Read a Book, Help a Cowboy!

 

October 1 through December 24,  ten percent of the net proceeds from all of Shanna Hatfield’s book sales are donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period. Every book purchased during this promotional period adds to the donation total. Don’t forget to include books on your Christmas lists!

Back in 2013, she was researching details for The Christmas Cowboy, the first book in the Rodeo Romance series. She wanted to know how much medical care an injured cowboy would receive at a rodeo versus going to the hospital.

In the story, the hero is a saddle bronc rider named Tate who sustains an injury at a rodeo. In an attempt to get her facts straight for the story, she reached out to the Justin Sportsmedicine Team®. Through mobile medical centers, they provide care at more than 125 PRCA rodeos annually. Their responses to her questions were extremely helpful, and she was so impressed with them that she wanted to do a little something in return.

So she launched a campaign to donate a portion of her book sales to the JCCF during the month of December.

In 2015, she added the month of November to her promotion, giving two months to raise funds for JCCF. Then she extended the promotion period for her Read a Book, Help a Cowboy campaign to October 1!

If you enjoy rodeos and the cowboys who make them possible (or reading about them in books), I hope you’ll take a look at the JCCF. It’s a great organization that really does make a difference when these cowboys are injured.

And Shanna hopes you’ll take a look at her books, too!

 

 

Be sure to get your copy of A Cowboy Christmas which includes interviews with rodeo cowboys who’ve received a hand-up from the JCCF.

Remember, from October 1 through December 24, every book purchased helps benefit the JCCF! With more than 100 to choose from and formats of paperback, hardback, digital, and audio, there’s sure to be a book for everyone, including those on your holiday shopping list!

 

Books are available at:

 

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

 

 Apple | Audible | Books a Million

 

 

About Shanna Hatfield

 

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. 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.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

 

Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | YouTube | Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Title: Autumn Chaos Season’s War: Book One by Olena Nikitin

Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 342 pages

Genre: Steamy Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Viper Dawn Press

​Publication Date: September 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

As strange monsters terrorize the land of Cornovii, the life of an exiled mage is thrown into turmoil when a half-dead warrior is brought to her door.

Tapping into the depths of her magic, Lady Inanuan of Thorn inextricably links her life force to Marcach, Captain of the King’s Guards, pulling him away from the jaws of death. However, the witch soon learns that you can’t escape your fate in the Black Forest-even if you’re friends with the Forest God himself.

Summoned to appear before the Magical Council to answer for her past, things are further complicated on the journey when Ina must use the forbidden spell once again to heal the captain’s best friend, Ren. However, for the harbinger of Chaos, no good deed goes unpunished when the connection her magic forges with both men awakens not only dark desires, but also an ancient bloodline that creates an intense rivalry between the two warriors.

As Ina struggles to fight her passion for Marcach and Ren, she must follow the clues to uncover the truth behind the plague of monsters roaming the land. But will the witch who doesn’t believe in love be able to deny her feelings as she attempts to clear her name, or will the kingdom fall before she can solve the mystery?

 

 

Amazon ~ Amazon.uk ~ B&N ~ Booktopia ~ Book Depository

 

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Guest Post

 

One day, we just said let’s do it! (the beginning)

 

How does one become a writer? In our case, it was a hangover combined with laziness and a lack of the book we would like to read. When we, or precisely I (Olga), woke up in NewYears’ day 2022 with a raging hangover, I wished for nothing more but a glass of water, peace and quiet, and a book I could immerse myself into. Unfortunately, the more I searched Amazon, the less I liked what I could find there. The books I would happily read, I already read. From the rest, I had a choice between erotica focusing on nothing much but friction moves every three pages or young adults/coming-of-age romance.

At one point, I said to myself, enough is enough. If I can’t find the book I like, I will write one.

I consulted with Mark, and initially, we wanted to do something similar to the roleplay style. You put yourself into your character’s shoes and just write what you think they are saying and doing. Still, after 2 chapters (and you can feel where in the books), we abandon the idea and focus more on me writing the story and Mark editing it and implementing a more masculine male POV of our male heroes and side characters. From this point, it worked really well, although Mark kept complaining about the speed of my writing and how I cracked the proverbial whip over his head, forcing him to work the second job as an editor. Still, we completed the first draft in less than 3 months and sent it to beta readers, which came with very positive and helpful reflections.

We had the ball rolling from this point, and now I’m writing our third book in the series. Mark is editing the second and the first … Well, that’s why I’m here.

 

 

About the Authors

 

Olena Nikitin is our pen name. We are an enthusiastic couple of writers who are fascinated by the fantasy/paranormal romance genre. We love humour and a down-to-earth approach to life, and all of this hit a bit of steam and spice you can find in our books Hidden behind the pen name:

Olga – is Polish, armed with a wicked sense of humour and typical Slavic pessimism she is the wicked witch from the East. She has written stories since childhood, initially mostly about her work. As an emergency physician, she always has a story to tell and often not much time to write. She is also known as The Crazy Cat Lady.

​Mark is a typical English gentleman whose charm, refined taste and undeniable sex appeal tempted Olga to fly across the sea. Don’t tease him too much; this man has an impressive sword collection and he knows how to use it. He also can fix everything, including Polish syntax in English writing. He got shot in the Gulf War, and if you give him good whiskey, he will tell you this story.

 

Website~ Facebook~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win signed copy of Autumn Chaos Season’s War: Book One & $50 Amazon Gift Card plus other prizes (ends Sep 21)

 

AUTUMNS CHAOS Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Get in the holiday spirit with this sexy rom-com from the author of Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist.

Merry Winters has the holiday blues. She’s spent the last year learning to love herself, and now she’s ready to find the right guy. But the pickings are slim in Mistletoe, Idaho, and it’s just her luck that the man who catches her eye is the stoic new foreman at her family’s Christmas tree farm. Too bad he wants to keep a 39-and-a-half-foot pole between them.

Single dad Clark Griffin isn’t looking for romance, but he wouldn’t mind a friend to snuggle with on a cold winter’s night. When he signs up for online dating, he doesn’t expect to connect with the sassy, crafty Knottygirl25 and get wrapped up in every message she writes.

But when Merry turns out to be his blind internet date, his surprise causes him to miss his chance under the mistletoe. Can a little Christmas magic give these two a second chance at a first impression?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This is a cute holiday romance with the usual tropes of boy and girl reuniting, miscommunications, reconciliation, and then the HEA.

I thought that the story seemed really long for what it was, and I just realized it was over 400 pages. The story could have been trimmed back at least 75 pages and still be a cute fluffy romance.

I did enjoy the parts where Merry and Clark communicated via a dating app before they knew it was each other. I liked that they got to know one another before meeting in person. Of course, they already knew each other; they just didn’t know it.

Some parts were predictable, but I also appreciated Clark’s vulnerabilities regarding romance and relationships. I loved that he stepped up when Jace’s mother disappeared from the hospital. He made Jace his number one priority and raised him the best way that he could.

I liked that it was told from both Merry and Clark’s voices. We saw how each felt in different situations.

There are some slightly more explicit sex scenes that I wasn’t expecting. I don’t know why, but I thought it would be a bit lighter.

This is the second in a series, but you don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one.

We give this 3 paws up. It is an enjoyable book with some interesting characters and a couple of dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Codi Hall has written for eight years under the pen name Codi Gary. In the spring of 2020, Codi signed with Audible for three original audiobooks about a trio of siblings finding love in their little mountain town during Christmas time. A California native living in Idaho, she fell in love with big skies, amazing people, and brisk winters. When she isn’t writing, you can find her watching movies with her family, making silly Tik Toks, taking gorgeous photos, and snuggling up with a good book and one of her many furbabies!

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Never agree to one night only with the grumpy boss.

I am perfectly content with my life. I have a loving (albeit nosy and interfering) family, a fulfilling career as an environmental engineer, and I enjoy living in my quirky hometown of Winter Falls.
But then Beckett Dempsey is appointed CEO at the company I work at. For reasons I cannot fathom to understand, Beckett believes that I am incompetent. He also thinks I should be at his beck and call twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.

Unfortunately, Beckett is also the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and my body yearns for his. I will not give in to these ridiculous cravings, though. I know better than to mix business with pleasure.
But then Beckett suggests we burn off our chemistry together for Only One Time. I agree. Unbeknownst to me, he has plans to convince me for more.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

This grumpy boss romantic comedy includes a career woman who doesn’t do complicated or drama but finds herself smackdab in the middle of both, a grumpy boss who’s determined to get his engineer to take her hair down, a gaggle of sisters who think matchmaking is their true calling, and a whole town full of hippies who think being called a busybody is a compliment.

Only Forever is a standalone novel in the Winter Falls series.

 

My Forever Love – Aspen and Lyric’s story

Forever For You – Ashlyn and Rowan’s story

Just For Forever – Ellery and Cole’s story

Stay For Forever– Juniper and Maverick’s story

Only Forever – Lilac and Beckett’s story

 

Review

 

It is the end of a series, BUT there are many new characters, and I see that the author has already created a spinoff for Beckett’s sisters. There are four of them, and one of them has a crush on Lyric’s brother, Phoenix. I think that is going to be a fun story.

I have always liked Lilac. She is intelligent, no-nonsense, and always honest. She may not always get social cues, but she is a loyal sister. She has had her share of flings, but Beckett, her new boss, is something more. He is annoying and doesn’t quite know what to make of Lilac. Of course, everything he says or does is offensive to her, and I can’t blame her in the least. He basically says, without words, that she is incompetent and can’t do anything right. But that is her interpretation. Beckett just wants to spend time with her but can’t seem to come out and say so. Plus, there is that pesky “no dating coworkers” policy. It takes time, but he eventually overcomes the barrier to her heart.

I still love this quirky little town. The gossip girls (ladies), Ruby offering condoms to all the men dating her daughters, and the West sisters and their beaus make this town entertaining. I do love the zero carbon town where they do everything they can to save the environment. I think out of all of these books; Lilac has been my favorite. I think it is because she doesn’t resort to trickery or stunts to get by in life. She is very matter-of-fact regarding everyone and everything. I love that they call her Literal Lilac. As the story progressed, I enjoyed seeing Lilac and Beckett’s story unfold as their relationship moved forward. There are a few surprises near the end regarding Beckett, but they are good surprises.

I look forward to the spinoff series since I am sure we will learn more about Lilac and Beckett since the book ends with them together, but there are still several questions left in the air.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

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LOVE AND THE DREAM COME TRUE

 

State of Grace, Book 3

 

by

 

TAMMY L. GRAY

 

 

Contemporary Christian Fiction / Clean Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Pages: 368 pages

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

 

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

 

 

 

 

The Anticipated Series Finale to the 2021 Carol Award-Winning Novel, Love and a Little White Lie

Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee’s music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister’s wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie’s life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.

 

 

 

 

Baker House Books | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

 

Amazon | Christianbook | Books-A-Million

 

 

Praise

 

“Cameron and Lexie’s chemistry is palpable, and readers will root for their happily ever after. This tender tale hits all the right notes.”—Publishers Weekly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good things come to those that wait, and Lexie has waited a long time for her dream to come true. She has been in love with Cameron since she was a kid, paling around with Cassie, Cameron’s sister and Lexie’s best friend. Life threw some wicked curveballs her way, but she never gave up hope or her love for him. Perhaps some would call it obsessive and not realistic; after all, Cameron has become something of a music star and lives in another state. Cameron feels like something is missing in his life, especially when it comes to his music. He thinks he is pouring his heart and soul into the songs, but perhaps something is holding him back.

This book is filled with exciting characters and a wide variety of emotions and feelings that give it depth on a level that we could only imagine. Lexie has spent the last decade raising her sister’s daughter as her own. She wasn’t expecting to become a mother at 19, and thankfully, she was able to raise Morgan in a stable environment. That is until Morgan became a teenager, and we all know what happens with teen emotions and angst. Their relationship is like any other between a parent and a child, fraught with ups and downs. They seem to do well until Lexie uncovers a secret that Morgan has been keeping from her, which does not go well. Cameron has been living on the edge in his career and in a world filled with panic attacks, which doesn’t bode well for a performer. Watching his story unfold allows us to appreciate his issues and perhaps even relate in some respects.

I didn’t realize this was the third in a series, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of reading this novel. I had no preconceived notions of their past and any grudges that any of the characters might have held against another. The characters shared many emotions, both good and bad, and this added to the depth of the story. There are enough flashbacks for a reader to understand the backstory of the relationships between some of the characters. I feel like there is more to Mason’s story that is just touched upon, but the chip on his shoulder is massive. Perhaps he needs his own story?

The theme I keep coming back to is faith. Both Lexie and Cameron have it, but it isn’t perfect. They both have issues that need to be dealt with, which will take time. Nothing is perfect or easy for them, and this is a good reflection on life in general. No one has a perfect life, and we all must have faith as we deal with our struggles.

This was a lovely book, one that made me think about how I approach life and others.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include the 2017 RITA Award-winning My Hope Next Door. When not taxiing her three kids to various events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church.

 

Website | Newsletter | Facebook

 

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Bethany House

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

ONE WINNER:

 

Complete STATE OF GRACE series in paperback

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 9/2/22.)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

Or visit the participating blogs directly:

 

8/23/2022	The Page Unbound	Guest Post
8/23/2022	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Series Spotlight
8/24/2022	Book Fidelity	Review
8/24/2022	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
8/25/2022	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife	Notable Quotables
8/26/2022	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
8/27/2022	The Clueless Gent	Excerpt
8/28/2022	All the Ups and Downs	Excerpt
8/29/2022	Librariel Book Adventures	Review
8/30/2022	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author	Deleted Scene
8/31/2022	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
9/1/2022	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The four McBride brothers have their worlds turned upside down when their precocious younger sister secretly places an advertisement for a mail-order bride.

Kit McBride knows that Buck’s Creek, Montana, is no place to find a wife. Between him and his three brothers–plus little Junebug–they manage all right on their own, thank you very much. But unbeknownst to Kit, his sister is sick to death of cleaning, cooking, and mending for her big brothers, so she places an ad in The Matrimonial News to get them hitched.

After Maddy Mooney emigrated from Ireland, she found employment with an eccentric but poor widow. When her mistress decides to answer an ad for a mail-order bride, Madd​y is dragged along for the ride to Montana. But en route to the West, Maddy is suddenly abandoned and left to assume the widow’s name, position, and matrimonial prospects….

With no other recourse in the wilderness, Maddy must convince Kit not only is she who she says she is, but she’s the wife he never knew he needed.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

About the Author

 

When not galloping through the Wild West, Amy is not-so-mild-mannered academic Dr Amy Matthews.

Amy is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Flinders University and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Amy T. Matthews and Tess LeSue. She clearly has too much time on her hands.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Fall in love with a movie star? Check.

 

Get my heart broken? You know it!

Ready to do it all over again? Not on your life.

 

I’m the idiot. Yes, me! Over here with the sad face. I thought Maverick Langston, aka the biggest romantic comedy movie star in the world, was serious when he whispered sweet nothings in my ear. He talked me right out of my pants and straight into his bed.

And when I woke up the next morning, he was gone. Lesson learned. No more listening or speaking to Maverick – regardless of whether he’s the owner of the wildlife refuge where I work.

But someone’s not getting the hint. Oh no. Mr. Big Important Movie Star thinks the world revolves around him. If he wants something – or someone in this case – he’s going all out to get her.

Good luck. I am not giving in. Because I know him. He’s willing to Stay For Awhile, but he won’t Stay For Forever.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

This small town romantic comedy features a woman who loves animals more than people since animals never let you down and definitely don’t talk back, a movie star who realizes what an idiotic fool he was and is willing to pull out all the stops to win his woman back, a gaggle of sisters who think matchmaking is their true calling, and a whole town full of hippies who think being called a busybody is a compliment. 

Stay For Forever is a standalone novel in the Winter Falls series.

 

My Forever Love – Aspen and Lyric’s story

Forever For You – Ashlyn and Rowan’s story

Just For Forever – Ellery and Cole’s story

Stay For Forever– Juniper and Maverick’s story

Only Forever – Lilac and Beckett’s story

 

 

Review

 

Winter Falls is one of those quirky towns where you want to be a fly on the wall because what happens in this town is unbelievable. I love the citizens of this town; they make me laugh every time. Although, I don’t think I would want to live here, at least not as a single person, because they are definitely in your business and want to fix you up if you are single.

This book focuses on Juniper and Maverick. Their relationship is all over the place, and there are a lot of communication issues between these two. It takes a lot of discussions and building trust for them to move forward in their relationship. Maverick is all in, but Juniper is hesitant since he is a famous actor, and being in the public eye can cause problems. With the help of the townspeople and Juniper’s family, there is no doubt that it will be worked out before too long.

There is the mystery of some stolen cash from 60+ years ago that continues in this book. I have enjoyed this aspect of the storyline, and I wondered how it would all turn out. You will find out in this book, so read it since I’m not going to tell you!

This series has been a lot of fun to read, much like all of this author’s books. I always get a good chuckle from the various situations the characters find themselves.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon author page

 

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Synopsis

 

Rose Hawthorne: The Irish Wanders follows Rose, a celebrity author in her early seventies, who dislikes the limelight but does like Hermes scarfs, round violet sunglasses, and old colonial hotels. One day, she receives a letter asking her to visit Newgrange, Ireland, and discover something that has been hidden there for a thousand years.

She asks her granddaughter Samantha to accompany her, but she hadn’t expected her to continually post photos of their progress on her Instagram account. An encounter with an old love and an unexpected discovery leads Rose deeper into the past, where she finds she must make a hard decision about her future.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited 

 

 

Review

 

This is the first book I have read by this author and in this series, but let me tell you that I was enchanted by this story and had a hard time putting the book down. I love a good mystery, and this book filled that desire and so much more.

Rose is in her 70s and an accomplished writer. Her daughter and granddaughter help her with social media and other administrative tasks so she can write. When Rose receives a cryptic email asking her to check a location in Ireland, she takes off with her granddaughter Sam. These two are in for the experience of their lives.

This book is a mystery, adventure, some romance, and magical all rolled into one. There are some aspects of the first book that are brought forward to this book, but nothing that really impacts the crux of this story. I really enjoyed the historical aspect and the experience that they have trying to discover the truth about certain artifacts. This brings in a character from Rose’s past, and sparks fly between these two.

Based on the descriptions of the scenery and the towns in Ireland, I felt like I was there with them on a discovery of the past.

This is a fantastic book, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Shannon O’Gorman is a retired ESL teacher who has recently completed her second walk on the Camino de Santiago. She is currently training her dog to accompany her on a Camino one day.  She lives in California with her husband and daughter when the university is not in session.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook

 

 

Synopsis

 

He’s afraid a second time at love wouldn’t live up to his first. She’s afraid a second round would be exactly like her first.

Pastor Jake McAlister and businesswoman Riley Winters are in their forties and widowed. Neither is interested in a relationship. They both love Fallen Soldier, the small Pennsylvania town where they met, even though Rye plans to move to Chicago, and Jake sees a change in pastorates not too far down the road. Enjoying a few-weeks friendship is something they both look forward to.

However, there is an indisputable attraction between the green-eyed pastor and the woman with a shining sweep of chestnut hair. Then there’s the Culp, an old downtown building that calls unrelentingly to Rye’s entrepreneurial soul. And when a young man named Griff visits Jake, life changes in the blink of a dark green eye.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This second chance romance is a sweet story, but the characters are not without some challenges. Riley, or Rye, lost her husband and, after a break-in at her party planning business, decides to leave her small town and move back to Chicago. Before moving there, she takes a trip to Pennsylvania for her best friend’s wedding to serve as her “widow of honor.” What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with this small town and a certain pastor. Jake lost his wife to a tragic accident 20 years ago and has lived life on his own and ministering to this small town. Riley turns his world upside down, and he realizes that maybe life doesn’t have to be spent mourning the loss of his wife.

I enjoy reading stories where the characters are not in their 20s and still trying to figure out their lives. Not that someone who is in their 40s has it all figured out either. I was immediately drawn to Riley and Jake and enjoyed watching their story unfold. They both had hard lives before meeting one another, but that doesn’t mean that life can’t be better together. It was nice to see them start off as friends and really get to know one another before trying the dating thing.

Jake does get a surprise from his past, and this sets into motion other situations tied to his job at the church and more. Even in today’s world, there are still small-minded people that think that a pastor should be held above all others and be “perfect.” I was appalled at how some of these people in the church judged Jake for things that happened long before he came to the church or even became a pastor.

I chuckled at the family that Jake has and how well they interacted with one another despite how blended the family had become. It was nice to see people that cared about one another and supported each other no matter what.

This story covers all of the emotions, including the death of a longtime church member, Sophie. This woman was a spitfire, and I loved her interactions with Jake and Riley during her last days.

While you don’t have to read the first book to understand this one, it might give you a little more insight into a few characters.

We give this book 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Rye had loved it when Granny cleaned the bookstore just two bus stops from where they lived. She couldn’t remember the name of the store, only that she’d always called it the reading room. Her grandmother had fretted because no matter how laboriously she cleaned, the shop always smelled like dust to her. Rye, sitting on the rug in the corner that held the children’s books, thought that meant heaven must smell like dust.

She wondered if the owner of Have A Cup would be interested in a satellite location. Or maybe he’d prefer the competition of another coffee shop. It was funny how coffee shops and bookstores belonged together.

And music.

She didn’t know of any venues in town. No one had mentioned any, although musicians had played at the Dockside at the rehearsal dinner.

Every town needed music, didn’t it?

She texted Jake. Is there anywhere in town to listen to music?

His answer made her laugh. My house, but it’s dusty here.

Dust. Like a bookstore, or a stage, or the underside of coffee shop chairs where people sat and read or worked on laptops or wrote in coil-bound notebooks. Bookstores felt like hope. So did live music and fragrant, rich coffee.

The Reading Room.

Oh, good heavens, she could even envision the sign above the entrance that would lead straight upstairs. Actually, there wasn’t an entrance now. That would require some design changes unless she wanted to put the door in the back on the alley. Not a good idea.

What was she thinking?

“Where do you buy books?” she asked Lucy when her neighbor tapped on the kitchen’s French door and walked in carrying a steaming tea kettle.

“Ricky hates tea and I had the water hot before I realized I didn’t want to drink alone,” she explained. “Earl Grey all right for you?”

“Perfect.”

Lucy poured water into the blue-and-white teapot Rye set on the table and snugged a crocheted cozy over it. “Online, usually. Or from the library. Usually I buy them and then donate them to the library.”

“No electronic reader for you?”

“Only when I travel. I like to smell the ink, I guess.”

“What would you think of a bookstore in Fallen Soldier?”

“New or used?”

Oh. She hadn’t thought that far. So much for business acumen. “Yes. Plus an area for live music or readings or other artistic demonstrations. And some kind of coffee and tea shop. Called the Reading Room. Upstairs at the Culp.”

Lucy didn’t hesitate. “Sounds great to me.”

“It might fail.”

“Might.”

“But it might not.”

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty started writing in the fourth grade when her Aunt Gladys allowed her to use her portable Royal typewriter. The truth was that her aunt would have let her do anything to get her out of her hair, but the typewriter and the stories it could produce caught on, and Liz never again had a day without a what if… in it.

She and Duane, her husband of at least forever, live in a farmhouse in central Indiana, sharing grown children, spoiled cats, and their grandkids, the Magnificent Seven. (Don’t get her started on them—you’ll be here all day.)

 

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Someday Belongs to Us

 

By

 

Margie Seaman

 

 

Fiction / Pirate Romance / Late in Life / Sea Stories

Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing Group

Pages: 224 pages

Publication Date: June 22, 2022

 

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

It’s never too late to find love on the high seas.

 

Kate Caldwell is a 72-year-old romance novelist writing under the nom de plume, Desiree Desire. With more than thirty bestsellers to her credit, Kate is considered an authority on romance. Her personal life, however, has been lacking in the love department for a long time, and she has all but given up hope of finding a true, romantic connection. Her latest series, about a rakish eighteenth-century pirate, has been a struggle. Her struggle with her own creative processes boils over on a stormy night, when Captain Edward Peregrine, a pirate of the Caribbean during the year 1721, begins appearing to her as she sleeps. Convinced that Edward is a figment of her imagination, Kate happily accepts his return visits, and the two collaborate on the first two books of the series. Then, Edward suddenly stops appearing, and Kate is frustrated with her publisher’s demands for the next book.

In desperation, she decides to take a two-week cruise with her granddaughter, Ellie, hoping the chance to relax and watch the waves breaking in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean will reset her creative process. Little did Kate know that troubled waters lay ahead or that she’s in for the adventure of her life, and possibly, true love at long last.

 

 

 

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Praise

 

“A fun and lively read about romance, and the real and imagined adventures of a woman writer cruising through her senior years. Once again, Margie Seaman proves age is no obstacle in this swashbuckling debut novel.” —Lise Olsen, Author of CODE OF SILENCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

This debut author sure knows how to weave a tale! There is so much included in this book, from love to a little intrigue, humor, and new friendships.

Kate may be a bit older, but her life isn’t quite over. She has written many successful romance novels, but now her agent wants her to be a bit more explicit during those sex scenes. I can only imagine having to start writing that into a book and the toll it could take when that isn’t what you are used to doing. I chuckled a time or two when she wrote these scenes and the words she used to describe the human anatomy. Of course, her granddaughter, Ellie, had to rib her about it, and Kate takes it all in stride.

Kate’s muse is the pirate, Edward Peregrine, who captains a ship appropriately named The Falcon. He comes to her in her dreams or a semi-conscious state, and they plot out this series of books. Their banter about what should be happening in the books and how he approaches various situations is intriguing and made me wonder how many authors have conversations with their characters. I think it is more than we know! I do think that there is something brewing between these two which may sound odd, and they may not be together in this lifetime, but perhaps in an afterlife situation. I enjoyed their banters about what should happen to him in her books. He definitely has opinions that might differ from Kate’s, but I suppose that is why the books are hits.

In hopes of some creative ideas for the third book, she and Ellie take a cruise out of Galveston through the Panama Canal. This cruise is quite an adventure, and they explore the islands and make new friends at their dinner table. However, not everyone is above board, and I suspected something was up with a certain character, which I won’t name. You will have to read the book and discover that for yourself. I’m just glad that Kate was a little savvier than this other character gave her credit because it could have been a disaster if their plans were executed.

Another creative twist with this book was the book within the book. Kate shares chapters from the book she is writing, and we can see Edward’s adventures unfold in front of our eyes. We learn a lot about his character. While he may be a pirate, he is an honorable one.

While the majority of the book takes place on the cruise ship, it doesn’t end there. The friendships formed from this group of dinner companions are wonderful, and considering all live close by (or relatively anyway), it doesn’t make it a hardship for anyone to continue their relationships.

I really enjoyed this book and hope that this author doesn’t wait too long before sharing another adventure with us.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARGIE SEAMAN is an eighty-five-year-old, late-blooming author of her debut novel Someday Belongs to Us. After a forty-year career in marketing, she switched to a new venture in website design where she has been the president of Citation Solutions for the past fourteen years. Margie also writes a travel blog for seniors, The Graytripper, that encourages people to get out and explore their world. Margie is the mother of three, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of three. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and lives in Houston, Texas, right down the street from her childhood home. She is currently dogless for the first time in her life but does have some totally spoiled cats that ungraciously allow her to share their living environment.

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS!

 

Autographed, limited edition, hardcover copies of

 

Someday Belongs to Us

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/26/2022.)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

Or visit the participating blogs directly:

 

 

8/16/22	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
8/16/22	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
8/17/22	Shelf Life Blog	Excerpt
8/17/22	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
8/18/22	Forgotten Winds	Author Interview
8/19/22	Reading by Moonlight	Review
8/20/22	All the Ups and Downs	Scrapbook Page
8/21/22	Stories Under Starlight	Guest Post
8/22/22	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
8/23/22	Chapter Break Book Blog	Deleted Scene
8/24/22	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
8/25/22	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

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