Blog

#BookBlitz “A Love to Keep Me Warm” by Gina Ardito @GinaArdito @XpressoTours

 

A Love to Keep Me Warm
Gina Ardito
Publication date: November 10th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

 

 

After living in the carnival world, Polina Kominski is anxious to put down roots and build a life that includes a permanent home and, someday, a family. But first, she has to spend Christmas in Kraków, Poland to satisfy the final request of her late mother. Angry at having her strings pulled one last time, she’s resigned to follow the detailed instructions left to her, but refuses to believe the superstitions and allusions to magic Mom wants her to experience. And what’s with number eight on her mother’s itinerary, Kiss a Stranger?

To avoid facing his family’s sins, international banker, Rhys Linsey, will travel the lengths of the globe in his quest to regain the collection of ancient artifacts stolen from him years ago. When he runs into Polina on a Kraków street, he volunteers to help her experience the beauty of the holiday while sharing the history and folklore of this charming city. No matter how much she denies the existence of magic, he’s determined to prove her wrong.

Christmas in Kraków weaves a powerful spell, but Polina is running toward her future, while Rhys is stubbornly mired in the past. Can the magic of the holiday extend beyond December to bring Rhys and Polina full-circle to love?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

The day after they meet, Rhys takes Polina on a tour of Krakow and begins with the city’s origins according to legend:

“Back in the eighth century, all of this land was a village on the River Vistula, with nothing but mud huts and peace-loving people who traded goods up and down the river. Set into the deep side of Wawel Hill was a cave where a terrible dragon named Smok Wawelski slumbered.”

She stopped in mid-step on the sidewalk and tilted her head to stare at him with disbelief. “A dragon? Really?”

“Give me a chance to prove it, okay?”

He gave her a pleading look that melted her polar heart. How on earth did he plan to prove a draconian legend? Curiosity overrode common sense, and with a light laugh, she agreed. “Go for it.”

Eyes crinkled with a secret smile, he gave one simple nod. “Thank you. Generations were warned against waking the dragon and unleashing its fury upon the poor village, but one day several young boys who, like you, refused to believe the tales, strode bravely up to Wawel Hill to see the dragon for themselves. They crept into the cave and soon came upon the enormous scaly tail of the horrible beast. Well, apparently, one of the boys was so terrified, he screamed, awakening the dragon. The children turned and fled, but the damage was done, and the horrible creature soon began wreaking havoc upon all the townspeople. The dragon would come into their village, day after day, stealing the livestock and carrying off the virgins to be devoured at its leisure.

“The villagers attempted several times to kill the beast, but always failed miserably. Until one day, a shoemaker’s apprentice named Krakus mixed up a huge vat of sulfur and coated dozens of sheep with the mixture. When the sheep were ready, he led them to a grassy spot where the dragon was sure to see them. The dragon, naturally, spotted the sheep and swallowed them just as quickly. Soon the sulfur began to take its toll, and the dragon could not contain his thirst. He raced to the River Vistula and drank, but no matter how much water he swallowed, the thirst continued to burn inside him. He nearly drank the river dry until, at last, he swelled so much, he burst like a balloon. Boom!”

As Rhys’s hands flew in front of her face, Polina jumped back with a squeal of surprise.

Chuckling, he pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Nothing had ever felt so right as this man’s arm holding her close to his heart. She tilted her head at a slight angle, studying his lips, wondering how they’d taste against hers. All he had to do was bend his head forward a few inches…

“Well, of course,” he continued, apparently oblivious to her thoughts, “the village rejoiced at the dragon’s demise.”

She shook off the romantic silliness and refroze her heart. What had she been thinking? A kiss? Good God, she was behaving like her mother, acting on impulse, rather than logic. The last thing she needed was a love affair. Furrowing her brow, she took a step away from him to increase their distance then tried to refocus on his story.

“Krakus was named king and built a castle at the top of Wawel Hill where the dragon’s lair once sat. The village prospered into a city and was named Kraków in honor of their hero.”

Outside Wawel Cathedral, he stopped in front of a large stone wall where a strange collection of bones sat chained against the rock. An odd-looking snout rode above a rib cage about the size of a giant whale’s, some kind of bizarre cloven feet at the base.

“Behold,” Rhys whispered against her ear, sending delicious ripples of warm breath across her neck. “Proof. The dragon’s bones.”

Soft laughter escaped her lips. “Right. Good thing you brought me here. I wouldn’t want to waste my time on dusty old artifacts when I could see something as authentic as a dragon skeleton.”

Author Bio:

I kill houseplants. There. Now you know one of my greatest shames. I’m not boasting. I just figure that if you’re reading this, you’re looking for more than how wonderful life is as a writer. So here are a few more of my flaws:

I sing all the time. I sing in the car. In the shower. While I’m grocery shopping. And I headbop while I sing. When I’m not singing, I talk to myself. Just ignore me and move on. You get used to it after a while.

I don’t eat my vegetables. Seriously. I’d rather have a cookie.
I’m extremely fair-skinned and could burn under a 60-watt light bulb.

I can’t sleep without background noise. If it’s too dark and too quiet, all I have are my thoughts. And even *I* don’t want to be alone with my thoughts.

Don’t ask me to Zumba, line dance, or march in the parade. I have absolutely no rhythm.

Regrets. I have more than a few.

My favorite activity is sleep. I don’t clock a lot of hours, but I powernap like a Persian cat and rejuvenate within ten minutes.

I consider shopping and dining out excellent therapy for anything wrong in my life.

My feet are always cold. Always. My husband claims it’s because I’m an alien sent to Earth to destroy him. (He might be right about that.)

Coming to my house for a visit? Unless you’ve given me plenty of advance notice, be prepared. My floor will not be vacuumed, there will be dishes in my sink, and I only make my bed when I change the sheets once a week (I’m climbing back into it ASAP. Why make it?) Housecleaning is not high on my priority list. Okay, to be totally honest, it’s not on the list at all.

I can resist anything…except ice cream.

Since this is our first date, I figure I’ve revealed enough secrets for now. But if you’ve read this bio and think I might be the author for you, pick up one of my books. You won’t be disappointed.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

#SnippetSunday – “So why was her body betraying her today?” – #romance #love #read #Free

 

Hello and happy Sunday … Thanks for stopping by.

Today’s snippet is from “I think I Love You”, book 3 of the Australian Sports Stars series. I moved forward a little to the reception. This is Sarah’s POV.

Enjoy ♥

accent-clipart-13309573511112670181decorative-lines-2_large

Tilting her head slightly to look at him, she let out a little sigh. He laughed and placed his arm around her for a little hug.
“Want to dance?”
His mouth was so close to her ear, she could feel his breath on her skin as he spoke. A little shiver went down her spine, and it took her by surprise. She’d known Markus for almost twenty years, and she couldn’t remember her body responding to him like this. It was a bit eerie. The combination of red wine, hangover, and the Panadol was obviously too much for her. After all, they’d shared lunches together at school, went together to movies or concerts, shared heartaches, and even their first kiss celebrating Mark’s thirteen’s birthday. Both decided then and there that it wasn’t for them. In all fairness, it’d been their third kiss, but they were about five years old when their mouths had accidentally met for the first time, and Markus had given her a wet, sloppy kiss in Kindergarten as well when she’d fallen off the slide.
So why was her body betraying her today?
“I’ve gotta take a raincheck, Marky,” she replied. “But thanks, anyway.”
“Wanna tell me what’s up with you?” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’re usually the first one on the dance floor and the last one to leave.”

 

Thanks for all your comments,
I do appreciate each single one of them!
And check out Snippet Sunday  Facebook site for other writers.

accent-clipart-13309573511112670181decorative-lines-2_large

 

#MFRWHooks “The bride is late,” #romance #mustread #amreading

♠♠  OUT NOW  ♠♠
The 3rd book in the Beginnings series was released last week, and I’d love to get “you hooked” with some snippets.
Enjoy ☺

 

Today’s Hook:

Mia let out a loud laugh, which earned her a glare from Mark, who stood at the front next to Zach. It had surprised everyone that Zach had asked him to be his best man. Although what could one expect from a family which was pulled together in so many odd circumstances. Mark O’Connor was Sophie’s husband, Mia Levesque’s brother-in-law, and little Hope’s dad. And Jared’s best buddy.
“For what it’s worth, there’s a huge difference,” Jared said, but he was instantly shushed by Mark’s parents who sat one row behind them.
Rolling his eyes, he went back to admiring his floral arrangements, toying with the idea of adding this service to his business. Possibly with the help of a staff member.
“The bride is late,” he heard someone say behind him. He had a guess it was Olivia, Mia’s best friend, who was always straightforward.
But as if on cue, the doors opened, and the bride entered the church.
Natasha looked beautiful in her lace-up, white chiffon dress. It was ruched at the back and emphasised her slim figure. She’d let her black hair grow and wore it in a French twist with pearls beaded into it. A delicate tiara graced her hairstyle.
Of course, he wouldn’t have known all the details if she hadn’t told him and shown him pictures as well as sketches so he would have had an idea for the flowers. Now that she was walking down the aisle, goose bumps spread across his skin. She looked stunning, and with a grin he leaned back, satisfied the lily-bouquet looked much better than any roses would have.

BLURB:
Jared Fraser, a landscape business owner in Hobart, Australia, sets out for a holiday to the USA to travel along the Route 66 in a motorhome. Looking forward to his first holiday overseas, he’s excited as he prepares himself for the journey. But little could’ve prepared him for crossing paths with a beautiful hitchhiker.
Will he be able to put his past aside and grab onto happiness?
Ivy Bennett thought leaving her boyfriend would be the hard part. It doesn’t take long to figure out how wrong she was. As she struggles with making a new start in her life, the last person she expects to lead her to happiness is a laid-back Australian on vacation.
But she will have to say goodbye again. And not only to Jared.

 

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2kyJsm9
AMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2hWGjMh
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2xsEtF2i
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2z7TPk5
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2g4b5C6

 

4 starsThe Romance Review – NEW BEGINNINGS is a very emotional read, one that is heartwarming as well as heart wrenching. It gives you hope in the act of human kindness and that good things do happen to good people. I highly recommend this book.

#SnippetSunday – “Damn, she wished that girl would leave him be.” – #romance #love #read #Free

 

Hello and happy Sunday … Thanks for stopping by.

Today’s snippet is from “I think I Love You”, book 3 of the Australian Sports Stars series. I moved forward a little to the reception. This is Sarah’s POV.

Enjoy ♥

accent-clipart-13309573511112670181decorative-lines-2_large

When she heard the start of the next song, an old ballad from the nineties, she opened her eyes and looked around. Oddly enough, her gaze fell on Markus straight away. Sarah still couldn’t believe how sexy he looked in the tuxedo. She smiled, because she’d seen him in his surf shorts, sans T-shirt often enough, but that tuxedo did something to her—or to him—that got her heart racing a little. Tilting her head a little, she studied him. As Markus was laughing at one of the guys’ jokes, she noticed his dimples even from the distance. He got them from his father, she thought. Very slowly an unfamiliar sensation crept up within her. It took her a moment to figure out the reason for it was the blonde girl next to Markus, trying desperately to get his attention.
Jealous?
Couldn’t be. She’d never been jealous of Markus’ girlfriends before, so why would she be today? Damn, she wished that girl would leave him be.
A long sigh escaped her.
Tired, she squeezed another little bit of lemon into her tea as she watched all the couples on the dance floor.
“Aww, baby, that’s your second cup of tea now. What’s the matter?” Markus asked as he sat next to her.
Startled, Sarah nearly spilled the tea.
Yet, the few simple words and his presence made her feel better already. As long as she was able to remember, Markus had called her baby. Initially, it had annoyed her, because she’d been so proud of having finally reached teenage years, but nowadays…nowadays she reeled in the comfort of their closeness.

 

Thanks for all your comments,
I do appreciate each single one of them!
And check out Snippet Sunday  Facebook site for other writers.

accent-clipart-13309573511112670181decorative-lines-2_large

 

#BookBlitz “Choosing Hope” by Holly Kammier @hkammier @XpressoTours

Choosing Hope
Holly Kammier
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller

Choosing Hope is a harrowing story of passion and deceit, the things we do for love and the rabbit holes we tumble into chasing elusive fairy-tale endings. Dark around the edges with a shocking twist I didn’t see coming, this is the kind of book you’ll be passing around to your friends so you can talk about it. Holly Kammier delivers romance, suspense, and a strong, smart heroine who turns out to be nobody’s victim. Don’t miss this one! – Kat Ross, best-selling author of The Midnight Sea

A broken marriage.
A love affair.
A lie that changes it all…

Hope Rains Sullivan is living the dream—a successful husband, two beautiful young boys, and a charming home in Northern California. She should be happy. She almost convinced herself she was, until Adrian came along.

Adrian, appears to be everything her husband isn’t. He works with his hands, and is even willing to use them in a fight. He’s sexy, strong and fit, with warm brown skin that alludes to his Spanish background. Best of all, he lives for spending time with his kids. Feeling alone in her marriage, Adrian offers her a way out

Hope’s affair is just the beginning. Her journey inward will require untangling her complicated past and surviving an astonishing revelation. Her lover is not who he pretends to be.

She’s searching for her happily-ever-after, and no matter how painful the journey, she’ll find what she’s been looking for all along—the chance to choose Hope.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

I held my breath for a beat and tilted my head to press my lips against his. Our mouths parted, fitting softly together at first, until he kissed me harder.

He tasted so good, my body pushed closer. Our lips knew each other. I moved on top of his lap, my legs on either side. His warmth, his crisp citrus scent. This was what kissing someone should feel like.

Hormones, pheromones, love, whatever it was, washed over me. I needed this man. I wanted to feel this way every hour of every single day.

My hand found its way up the back of his shirt. His skin ran hot. The ocean roared. I heard voices talking low, a couple walking by us.

His hand pressed into the small of my back. His other hand grabbed at the nape of my neck. He whispered, “I love you, Hope.”

I froze. He tried to kiss to me again. He couldn’t, not with my lower lip firmly entrenched in my teeth. I bit down with such force, I worried I’d draw blood. Why was he doing this to me? Why was I allowing it to happen?

His amber-green eyes looked into mine.

Tears pooled against my lashes.

“I wish you could feel what I’m feeling,” he said, “so you’d know it’s true.”

Author Bio:

Co-owner of Acorn Publishing, Holly Kammier is a UCLA honors graduate and an accomplished content editor. With a background in journalism, she has worked everywhere from CNN in Washington, D.C. and KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, to the NBC affiliate in small-town Medford, Oregon.

Holly is the best-selling author of the novel, Kingston Court, and Could Have Been Hollywood, a memoir. She recently completed her third book, Choosing Hope, a spin-off from Kingston Court. Choosing Hope is a harrowing story of passion and deceit, and the things we do for love.

Holly resides in her hometown of San Diego, California, close to family and friends. A world traveler in her younger years, these days when she isn’t writing or working with new authors, she spends much of her time hanging out with her two boys, Josh and Alex. Holly is an avid reader with a passion for timeless books and beautiful writing. She also enjoys long walks with her Jack Russell Terrier, romantic movies, and making her mischievous sons smile wider.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

#BlogTour “Fall From Grace” by Michelle Gross @AuthorMichelleG @StarAnge13 #FallFromGraceTour

  Title: Fall From Grace
By: Michelle Gross
Publication Date: November 1, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations
#FallFromGraceTour

Our first goodbye wasn’t our choice.
Our second was…
What do people say about third chances?

I would never forget the moment I met Noah at six years old,
nor would I forget the way I grew into myself next to him; with him.
I didn’t want to forget the way he kissed me for the first time or the way we were two kids pretending it was okay to do adult things.
What I did want to forget was the reason I walked away… and how he had to let me go.
Loving you had a consequence that was too much to bear.
Now I was an empty shell, half of who I was, who I want to be…
And I came back home after four long years and this time, I knew you weren’t going to let me go.
I’m afraid… because remembering why I walked away from our love in the first place was the hardest part of all.
But in order for you to understand my relationship with Noah, I have to start from the beginning… Before our love had a price, before they called our love “puppy love”, before I fell from grace…

I was the happiest when I was with him.

Funny how my feet felt like lead the days I left you, Noah… But now that I was back, they only felt like running.

This is a standalone romance that tells Grace and Noah’s story starting at age six, but don’t let that detour you from reading their story. This is a book meant for adults, and deals with mature themes. It’s a story about two kids loving each other and proving that maybe when you meet the one, you just know, even if you’re a kid.

AMAZON UK – https://goo.gl/LQMZqi
AMAZON CA – https://goo.gl/YCvTPM

 

Michelle is from a small town in Eastern Kentucky where opossums try to blend in with the cats on the porch and bears are likely to chase your pets—this is very true, it happened with her sister’s dog. Despite the extra needed protection for your pets, she loves the mountains she calls home. She has a man and twin girls who are the light of her life and the reason she’s slightly crazy.
As a kid, she was that cousin, that friend, that sister and daughter, the talker who could spin a tale and make-believe into any little thing so it was no surprise when she found love in reading, and figured all these characters inside her head needed an outlet. They wanted to be heard, so she wrote.
The voices keep growing faster than she gets the time to write.
The stories are never going to end. That’s perfectly okay, though. We never want to stop an adventure.
She writes and loves many different genres so sign up to her mailing list to keep updated on her releases!

Social Media Links

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/michellegrossauthor
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15037639.Michelle_Gross
Instagram – @michellegrossmg
Twitter – @AuthorMichelleG

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#MFRWHooks “You did well with the flowers” #romance #mustread #amreading

♠♠  OUT NOW  ♠♠
The 3rd book in the Beginnings series was released last week, and I’d love to get “you hooked” with some snippets.
Enjoy ☺

 

Today’s Hook:

Smoothing the lapels of his jacket, he took in the flower arrangements in the chapel. A sense of pride rose in him at how well it’d come together after all. Natasha had been so determined to use roses, but in the end she’d listened to his advice, and chosen November Lilies. They were everywhere, including the bouquet, and the arrangements came off stunning yet humble. Exactly what she’d told him she wanted.
“You did well with the flowers,” Mia whispered into his ear, hauling him back from his thoughts.
“Thanks. I thought so, too,” he replied. “Had to dig deep to remember how to do all of it.”
“Isn’t that your job?” Josh asked.
Josh was Mia’s boyfriend. They’d been going out for the last three years and were still going strong, a major feat considering they were in the strife of their teenaged years.
Jared was tempted to explain the difference between a florist and landscaping to Josh as well, but decided not to.
He didn’t have to, after all.
“He’s a landscaper,” Sophie added to the conversation. “There’s a big difference.”
Jared cocked an eyebrow towards Sophie, who was desperately trying to get her three-year-old daughter, Hope, to drink her milk before her afternoon nap. He knew very well that she never understood the difference either.
Josh chuckled. “Yeah, mate, but green is green, and plants are plants. Right?”

BLURB:
Jared Fraser, a landscape business owner in Hobart, Australia, sets out for a holiday to the USA to travel along the Route 66 in a motorhome. Looking forward to his first holiday overseas, he’s excited as he prepares himself for the journey. But little could’ve prepared him for crossing paths with a beautiful hitchhiker.
Will he be able to put his past aside and grab onto happiness?
Ivy Bennett thought leaving her boyfriend would be the hard part. It doesn’t take long to figure out how wrong she was. As she struggles with making a new start in her life, the last person she expects to lead her to happiness is a laid-back Australian on vacation.
But she will have to say goodbye again. And not only to Jared.

 

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2kyJsm9
AMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2hWGjMh
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2xsEtF2i
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2z7TPk5
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2g4b5C6

 

4 starsThe Romance Review – NEW BEGINNINGS is a very emotional read, one that is heartwarming as well as heart wrenching. It gives you hope in the act of human kindness and that good things do happen to good people. I highly recommend this book.