The Book Bag: August 2022

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Book Blitz! Red Rain by Lara Bernhardt ~ Excerpt and a #Giveaway! #RedRain @lara_wells1 @XpressoTours

Red Rain by Lara Bernhardt
Publication date: August 30th 2022
Genres: Women’s Fiction

A bittersweet story of friendship and overcoming grief from a critically acclaimed author.

Olivia Montag is a professor who doesn’t have all the answers. The devastating loss of a child ended her marriage, and she’s been overlooked for a job promotion one time too many. Not sure what comes next, she leaves it all behind and volunteers to teach English to schoolchildren in India.

Ten thousand miles away, she connects with fellow volunteers and finds purpose in teaching. Until one by one the girls in her classes stop showing up. Then she meets Mukesh, an Indian man with a heart for invention, who may be the only one who can help her students. This is her chance to impact real change, even if that means trusting new friendships and her own instincts.

It turns out, there might be strength in asking for help, and embracing a painful past may clear the way for a brighter future. Sometimes in the darkest storms, you can choose to dance in the rain.

Eat, Pray, Love meets Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in this poignant but uplifting story of finding your purpose.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Olivia Montag questioned her sanity. Anyone she’d shared her plans with had questioned it for months now, some with raised eyebrows, skeptical silence, and shrugs as if to say, “If that’s what you want.” Some had opted for a more straightforward approach and outright bursts of, “Have you lost your mind?” But she’d brushed them all aside, reassuring them—and herself—that she knew what she was doing. She needed this. She’d read Eat, Pray, Love. This was how people found themselves again after their lives fell apart.

Until this moment, she’d remained stubbornly convinced she was right and completely ignored the naysayers. Excitement had buoyed her steps as she’d boarded the plane to leave, Mom giving one last look of concern as she waved goodbye. The thrill of adventure and the certainty she was embarking on a life-empowering trip of a lifetime (and perhaps delirium brought on by lack of sleep) got her through the thirty-six-hour journey, including transfers and layovers, to New Delhi, India.

She’d slept most of several days, enjoying the exotic newness of it all when awake, slowly adjusting her day/night cycle. Watching flocks of green parrots fly overhead as she soaked up tropical sun by the pool of her five-star luxury hotel, she’d breathed deeply and congratulated herself, awash in the knowledge she’d been correct. This was exactly what she’d needed. A fresh start, halfway around the globe, as far from her previous surroundings as she could possibly run.

Now, stepping off the rusted-out, rattletrap bus that brought her from Kochi, Kerala, after a long-delayed, nearly five-hour flight from New Delhi, and clutching her single bag of possessions, she entertained the notion that perhaps she should have listened to the naysayers—at least a little bit.

The crowded bus station, constructed of bare concrete and worn from years of hard use, bustled with people. Most of them appeared to be running hours behind schedule, and the spot she occupied apparently intersected with everyone’s trajectories, judging by the way they all jostled and bumped her.

If her ex-husband could see her now. She could picture the look of disgust and the head shake that had become such a familiar sight the last few years. If she’d done something really stupid, he might also roll his eyes. Yes, this adventure probably would’ve earned an eye roll along with the head shake. And his running commentary about what smart people did and didn’t do. “Smart people don’t just run off to India,” she could hear him say. “Especially with no idea where they’re going or how they’ll get there. That’s just not smart.” The longer she stood there, lost and wondering how long she should stand in the bus station watching more competent people en route to their destinations before seeking help, the more she thought she deserved her ex’s scorn.

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About the author

Connect with Lara

Lara Bernhardt is a Pushcart-nominated writer, editor, and audiobook narrator. She is Editor-in-Chief of Balkan Press and also publishes a literary magazine, Conclave. Twice a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, she writes supernatural suspense and women’s fiction. You can follow her on all the socials @larawells1 on Twitter and @larabern10 on Facebook, BookBub, and Instagram.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Release Day! Stone Heart by Susan K. Hamilton ~ My Thoughts, an Interview, and a #Giveaway! #StoneHeart @RealSKHamilton

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Susan

on the release today of

Stone Heart!

Stone Heart by Susan K. Hamilton

Contemporary Women's Fiction, 380 pages

Published August 30th 2022 by Writing Bloc

Lauren Stone is no stranger to regret...

A singer in a successful band, she's learned a hard lesson over the years: people don't love her for who she really is. They love what she is and what she can do for them. The only person who ever truly loved her ended their relationship years ago, and it nearly destroyed her. But Lauren doesn't have time to pine over lost love. If she doesn't get her songwriting mojo back-and fast-The Kingmakers' new album is going to be a colossal failure.

When Lauren returns home to New York for a recording session, a publicity stunt gone awry brings her face-to-face with her past and her biggest regret: Danny Padovano, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart. The spark between them is still there but getting involved with Danny again is one step short of insanity. Lauren knows she's playing with fire-things are a lot more complicated now than they were when Lauren and Danny were younger, and the stakes are much, much higher. Soon, everything Lauren's worked so hard to achieve starts to unravel.

Can she come to terms with her regrets? Or will they finally destroy her?

My thoughts about Stone Heart ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Lauren Stone owned a big-ass, beachfront Spanish Colonial Revival in Santa Monica, California."

Stone Heart is a very complicated story, but in a good way. Lauren and Danny are high school sweethearts, truly and deeply in love. But they both want different things out of life so they go their separate ways after graduation. Fast forward a number of years and they are thrown together again. Are those gut-wrenching feelings still there? Or will they be content as platonic friends?

The story then takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, involving the two of them and their entire family and friends' worlds. There is plenty of relationship drama and angst. I felt all of it right along with everyone else.

This is a wonderfully written story about a complex topic but it is also a beautiful tale of deep love, regrets, forgiveness, and following your heart. Stone Heart is the first book I have read by Ms. Hamilton and it's her first foray into women's fiction. She writes did a fabulous job, the words just flowed off of the pages. I will definitely be reading more of her books. I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes women's fiction.

I received a copy of Stone Heart from the author and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Susan has donated a copy of her book for me to use as a giveaway. Scroll down to enter.

An interview with Susan K. Hamilton

1. Your previous books have all been in the fantasy genre. What prompted a women’s fiction novel?

Fantasy has always been my go-to genre. I loved reading it as a kid and that love continued into adulthood. So, writing it just came naturally. But I’ve been trying to expand my horizons a little. I’ve done some flash and micro fiction challenges that have made me write in genres I might never have tried before. Some authors stay in a very specific genre, and there’s nothing wrong with that—but I also believe that if you’ve got a story in your head that needs to come out, you should write it regardless of what genre it falls into.

I’d had Stone Heart rattling around in my head, but I always put aside turning it into a manuscript because I was working on some other projects. When my last novel, The Devil Inside was finally out, I needed something new to work on. I thought about a follow up to Devil but wasn’t quite ready for that. And it just felt like the time was right to turn Stone Heart into a more formal project.

2. Are there any themes that run through Stone Heart?

I’d say it’s about relationships, regrets, and the dumb decisions we make when we’re in love. But for me, regret is a central part of the story. We all have them—okay, there are probably some people out there who are truly living their authentic lives, but most of us have at least a few regrets. Some big, some small. The promotion we didn’t go after. The friend we fell out of touch with. That thing we said when we really should have kept our mouth shut. The relationship we gave up on…or the one we fought too hard to hold onto when we really should have let go.

I tried to make the characters in Stone Heart feel authentic. They’re fundamentally decent people, but they make some bad choices. Choices that come with consequences.

3. Does Stone Heart have any autobiographical elements?

Not really! The closest thing to anything autobiographical is that I have tremendous admiration for anyone who is musically gifted because I am not. I’ll sing my heart out along with the radio when I’m in the car alone, but I don’t have a very good singing voice. I wish I did. So I may have put a bit of my own wistful desire to front a band into Lauren’s success but that’s about it.

4. Part of Stone Heart revolves around an affair. Why did you choose to take on a topic like infidelity?

My intent wasn’t to “take it on” as a topic. For me, the affair is just one part of the story. An important part, yes, but not the only part. But I do know that affairs and infidelity are going to be sensitive topics for some readers. My hope is that I’ve written my characters in such a way that what comes through is their fundamental humanity. They’re ordinary people stumbling their way through life—and that comes with mistakes and questionable decisions.

5. What do you hope readers will take away from your novel?

One thing is empathy for others. We’ve all made decisions we wish we could do over. Making a bad decision doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person. It just means you’re human. Life is rarely black and white, and I try to create characters who are genuine, complicated, and who, despite their best intentions, don’t always get it right. I hope people see a little of themselves in my characters, or a little bit of people they know–and that they remember that relationships and love can be complicated, messy things. But also that it is worth it, even when it may not turn out quite the way you planned.

About the author

SUSAN K. HAMILTON is an award-winning author who has published books in multiple genres. Her novel, Shadow King, was a Top Ten Finalist in the inaugural Launch Pad Manuscript Competition (now the Launch Pad Prose Competition). Her newest novel, Stone Heart, is one of a limited number of works being published in 2022 by indie publisher, Writing Bloc.

As a child, Susan enjoyed writing but drifted away from it during high school. Once in college, however, her passion for creative fiction was rekindled during an English class that assigned her a creative project. The result of that assignment sparked the desire to write a novel, and she’s been writing ever since.

Susan appreciates the fact that life is rarely black and white, and the decisions people make often happen in that gray moral area between right and wrong. She tries to incorporate this complexity into her own writing and create characters who are genuine, complicated, and who, despite their best intentions, don’t always get it right. She encourages new writers to find their voice and tell their stories. She is a longtime supporter of Grub Street, a creative writing center in Boston.

Professionally Susan works as a corporate communications manager focused on employee engagement communication. An avid equestrian, she co-owns a Dutch Warmblood mare and competes mostly in small schooling jumper shows for fun.

Connect with Susan

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Twitter | Amazon | Instagram

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Thank you Susan for the copy of Stone Heart for the giveaway!

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Monday, August 29, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 29. 2022 #IMWAYR

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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How can it be almost the end of August?? Schools are back in session and things are getting back to normal, whatever that means. Grandkiddos are involved in a lot of activities that keep their parents busy. It's nice, as a grandparent, to be able to just sit back and enjoy their games, concerts, etc. without all the running around that it takes beforehand. We've got a couple of trips planned for the fall but nothing immediate. I love fall with the beautiful colors and cooler temps. And football, although my favorite team has been struggling for the last.... oh, a lot of years.... so Saturday's are sometimes a little tough to get through. Have a wonderful end of the month everyone!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week.

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Tomorrow in Shanghai

by May-lee Chai

Pub date August 30

The Promise of Christmas

by Steena Holmes

Pub date September 25

Dance of the Winnebagos

(Jackrabbit Junction #1)

by Ann Charles

Narrated by Lisa Larsen

What I recently finished

Stone Heart

by Susan K. Hamilton

Pub date August 30

What I am going to read next

The Opera Sisters

by Marianne Monson

Pub date September 6

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Sunday, August 28, 2022

Book Blitz! Where the Rainbow Falls by Joey Jones ~ Excerpt and #Giveaway #WhereTheRainbowFalls

Where the Rainbow Falls by Joey Jones
Publication date: August 20th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

In the face of a storm, a father’s love is the most powerful force.

With Hurricane Florence rapidly approaching the North Carolina coastline, all Niles North can think about is his five-year-old son Riley and how he wished he bent the law when he had the chance to evacuate him. Now, instead of being safe in Hickory with his dad, Riley is with Niles’s ex-wife Eden, who’s decided to ride out the storm at home with her drummer friend. Desperate to get back to his son as the stormwaters rise, Niles begs Reese, an attractive police detective and rescue worker, to drive him back to New Bern.

Refusing to help Niles seems nearly impossible for Reese who quickly realizes she’s in deeper than she should be—both professionally and emotionally—especially since she’s drawn to almost everything about him. As the two undertake a perilous journey into the eye of the storm, Niles’s worst fears come true, setting in motion a series of events that will change both of their lives forever.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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EXCERPT

His cheeks lifted as his eyes bubbled over. “He’s out there somewhere and we’re in here, doing nothing.”

“We’re waiting out the worst of this storm so that we can do something,” she reminded him all the while realizing the inadequacy of the response.

“What if I never see my son again?” Niles considered out loud through a sniffle.

At that instant, Reese’s emotions controlled her body and before she knew it, tears streamed down her chapped cheeks. The wind took a toll on them although she hadn’t realized it until standing beneath the showerhead earlier thinking about what the wind could be doing to a vulnerable five-year-old. She’d thought about having kids one day, hoped to, but this was one of those moments in life where something clicked and she knew she wanted to know the kind of love this man felt for his child. Even though this was literally one of the saddest moments she’d ever experienced, Niles’s love for Riley radiated off him like the scent of a breathtaking bouquet of flowers.

Letting go, Reese draped her arms over his shoulders and hugged him tightly. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get to hold Riley in your arms again,” she whispered into his ear. It was relatively dark in their little nook, and the moment she decided that one of them would hear if anyone approached, she let her lips settle on his cheek and rested them there as she squeezed a bit tighter.

Niles’s eyelids collapsed as the warmth of Reese’s body spread across his own like a fire jumping from one house to the next. He could feel the moisture on her lips as they lingered on his face tracing his skin like a tender massage. There was something he loved about her confidence, something about her touch that set him at ease even while the inside of his body screamed at the top of its lungs. He wanted out of here, wanted to fight the storm and all of his demons together with this woman whom he barely knew. She was strong yet soft, forceful yet calm. He never met anyone like Reese Kirby in all his life, and he couldn’t help but think God sent her to him at just the right time. A piece of him wanted to be selfish and wonder what tomorrow might hold for the two of them, but all he could think about at the moment was how grateful he was that she was willing to risk her life to help him find his son.

Somehow, eventually, Niles and Reese both fell asleep beneath separate blankets. Under an extra sheet Reese plucked from the pile earlier, their fingers hid intertwined like two strands of rope. Staring at one another, they whispered until neither of them could hold their eyes open any longer. Reese thought Niles would never let his body rest, but she made a pact with herself to talk to him until he did. She knew his mind wouldn’t wander as much if she could keep a conversation streaming. In a way, it felt like they were in the boat again, and as she drifted off to sleep, Reese couldn’t help but think about how hiding seemed to be their thing.

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The writing style of Joey Jones has been described as a mixture of Nicholas Sparks, Richard Paul Evans, and James Patterson. USA Today Bestselling Author Jeff Gunhus compared Jones’ work to Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Evans, and Sparks. National Bestselling Author Kristy Woodson Harvey described Joey Jones’ writing as “lyrical” and proclaims “he effortlessly pulls readers into the souls of his characters.”

The ratings and reviews of Jones’ novels A BRIDGE APART (2015), LOSING LONDON (2016), A FIELD OF FIREFLIES (2018), and THE DATE NIGHT JAR (2019) reflect the comparison to the aforementioned New York Times bestselling authors.

Joey Jones fell in love with creative writing at a young age and decided in his early twenties that he wanted to write a book. His debut novel A BRIDGE APART is a suspenseful love story that was years in the making as he tinkered with the story off and on while working full-time in the marketing field. In February 2016, Jones became a full-time novelist and published his second novel LOSING LONDON later that year. Three of Jones’ novels have earned 4.8 out of 5.0 Amazon stars.

In his spare time, Joey enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, working out, reading, and writing inspirational quotes. His favorite meal is a New York Style Pizza with sweet tea. He won the 8th-grade spelling bee at his school, but if you ask him how many students participated, he might say, “Such minor details are not important!” He currently lives in North Carolina with his family.

Joey Jones earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College where he graduated with honors (2006). He was the owner of a full-service advertising agency and taught business and marketing courses as an adjunct college instructor.

Jones invites you to connect with him online to find out more about his upcoming novels, book signings, giveaways, exciting news, charities, and more.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

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Saturday, August 27, 2022

This OR That #Giveaway № 71 ~ The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupree OR The Hole in the Middle by Kate Hilton

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The Little French Bridal Shop

by Jennifer Dupee

Hardcover ~ Published March 2021

Jennifer Dupee's debut novel is a delight...a story about discovering your authentic self when things get hard, and the joys you can find when you live from your heart. --Louise Miller

Is a lie of omission still a lie? Larisa Pearl didn't think so and it got her into a heap of trouble.

When Larisa Pearl returns to her small seaside hometown in Massachusetts to manage her beloved great aunt's estate, she's a bit of an emotional mess. She's just lost her job and her boyfriend and she's struggling to cope with her mother's failing health. When she passes by the window of The Little French Bridal Shop, a beautiful ivory satin wedding gown catches her eye...

Now, to the delight of everyone in town, Larisa is planning her wedding. She has her dress, made floral arrangements, and set the date. The only thing missing is the groom. How did this happen? All she did was try on a dress and let her fantasy take flight. But word about her upcoming nuptials has reached the ears of Jack Merrill. As teenagers, they spent time together on her great aunt's estate, building a friendship that could have become something more had they chosen different paths.

Lost in a web of her own lies, Larisa must first face some difficult truths, including her mother's fragile future, before she can embrace her family, straighten out her life, and open her heart to finding love.

Read my thoughts here

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The Hole in the Middle

Kate Hilton

Paperback ~ November 2013

Sophie Whelan is the kind of woman who prides herself on doing it all. In a single day, she can host a vegan-friendly and lactose-free dinner for ten, thwart a PTA president intent on forcing her to volunteer, and outwit her hostile ‘assistant’ in order to get her work done on time.

With her fortieth birthday looming, and her carefully coordinated existence beginning to come apart at the seams, Sophie begins feeling like she needs more from her life—and especially from her husband, Jesse.

The last thing Sophie needs is a new complication in her life. But when an opportunity from her past suddenly reappears, Sophie is forced to confront the choices she’s made and decide if her chaotic life is really a dream come true—or the biggest mistake she’s ever made.

Read my thoughts here

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Thursday, August 25, 2022

Release Day! The Secrets We Hide by Patricia Sands ~ My Thoughts and the Trailer #TheSecretsWeHide @patricia_sands

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Patricia

on the release today of

The Secrets We Hide!

The Secrets We Hide by Patricia Sands
Women's Psychological Fiction, 400 pages
Published August 25, 2022 by Patricia Sands

The deep traditions and values of Kaito Tanaka’s Japanese heritage are severely tested when he returns home to Honolulu from duty in Vietnam to find his wife, Hana, in the grip of progressive mental health challenges.

As Hana’s condition worsens, Kaito’s life becomes absorbed in protecting and caring for her and their daughter, Kiana. Hana becomes increasingly reclusive while their daughter Kiana grows troubled and rebellious. A friend’s mysterious death followed by Kiana’s sudden disappearance cut deeply into Kaito’s soul. Meditation is Kaito’s drug of choice. Secrecy hides the truth from others but Kaito’s commitment to Hana is unwavering.

As years go by, Kaito begins to make an annual pilgrimage to a Buddhist retreat in Koyasan that renews his spirit. In the end, a serendipitous coincidence there opens the door to happiness – if he can allow himself to accept it.

Purchase links

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble

Kobo | Books2Read

My thoughts about The Secrets We Hide ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Kaito Tanaka locked the door to his house before he walked out to a waiting taxi. And quite possible to a change of everything in his life."

I absolutely love starting one of Patricia Sand's books. Getting lost in her words is like taking a wonderful vacation to another country. This time I got to travel to Japan, Hawaii, Corsica, and the south of France. Patricia spends a lot of time in France and her love affair with the area is very evident in her stories. Thanks to her beautiful descriptions, I get to travel there vicariously through her.

The Secrets We Hide is a beautiful love story of the devotion Kaito has to the love of his life, even in the worst of times. And things are hard, as his wife withdraws from him, their daughter, and the world. But his loyalty and devotion to her stays strong. It's heartbreaking to witness all that this man had to endure in his life.

Traveling to a Buddhist retreat starts his healing process and thanks to the author's words, the reader is privy to the wisdom and peace that comes from the Buddhist ideology. His journey to peace and happiness is a beautiful thing to witness and makes this such a delightful, amazing story.

I have read almost all of Patricia's books and have loved each and every one. The Secrets We Hide is definitely one of my favorites now. Such a heartwarming story! I highly recommend this one to all.

I received The Secrets We Hide from the author and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Trailer

About the author

Bestselling author Patricia Sands lives two hours north of Toronto, Canada, in The Blue Mountains, when she isn't somewhere else, and calls the south of France her second home. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south of France. With a focus on travel, women’s issues and aging, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship.

Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book-group favorite, and The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part Love in Provence series (followed by Promises to Keep and I Promise You This), was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance. Her fifth novel, Drawing Lessons, was released by Lake Union Publishing on October 1, 2017.

Lavender, Loss & Love, A Season of Surprises and The First Noel make up the the Villa de Violettes series, based on the Love in Provence characters.

The Bridge Club ~ Tenth Anniversary edition ~ was released in September 2021 and is now in Kindle Unlimited.

On August 25, 2022, her novel The Secrets We Hide will be released.

Sands also contributes to such Francophile websites as The Good Life France and Perfectly Provence and loves to visit Book Clubs either live or on ZOOM! Info on her website.

Find out more at Patricia’s Facebook Author Page, Amazon Author Page or her website. There are links to her books, social media, and a monthly newsletter that has special giveaways, photography from France, and sneak peeks at her next book. She loves hearing from readers.

Patricia has led six 10-day tours of the French Riviera and the countryside of Provence. She will be co-hosting another 'Sold Out' women's tour of Provence in September 2021 with her good friend Deborah Bine aka The Barefoot Blogger.

Find out more at Patricia’s Facebook Author Page, Amazon Author Page, Goodreads or her blog where you will find links to her books, social media, and monthly newsletter. She loves hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to email her. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Patricia

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Release Day! Please Join Us by Catherine McKenzie ~ My Thoughts #PleaseJoinUs #NetGalley @CEMcKenzie1 @AtriaBooks

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Catherine

on the release today of

Please Join Us!

Please Join Us by Catherine McKenzie

Women's Psychological Fiction, 320 pages

Published August 23, 2022 by Atria Books

At thirty-nine, Nicole Mueller’s life is on the rocks. Her once brilliant law career is falling apart. She and her husband, Dan, are soon to be forced out of the apartment they love. After a warning from her firm’s senior partners, she receives an invitation from an exclusive women’s networking group, Panthera Leo. Membership is anonymous, but every member is a successful professional. It sounds like the perfect solution to help Nicole revive her career. So, despite Dan’s concerns that the group might be a cult, Nicole signs up for their retreat in Colorado.

Once there, she meets the other women who will make up her Pride. A CEO, an actress, a finance whiz, a congresswoman: Nicole can’t believe her luck. The founders of Panthera Leo are equally as impressive. They explain the group’s core philosophy: they’re a girl’s club in a boy’s club world.

Nicole is all in. And when she gets home, she soon sees dividends. Her new network quickly provides her with clients that help her relaunch her career, and a great new apartment too. The favors she has to provide in return seem benign. But then she’s called to the congresswoman’s apartment late at night where she’s pressed into helping her cover up a crime. And suddenly, Dan’s concerns that something more sinister is at play seem all too relevant. Can Nicole extricate herself from the group before it’s too late? Or will joining Panthera Leo be the biggest mistake of her life?

My thoughts about Please Join Us ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The door to Althena's apartment is open. I'm both relieved and petrified by this."

The first chapter is going to grab your attention for sure. And then get ready for the ride of your life. You know this group that Nicole has gotten herself involved with is up to something but you'll never imagine the depth of the conniving and deceit that they are capable of.

The intensity, the drama, and the twist and turns will suck you in and you will not want to stop. Are these people really capable of the things they do? Catherine McKenzie is not only an amazing author but she's also a lawyer so there is plenty of the legal world in this story. If you like legal drama thrillers, Please Join Us is the book for you.

I've said it before after reading one of Catherine's books—her stories just keep getting better and better, with each one more fascinating than the one before. I always look forward to her next book. I highly recommend Please Join Us!

I received an ARC of Please Join Us from the author via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill in History and Law, Catherine practices law in Montreal. An avid runner and skier, she's the author of numerous bestsellers including Hidden, Fractured, The Good Liar, and I'll Never Tell. Her works have been translated into multiple languages.

In 2019, I'll Never Tell was a #1 Amazon Bestseller, a Globe & Mail and Toronto Star Bestseller, was shortlisted for the Hugh McLennan Prize for Fiction and was optioned for a television series by Paramount TV.

Her next novel, Please Join Us, releases August 23, 2022. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Catherine

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Monday, August 22, 2022

Book Blitz! To Steal a Heart by Jennifer Youngblood ~ Excerpt, Reading and #Giveaway! #ToStealAHeart

To Steal a Heart by Jennifer Youngblood
(Honeysuckle Island, #5)
Publication date: August 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense, Women’s Fiction

Coming home has never been so thrilling … or deadly.

When New York Times Bestselling author, Arden Chasing, returns home to Honeysuckle Island to attend a diamond exhibition held at The Oliver Hotel, she soon finds herself embroiled in a perplexing mystery that involves the charming and charismatic Garrett Singleton, a known jewel thief.

As the mystery deeps and danger closes in, Arden fears she might lose something even more valuable than the celebrated pink Finkle diamond—her heart.

Goodreads | Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Arden liked seeing herself through Crew’s eyes. She got the feeling that he actually appreciated that she was so outspoken.

The moment slowed as the air took on a charge of energy. Arden was keenly aware that the two of them were alone. She didn’t know how Crew could pass himself off as not being exciting. He was the most thrilling man she’d ever been around. His eyes took on a smolder as he scooted closer. Her breath caught as her pulse bumped up several notches. Was she ready to kiss him? This was happening fast. She wanted a whirlwind romance, but at the same time, she wanted something lasting. Was Crew the type of guy who would get bored with her if she made things too easy for him? He was so charming and charismatic that she got the impression that he’d broken many hearts. She didn’t want to be another number.

“I don’t know how much help I can be with the Carmel research part of your book, but if you need any help with the romance, I’m happy to oblige.” He caressed the curve of her jaw with the side of his finger, rippling pleasure through her. “I’m glad our paths crossed,” he murmured. His fingers trailed lightly down her arm, igniting her cells.

He leaned closer, his eyes roving over her with a hunger that stoked an aching yearning in her. Her lips parted instinctively as her breath came faster. He leaned in. Thankfully, before their lips could connect, her good sense took over. She placed her index finger on the center of his lips.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“No kissing tonight,” she said gently. “We need to get to know one another better first.” Oh, how she hated saying those words. Her head argued that she’d acted wisely, but her traitorous body longed to be held in his arms. She wanted to discover the taste of his lips … to run her fingers through his thick mop of blond hair. She wanted to be consumed by him. Wow. That was good. She needed to put those words down on paper … err, her computer screen before they flew out of her head.

He drew back as if disappointed, a tight smile winding over his lips. “That’s what you call a crash and burn.”

She laughed in surprise. “No, it’s called being sensible. You’re way too charming for your own good.”

“Nah,” he winked. “I’m just your everyday, average architectural consultant.”

She gave him a reproving look. “Uh, no. I don’t buy that for one minute. We may be just getting to know one another, but I’m no idiot. You, Crew Bronson, are a Casanova. And no matter how enchanting and handsome you are, I’m going to do the sensible thing and protect my heart.”

Amusement overtook his expression. “Sensibility is overrated.”

“Not in my book.”

A resplendent smile waffled over his lips. “You are the author. I guess you’ll have to be the one who decides how our story will end.”

“I guess you’re right.” She pressed her lips together, studying him. “We’ll start by going sailing in the morning … and then we’ll see.”

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About the author

Jennifer Youngblood is a USA Today Bestselling Author of clean romance, sweet romance, romantic comedy, and romantic suspense novels. For as long as she could remember, Jennifer has wanted to be an author. In those rare moments when she's not dreaming up another story, Jennifer loves cooking, spending time with family, and occasionally breaking away from her hectic life to take spontaneous trips to exotic and sometimes not so exotic locations. She couldn't survive in a world without chocolate, good books, family, and friends.

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