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My #Beginnings #Christmas #ShortStory – #Romance #Mustread #Bookseries

A few years ago I wrote a few books about sisters Sophie and Mia Levesque as well as their friends. Book #1 tells their story inheriting a house in Hobart / Tasmania without knowing who the generous testator was.

Loving the characters so much … I gave them a little Christmas Story a fewyears ago, which I believe is worth re-sharing again ♥.

ENJOY ♥♥♥

Sophie Levesque breathed in and out, in and out, trying hard to ignore the pain, and hoping for the paramedics to arrive soon.
“Sure, you don’t want me to drive you to the hospital?” her husband Mark asked.
She glared at him as she breathed in and out again.
Her sister Mia gently placed a pillow under her head. “Keep breathing. In … and … out.”
Sophie grabbed her sister’s wrist. “I know what to do,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Geesh,” Mia’s fiancée Josh commented. “A bit touchy isn’t she.”
The doorbell rang and Josh headed towards the front door. Sophie heard muffled voices and a bark of laughter.
“Great timing, Soph,” Zach said as he stepped into the room, closely followed by his wife, Natasha. “The Christmas Eve service is starting in half an hour.”
An urge to push overwhelmed Sophie and she squeezed Mia’s wrist and reached out for Mark’s hand.
“No pushing, honey. Don’t push. Breathe, keep on breathing.”
If Sophie could’ve, she’d hit him with another glare.
Natasha came closer and sat next to her. “Aiming for your own little Christmas story, are you?”
“Okay, everyone,” Sophie panted. “Forget the paramedics. Get whatever it is you need to deliver a baby.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed helpless stares. “Go!” she screamed as the next urge to push hit her.
“I think I heard something about warm water,” someone said.
“And towels.”
“A blanket.”
When Mark made a move to leave, she held on tight to his hand. “You,” she gasped. “You stay here.”
He nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“You need to look whether you can see the baby.”
Mark’s eyebrows shot up as he paled.
“Oh, for God’s sake, Mark. Nothing you haven’t seen before.”
“Well,” he stuttered. “They were different circumstances.”
“Get used to these circumstances,” she screamed as another wave of pain hit her.
Mark moved her dress up her legs and took off her panties. “Honey, it’s not the best sight, but … oh my God …”
“What?”
“I can see the head,” he said excitedly. “Holy shit.”
Mia returned with the water, Natasha had some towels in her hands, and Zach gave her a sip of water. In the corner of the room sat Josh, right next to the Christmas tree with the phone in his hand, pale as a block of goat cheese, taking instructions from the doctor.
Over the next fifteen minutes, Sophie pushed, screamed, and ordered everyone around. By the time the paramedics arrived, Sophie held a little baby in her arms, with Mark by her side.
“It seems we’re late,” one of the paramedics said with a smile. He stepped closer and knelt in front of Sophie. “What’s his name?”
“Her name is Natalie.”
“Perfect and so appropriate. Congratulations.”

#MFRWHooks ”We’re here to meet my dad.” #BookReview #TuesdayTeaser #ReadersFavorite

Hi everyone – One of my first books has received a nice review from READERS FAVORITE which will be today’s Hook. More of the book next week.
Enjoy ♥♥

@iris_blobel IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE 🥰 #lovelife #regretnothing #readerscommunity #fyp #foryourepage #readersoftiktok #booktok #newzealandtiktok #romancenovels #lovestory❤️ ♬ original sound – Sarah Cothran

This week’s Hook …

“We’re not on a holiday,” the girl replied in almost a whisper. “We’re here to meet my dad.”

She watched the girl hop off after Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, who Emma assumed were the girl’s grandparents. The girl’s words about her father played on Emma’s mind, and she tried to figure out the meaning of it when she remembered what the girl had said about her mother. Sadness settled within her as she watched Mrs. Gibbs rushing her husband and Nadine into the lift before the door slid shut.

A familiar voice brought her back from her wandering thoughts. “Emma! Come on, stop dreaming.”

Emma shot around and saw Jack, standing next to her. He wasn’t only her colleague, but also her flatmate, as they shared living in a small house. The corners of her mouth curved. “Jack! Where’ve you been?”

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Morning tea.”

“Are you serious? You were gone for an hour, leaving me with all the check-ins and no time for the mail and bookings.”

Grinning, he ruffled her hair, leaving her ponytail in a mess. “Another bad hair day?”

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers’ Favorite

Innocent Tears by Iris Blobel is an intriguing romance within a romance. The reader’s attention is captured from the first page to the very last sentence, which is most unexpected. The journey that the author takes the reader on has so many twists and turns that at times the reader will wonder if it will come to a romantic conclusion as themes of human nature, both good, bad, indifferent, confused, and loving race through the book. Iris Blobel uses the characters’ natures to good advantage as she spins her tale of love, loss, and romance.

The author has used situations that are both good, bad, and downright scary, which her main characters get themselves into, to keep the reader on their toes with fear, hope, and joy that the story will have a happy ending. Readers will find themselves enthralled by the lives of Emma, Flynn McCormack, Theresa, William Gibbs, Mr. Morgan, Jack, Fran, Jacqui and not forgetting the star of the story, Nadine, better known as Naddie. These main characters appear and reappear throughout the plot.

This interesting book is very well worth reading. It is light but holds your attention to the end. The author brings her beautiful love story to an unexpected climactic conclusion. Thank you, Iris, for a relaxing yet nail-biting and exciting read. Innocent Tears will make the hours in a day fly, especially when waiting in doctors’ rooms and airports. Much appreciated.

Blurb:

Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn McCormack, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it pulls the feet right out from underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight. He didn’t know about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody.

With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’ ideas, and Emma is voicing her opinion, too, leaving Nadine right in the middle of it all, still grieving the loss of her mother. There’s no doubt she’s afraid about where and with whom she will settle.

Will a letter Flynn receives help him decide what to do?

Get your copy today!

#BookBlitz “Guiding the Grouch” by @ShannaHatfield @XPressoTours

Guiding the Grouch
Shanna Hatfield
(Summer Creek, #5)
Publication date: 15/12/ 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

He’s a billionaire set on escaping the holidays and his demanding family.
She’s a single mom with a sunny smile who keeps her heart safely hidden.
When she makes him her personal Christmas project, what could possibly go wrong?

Gabe Gatlin would do anything to evade the obligatory family holiday hobnobbing that is nothing more than one horrible business event after another, all wrapped up with a gaudy Christmas ribbon. Then the opportunity arises to explore a property in the small town of Summer Creek, Oregon, and gives him the idea to run away for the holidays. This year, he’s skipping Christmas. All he has to do is hide out until January in the quirky little town where the residents have dubbed him Grinchy Gabe. But when a delightful woman starts making his sleigh bells jingle, he might find it impossible to avoid losing his three-sizes-too-small heart.

Single mom and waitress, Dani Latham, has two priorities: give her son the stable life she never had, and spread joy to her friends and neighbors in Summer Creek. When a stranger with a grinchy attitude sits at her table, she makes it her personal mission to make him smile. As she guides him into a flurry of Christmas festivities, she starts to wonder if this grounch’s heart will ever return to normal size. And even worse. . . if it does, who is going to save hers from breaking when he leaves?

Will a little Christmas magic and wonder bring these two lonesome people together?

Discover the joys of the season mixed with humor, holiday fun, and moments that tug at your heartstrings in this sweet contemporary Christmas romance.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

As he listened to three more calls from Monique, they got progressively more annoying. The call from just an hour earlier ended with her making threats to “have Daddy fire you” if he didn’t come home and fulfill his holiday obligations.

“Maybe I don’t want to be there,” Gabe said, unaware of his dark glower or that he spoke aloud as he scrolled through a dozen of Monique’s infuriating text messages. “Maybe I’ll skip every holiday from now until the end of time. Maybe I actually despise Christmas and all the hoopla of the stupid, stupid season!”

“Well, aren’t you a grouchy one,” a teasing voice spoke from beside him, “I believe you could use a dose of Christmas cheer before you whip out the phone book and begin alphabetically listing all the people you hate. Or is it loathe?”

Gabe had no idea about her reference to the phone book, and he didn’t care. Irritated at being interrupted, he glanced up and stared at the server.

The stunning woman smiling at him could have been an angel as the overhead lights created a halo around her golden hair. Hers was a rare beauty. The kind that didn’t need makeup to enhance it, although she wore a light coat of mascara and lip gloss. She was of medium height and willowy, with high cheekbones, a generous mouth, and hazel eyes that twinkled with mirth. If she lived in New York City, he had no doubt she’d be in high demand as a fashion model. What was a woman with her looks and seductive voice doing in such a backwater place taking food and drink orders?

He envisioned her in a ruby-red velvet evening gown, strolling on his arm to a symphony performance. The picture in his mind was so real, so clear, he felt the oddest sense of knowing this woman deep in his soul.

Dumbfounded by his thoughts, Gabe felt like someone had sucked the air right out of his lungs.

The woman slid the menu closer to him “Chef Owen is one of the best in the Pacific Northwest. You can choose anything and know it’s going to be wonderful. Take a look at the menu. I’ll be right back.”

The angel strode across the room, walked behind the bar, and disappeared through a doorway before he could engage enough brain cells to utter a single word to her.

Gabe picked up the menu, but it might as well have been written in hieroglyphics based on his sudden inability to read. It was like his brain had just decided to take a vacation and left him in the lurch.

 

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.

Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Bookbub / Newsletter

 

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


#SnippetSunday “Why did you ask her to leave?” #booktwt #bookish #AuthorsOfTwitter

I’ll continue today with a snippet from ECHOES OF THE PAST, Book 1 in the Fermosa Bay Series. ENJOY ♥

ENJOY ♥

@iris_blobel #booktok #kindleunlimitedromance #fyp #fallinlove #regretnothing #smalltownromancebook #readerscommunity #romancenovels #bookstagram ♬ Only Time – Enya

Today’s Snippet

The reaction from his father wasn’t what he expected, though. With his shoulders sagged, Jack closed his eyes. He looked so old and frail. From what Connor saw in all the photos around the house, cancer had taken a lot of life out of his father, leaving behind a haggard body with no energy left. Initially, he’d been taken aback by their similarities in looks, with their dark brown eyes and dark blond hair, including the stubborn curl above the ears, but after all, Jack was his father.

“Ethan was your best friend when you lived here.”

Pain shot through Connor as he was again confronted with a piece of information about his past that he knew nothing about. What had happened all those years ago, that his memory blocked these recollections of his childhood?

“How is your mother?” Jack wanted to know suddenly.

Connor clenched his jaw, trying hard to hold back to frustration and hoping it was a sign of the illness that his father wasn’t able to hold on to one topic anymore. He studied the old man as he listened to his heavy breathing. Jack was thin and pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

“She’s doing well,” he replied after a long moment.

“Married?”

“Yes.”

A smile spread across Jack’s face. “She was beautiful when she lived here. So beautiful.”

Leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees, Connor asked calmly, “Why did you ask her to leave?”

Get your copy of “IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE” here ♥

#BookTour “All Our Secrets” by Michelle Gross @AuthorMichelleG @XpressoTours

 

 

All Our Secrets
Michelle Gross

Publication date: December 12th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

 

 

 

“Moments define us. A split-second decision can shape your future, and you don’t realize it until it’s too late.”

Peyton Johnson:

The day I meet my boyfriend’s best friend, King; my king disappears. Everything’s fine when my gaming friend fades away like smoke because Theo consumes me entirely. Theodore Johnson becomes my husband, and our life is beautiful until it isn’t.

Theo’s gone and all that’s left of him is the unborn child in my stomach.

Silas King:
The day I meet my best friend’s girl, my heart recognizes her as my Peyton. I loved her first, but that doesn’t matter. Theo’s the only family I’d ever known and compared to him, I’m ugly and scarred. Peyton’s king disappears because Theo is everything I’m not. He will make her happy. I think that will be enough for me to let go, but it isn’t.
Then he dies, leaving her behind…

Until he comes back and I’m the only one that can see him.

Theodore Johnson:

The day I meet Peyton; my life is complete. I want to give her the world, but life doesn’t always work out that way. Now, I’m fog, slipping through her life without her knowing. Silas is the only one that knows I’m here, but it doesn’t matter. He’s going to steal her away. I can’t let him.

I loved her first, and forever will.

A romantic standalone with a ghostly twist!

Goodreads / Amazon

 

Author Bio:

Michelle is from a small town in Eastern Kentucky where possums 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!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


#MFRWHooks ”Tell me about the tooth fairy.” #Review #TuesdayTeaser #Booktwt #ReadersFavorite

Hi everyone – One of my first books has received a nice review from READERS FAVORITE which will be today’s Hook. More of the book next week.
Enjoy ♥♥

@iris_blobel IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE 🥰 #lovelife #regretnothing #readerscommunity #fyp #foryourepage #readersoftiktok #booktok #newzealandtiktok #romancenovels #lovestory❤️ ♬ original sound – Sarah Cothran

This week’s Hook …

“And I see the tooth fairy has been to see you recently.”

“Excuse me—” Mrs. Gibbs glanced at Emma’s name badge. “—Emma. Can we proceed with the check-in please?”

“My apologies, ma’am.” Emma read the details on the screen, made a few notes, and turned to activate the automated door card in the back office. All the while, she was conscious of Mrs. Gibbs’ glare on her, and she instinctively pulled on her navy uniform skirt. She hated how the woman made her uncomfortable. Retrieving a paper pouch for the card, Emma sighed inwardly. She was in her early twenties and still lacked confidence, not to mention she worried about other people’s opinions of her. Tucking an escaping strand of her tawny hair behind her ear, she tried to keep a positive attitude because, after all, she loved working at the All Stars Hotel in Melbourne. It was something she had always wanted to do—to welcome people to this beautiful city and make their stay as comfortable as possible. And she was often told how popular she was with staff and guests alike for her positive attitude, her generous heart, and her kind spirit.

“Ma’am, that’d be room five-O-two. If you go to the right over there, take the lift to the fifth floor, and follow the hall to the near end, you will find room five-O-two on your right.”

Teresa Gibbs took the card from Emma and turned it in her hands.

“Ma’am, you slide it into the door instead of a key. I’m happy to ask someone to come with you and show—”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you.” And without any more words, Mrs. Gibbs turned to go.

Biting back a comment, Emma leaned across the counter instead and smiled at Nadine. “Enjoy your holidays,” she said with a wink. “And come see me sometime to tell me about the tooth fairy.”

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers’ Favorite

Innocent Tears by Iris Blobel is an intriguing romance within a romance. The reader’s attention is captured from the first page to the very last sentence, which is most unexpected. The journey that the author takes the reader on has so many twists and turns that at times the reader will wonder if it will come to a romantic conclusion as themes of human nature, both good, bad, indifferent, confused, and loving race through the book. Iris Blobel uses the characters’ natures to good advantage as she spins her tale of love, loss, and romance.

The author has used situations that are both good, bad, and downright scary, which her main characters get themselves into, to keep the reader on their toes with fear, hope, and joy that the story will have a happy ending. Readers will find themselves enthralled by the lives of Emma, Flynn McCormack, Theresa, William Gibbs, Mr. Morgan, Jack, Fran, Jacqui and not forgetting the star of the story, Nadine, better known as Naddie. These main characters appear and reappear throughout the plot.

This interesting book is very well worth reading. It is light but holds your attention to the end. The author brings her beautiful love story to an unexpected climactic conclusion. Thank you, Iris, for a relaxing yet nail-biting and exciting read. Innocent Tears will make the hours in a day fly, especially when waiting in doctors’ rooms and airports. Much appreciated.

Blurb:

Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn McCormack, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it pulls the feet right out from underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight. He didn’t know about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody.

With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’ ideas, and Emma is voicing her opinion, too, leaving Nadine right in the middle of it all, still grieving the loss of her mother. There’s no doubt she’s afraid about where and with whom she will settle.

Will a letter Flynn receives help him decide what to do?

Get your copy today!

#SnippetSunday “You left with your mother.” #booktwt #bookish #amazonkindle

I’ll continue today with a snippet from ECHOES OF THE PAST, Book 1 in the Fermosa Bay Series. ENJOY ♥

ENJOY ♥

@iris_blobel #booktok #kindleunlimitedromance #fyp #fallinlove #regretnothing #smalltownromancebook #readerscommunity #romancenovels #bookstagram ♬ Only Time – Enya

Today’s Snippet

When Jack didn’t answer, he turned to look at his father who stared into the distance, a withdrawn expression on his face.

“You were constantly in the water. Whatever opportunity you had, you grabbed your little board and spent most of the day there.”

Now intrigued by the small information about his childhood, Connor asked, “What happened?”

His father shrugged. “You left with your mother.”

Not all that happy with the reply, Connor sat down on the chair next to Jack while letting out a long breath. “Something must’ve happened. I never go near water, let alone go in it.”

Still gazing into the distance, Jack said, “I still have the blue board. Ethan’s little son sometimes uses it nowadays.”

Unsure where the conversation was heading, Connor went along. “Who’s Ethan?” he asked.

Get your copy of “IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE” here ♥

#MFRWHooks ”Innocent Tears” #Review #Bookish #TuesdayTeaser #Booktwt #ReadersFavorite

Hi everyone – One of my first books has received a nice review from READERS FAVORITE which will be today’s Hook. More of the book next week.
Enjoy ♥♥

@iris_blobel IN THE SHADOWS OF A LIE 🥰 #lovelife #regretnothing #readerscommunity #fyp #foryourepage #readersoftiktok #booktok #newzealandtiktok #romancenovels #lovestory❤️ ♬ original sound – Sarah Cothran

This week’s Hook …

“My mum is dead.”

Startled, Emma peeked over the reception desk and right into a pair of beautiful green eyes belonging to a little girl with brown curly hair and a freckled button nose, and despite of the girl’s words, a faint smile tugged at Emma’s lips. The girl’s eyes that held a hint of mischief and curiosity, as well as sadness, and Emma was drawn to her instantly.

“Nadine!”

An elderly woman approached the reception and her stern voice caused Emma to flinch. She saw the girl stiffen, her eyes wide open now.

“My apologies for that,” the woman said to Emma, although the expression on her face didn’t reveal any signs of regrets.

Emma studied the face across the counter, which reflected a life of bitterness, the lines around her eyes and mouth deep and weathered. An elderly man joined them, and after a brief nod of acknowledgment Emma asked, “May I help you?”

“Yes. We would like to check in. Gibbs. Teresa Gibbs,” the woman answered.

Emma typed the name on the keyboard, and while she waited for the details, she smiled at the girl, and asked, “Holidays?”

Nadine’s face spread into a small smile that was just enough to show she had her two top teeth missing.

“And I see the tooth fairy has been to see you recently.”

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers’ Favorite

Innocent Tears by Iris Blobel is an intriguing romance within a romance. The reader’s attention is captured from the first page to the very last sentence, which is most unexpected. The journey that the author takes the reader on has so many twists and turns that at times the reader will wonder if it will come to a romantic conclusion as themes of human nature, both good, bad, indifferent, confused, and loving race through the book. Iris Blobel uses the characters’ natures to good advantage as she spins her tale of love, loss, and romance.

The author has used situations that are both good, bad, and downright scary, which her main characters get themselves into, to keep the reader on their toes with fear, hope, and joy that the story will have a happy ending. Readers will find themselves enthralled by the lives of Emma, Flynn McCormack, Theresa, William Gibbs, Mr. Morgan, Jack, Fran, Jacqui and not forgetting the star of the story, Nadine, better known as Naddie. These main characters appear and reappear throughout the plot.

This interesting book is very well worth reading. It is light but holds your attention to the end. The author brings her beautiful love story to an unexpected climactic conclusion. Thank you, Iris, for a relaxing yet nail-biting and exciting read. Innocent Tears will make the hours in a day fly, especially when waiting in doctors’ rooms and airports. Much appreciated.

Blurb:

Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn McCormack, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it pulls the feet right out from underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight. He didn’t know about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody.

With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’ ideas, and Emma is voicing her opinion, too, leaving Nadine right in the middle of it all, still grieving the loss of her mother. There’s no doubt she’s afraid about where and with whom she will settle.

Will a letter Flynn receives help him decide what to do?

Get your copy today!