Book Blitz OF Had Me AS Howdy By Mary Karlik.(#Contests-Win An Amazon Gift Card.)

Had Me At Howdy
Mary Karlik
(A Hillside * Spring Creek Novel)
Publication date: November 22nd 2025
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Platinum credit card? Deactivated. New car? Sold. Best life ever? Canceled.

Thanks to my dad losing his job, we’ve ditched Chicago for Fumbuck, Texas—population: redneck. Now I’m living on a rundown farm, scrubbing dishes, and driving a rusty pickup. Worst of all? I’m stuck working alongside a cowboy.

But this Cinderella isn’t giving up. I’ll claw my way back to the luxe life I left behind—and no one, not even infuriatingly chill, stupidly handsome Austin McCoy is going to stop me. Even if he does make feeding the chickens weirdly… enjoyable.

She thinks she’s just passing through. I’m hoping she stays.
I kind of feel for the Quinn sisters. City girls don’t belong in Spring Creek—but Kelsey? There’s more to her than designer labels and eye rolls. When she forgets to be angry, I see it—like the way her eyes light up when she feeds the chickens.

Now all I have to do is convince her the guy she really wants is me, not some rich dude taking her to a ball in Chicago.

Content Warning: This work contains a subplot involving death, grief, and an off-page instance of date rape. While these events are not depicted directly, they are referenced and may be distressing to some readers.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

The universe had completely crapped on Kelsey Quinn’s life.

She dabbed at her eyes, blew her nose, and wadded up the tissue before dropping it to the pile on the seat next to her. Pressing her forehead against the car window, she watched the scenery fly by at seventy miles per hour. They passed Bob’s Stay and Go combination gas station—fast food restaurant—hotel, followed by some weird concrete starship-shaped pizza parlor. Next, three-foot fluorescent letters screamed about redemption across a junkyard fence surrounding rusted pieces of mangled metal. The few words of scripture painted there weren’t going change her fate. Her dad was in the driver’s seat and they were heading straight for the armpit of Texas.

With a sigh she slumped against the seat and tried not to think about the boyfriend who’d been ripped from her life, or the best friend she’d been forced to leave behind. But it wasn’t just her forced exile from Drew and Zoe. She’d lost her identity. At St. Monica’s, she knew who she was and where she fit in. It was her senior year, the year she’d looked forward to for as long as she was in school. They had taken it away with less thought than the car they’d sold one afternoon while she and Zoe were shopping. None of it was her fault. She was a victim of her dad’s incompetence on one hand and her sister’s immorality on the other.

Her dad exited onto a two-lane highway where they were greeted by a faded, Welcome to Hillside Texas, Population 5000, sign. They slowed to a crawl as they entered the town. At a four-way stop her mom screeched, “Oh my God Tom, look at the cute little diner. We’re all starving, let’s stop before we go to the house.”

“Sounds good to me. Jack’s not expecting us for another couple of hours anyway.” Dad angled the Infinity between two pickup trucks and turned off the engine.

The diner was nestled in the center of a row of dilapidated two story buildings. Early Bird Café was painted in bright blue letters across the glass. Kelsey pulled her compact mirror from her purse and studied her reflection. She’d been crying for two days, no amount of makeup magic would fix her swollen red eyes. It didn’t matter. She didn’t care about this place or these people. She sure as heck didn’t care what they thought about her. She shoved the mirror back into her purse.

Her younger sister, Ryan, looked all wide-eyed and curious. And worse, she actually looked excited to investigate this hick little town. Why not? It was her fault they were in this mess in the first place. Her parents would have been justified to ship Ryan off to some kind of school for troubled kids. But no—Quinns don’t give up on their own. Everybody had to suffer because Ryan couldn’t say no to drugs or boys.

Mackenzie, Kelsey’s youngest sister, flipped her compact gymnast’s body from the third seat to the back seat nailing Ryan in the shoulder with her foot.

“Watch it!” Ryan drew her fist back, but before she could get the hit off Mackenzie flashed a cherub smile and released a powder sugar apology. Yeah. That wasn’t an accident. Kelsey almost smiled when she saw foot impact with shoulder. Mackenzie had been fairly silent about the ruin Ryan’s exploits had done to her life. Apparently, she had her limits too.

Author Bio:

Join Mary's newsletter: https://maryjwilson.com/contact/

Mary Karlik (also writing as Mary J. Wilson) combines her Texas roots with her Scottish heritage to write happily-ever-afters from Texas to Scotland.

Mary has five indie-published contemporary young adult romance novels and two fantasy novels.

Mary earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, has a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University, and is currently studying Scottish Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye, Scotland. She is also a certified, professional ski instructor and a Registered Nurse.

Mary is an active member of Contemporary Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Dallas Area Romance Authors. Married to a Scott, Mary lives in both and Scotland and Texas.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY!

Had Me At Howdy Blitz

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Book Blitz of Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods. (#contests- Win an Amazon Gift Card.)

Goalie and the Girl Next Door
Elsie Woods
(Love in Maple Falls)
Publication date: September 10th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

 

My life was perfect except for the occasional goat emergency. Then a charming French goalie with dimples turned my life upside down. Rude.

Marcy
I came to Maple Falls to rebuild my life with nothing but four pencil skirts and a broken heart, courtesy of my hockey-playing ex. I like numbers because they don’t lie, and I like my quiet ranch life because it’s predictable.

Enter Clément Rivière—the devastatingly charming French goalie who shows up shirtless to help with barn work, whispers sweet French nothings to our goat, and looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world. But I’m not the only one falling for his act—half the town’s women are already under his spell, and I refuse to be just another conquest.

Clément
I traded Paris for small-town Washington to chase my big league dreams and restore a historic house that’s trying to kill me daily. What I didn’t expect was the town’s brilliant, beautiful accountant who treats me like I’m a tax audit waiting to happen.

Marcy Fontaine sees right through my act and makes me want things I never knew were missing. But she’s been burned by a hockey player before, and I’m running out of time to prove I’m different. There’s a ticking time bomb inside me, and my career is on the line.

If I can’t stay, we’ll both have to decide if love is worth the risk—or if some dreams are too good to be true.

***

Goalie and the Girl Next Door is a grumpy-sunshine, wounded hero, fish-out-of-water hockey romcom in the Love in Maple Falls series. Add some goat whispering, sunrise kisses, and a guaranteed happily ever after sweeter than maple cupcakes and you have this sweet romance with all the heart and no spice.

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you’ll enjoy them best in order.

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

I’m about to lay into my workplace nemesis who has insulted my attention to detail when a voice fills the meeting room. The voice is loud, joyful, and deeply French.

“Bonjour, bureaucratic friends!”

Phillip nearly jumps out of his loafers and my hand jerks reflexively, and the documents I’m holding scatter like leaves in a windstorm.

A tall man with sun-kissed skin, messy curls, and a hockey duffel slung over one shoulder strides in. He’s grinning like the world’s been personally generous to him this morning, and I’m too stunned to do anything but stare.

“I’m looking for Mayor Thompkins,” he says. “It’s about a building permit.”

He moves smooth, confident, annoyingly magnetic. His jeans cling in a way that is definitely not accidental, and the forest green Henley shirt he’s wearing looks like it was made for slow, appreciative glances. Not that I’m giving him one.

There’s an ease to him, that particular breed of European polish that turns heads even when it shouldn’t.

My better judgment crosses its arms, but my pulse, traitorous thing, doesn’t listen.

When I get over my momentary freeze-up, I drop to my knees, scrambling to recover the paperwork. The Frenchman crouches to help me, entirely unbothered.

“Wow,” he says, flashing a smile as he picks up a page. “Do all town meetings start with this much paper throwing? Because I’m in.”

I don’t know who this guy thinks he is, but he’s holding the town’s most sensitive finances in one very large, very tanned hand.

I snatch the paper from him and say the first thing that comes to mind.

“You’re not supposed to be here.”

He winks, and I’d like to smack that smug grin right off his perfectly chiseled face. “I get that a lot.”

Author Bio:

Elsie Woods is an author of giggly romantic comedy with a big dose of furry friends. While born in Canada, she abandoned cold winters for southern France with her golden retriever and unicycling French hubby. When not writing, she can be found sipping tiny coffees by the Mediterranean, hiking with her hubby and dog, or munching on the most delicious cheese in the world.

Don’t forget to try her free novella available on Amazon: Faking Christmas Love at the Doggy Spa!

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

Goalie and the Girl Next Door Blitz

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Book Blitz of the Audiobook The 21-Day Boyfriend by A.S. Kelly (#contests- Enter to win A $25 Amazon Gift Card)

The 21-Day Boyfriend
A.S. Kelly
Publication date: May 21 2025 (Audiobook)
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Eric O’Shea needs to make a decision. The annual event his family forces him to attend is just around the corner, and he doesn’t have a date.

Eric never needs help when it comes to finding men. But this time is different – his ex and his new boyfriend will be there, and Eric can’t just bring along one of his usual flings.

His only hope seems to be him: the best friend of his best friend, who he never wanted to meet.

Sean Quinn is a calm, collected, and cultured man; someone who would rather stay at home and read a book than waste his time chasing a date with no future.

Sean isn’t in a rush to find the perfect man, and he certainly doesn’t intend to go out with Eric: his best friend’s other best friend, who he’s avoided meeting for years.

But Sean has a flaw: he can’t say no to anyone, especially not when it comes to his friend Jake, who has a habit of worming his way into other people’s lives.

But it’s just one date, after all: pure fiction. It’s a shame, then, that when Eric needs Sean for another favour, he can’t turn his back. It’s a shame that just when Sean is beginning to understand that Eric isn’t what he seems, he can’t seem to stop before he gets hurt.

Twenty-one days: that’s the agreement.
Twenty-one days of grazing hands, furtive glances, and unexpected kisses.
Twenty-one days where anything goes; except falling in love.

Goodreads / Amazon / Audible / Apple / Kobo / Google Play

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AUDIO TEASER:

Author Bio:

A. S. Kelly writes Rom-Com, Romantic Fiction and Family Saga.
Avid reader, hopeless romantic, lover of yoga, knitting and home baking.
She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar.

 

 

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

GIVEAWAY!
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Book Blitz of The Captain's Crush by Freda Ann (#contests- Enter to Win An Amazon Gift Card- THREE WINNERS.

The Captain’s Crush
Freda Ann
(A Bliss Cay Novella, #6)
Publication date: June 13th 2025
Genres: Sweet & Clean Romance/Christian Romance/Contemporary Romance

Amelia Marks met her first love, Lewis, on summer vacation twenty-six years ago as a teenager, but their future goals kept them apart once they left Bliss Cay.

Now a successful middle-aged widow, and mother to a teenage daughter, her career brings her back to the island, the same place where she met Lewis. After he pulls her over in his police car, she’s stunned when he insists they’ve never met.

Flat out mad that he’s making her feel like a complete stranger, considering the summer they shared together, Amelia is determined to leave her feelings for him in the past. That was before Amelia discovers she’s now his new boss at the Bliss Cay Police Department and his name is not Lewis, it’s Jesse, who shares a striking resemblance to the boy who stole her heart all those years ago.

This mid-life love story is about heartbreak, family bonds, and some unexpected new beginnings with a happily ever after ending.

(All books in this series are ‘standalone’ beach town love stories with new main characters in each book.)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Only 99c for a limited time!

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EXCERPT:

Snapping back from my little trip down memory lane, a blaring siren pierces my helmet. I momentarily pull my gaze from the road to check the sideview mirrors for the cause.

I catch a glimpse of the police car behind me and ease my bike into the safety zone out of its way. Upon doing so, the marked car pulls behind me. I come to a stop putting the kickstand down and shutting the engine off.

Seriously? Relaxing my arms I force a breath out and rest my hands on my thighs waiting for the cop to approach me.

Hearing footsteps closing in, I turn to face them. Despite my helmet blocking a clear view, I notice a tall, muscular figure stopping a few feet in front of my bike.

Meeting his gaze, I see a man in uniform wearing dark sunglasses and his department issued hat resting his hands on his belt.

“Ma’am.” He gives me a slight nod. “I need your license and registration, please.”

Resisting the urge to ask the common question of ‘did I do something wrong officer’, I settle for, “No problem.”

Unzipping my vest I reach for the inside pocket, where I keep the paperwork. Pulling out what I need, I hand it to him and sit up tall while he looks them over.

As he scans my driver’s license and motorcycle registration, I furrow a brow studying his facial features. But when he senses me watching him, he lowers his hand and tips his head up staring back at me.

“Is something wrong?” The cop asks.

Curiosity gets the best of me the more I hear his voice. “Have we met before?”

Giving me a boyish grin as if he thinks I’m flirting with him, he dips his head and chuckles. “Uh, no ma’am. I can assure you we’ve never met, at least not until now.”

He hands me the papers when I say, “I guess not then. So, was I speeding or something?”

“Technically Ms. Marks you were going a little over the speed limit, but that’s not why I stopped you. There’s been a bike just like yours driving recklessly and cutting drivers off for a few weeks now. I’m just trying to keep everyone on our island safe.”

“Well, I appreciate that.”

He takes a step, stopping next to me while pulling his glasses halfway down his nose, looking over the top of them. “I hope you enjoy your stay ma’am.”

Peeking at the name tag on his chest, I state, “Thank you Officer Lewis. I’m sure I will.”

When he eases his car around me, I slide the papers back into my pocket. My brows raise up as his voice and what I could see of his eyes tickle a memory. “Wait, Officer Lewis? They wouldn’t use first names here, would they?”

I stare at the back of his patrol car as he drives away. That can’t be my Lewis, no way. He didn’t live here when we met. I could never forget his voice, eyes, or smile even after all of these years.

Author Bio:

Freda Ann is fondly known for her sweet/clean, HEA RomComs. Her loyal fans and reviewers have compared several of her books to Hallmark movies. Many have hit #1 in multiple categories after release.

She writes relatable, faith and family based love stories which include kids and adorable dogs. Her writing style appeals to people of all ages. Her books will take you on an emotional journey with likable characters, and dreamy settings you'll wish you could visit.

After retiring from a career in the law enforcement field, Freda feels blessed to be able to write and self-publish her stories for everyone to read. She adores her large family, 5 children and 9 grandchildren, and hosts monthly family gatherings.

To hear about new releases, please follow her on Amazon and also on Goodreads.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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LIKE FREE BOOKS- The Author is giving away 7500 copies of the Novel Cinematic Destinies by Patricia Leavy ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL WIN A $150 AMAZON GIFT CARD(#contests)

Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It's easy... just complete the Rafflecopter below and you'll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

So, what's the book about? Here's the info:

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?

Reviews

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review

“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

About the Author:

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. 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.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/45ZoRfY

Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz of Wistful Whispers by Kaylene Winter (#contests- Enter ti win a signed copy of the book and swag)

Wistful Whispers
Kaylene Winter
(Charming Irish, #3)
Publication date: June 9th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Wistful Whispers is an irresistible battle of the wills where surrendering to forbidden temptation could cost them everything.

I never promised forever.
A good time? Absolutely.
Heartbreak? Only if they got too attached.

My reputation as a quiet playboy precedes me—women talk, and my ‘talents ’follow me wherever I go. But I’ve always been upfront. No commitments. No expectations. No complications.

Marcella Delgado is nothing but complications. Brilliant. Fierce. Eight years older. And the attorney trying to take down my boss in a malpractice case. She should hate me on sight—hell, she does. But that doesn’t stop the heat between us from igniting the moment we meet.

She’s heard the stories about me firsthand, right there in the depositions. She knows exactly what I’m good at, and even though she fights it, I can see the temptation in her eyes.

One night. One line crossed.
Now my future’s unraveling—and she might be the only thing I don’t want to let go.

For the first time, I want it all.

And I’ll fight like hell to be the man she can’t leave behind.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

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Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Blitz of Falling for the CEO A Billionare Romance Collection (#Contests- Enter to Win A Signed Copy of All of the Books)

Falling for the CEO: A Billionaire Romance Collection
Anna Zaires, Brenna Aubrey, Evelyn Austin, Lee Savino, Misha Bell, Renee Rose, Tasha Boyd, Theodora Taylor
Publication date: June 5th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Boardroom chemistry meets bedroom passion! When ordinary women step into a billionaire’s world of luxury and power, sparks fly and hearts race. Indulge in 8 COMPLETE novels of steamy workplace romances where ambition, wealth, and magnetic attraction collide. This exclusive collection of swoon-worthy stories delivers all the drama, passion, and heart-melting moments you crave—available for a LIMITED TIME only!

Wall Street Titan by Anna Zaires

One high-end matchmaker, one dating app, one mix-up that changes everything… Opposites may attract, but can this last?

Holt: Her Ruthless Scion by Theodora Taylor

Born into one of the wealthiest families in the world, Holt Calson had everything—except me, and what Calsons want, Calsons get. For one blazing summer, we had it all, until….

Billionaire Grump by Misha Bell

A hilariously disastrous elevator ride brings them together. Will their insecurities tear them apart?

Accidental Tryst by Tasha Boyd

Restaurant blogger Emmy accidentally switches cellphones in a busy airport with a grumpy, sexy CEO on the verge of the biggest business deal of his life. Insults and then sparks fly! Can their explosive chemistry translate to real life?

The Director by Renee Rose

After discovering her secret pregnancy, a bratva boss kidnaps a lawyer pregnant with his child.

Royally Bad by Lee Savino

Billionaire. Playboy. Prince. My new boss. Theo Kensington the most eligible—or ineligible—bachelor in the entire world. So what he’s starred in a sex tape…or three? I’m the fixer hired to clean up his image, but this bad boy is more interested in misbehaving…with me.

At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey

Blogger Mia Strong cashes in on her online popularity by selling her virginity to the highest bidder — with no strings attached. But when sexy CEO Adam Drake wins the prize, all bets are off…

The Mistress Contract by Evelyn Austin

Powerful billionaire Evan will stop at nothing to convince college student Madeline to sign a contract to be his possession. But the longer they’re involved, the more entangled they become…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

LIKE FREE BOOKS- The Author is giving away 7500 copies of the Novel Cinematic Destinies by Patricia Leavy ONE LICKY PERSON WILL WIN A $150 AMAZON GIFT CARD(#contests)

Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It's easy... just complete the Rafflecopter below and you'll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

So, what's the book about? Here's the info:

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?

Reviews

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review

“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

About the Author:

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. 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.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/45ZoRfY

Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz of Sarah by Shanna Hatfield (#contests-Enter to win An Amazon Gift Card)

Sarah
Shanna Hatfield
Publication date: May 22nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance

She desires his heart.
He longs for her love.
Can they find common ground when he returns forever altered by the war.

In a world turned upside down by World War I, all Sarah Richards desires is to love Brett Rawlings and build a future together. After graduating high school a year early, she’s ready to dive into her dreams of college and a home filled with laughter and love. But one impulsive decision threatens all her aspirations—as well as her relationship with Brett.

As the war rages on and men head off to fight, sixteen-year-old Brett reluctantly follows his twin brother, Ben, sneaking off to France to join the American Expeditionary Forces. As the months pass, Ben thrives amidst the chaos of battle, while Brett finds himself haunted by the girl he left behind and the uncertainty of his own heart. When Ben reveals a life-altering secret, the bond between the brothers is shattered, forcing Brett to grapple with betrayal as he faces the brutal realities of war.

Brett returns home a changed man, burdened with memories too heavy to bear, yet yearning to mend the fractures of the past. Will Sarah still be waiting for him, or have time and truth forged an unbridgeable chasm between them?

Find out in this heartfelt historical romance that weaves a tale of hope, grace, forgiveness, and sweet, enduring love.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“You have feathers for brains,” Sarah berated herself as Brett closed the distance between them. She accepted the hug he gave her as the impact of how deeply Ben—and inadvertently she—had betrayed him abruptly hit her. The realization of what she’d done made her head begin to pound.

“I’m so glad you came, Sarah. I stopped by to see you earlier, but your mother said you were out, although she didn’t seem to know where. I looked around town and in our usual spots but couldn’t find you,” Brett said, pulling back and giving her a curious glance.

“I’m sorry. I had a busy day,” she said. It had been busy. Sneaking around, being deceived, and making the biggest mistake of her life had taken the entire day.

Brett offered her a smile of such tender warmth, she wanted to burst into tears and confess what had happened. Only she couldn’t. It would ruin the trip, if not cancel it, and Brett had been excited about spending the summer with his grandparents. There would be time enough to sort out all the complicated details when the twins returned in August.

Three months away from Ben might be long enough for her raging wrath to reach a simmering point instead of teetering on the edge of it boiling over at any second.

“I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye. I hope you,” she emphasized the word and cast a withering glare at Ben before looking back at Brett, “enjoy your time with your grandparents this summer.”

A shadow passed over Brett’s face, but it was there and gone so quickly, she began to wonder if she’d simply imagined it.

“I’m sure we will. I hope you have a wonderful summer, Sarah Beth.” Brett was the only one who called her that, and every time he said it, her insides felt warm. He leaned down and placed his lips close to Sarah’s ear, making her heart pound in her chest. “No matter what happens, don’t ever forget how much I love you.”

“I won’t. Remember I love you, Brett,” she said, speaking around the sudden tightness in her throat. How could she profess her love to him after what she’d done with Ben? If a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky to strike her down where she stood, she knew she deserved it.

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

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Book Blitz of Exiles on Earth By Bea Tama (Contests-Enter to win a Signed Special Edition of the Book)

Exiles on Earth
Bea Tama
Publication date: May 16th 2025
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Stranded alien. Fierce farmer. One blown-up barn.

Ellen’s barely keeping her family farm afloat, clinging to dreams of what it could be—with a little luck and a lot of hard work. What she doesn’t need is a spaceship crashing onto her land, or the massive scaled alien who steps out of the wreckage. Now the barn she wanted to convert to a bed and breakfast is shattered all over the lawn, and this huge scaly dude is to blame.

Elia is a space-faring clone, bred for loyalty and survival. He fought for the chance to enter the prestigious Mating Games, only to be exiled for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, stranded on an uncharted world, he and his crew are at the mercy of an infuriated human female with fire in her eyes and no warriors of her own to protect her.

She is not fragile. But she is vulnerable. And something deep in Elia wants her. All he has to do is rebuild what he destroyed and guard her land and her dreams as fiercely as if they were his own.

But Ellen isn’t looking for a mate. And Elia is running out of time to prove that she should.

A sizzling sci-fi romance featuring a caring, exiled alien, a determined human heroine, and slow-burn tension that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of aliens on earth, forced proximity, and fierce heroines who refuse to back down.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“I promise we will not harm you. You have my word, our word, whatever assurances you need.” Ilia glances at the manacles, heaped in a pile in front of him. “We would never hurt any female.” His breath catches, scales flashing red, like a ruby. “Not deliberately.”

There’s something there, I know it.

“And yet, you blew up Ellen’s barn,” Laura says sternly.

“My deepest apologies. I steered as well as I could,” Arture, the pilot, explains.

“Nevare told us there was life in the way,” one of the triplets adds. “We avoided all loss of it.”

“And I saved you,” Ilia adds quietly, eyes sparking with challenge as he locks gazes with me, but then dropping his eyes again like he’s not allowed to look at me.

I’m grateful for him saving me from the explosion, same as he’s hopefully thankful I helped him subdue the robot. But looking at the scattered remains of my barn, hot flames burn in my chest.

“I wouldn’t have needed saving if you hadn’t literally dropped into my life and broken what remained of it. You might be happy as Larry once you fix your ship, but what am I going to do? I can’t raise money for a business, let alone repairs! You’ve really ruined everything, you know.”

He weathers my anger, an immoveable rock kneeling in the mud. “We’ll fix it,” he says, a rumble in his voice. “We’ll devote our labor to restoring your building before our ship. In order to do that, I ask you not to turn us in, unless the work isn’t to your satisfaction.”

I barely stop my jaw from dropping, the angry fire inside doused with cold. Wow.

“You’ll rebuild the barn to my specifications,” Arabella chimes in.

“What?” I hiss to her.

Arabella pulls me down close to her, and Laura and Nicole lean in. “Ellen, this is literally the answer to your prayers. Six guys straight from planet hot who will build the bed and breakfast just as you need it to be.” Arabella grins widely. Her smile wavers a little, but she’s always saying to take advantage of what the universe delivers, riding the waves and learning to surf what comes our way.

Is this it?

“They could be dangerous,” Laura whispers, glaring at the men beyond our huddle. “This play-nice attitude could switch at any time.”

I nod, taking that into account. “They could have started aggressively, they didn’t. And Floss likes him. They can’t leave the farm, or they’ll get caught. We can turn them in at any time.”

But my gut lurches at the idea of turning the big guys over to the police or the army. They’d lock them away, or use them for target practice. My gaze strays over to their hopeful faces, all awaiting what I’ll say.

Ilia raises his head. “If I may, I have a suggestion. A hostage, to guarantee our behavior.”

“A hostage?” My mouth goes dry.

“Yes.” He offers up his wrists, holding up the chains he’d been bound with. “Take me prisoner when we’re not working and, if my crew frighten you, kill me.”

“Drok na,” one of the triplets mutters, but while the other men’s nostrils flare, they stay quiet, eyes on the ground.

Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Bea Tama. Well, kind of. This is one of my few pen names; where I write about love falling from the stars, Becky Tama writes romantasy and fae adventures. Our other pen name is a USA Today Bestselling Author, but we don’t let that go to our heads.

I live in the UK not that far from Bristol, where Exiles on Earth is set, and secretly I dream of setting up an agri-business alongside writing about gorgeous aliens coming to help me with it.

 

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Book Blitz of Head Over Heels in Love by Mariah Ankenman (#contests- Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card)

Head Over Heels In Love

Mariah Ankenman
(Jackson Family Distillery, #4)
Publication date: May 8th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Catching a woman breaking into his car was not the way Ace Jackson wanted to start his day. Finding out she’s the new hire at his family’s distillery is even worse. Sure, she said she mistook his car for her’s, but there’s something about Millie he doesn’t trust. Too bad all his siblings vetoed his vote. What’s the point of being the oldest if you don’t get to be in charge?

Millie Danes told the grumpy Adonis she wasn’t breaking into his car, but did he believe her? No! The guy has a stick up his butt bigger than the pine trees gracing the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, he’s her new boss or she’d try and see if she could melt that icy exterior. But she has more on the line than a job, she needs funds to start her dream. Her very own aerial studio.

When a theft is discovered at work, Ace enlists Millie’s help as a spy in exchange for the money to build her dream. Their tentative truce becomes complicated when desires fan the flames of temptation. In the battle of love, who will fall first?

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EXCERPT:

“Millie!”

Her shouted name came from beyond the swinging door. Irritation rose, winning the war over guilt as she quickened her pace. “Ugh, coming!”

She pushed through the door into the back, muttering to herself. “Get your boxers out of a bunch you grumpy asshole. It was five damn seconds.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ace demanded the second the door stopped swinging.

“Well, I was working, until you pulled me back here to yell at me like an angry schoolmarm.”

Confusion drew his brow down. “What the…never mind. How is pulling some dangerous stunt and almost breaking your fool neck working? Last time I checked this was a bar, not some ridiculous stunt show.”

That was it. She knew the guy was her boss, but he was being a giant dick. No one talked to her that way.

“First of all, I wasn’t about to break anything. Before you rushed in and grabbed me—”

“Saved you.”

She arched one eyebrow in disbelief. “Is that what you thought you were doing? Saving the helpless damsel in distress? I got news for you buddy. I have been bottle-walking for years. I know how to fall from the bottles safely. Provided some jackass doesn’t grab me off them and tweak my back.”

His angry demeanor disappeared in an instant. Ace took a step forward, eyes scanning her body as his voice softened. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Shocked by the sudden switch—and his concern—she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

The sudden grab had surprised her and put her off kilter, but he hadn’t injured her back.

He glanced into her eyes, stealing her breath as she saw the unmasked worry filling them. Wow. Who knew Mr. Ice had feelings?

“Really, Ace,” she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”

He glanced down at her hand on his arm. The air in the room thickened. A rush of heat filled her. A bolt of electricity shot through her body, her fingers tingling against his warm skin. She quickly pulled her hand back, clenching it into a fist and placing it behind her.

What the hell was that?

Pushing the moment away, Millie cleared her throat. “I know how to fall safely off the bottles. I promise you I would have been fine.”

Ace shook his head, blinking a few times before the angry scowl returned to his face. “Why the hell were you on top of those bottles in the first place? We pay you to work, Millie. Not goof around.”

And there went all her warm fuzzy feelings for this man. Jeeze, it was like Jekyll and Hyde with him.

“I was working.” She lifted onto her toes, still not high enough to be eye to eye with the Grumpy Green Giant. Lifting a finger, she poked him in the chest. “If you take a peek out that door you will see.”

Ace glanced down at her finger, raising a brow when he looked back up at her.

Maybe poking her boss wasn’t the best idea, but he was being a jerk, and she didn’t like to be pushed around. Especially not when she was making him a ton of money.

“Look,” she huffed, flopping back onto flat feet and pushing the door open a crack. “See all those people rushing to get the new drink special? I did that. It’s called creative marketing.”

Ace leaned over her. His chest pressing against her back, the heat radiating off his body nearly suffocating her with its warm, intoxicating scent. Dammit! Why did he have to be so hot? Normally it didn’t matter how attractive a person was, if they were an ass, she wasn’t attracted to them. Her body didn’t get that memo with Ace. Didn’t matter. Wasn’t like she was going to do anything about it.

Author Bio:

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books visit her website www.mariahankenman.com

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Book Blitz of Finding Charlie by Jess Allen (#Contests- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

Finding Charlie
Jess Allen
Publication date: May 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Charlotte Evans has never belonged. Her entire existence has been one wrong turn after another. When faced with a hard look at her future, she decides to change her fate. Desperate to not be the reason her boyfriend doesn’t pursue his dreams, she takes off in search of her own.

Ten years later, at the height of his baseball career, Liam “The Rocket” Hayes has it all. Fame, fortune, and he’s finally stopped pining for the lost girlfriend from his youth. But when coincidence leads him straight to her, Liam gets more than he bargained for, including a ten-year-old son.

In a story about first loves and second chances, follow Charlotte and Liam as they find their way back to each other, one pitch at a time.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

For the rest of her life, whenever she closed her eyes, she’d see Liam’s face at that moment. Hurt and fury blended into anguish, his face twisted and eyes cold. Eyebrows narrowed in disdain.

“Hey there,” Jack said from behind her. He stuck his hand out to Liam. “I’m Jack, and you are?”

Liam didn’t acknowledge him or his offer of a handshake. Instead, he turned and walked away from Charlie. She watched as he got into his car and peeled out of the parking lot, disappearing from sight. She watched the space where he stood, as if watching would bring him back.

“Charlie, you look like you saw a ghost.” Jack moved in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “You all right? Who was that?”

Her face fell, the weight of what she’d done bearing down on her. She wanted to crash to her knees and let the heaviness blanket her until she couldn’t feel it anymore.

“Hey, let’s get home,” Jack pleaded gently.

“Go ahead,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll meet you there. I just …I need a minute.”

Questions plagued Jack’s face, but he didn’t object.

The stars kept shining; the crickets continued to chirp. Families hugged their kids for a job well done and piled into cars to go home. Time passed, crowds dispersed. She waved off the coach when he told her he was shutting down the lights. The world moved on unaffected while Charlie’s carefully built life crashed and burned around her. She found herself on the pitcher’s mound, her bare legs covered in goosebumps despite the late summer heat.

She screamed into the night sky. She stomped and kicked at the dirt. Dust billowed around her like a tornado. She flailed her arms and pounded her feet while ugly tears slid down her cheeks. Why? What will happen now? Bile rose in her throat, and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

Impossible questions throttled her, which only made her cry harder. What-ifs circled her like vultures. She thought of Matty and their wonderful life with Ada and Sam. What would she tell them? She plopped to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. She wanted to curl into a ball and sleep. Every muscle in her body ached with exhaustion. The emotional turmoil of the evening finally catching up to her. She longed to be held, to smell Rachel’s lavender perfume as she held her close.

Tires in the gravel lot startled her out of her misery, and she watched as Liam climbed out of the driver’s seat and strode toward her.

Author Bio:

Jess Allen is an avid reader and has been writing since she was a child. She loves romance novels and psychological thrillers. She loves to talk books, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. You can find her on instagram: jesswritesromance

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Book BZlitz of Intimate Secret by D.C. Stone (#contests- Enter to win An Amazon Gift )

Intimate Secret
D.C. Stone
(Empire Blue, #6)
Publication date: April 17th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

A murder was captured on satellite and multiple law enforcement agencies are trying to solve it. One of the detectives on the case, Jake Gonzalez, is led right to the front door of a local author, Francesca Conti. Sparks fly as Jake realizes he’s insanely attracted to his primary suspect, and her father is one of the most ruthless mafia bosses in the city, and someone he’s been investigating for years.

Francesca wants to escape this life her father has set for her and has been putting money away, looking for her opportunity to disappear. And much to her dismay, lately her father has been pushing her toward marrying his right-hand man, someone no woman has ever been able to say no to.

Just when she thinks she’s getting closer to escaping, Detective Gonzalez lands on her doorstep asking alarming questions, and making her heart race unlike ever before.

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EXCERPT:

There’s only so many times one could say they’d been shot by the woman they loved.

Jake stared at Francesca’s shaking hands wrapped around the butt of a SIG .229. She held the gun with as much confidence as one would expect with someone who had little to no experience with such a weapon. Like a toddler taking their first wobbling, unsteady steps. Or a young child holding a chicken’s egg for the first time and being toldthey could break it if they weren’t careful.

Under the full moon, silver tears trickled down her face. A moderate wind teased at hair that had escaped the messy bun held low at the back of her head. Russet tendrils brushed along her neck and cheeks like phantom fingers. She ignored those things. But he saw it all, as if the world moved in slow motion, tracking the shifting of her eyes and hands from one person to another. Saw the way her finger tightened ever so slightly over the trigger.

The safety was off, so if she applied a touch of pressure to that metal hook, approximately ten pounds for the first shot to go off, the gun would fire the bullet waiting within.

“Frankie,” he called in a soothing yet firm voice, using the

nickname he’d started saying a few nights ago. One he’d discovered she liked when he whispered it in her ear as he sank slowly inside the heat between her legs. Her attention shifted to him for only a fraction of a second before she refocused on Dante, her father’s right-hand man. A man many did not want to fuck with. One who’d killed his fair share of folks both in and out of the city. A man who was known to be one of the most ruthless enforcers around. Dante did things in the most violent way to set examples or make a point.

 It was the only way he communicated. And it was the way he got into the position he did, leading one of the most ruthless organizations in New York City.And lucky, lucky Jake was currently in a three-way face-off, like something from the Wild Wild West, with a woman he loved and a man he’d been hunting for years.

And as if his luck couldn’t get any worse, the two had a serious

history he hadn’t been able to wrap his mind completely around.

He quickly glanced around, wishing for that backup he’d called for about ten minutes ago to show up. But with how deep they were in Central Park, that wish would never come to fruition in time. The dull light coming off the yellow haze of a streetlamp reflected dark shadows of trees in the standing puddles leftover from the rainstorm earlier. The only sound outside the passing cars on the streets lining the park and Frankie’s harsh breathing was that of leaves hitting the ground, the season of fall in full swing.

“Frankie, listen to me,” he tried again, his chest growing tight with unease. “Put the gun down. Let’s talk about this.”

“I don’t want to be a woman you love,” she said, lips trembling.

Her arms shook with either fear or adrenaline, both equally dangerous when holding a weapon.

Jake Gonzalez’s heart clenched at the words, but he pushed them away. He had to stay focused, had to sort through this mess and prevent any additional loss of life. As it was, there’d already been too much.

And if she pulled that trigger, there was nothing he could do. He

wouldn’t be able to protect her. As frustrating as it was, he had an oath to uphold. Even against a woman he loved.

Francesca Conti looked broken, disheveled, and cornered. The first two had him angry and concerned. The last…frightened.

Author Bio:

D.C. “Desi” Stone is a best-selling romance author and full-time fraud investigator. She lives in the northeast with her incredibly supporting husband, two kids, a cat, and the ever-growing family of dogs.

After serving eight years of service with the United States Air Force, she went on to transition into the world of financial crimes and became a lead investigator for many years.

Reading has always been a passion of hers, getting lost in a good, steamy romance is one of her favorite past times. She soon after discovered her own love for writing and recreating stories and characters in her head. Her writing concentrates on romantic with specifics in paranormal, suspense, and erotica.

Now, when she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hudson Valley Romance Writers, New Jersey Romance Writers, RomVets, RWA Kiss of Death, and the Liberty State Fiction Writers. She served as the 2014 NJRW Vice President and Conference Chair. Come stop by on Facebook, Twitter, or her website and say hello!

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