Posted in Cover Reveal, fiction, women on October 25, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Phishing: When hackers send malicious emails designed to trick people into falling for a scam.

Phishing test: When organizations send deceptive emails to their own staff to test their response to phishing attacks.

It all started with a cat video. A video that Tess Miller, a sassy and talented greeting card writer, shouldn’t have clicked on. But cat videos are her kryptonite. And how was she to know the video embedded in the email was a phishing test designed to take down the company she works for?

The infuriating man who tricked and humiliated her? Aaron Sinclair, cybersecurity consultant brought on by her paranoid boss to whip their company into peak security shape. A dark-haired man with a dark past, and an unrelenting thorn in her side.

Buried beneath their mutual animosity, however, is an attraction they both have reasons to fight. Thanks to Aaron, Tess’s boss has labeled her a high security risk and her professional reputation is at stake. A fierce battle of wits ensues as Tess uses every trick not to fall for Aaron’s random phishing tests.

With the end of Aaron’s six-month contract fast approaching, Tess is faced with the looming risk of losing not only her job but also her heart to the man who has tested her in every way possible.

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Katherine Center, Phishing for Love is a swoony, laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

This book will be released on February 1, 2024….Preorder it today

 

 

About the Author

 

Lara Martin writes books about imperfect people living messy lives, falling in love and getting their perfect happily-ever-after. She’s lived in South Africa and Australia and now calls a cozy village in England her home. She’s tried a variety of amazing and awful jobs: video game reviewer, graphic designer, insurance claims agent (she has no idea how she landed this one), proof reader, feature writer, and magazine editor. She lives with her husband (always the first reader of her novels), two slightly terrifying teenagers, and the requisite psychotic cat. When she’s not writing, she can be found haunting local coffee shops.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon

 

 | 
Comments Off on Cover Reveal – Phishing for Love by Lara Martin #romance #women #fiction
Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Spotlight, women on October 13, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Socially awkward, anxiety-riddled Beverly Bonnefinche only loves three things in life: her parents, books, and a homeless man named Bill. Without them, the only way Beverly manages to get by each day is with the help of a peculiar coping mechanism that allows her to dissolve her feelings. Yet everything changes for Beverly when she meets Henry, a persistent, friendly man who sees something in Beverly most people have missed. As their relationship develops, despite her best intentions, Beverly soon finds herself stepping outside of her carefully controlled life and forging new friendships.

It’s only when a series of twists and turns threatens to unravel her new life, and her mind, that Beverly must determine if she’s got it in her to stop trudging through life—and finally start living it.

Emotional, witty, and uplifting, Beverly Bonnefinche Is Dead is an unforgettable story of love, loss, friendship, and what it means to ultimately find the courage to be who you are.

​Content Warnings: stillbirth, pregnancy loss, mental health, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Target * Indigo

 

BAM * BookBub * Audible

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lover of books, Kristen spends her time overly caffeinated in front of her computer in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and four children.

Kristen’s debut novel, Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead was selected by Barnes & Noble as a Top Indie Favorites August/September 2023 Kristen Seeley is the pen name of Marie Still (which she writes suspense/thrillers under)

 

WebsiteNewsletter ~ X (Twitter) ~ Facebook

 

InstagramTikTok ​~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win a signed copy of BEVERLY BONNEFINCHE IS DEAD & WE’RE ALL LYING (one winner)

Ends Oct 27

 

Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead Book Tour Giveaway

Posted in 4 paws, Book Release, mystery, Review, romance, women on September 12, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

From the bestselling author of Beyond the Moonlit Sea comes an atmospheric tale of how one woman’s search for the truth uncovers long-hidden secrets and rocks the very foundation of her world.

Scarlett Fontaine is a true Hollywood legend―a singer, actress, and beloved fashion icon. But Scarlett dies tragically at just thirty-six years old, leaving behind no children. Or so the story goes…

Gwen Hollingsworth is the curator at a museum dedicated to Scarlett’s life. She’s also sole heir to Scarlett’s fortune as a descendant of the star. But all is not well in Gwen’s world. She’s dealing with a messy marital separation and is struggling to move forward. So when Peter Miller, a biographer and photojournalist, comes to the museum with shocking claims about Scarlett―a life of exile in Alaska, a baby born in secret―Gwen’s whole world is turned upside down. Again.

Determined to uncover the truth, Gwen and Peter set out for Alaska together but soon find themselves on a path toward something far deeper and more meaningful than either of them ever expected.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty takes readers on a breathtaking journey from a lush vineyard in Nova Scotia to a rustic lodge in Alaska where old family secrets are revealed and the quest for true happiness begins.

 

 

Amazon * B&N  * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This book has a surprising mystery that intrigued me from start to finish. An iconic star has a missing year, and what everyone was told couldn’t be further from the truth.

This book is told from two points of view – Scarlett, the star, and a distant relative, Gwen. Scarlett’s story is in 1963-64, the missing year. What brings this to light is a random discovery by a writer of Scarlett in Valdez, Alaska, during a memorable earthquake at that time. This discovery surprises her living relatives. Their knowledge was based on what was told to them by Scarlett’s father. What a surprise when the whole story is uncovered!

My favorite part of the book was the sections that detailed Scarlett’s existence in Alaska during this time. I felt like we were getting a peek into something no one knew about until now. As more clues are uncovered, it is as if they kept it a secret from the world. That wouldn’t have been too hard to do at that time since there were no electronics or social media. I also liked the detailed research into the earthquake and how it impacted this town.

Scarlett’s story has an impact on Gwen. Not just because there could be another family member out there, but personally, as she endured a personal tragedy a few years prior. However, I believe that uncovering this information helped her process her own grief.

While there is a budding romance between Gwen and Peter. However, it felt flat. I also was surprised at how much she discussed her marriage with someone that she barely knew. Perhaps because he was more of a stranger, and it was easier to talk to him? I do think that this journey might have helped Gwen realize that her marriage was over, but it took time to reach that answer.

There are other characters that help round out the story, including Blaine and Maud, who run the Wilderness Lodge in this town. There are also some more nefarious characters that add the sinister moments. Some characters you might dislike at the beginning just might become someone you like at the end.

Overall, we give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the popular Color of Heaven series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful,” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from the Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

MacLean has a degree in English literature from King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a business degree from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. She currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter

 | 
Comments Off on Review – A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean #newrelease #fiction
Posted in 5 paws, Review, Southern, women on August 14, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

A TALE OF LONELINESS AND DANGER …From USA Today Bestselling Author, Bette Lee Crosby, comes a chilling tale of betrayal, self-doubt, and a friendship so powerful it can change a life.

When Susan Robertson buried her husband, she thought that would be the worst day of her life. She was wrong. Before there is time to grieve, she starts to discover the secrets he left behind. A hidden key. Another woman. A baby on the way.

Devastated by the truth, Susan sinks into an emotionally charged world of pain, loss, and recrimination. With a ready supply of sleeping pills and a well-stocked liquor cabinet, she is on the verge of giving way to her growing despair when friend Blanche steps in with a firm hand and a fistful of tough love.

Trying to instill a renewed sense of purpose in her friend, Blanche suggests a day of sailing. Despite her life-long fear of water, Susan agrees to go. When a sudden storm rolls in, she discovers herself in a dangerous situation and will have to find an inner-strength she thought impossible. If she fails, someone will die.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Bette has a gift for storytelling. Each book is a delight to read, and this one was no different.

Susan has recently lost her husband, but in the process, she uncovers deception on his part. This shatters her confidence, as I would imagine it would most people. This starts her on a downward spiral. Thankfully, she has two wonderful friends that come to her rescue and insert themselves into her life more than normal. These are true friends! This is Susan’s journey to rediscovering herself and finding out who she truly is deep down.

What I love about Susan’s character is that she is flawed. She isn’t the perfect wife, mother, or friend. Yet, this is what makes her relatable to the reader. I had to think about how I would have handled things if I were in her shoes. Would I react the same or differently? How would I handle betrayal?

I think the hidden gem is Nina. She is a 91-year-old parishioner at Susan’s church, and the pastor does a little conniving to get them to help one another. I feel like they learned a lot from one another. Nina is a bit of a wild woman, but when you get to that age, you have to know what you want from life and go for it.

The story does have a HEA ending, but it is also a story about finding oneself in the midst of a crisis.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * BookBub

 

 | 
Comments Off on Review – Beyond Betrayal by Bette Lee Crosby @BetteLeeCrosby #newrelease #women
Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Review, women on August 1, 2023

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy’s a capable person―how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It’s not like she has a choice; her life couldn’t get any worse. Even so, this Midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.>As a single mom, she’s rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn’t sew, and she doesn’t know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.
Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she’s always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I have mixed opinions about this book. It starts with Poppy putting her head in the sand after discovering that her accountant ran off with her money, and now the IRS wants years of back taxes and more. On top of that, she is trying to figure out how to send her daughter to nursing school, find a new job, and is struggling to make it through the day. Enter Three, a former lover from around 18 years ago that she runs into at the airport. Is he the answer to her money issues? He can get her a job in the wardrobe division of a movie being shot in California. Poppy just has to get there from Wisconsin. With all of her other money issues, she decides to drive. And what an adventure that is. But the real adventure is on the set of this movie. Apparently, “must-hires” are looked down on by the rest of the crew because this person is usually not qualified for the job. There are quite a few conflicts with other crew members, making up this story’s crux.

At first, I didn’t like Poppy’s character. She came across as wishy-washy and perhaps a bit incompetent. I know many business owners don’t always pay attention to the financial details, but to not be aware of IRS notices and such? However, as the story came to a close, I had a little more respect for her as she found her strength and learned that she doesn’t have to make everyone happy all the time. That it is ok to look out for yourself first.

I do have a small gripe about the whole IRS situation. While it wasn’t a good place to be, the fact that the author had the IRS agents telling Poppy that they would take all of her money and she would have absolutely nothing to live on was incorrect. If a person has no money for rent, utilities, groceries, etc., they would be unable to repay the IRS at any time because they would be homeless and have no way to help support themselves. This may be fiction, but I feel like situations like this should be represented correctly. That said, do not ignore IRS notices!

That said, if you can look past some of the inaccuracies throughout the book, you will find a quirky cast of characters that learn more about themselves in the space of a week. They create new friendships and learn that they do not have to do everything on their own.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ann Garvin, Ph.D., is the USA Today bestselling author of I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK, I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around, The Dog Year, and On Maggie’s Watch. Ann writes about women with a good sense of humor who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She teaches at Drexel University Masters of Fine Arts program and has held positions at Miami University and Southern New Hampshire in their Masters of Fine Arts program. Ann is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers, where she is committed to helping women writers find readers. She is a sought-after speaker on writing, leadership, and health and has taught extensively nationally and internationally.

 

Website * Podcasts on Spotify * Instagram * Twitter

 

 | 
Comments Off on Review – There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin #newrelease @AnnGarvin_ #women #LakeUnionPub
Posted in 4 paws, Review, women on July 8, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

Big changes are coming to Forest River Elementary School!

When PTA President Jackie Martin’s husband suffers a life-threatening car accident, she has no choice but to step down from her dream position. Unfortunately, the team is already short-staffed and struggling to fill the vacancy.

Only one woman is brave enough to step up and take over the reins, Ella Jamerson.

Mom to a first-grader, Ella has kept a low profile since her daughter entered the school because she has a huge secret. She’s actually Eleanor Saint James, the Emmy award-winning actress.

Tired of sitting idly by, Ella’s willing to risk her anonymity for a say in the schools’ politics. But when the team learns who their new leader really is, will they be able to handle the drama she’s about to bring?

 

 

Amazon * Other Retailers

 

 

Review

 

The town’s favorite PTA is back with a new leader at the helm.

This has been such a fun series to read. I love the cattiness, the friendships that develop, and the craziness of the situations as a whole. Are all PTAs like this? We will never know!

The new leader of this group is an actress, Ella. She has been absent from events at the school or in disguise so she didn’t make it harder for her daughter to attend school. You know how people can get with celebrities.

However, Ella decides that it is time to act after reading an email from the Principal of the school. Her new role is not without bumps, but I love how it all comes together.

While we don’t see much of the previous PTA President Jackie, just a few email responses, I felt like the rest of the characters helped fill in the gaps and provide tension at just the right time, and offset Ella’s dry wit and no-nonsense attitude.

This is a series that is entertaining, and it makes me glad that I never had to deal with a PTA. I also loved Ella’s husband, Conrad. He really steps up at times and is supportive of her career.

If you want to read this book, start with the first to see the character development.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her “characters.” She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She’s been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodgeball – she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

 

FacebookTwitterInstagram

 

Goodreads * TikTok

 

Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Review, romance, women on June 26, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.

Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.

For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fine—she’s got a plan.

When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.

As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.

It’s each other.

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * BAM

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

I really enjoy the characters in this series. It focuses on one family, and each book is about a different family member. In this one, we get to fall in love with Gio and Emma and their love story.

These are characters that you will want to get behind and support. Gio has a loving family, but they do want to see him married or at least in a relationship. Emma is trying to prove to her father that she can be a contributing member of the winery. Her father is a misogynist, and it won’t be hard to dislike him. A secret is revealed about 2/3 of the way, which explains a lot about his behavior. It doesn’t excuse his actions but does explain it a bit more.

I love the journey through Italy where Gio and Emma meet. I would love to do a wine tour! I can only imagine the experience. It doesn’t hurt that both Emma and Gio have the knowledge to delve into the grapes, so to speak. I chuckled at the competition between the two in pinning down the flavor notes and other aspects of the wines they tasted.

This love story is not without its challenges. I don’t want to spoil the story, but there is more than just Emma’s dad throwing kinks into her life. I will say that it definitely made me misty, but so thankful it ended on a positive note.

Franny, Gio’s niece, is a hoot and steals the plot at different times. Out of the mouths of babes, as they say!

Loved this book and highly recommend it, and the rest of the series too.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

And when Gio paused long enough to shove some food into his mouth, his mother offered a sweet smile and tapped her fingers on the table.

“You’ve said nothing about Emma.”

Gio chewed slowly and looked around the table.

Everyone was quietly watching him.

He slowly swallowed with a grin and followed it with a drink of water. “What do you want to know?”

Mari lost her smile. Slapped a hand on the table. “What do I want to know?” She rolled her eyes, lifted a hand in the air, and switched to Italian. “For an hour you’ve talked about everyone but the woman you introduced us to.”

“C’mon, Gio . . . give it up,” Chloe said, kicking him under the table.

“Hey.”

“Is she your girlfriend?” Franny asked without hesitation.

Gio winked at his niece. “Emma is someone I hope you will all meet very soon.”

“Bene, bene . . .” His mother was smiling again.

“I won’t say she’s a girlfriend, but we are more than friends.”

Mari’s smile fell to a flat line. “Why not a girlfriend?”

“Mama, we’ve only known each other a few weeks.”

“This means nothing to me. When you know, you know.” Mari swirled spaghetti with her fork. “Your father and I—”

“Yes, Mama, we know. Instant love, marriage, and babies. It isn’t like that nowadays.”

Brooke cleared her throat and placed a hand on her protruding baby bump. “I disagree.”

Dante laughed. “It took Chloe and I more time.”

Mari tossed around gestures with her free hand. “You were childhood friends. That’s different. And since you eloped without a whisper to the family, something must have been instant. Not that I want you to share.”

Dante stood down.

Smart man.

“This Emma is beautiful, and the way you smiled at her . . .”

“It was sappy adorable, Gio,” Chloe said in agreement with their mother.

He was infatuated with the woman, there was no pretending otherwise. “Her guard is up a bit. She’s been married before.”

“Children?” Mari asked.

“No, Mama. But when someone is divorced it takes a little longer to trust.”

All eyes turned to Luca. The only person at the table who had any personal authority on the subject.

Gio waited for his brother to agree.

Instead, Luca placed a hand over Brooke’s at the table and shook his head. “Not when you find the right person.”

Gio rolled his eyes. “It still takes time.”

“Wasting time, you mean,” his mother said.

Gio spread his hands to each side of the table, indicating his sister and brother. “Mama, two weddings in one year . . . isn’t that enough?”

“No,” she said flat out. “My youngest son still isn’t married. There is still room at this table. So, no. It’s not enough. When you’re married, it will be enough.”

“It’s a trap, Gio,” Dante said.

Chloe hit his arm.

“Not marriage . . . the enough part. Soon as you’re married the question switches to babies.”

The two things Emma said she didn’t want.

“Oh,” Chloe sighed. “That’s true.”

“None of this when you meet Emma. We don’t talk about my lack of being a husband or anyone’s biological clock. I don’t want anyone scaring her off.”

“What’s a biological clock?” Franny asked.

Dante started laughing.

“I mean it!” Gio pointed his fork at his sister and mother.

“She means something to you,” Luca said quietly.

Gio paused, thought of her smile, her laugh. The freckles on her face and how crazy her hair turned in the humidity. “Yeah. She does.”

“Then we will do our best to keep our opinions about weddings and babies to ourselves. Don’t you think, Mama?” Luca asked.

Mari released a deep sigh. “Fine. I can do that.”

Gio felt the tension in his shoulders ease.

Franny leaned over, tapped his arm. “What’s a biological clock?”

 

 

About the Author

 

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-six beloved books that have collectively sold more than 8 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned The Not Quite seriesThe Weekday Brides seriesThe Most Likely To series, and The First Wives series.

 

 

WebsiteFacebookTwitterGoodreads * TikTok

 

 

 

 | 
Comments Off on Review & Excerpt – Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee @CatherineBybee #newrelease #MontlakeRomance
Posted in fiction, Guest Post, women on June 23, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate.

Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family. One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens, her childhood best friend, the keeper of her darkest secrets, and the boy who shattered her heart.

As Penny struggles with sorting through her grandmother’s house and her own memories, a colorful group of friends drifts back into her life, reminding her of the unique warmth, fellowship, and romance that only the Bluegrass state can provide. Now that fate has forced Penny back, she must either let go of the scars of her past or risk losing a second chance at love.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Praise

 

“In Where the Grass Grows Blue, Hope Gibbs examines Penny Crenshaw’s journey to pick up the pieces and begin again after divorce. But this mother of three sons soon learns that if she wants to move forward, she’ll have to first go back to the start. Readers will enjoy this fast-paced southern story about second-chances, lifelong friendships, and the healing power of forgiveness.” – Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials

Where The Grass Grows Blue hit me in all the right places. Young lovers separated by a misunderstanding reunite twenty years later, only to discover that although their love never faded, their choices are insurmountable. Or are they? Gibbs skillfully weaves the dark side of life with the beauty of a love that has only grown stronger over time. Keep an eye on this author – she is one to watch!” – Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye

“Hope Gibbs’ debut, Where the Grass Grows Blue, is worthy of taking its place among true Southern fiction novels where the banter is witty and the women are true steel magnolias. It’s a delightful, engaging story about following your heart.” – Grace Sammon, Award-Winning Author of The Eves, and host of The Storytellers

Where the Grass Grows Blue is the most authentic and endearing book I’ve read in ages. Penny’s difficult and heartbreaking rural background in Kentucky (the Bluegrass state) and her high society life in Atlanta could not be more different. But when she can’t hide from her past anymore, her life comes full circle. I think Penny is my new fictional best friend. There were times I wanted to read quickly to see how everything unfolds, but this story is to be savored. Don’t rush this Southern gem.” – Cindy Dorminy, author of The Foster Wife and In a Jam

 

 

Guest Post

 

A Letter to my Ten-Years Ago Self…

 

Dear Hope Gibbs,

 

I know I’m addressing you by your maiden name. Don’t panic. You’re not in the midst of a divorce. Your marriage is strong, even with the craziness of trying to wrangle five children, but in ten years, this is the name you will be using hundreds of times a week. There’s a good reason for it, one that I’m sure will shock you, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Recently, you celebrated a big milestone—turning forty. I know it sounds old right now, but this is the best decade of your life. Some big changes are coming your way, and you’re about to accomplish something you didn’t realize or even know you wanted to do.

Your thirties were a rollercoaster. You were a bundle of nervous energy. A third pregnancy, the loss of beloved family members, a painful divorce, falling in love all over again, another marriage, and becoming a stepmother to two small children. But good news, you have a full and happy nest, though the decade is a blur of soccer games, carpool runs, homework, and never-ending trips to the grocery store. Feeding a household of seven can be exhausting. But you will start changing in your forties. Don’t get me wrong, you will still do all those things, but know this. Those little birds will fly away. Sooner than you think, and your realization of that fact sets you on a path that will change your life.

Now here’s another “don’t panic” moment, around forty-five, you’re going to have a little mid-life crisis. Don’t freak out. You won’t buy an expensive car or alter your appearance, though you will be going to the salon more often because your hair color will betray you, but you’ll start to question your choices. What have I accomplished with my life other than being a wife and mother? When my children are gone, who will I be?  This will be on a continuous loop in your mind, and on your worst days, you’ll start regretting your decision to leave that corporate job to raise those wonderful, infuriating children. Most people would say to ignore that inner voice, but I’m telling you to listen to it because it will propel you into something unimaginable.

After reevaluating your life, you’ll start journaling. That lasts about a week because you’ll hate it. Then, you’ll do something extraordinary—you’ll develop a character, getting to know her through your imagination. You’ll spend countless hours with her, developing her backstory, creating her world, and fleshing out her fears. You’ll laugh, cry, and grow with her, and before you know it, you’ll type the words…THE END. Hope, you write a book! I know you’ve not written anything longer than an email since college, but somehow, you turned that mini-midlife crisis into a novel that will be published by Red Adept, with the audio rights being sold to Blackstone. Oh. And they make you change your name, but that’s okay because Cummiskey is hard to spell and Gibbs was your name first.

Now in your fifties, your days are filled with writing, and it’s wonderful. You need it as much as you need tennis. Don’t worry, you still play multiple times a week even though you’ll have three knee surgeries in the next ten years. It’s okay, you have a great orthopedist. Every day you’re surrounded by a warm and welcoming community of writers and readers. You’ll also be the host of a monthly Facebook Live program for over 5,000 bibliophiles and start a podcast. I’ll explain what that is later.

The next ten years will define you. Enjoy every second of it. And remember, you’re never too old to follow your dreams.

P.S. Your two stepchildren will ask you to officially adopt them on Christmas morning in 2020. You’ll cry your eyes out.

 

 

About the Author

 

Hope Gibbs grew up in rural Scottsville, Kentucky. As the daughter of an English teacher, she was raised to value the importance of good storytelling from an early age. Today, she’s an avid reader of women’s fiction. Drawn to multi-generational family sagas, relationship issues, and the complexities of being a woman, she translates those themes into her own writing.

Hope lives in Tennessee with her husband and her persnickety Shih Tzu, Harley. She is also the mother of five. In her downtime, she loves playing tennis, poring over old church cookbooks, singing karaoke, curling up on her favorite chair with a book, and playing board games.

Hope has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 | 
Comments Off on Guest Post – Where The Grass Grows Blue by Hope Gibbs @HopeGibbstuib @Bookgal #fiction #women
Posted in excerpt, fiction, Giveaway, women on June 21, 2023

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

It’s September 1995, the first year of the rest of HADLEY TODD’s life. After a decade in Los Angeles, trying and failing to launch her career as a playwright, Hadley has returned to her hometown in rural New York to write and to be closer to her lonely, ailing father—not that he always welcomes the help. Between looking after him and teaching Shakespeare to teenage malcontents at the local high school, Hadley is determined to produce a masterpiece before 36. She even joins a writing group, thinking the structure will keep her focused. Hadley hopes to channel her recent heartbreak from being dumped in L.A. into writing a play about the last moment of a woman’s innocence, a play that an agent friend in Hollywood has promised to produce. But she struggles with writer’s block and seeks inspiration.

Enter TREY HARDING, a young, handsome sports reporter for a local radio station who covers sports at the high school where Hadley teaches. Trey reminds Hadley of her L.A. ex and is the perfect spark to touch off her imagination. Trey has two girlfriends who work at the school, giving Hadley a great perch from which to watch and write down their interactions. The fact that Trey is an aspiring rock star and she has L.A. record biz connections makes the alliance perfect. She dangles promises of music biz glory while watching his moves. But after they both go to Hollywood, Hadley learns that believing in herself is all the inspiration she needs.

 

 

Amazon * B&N

 

 

Excerpt

 

She gazed into his face, his high color, those light eyes comprising both shades of teal and blue at once. If he kisses me again, I won’t stop him this time.

“Listen,” he said while taking her right hand in his. “We shook these hands on a deal that said you’d introduce me to someone in the music biz, right?”

She nodded. His hand was smooth and dry. She ever-so-slightly tightened her fingers in his grip.

“Then let’s skip these so-called lessons. I’ve already made arrangements through a friend to get a demo made this weekend. So all you have to do is honor that handshake and arrange for me to meet your connection in Hollywood, OK? Just a name, a phone call to introduce me.”

Her play would fail with no inspiration. And stuck with carrying out the worst part of the deal! How did this happen?

“OK,” she said, but not in a commanding voice.

“Good,” he said. He released her hand, breaking what she worried might be the last physical connection she’d ever have with him.

He grabbed his guitar case and headed for the door.

“Wait!” she shouted at him, taking long strides to keep him from leaving. “One more thing. What about you?”

“What about me what?”

“You. Have you ever fallen in love?”

He winked at her. “All the time.”

She’d have the last word, something she realized was important to her. “I think it’s wrong, all these women you lead on. Don’t you? I mean, they may get attached, fall for you. But you seem to use them, to see what you can get out of them for your own purposes. I think that’s wrong, They’re human beings, after all. With feelings.”

He turned around, his eyes drained of any light. “They use me, too. It’s not like they’re not getting anything out of it.”

“What am I getting out of this?” she asked him, if not rhetorically.

He stood on one hip, a move that made him appear more rakish than usual. “I really don’t know, Miss Todd. I wondered that myself. I thought perhaps you were bored or intrigued. Or maybe you’re a control freak.” He took a step toward her so he was within half an inch of her face. “Or maybe you’re just like the rest and can’t resist me.”

Hadley stood her ground. “How do you know when it’s over? The moment when love, or lust, turns into something else. Something not as passionate?”

“I don’t think about it,” he said, returning her gaze. “It’s something that happens. Maybe it’s not one moment. It just is.”

He turned around and walked out of the room.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jude Hopkins has published essays in The Los Angeles Times, Medium, and elsewhere, as well as poetry in numerous journals and magazines.

 

Website * Twitter * Medium

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

Jude Hopkins is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

● By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
● One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Card.
● This giveaway ends midnight June 30.
● Winner will be contacted via email on July 1.
● Winner has 48 hours to reply.

 

Good luck everyone!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Posted in 5 paws, Review, romance, women on May 7, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Twenty-nine-year-old Nina Abrahams is not in a good place. She’s been fired from her restaurant manager job after she stands up to her bully of a boss, her motivational speaker mother is helping other people get their lives on track and ignoring the derailing of her daughter’s, and her best friend, Lucas Wilson, the guy she’s loved since she was eighteen, can’t seem to look beyond the girl in braces to the woman she is now.

When a new opportunity comes up, Nina decides it’s the perfect time to start over. The restaurant needs a reinvention and so does she. Unfortunately for Nina, the restaurant comes with hostile servers, a belligerent chef, and an owner averse to change.

But if Nina’s brave enough to take on the restaurant and tackle the people out to sabotage her, perhaps she can find the courage to tell Lucas how she really feels, even if it means risking the most important relationship in her life.

 

 

AmazonApple BooksKobo

 

Barnes & NobleAngus & Robertson

 

Universal Book Link: Books2Read

 

 

Review

 

This story was a surprise. It is well crafted. I felt like the characters had depth, there were issues to resolve, and love to find.

Nina has a lot going for her – a supportive brother, good friends, and a love for the hospitality industry. Her mother is supportive but in her own way. I suppose that comes from being a motivational or inspirational speaker. But even they resolve their issues that have kept them apart and do not truly know one another. There is even her good friend Lucas whom she loves but doesn’t say anything for fear of messing up the friendship. But we all know how that goes…unrequited love is hard to dismiss.

I liked that Nina has some issues to work through, from her job to friends and family. It is a time for her to grow and stretch herself, become the best person she can be, and follow her dreams.

There is romance in the story too, but it is very clean, and I appreciated that aspect. The crux of the story doesn’t get lost in scenes between the characters. It is very much a G-rated book.

This was a fun book to read, and I will look for more books by this author. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lara Martin writes books about imperfect people living messy lives, falling in love and getting their perfect happily-ever-after. She’s lived in South Africa and Australia and now calls a cozy village in England her home. She’s tried a variety of amazing and awful jobs: video game reviewer, graphic designer, insurance claims agent (she has no idea how she landed this one), proof reader, feature writer, and magazine editor. She lives with her husband (always the first reader of her novels), two slightly terrifying teenagers, and the requisite psychotic cat. When she’s not writing, she can be found haunting local coffee shops.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon

 

 | 
Comments Off on Review – All The Lost Pieces by Lara Martin @laramartin123 #romance #women #fiction