, either bringing them together in passion or in death.

A Curse of Magick is a passionate tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. A retelling of an ancient Irish myth, A Curse of Magick takes the love and romance of Romeo and Juliet, and the exhilaration of King Arthur, and mixes it together for a satisfying adventure all will love.
EXCERPT TWO:

“Look, up ahead. It’s the River Shannon.” Sure enough, Gráinne had caught a glimpse of the river sparkling in the distance.

“Then, come on,” Diarmuid shouted as he galloped past her.

Without need of encouragement, Fáelán took off at a gallop close behind Diarmuid.

“Come on, Fáelán, don’t let him beat us,” Gráinne shouted. She felt Fáelán respond beneath her, and they rode as one, hoofbeats hot on the trail of Diarmuid. With each drum of the horse’s hooves on the hardpacked road, Fáelán drew closer and closer until they were even. From the corner of her eye, she saw Diarmuid glance over at her, a grin on his handsome face and one hand holding his cap tight on his head.

“Hyaa!” he shouted, urging his own horse on.

Gráinne grinned. She knew Fáelán was a match for any other beast. As if he knew her thoughts, Fáelán leapt forward in a new burst of energy at Diarmuid’s shout, and pulled ahead, leaving Diarmuid and his horse behind. They rounded a bend and came to a skidding stop right at the edge of the river, with Diarmuid close behind.

Gráinne slid from Fáelán’s back, both of them panting hard. Diarmuid jumped from his horse and landed hard on the grassy bank. He stumbled towards Gráinne, catching his footing just before knocking into her. She watched him struggle to his feet and face her, a breathless grin stretched across his face. She grinned back and they stood, face to face for a few moments, gulping at the cool morning air.

AUTHOR BIO:


Diane Gallagher is a novelist and Druid priest. She is the author of three novels: A Curse of Magick, Greenwich List, and the Bastard of Saint Genevra. She has long roots stretching into her Celtic past, although she splits her life between two islands—Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, and Sicily off the toe of Italy’s boot. She writes young adult romance based on ancient Celtic myths of the powerful women of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. She currently teaches creative writing at Cherry Hill Seminary.

CONNECT WITH DIANE:


**A Curse of Magick eBook is on available for FREE on Amazon Kindle Unlimited!!!**

**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.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

The River Against the Sea by Z. Lindsey - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Z. Lindsey and his new book, “The River Against the Sea,” 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 $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Z. Lindsey and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

The River Against the Sea

by Z. Lindsey

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GENRE:   New Adult Fantasy

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BOOK BLURB:

Some heroes have swords. Essimore Darkenchyl has a pen. But it’s a magic pen.

Some wizards have spellbooks. Essie has Gossen’s Guide to Shipping Law. But it’s a current edition.

Some sailors have . . . experience. Essie has a new diploma and a year-long contract, and her people have won wars with less.

And that’s good, because between stolen weapons, a coup, and a strange disease creeping in around her and the crew, she might need to win a war.

In a world that blends traditional fantasy with the Age of Exploration, Essie knows a pen is mightier than a sword, especially since hers sometimes shoots lightning.

But what she thinks is a routine political dispute turns out to be something much, much more, and she may have finally met the one problem she can’t talk her way out of.

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EXCERPT TWO:

“My cousin believes they’ll attack on One Wyrm.”

“One . . . Wyrm?” Essie asked as she tried to adjust the ropes around her.

Bunts scoffed.

“Didn’t you read your briefing?”

Essie felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

“I read about the calendar, but it was confusing. It was like math, but it had this religious undercurrent going on. Did not like.”

The captain squinted at her and raised his lip in distaste.

“Bunts, tell our bureaucrat what One Wyrm is.”

“Heh,” Bunts said. He cleared his throat, then shrugged.

The captain squinted at him, too.

“One Wyrm is New Year’s Day.”

“New Year’s Day, of course,” Bunts said. “Those jerks.”

“And what do you want me to do about it?”

“Nothing,” the captain said. “Report that the cargo got handed over and let us go on our way.”

“And if I don’t agree, you’ll throw me off the ship,” she said.

Bunts snorted.

“Seriously?”

The captain scratched his chin.

“To be honest, I was just hoping you’d agree. If you don’t . . .” The captain puffed up his cheeks and stared at the ceiling in thought. “I guess we’ll lock you in the brig until the weapons are safely delivered and we’re back at sea. That’ll give me a good lead on any Agency cutters.”

She tried to adjust herself in her chair, but couldn’t do much, so she frowned. Slowly she turned to Bunts and gave him her best puppy-dog eyes.

“Can’t you undo these bonds?”

Bunts shook his head.

“Nuh-uh. I’m told you’re stronger than you look. And that you eat people’s hearts.”

Essie frowned.

“Not raw.”

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GUEST POST:

Beyond Brutality: Writing Realism in Low-Stakes Fantasy

For years, it’s been impossible to talk about realism in fantasy fiction without violence and grit. In A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV counterpart, protagonists are murdered, sexually assaulted, and subject to infection and disease. Even when some fans complained, George R.R. Martin justified it as realism.

Lately, fantasy writers have become interested in cozy stories--ones without high stakes, where death is rare and the major dangers are social. If the past was so brutal, is it even possible for cozy fantasy to be “realistic?”

Well, yes, for two reasons. The first is that classic literary realism never required brutality as a key component, and the second is that while there were certainly dark periods in our past, humans are a hopeful lot in general, and there were also many good times. Considering how well-covered the days of war and violence have been, I think these peaceful times are ripe for literary exploration.

Literary realism goes back to the mid-1800s. The real in realism didn’t originally mean brutal, but quotidian. Its writers focused on the middle and lower classes and rejected Romanticism. By some definitions, no speculative fiction can be realist--blood-drenched or not. But to me, a cozy fantasy story about foreign gnomes struggling to adjust to a town of elves can be realist if the gnomes faithfully reflect the human emotion of being an outsider in another community.

Balzac’s realist masterpiece Le Père Goriot is not a cozy novel by any means. It’s a sad story, and the stakes are high for Goriot, if not for the other characters. But the warmth of the boarding house scenes and Rastignac’s obsession with getting into the good graces of high society through almost any means necessary are different from the cold realism of ASOIAF. Much of early literary realism is the same way.

I’m not sure fantasy always needs to faithfully reflect our past, but many of the folks who argued in favor of violence in ASOIAF implied that fantasy should do that. As an archaeologist by training, I would say if that’s the case, there is an element of realism missing from fantasy that only deals in violence and disposable kings.

For example, I study Mesoamerica. Thanks to the Spaniards and media like Apocalypto, we think of it as a pretty bleak time and place to live. But if you were basing a fantasy story on Mesoamerica, there are stories for you to tell that don’t involve human sacrifice or even the threat of it!

Let's imagine a person in ancient Veracruz. She grew up in a small town making the happy ceramic figurines with big heads, cute eyes, and giant smiles that were popular there. As a teen, she competed to study at the ceramic school in a big city. Then she came back to her community to teach others how to make cute li’l ceramic figurines. And she might've lived to a ripe old age; we have bones of folks from Mesoamerica who lived well into their eighties.

Our fictional Veracruzana might not have seen a bloody war or been dragged to the top of a pyramid, but she might've experienced doubt, imposter syndrome, heartbreak, and loss. There are infinite stories based on the lives of people like her waiting to be told, and none would be inherently unrealistic because they don’t involve sexual assault or heart sacrifice.

Fantasy stories win us over with the emotional turmoil of their characters. Our heart breaks for Sam and Frodo not simply because Middle-Earth is a land of conflict, but because their emotions are real. As gritty as Ice and Fire is, we empathize more than we want to with Dany not because of the brutality in her life but because of how it breaks her.

If a writer deftly captures the turmoil of being an outsider suggested by our gnomes-in-an-elf-town example above, this can be more realistic--and more gratifying as a reader--than the dirtiest grimdark sword fight with accurate details down to the quillons and the size of the wounds. Realism isn’t about detail, and it isn’t about violence or grit. The real should come from emotions, or even the best worldbuilding will fall flat.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Zac Lindsey is an anthropologist and a linguist who focuses on the Maya people of Quintana Roo. Since childhood, he's had a not-so-secret love of weird, silly, and well-structured fantasy. When other people's parents were reading them picture books, his mom was reading him Terry Brooks. He typically writes hopeful and character-driven fantasy.

Today, he lives in Quintana Roo, Mexico with his wife, daughter, and various stray cats.

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CONNECT WITH Z. LINDSEY:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550498257222

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/z.lindsey_fiction

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43825020.Z_Lindsey

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198376633-the-river-against-the-sea

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3Nr87nR

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PRE-ORDER BOOK BUY LINKS:

**The River Against the Sea will be released on December 18th, 2023 and is currently available for Pre-Order at the links below!!**

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/47X4Vsr

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/River-Against-Sea-Z-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B0CH3TW3YD

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-river-against-the-sea-z-lindsey/1144077772

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Z. Lindsey will be awarding a $20 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.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

The Location Shoot by Patricia Leavy - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Patricia Leavy and her new book, “The Location Shoot,” 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 OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Patricia and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

The Location Shoot

by Patricia Leavy

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GENRE:   Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Controversial filmmaker Jean Mercier is shooting a film on location in Sweden. While spending the summer creating his latest work of cinematic art, he lives in a nearby inn with his lead actors: Albie Hughes, British veteran of stage and screen; Charlotte Reed, British indie film queen; Michael Hennesey, American TV heartthrob; Willow Barnes, fallen former teen star looking to make a comeback; and Finn Forrester, legendary Hollywood movie star. Mercier invites his friend Ella Sinclair—a beautiful, bohemian-spirited American philosopher known for her provocative writing—to stay with them for the summer. When Ella arrives, Finn is instantly enchanted by her, and soon they fall madly in love. Finn wants to plan a life together, but Ella harbors fears and convinces him to wait until the film wraps to decide their future. In a case of life imitating art, the film they are creating explores “the big questions” and prompts the stars to reflect on the crossroads they face in their own lives. How will their experiences on location affect them when they return home? The answers won’t come until months later, when the cast and crew reconvene on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival—but their revelation will make for one unforgettable night.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Soon they were soaking in the tub, surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight. Ella leaned against Finn and sighed contentedly as he wrapped his strong arms around her.

“I thought about you all day today,” he said.

“You did?”

“I couldn’t get the image of you with those kids out of my head. You were such a natural with them.”

“I’m crazy for tiny humans, always have been. I love their curiosity, big imaginations, big emotions. When a toddler is overjoyed, it’s infectious. They can’t contain it and it just oozes out of them. They feel everything so fully, so honestly, with their whole selves.”

“Do you want to have children of your own?”

“Finn…”

He squeezed her waist and said, “Have you ever thought about it?”

“Have you?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Ella, I would love to have a family with you someday, when we’re ready. Do you want to have a family with me?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“But what, baby?”

“I would want to have children with you, but I wouldn’t want to have them without you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The way I grew up, it just made me not want to do it on my own.”

“You wouldn’t be. We’d be together. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Finn, there’s more than one way to be alone. You spend your life flying around the world to shoot movies and attend film festivals. Where would that leave me? Alone.”

“Sweetheart, if we choose to have a family someday, some things would obviously change. I’ve been thinking about this since we met, but I didn’t want to bring it up and scare you away by asking too much too soon. But after I saw you today, I thought we could at least talk about it. It’s just a conversation.”

“You’ve been thinking about it all this time?”

“Yes,” he said, gently running his fingers down her arm.

“What have you been thinking about?”

“Well, we could take some time to be alone together, to travel. If we had a child, you would both travel with me to film sets. I can get the studio to rent us a house. We’d hire a nanny and any other kind of help we want so you could write, I could work, and we could all be together. When our oldest is school aged, I would only take jobs in LA, except maybe in the summers when we could all still travel as a family. We could show them the world. Being a husband and father would be my priority. You wouldn’t go to so much as a single doctor’s appointment alone unless you wanted to. If I had to give up acting and be a stay-at-home dad, that’s fine too.”

“Wow. You’ve really thought about this.”

“Well, yeah. I can’t help it. Our future spilled out before me when you told me you love me. But it’s just a fantasy. Sweetheart, there’s no pressure. Until today, I didn’t even know if children were a possibility. If we live our lives together, just the two of us, I’d be perfectly happy.” He planted a soft kiss in her hair.

“Just a fantasy?” she asked.

“Yeah, for now. Do you ever fantasize about our future?”

She nodded.

“Tell me.”

“Well, I always imagined that I’d keep working, but less than I do now. I’d want to spend time with my babies.”

“Babies?” he asked. “How many?”

“Three. Two girls and then a boy. I don’t care about gender, it’s just what I imagine.”

He rubbed her shoulder. “Tell me more.”

“They’d all look like you,” she said.

“Oh, see, in my mind each one of them looks just like you.”

She smiled and he kissed the tip of her nose.

“Keep going,” he said.

“Well, I like your idea of traveling together. I imagined that…”

“What, baby?”

“It’s silly.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“Well, it’s just a fantasy, but I can picture us buying a little house in the French countryside for summers and holidays. You know, one of those old stone houses with wooden beams on the ceilings and a wood-burning stove, with plenty of room outside for the kids to roll around in the grass and a space for me to write.” She crinkled her nose and shook her head. “I told you, it’s silly.”

“Not to me. I think it sounds perfect,” he said, kissing her. “So, two girls and a boy, huh? I should warn you, I’ve always liked traditional names, like Emily and Sarah. I’m guessing you gravitate toward more free-spirited names like Lula Belle or Blue Moon. I’m prepared to fight you on this.” He playfully put up his dukes, but she grabbed one of his hands and kissed it.

She laughed. “Actually, I was thinking if we had a girl, maybe we’d call her Betty. It’s completely traditional, but modern too. I don’t know. It’s just a thought.”

“Betty, huh? I love it. And you know what else? I love you.” He stopped to stroke the side of her face. “I love you so much, Ella. There’s no fantasy we can’t make a reality if we choose to. Come on, sweetheart. Let’s dry off and slip into bed. I want to show you exactly how I feel about you.”

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GUEST POST:

Seven Reasons You Should Read The Location Shoot

1.)  Celebrity romances are so much fun.

2.)  Who can resist a novel that takes place on a film set in an exotic location?

3.)  There’s a candlelit bubble bath scene between Ella and Finn that is the stuff of many women’s fantasies. Finn is a handsome Hollywood movie star, and maybe the sweetest and sexiest guy ever. Soak up the scene.

4.)  After the last few years, we all need an escape to something that just feels good. The Location Shoot is a quick, light-hearted, feel-good read that will wrap you in a hug.

5.)  The story ends on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in an unforgettable scene in which all questions about the characters are answered.

6.)  Each of us will face different crossroads in our lives, like each of the characters. They will inspire you to make those big life decisions with brave and hopeful eyes.

7.)  Award-winning author Laurel Richardson said, “Much more than a romance, this novel celebrates the romance of life itself.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. Her last novel, Hollyland, was featured on She Reads in “The Most Anticipated Romances of Spring 2023” and was the 2023 Firebird Book Awards 1st Place Winner in Pop Culture Fiction and 1st Place Winner in Summer/Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

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CONNECT WITH PATRICIA:

Website:

http://www.patricialeavy.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/PatriciaLeavy

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/patricialeavy

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/558738.Patricia_Leavy

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129397656-the-location-shoot

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3RBMZ0K

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/484xBPQ

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/46TTD6S

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Location-Shoot-Novel-Patricia-Leavy-ebook/dp/B0BQBM1BG9

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Location-Shoot-Novel-Patricia-Leavy/dp/1647425670

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-location-shoot-patricia-leavy/1142849119?ean=9781647425685

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-location-shoot-patricia-leavy/1142849119?ean=9781647425678

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-location-shoot

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-location-shoot

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Patricia 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

**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.

The Santa Games by Leanne Treese - Book Tour - Book Blast - Book Sale - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leanne Treese will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Reeling from a broken engagement, Andi Carter swears off men. She quits her job in New York and returns home to figure out next steps. Luckily, she quickly finds a job--one that will take her mind off her ex--as a caretaker for an elderly widower, Liam Quinn. Liam is the owner of Christmastown, a holiday-themed amusement park that shut down years ago. But he’s anxious to reopen it, and Andi, loving the concept, throws herself into helping him. It’s the perfect distraction. Bonus: there are no eligible men for miles.

Until Matt Taylor shows up to audit the park.

Matt is handsome, charming, and full of surprises. Even Liam’s notoriously cranky cat, Claus, likes him. Andi works with Matt on a Christmastown project and platonic feelings turn into a full-fledged crush…maybe a little more. She likes this guy. Unbelievably, Matt seems to like her back.

Only she soon discovers that Matt isn’t who he says he is. So now, Andi has another decision to make—run away and start over—again? Or stay, and hear Matt out? After all, Christmas is the season of miracles…
EXCERPT TWO:

She doesn’t finish her sentence. She doesn’t have to. I know how it ends. Andi needs Christmastown to become a reality.

And I’ve been charged with making sure that doesn’t happen.


AUTHOR BIO:

Leanne Treese is an award-winning author of women's fiction and romance. Her books have each independently been described as having "all the feels." When she's not writing, Leanne loves running, forcing her family to play board games (Settlers of Catan anyone?), and spoiling her beloved dogs. Leanne's favorite locations include her backyard, the Jersey shore, and anywhere that sells books or coffee, preferably both. A lifelong learner, Leanne's dream life would include going back to college and majoring in everything.

CONNECT WITH LEANNE:

Website: http://www.leannetreese.com
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/authorleanne50
Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/leannetreese

AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Santa Games eBook is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the book tour AND is available for FREE on Amazon Kindle Unlimited!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/46WWP1F

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/48d84Uz

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Santa-Games-Leanne-Treese-ebook/dp/B0BB3GR3S7

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Santa-Games-Leanne-Treese/dp/1735896152

GIVEAWAY:


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, December 12, 2023

Next Stop, Boston by Iris Dorbian - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Iris Dorbian and her new book, “Next Stop, Boston” 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 Iris and to increase your chances of winning!!

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

Next Stop, Boston

by Iris Dorbian

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GENRE:   Contemporary Fiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Sixteen-year-old Geri Randall's life is turned upside down when her late sister's fiance, Dez Deacon, a washed-up rock star, is named her guardian. Whisked away from the only life she knew and taken on a rock and roll tour, Geri is initially desperate to win Dez's approval. That desire hits a sour note when Dez's treatment of her becomes too much to bear. What ensues is a battle of wills between her and her temperamental guardian, a collision course that will push Geri to do the unthinkable to get what she wants.

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EXCERPT TWO:

If there was one thing she’d learned with this tour, it was that time operated on a whole other scale. It wasn’t weird to go out and have a burger at two in the morning, or stay up until five, eat an early breakfast, and then crash until noon.

At first, she’d felt like a vampire, but after a month of this nocturnal schedule, she’d gotten so acclimated to the lifestyle, she wondered how she would ever be able to go back to a daily schedule that consisted of her going to sleep at ten o’clock at night, waking up at seven o’clock so she could arrive at school by 8:30, and be in classes until 2:30 in the afternoon. Then do it all over again the next day. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

“It’s a soulless existence,” Dez said to her a week into her attempt to adjust to life on the road. He was opining about the nine to five normies. “Absolutely brain-atrophying. These poor people are like ants. Hamsters on a wheel, doing the same thing over and over again. That’s why what we do is so important to these people. For two hours, Ger, we bring them the excitement and adventure that’s missing in their dull, defeated lives. We’re like saviors to them.”

Geri clicked on her personal photo gallery. She pored through an unending succession of shots of Dez, as well as shots she never would post on her account: various hotel rooms, desk clerks on phones or dealing with customers, piles of suitcases gathered in a mound in lobbies, regular people sharing drinks at a bar, working on their laptops. She loved the simplicity of these images, which captured life in hotels with an organic detail and vibrancy. She stopped at the bar shots, then zoomed in to snag a clearer view at the people in them. The barflies seemed to be swigging whiskey or scotch, she wasn’t sure—an alcohol connoisseur, she was not; however, she’d seen so many adults in her young lifetime down gallons of liquor, she might as well be.

She studied their features to see if Dez was right about these normies. No, he wasn’t. They didn’t look defeated at all, only tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Iris Dorbian is an arts and business journalist whose bylines have appeared in a wide array of outlets that include Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Crain's New York Business, Business Insider, Buyouts, Venture Capital Journal, Investopedia, Playbill, Backstage, Dance Magazine, Theatermania and Stage Directions, where she served as editor-in-chief for eight years. Her personal essays have been featured in HBO's Inspiration Room, Boomer Magazine, Jewish Literary Journal, Diverse Voices Quarterly, and Gothesque Magazine. Having previously published "Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater" (Allworth/Skyhorse) "An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps" (original publisher: Mazo Publishers) and "Sentenced to Shakespeare" (Sunbury/Milford House Prss), "Next Stop, Boston" is her fourth book.

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CONNECT WITH IRIS:

Website:

https://www.irisdorbian.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/iris.dorbian

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/IrisDorbian

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/irisdorbian

LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/iris-dorbian/1/759/358

Muckrack:

http://www.muckrack.com/irisdorbian

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2020637.Iris_Dorbian

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199296366-next-stop-boston

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3RFSZFP

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/46VDMVe

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/4adWaM6

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Next-Stop-Boston-Iris-Dorbian-ebook/dp/B0CLL32H97

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Next-Stop-Boston-Iris-Dorbian/dp/1949802353

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/next-stop-boston-iris-dorbian/1144160777

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Iris 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.

Monday, December 11, 2023

The Jig is Up by M K Scott - Book Tour - Book Blast - Book Sale - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M K Scott will be awarding a $50 Amazon Gift Card a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

I looked forward to sipping tea and exploring Mark’s ancestral roots in Ireland, but oh, what a twist of fate!

My life as owner of The Painted Lady Inn hardly prepared me for this. With my detective husband by my side, we embark on a journey filled with mayhem, murder, and mischief.

As I savor every bite of Irish stew and soak in the breathtaking scenery, little do I know that our vacation will turn into a whirlwind of sleuthing.

Who could have imagined the secrets hidden behind Mark’s family tree? And what dark secrets lurk in this picturesque village, threatening to shatter the tranquility?

The jig is up, and it’s up to us to untangle the web of intrigue.
EXCERPT TWO:

A large delivery truck emblazoned with the word Tato and a smiling potato wearing a bowler hat careened around the curve. “Mark, watch out! He’s coming right at us.”

“What’s his problem?” Mark exclaimed, pushing in the clutch and shifting down while guiding the tiny car to the suggestion of a shoulder. The truck honked as it whizzed by them causing the small car to sway.

“Um…” Donna cleared her throat. “I think you were in his lane.”

Mark muttered something indecipherable, then closed his eyes. “You’re right. If I wasn’t so flummoxed by this joke of a car, I might have remembered they drive on the left side of the road. Add in the manual transmission, which I haven’t driven since high school. Having to use my left hand for shifting doesn’t help.”

“I know, honey.” She reached over to pat her husband’s arm, which only required moving her hand the slightest bit. “At least we’re still in the airport parking lot as opposed to an actual road.”

“Good thing.” His eyes flickered open and he inhaled audibly. “It is what it is. Let’s start by getting on the right side of the road.”

“Left side.” Donna couldn’t stop herself from commenting.

After glancing both ways, Mark steered the vehicle over to the left lane. “They could have at least put some reminder to drive on the left side.”

“They did.” She pointed to white transparent letters slightly above eye view that read: Stay Left.

“Not the easiest to read.”

“Of course not,” she readily agreed with her husband, well aware a portion of his attitude came from being tricked by the counter clerk. The rest came from being out of control. So far, this wasn’t the trip they’d planned. “How about you find a car going our way and just stay behind it? That’s what I do on long trips.”

AUTHOR BIO:
M. K. Scott is the Morgan and Scott cozy mystery writing team of The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, The Way Over the Hill Gang, Cupid’s Catering Company, and The Tenacious Librarian series. Morgan pens the tales, while Scott serves as first editor and webmaster. Daughter Sarah handles the social media and Jane the Lab supervises digging in the garden.

CONNECT WITH M K SCOTT:

Amazon Author Page: https://smile.amazon.com/M-K-Scott/e/B01M4JGK1A
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-k-scott
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMorganKWyatt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2863959.M_K_Scott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgankwyatt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMKScott
Website: http://www.morgankwyatt.com

AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**The Jig is Up eBook is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the tour!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/4ag4TND

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Jig-Painted-Lady-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B0CJ5YJHBY

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.