Category: blogging

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the FRANKIE & BUG by Gayle Forman Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my
post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: FRANKIE & BUG

Author: Gayle Forman

Pub. Date: October 12, 2021

Publisher:  Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 288

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman comes a poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world.

It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie.

Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world.

Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.

Praise
for The FRANKIE & BUG:
“I knew I would like Frankie and Bug from the moment I started reading it. What I didn’t know is how much I would end up loving it (a realization that hit me about halfway through the book, when it took a turn I didn’t see coming). This joyful, occasionally heartbreaking, deeply moving thrill ride through the 80s has it all: a mystery to solve, boy bands, and the tender surprise of new
friendships. I didn’t want it to end.” (R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of WONDER )

“This wonderful, bighearted book has everything a bored eleven-year-old could ask for: from ice cream and roller-skating to tabloid murders and family
secrets. After you spend the summer with Frankie and Bug and their colorful costars, you’ll want to go back to Venice Beach every year. Gayle Forman,
please make me another!” (Raphael Simon, a/k/a NYT Bestelling author Pseudonymous Bosch )

“A beautiful and tender story about the discovery of a powerful friendship, starring two fantastic kids and one extraordinary family.”
(Newbery Award-winning author Rebecca Stead)

* “Through Bug’s innocent perspective, Forman illuminates the pains and injustices suffered by so many, and readers will avidly watch this young girl
stand up to skinheads and relatives, discovering that “family” are those who have your back, loving you without conditions, and allowing you to be who you are. The characterizations, setting, and messaging are genuine and heart-tugging, making this a must-read.” (BOOKLIST, starred review)

“During a summer of change and big realizations, Bug learns vital and sometimes painful lessons about the power of embracing her true self and
meeting people where they are. Forman (We Are Inevitable) tenderly depicts a girl whose understanding—of identity, sexuality, and prejudice—is
rapidly expanding, and whose chosen family provides a safe, loving space in which to navigate her experiences and learn to show up as an ally.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Readers interested in complex emotional development and relationships will appreciate each character’s subtle nuances. Superb storytelling.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Before I get into my review I quickly want to thank Rockstar Book Tour for allowing me to be a part of this tour and for graciously sending a egalley of Frankie & Bug to read and review for my stop today.

I thoroughly loved reading this even though I am not the targeted audience for this.  It was the perfect middle-grade book to read and one that I highly recommend you pick up to read yourself. The characters and the storyline were so realistic. you can truly see the bond that Bug has with Danny through the book. 

About Gayle Forman:

Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in
numerous publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and Elle in the US. Gayle Forman’s novel, If I Stay, was released as a blockbuster movie starring Chloë Grace Moretz in 2014. Her most recent YA novel is We Are Inevitable. Gayle lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FRANKIE & BUG, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second Chance Santa
J.J. Knight
Publication date: November 15th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Holiday, Romance

What has happened to Mack McAllister?

We were law school rivals.
Absolutely insane in bed.
Our two-year fling ended when we graduated.
He had his ambitions. I had mine.

We were going to slay the competition.
Now he’s sleighing it?

When I stalk him at Riverside Mall, he looks like Santa in every way. White beard. Rosy cheeks. Kid on his knee.

But I know better. That bowl full of jelly is hiding ripped abs.

I’ve been inside that suit.

Something’s happened to the Mack I knew ten years ago.

I don’t know how he feels about me now, but there’s only one way to find out.

Get in there and jingle those bells.
___________
Second Chance Santa is a holiday romantic comedy about the one who got away, the perils of resting Grinch face, and all the delicious ways to unwrap a candy cane.

Add to Goodreads

—

EXCERPT:

Rory’s tone is tough as she says, “It’s been a long time.” She pokes my belly pillow. “You’ve gone soft.”

“Maybe I’ve had a lot of milk and cookies lately.”

She shakes her head. “I never thought I’d see you like this.”

My internal clock tells me it’s time to get back to families waiting in line. But I want to figure out what made her come here today. It has to be more than curiosity. “Are you in town long?”

“I live here.”

I control my expression. Rory’s back in L.A. and I didn’t even know. I used to know everything about her, including the exact spot that made her scream. I swear it’s the memories talking when I hear my own treacherous voice say, “Meet me this weekend.”

Rory’s about to answer when a sharp-eared kid yells, “What about Mrs. Claus?”

Vivid images of Rory flash through my mind. Santa should not be having those thoughts right now. “She wants to see my North Pole,” I call out, enjoying the snort-laugh I get out of Rory.

The kids chorus, “Show her! Show her!”

Rory is losing it. She keeps trying to straighten her expression, but she can’t hold it. “You’re terrible,” she squeaks out.

“Santa has an endless amount of euphemisms.” I tug a candy cane out of my ample side pocket. “Need something to suck on?” I say close to her ear.

She’s dying.

“So how about it?” I ask.

Author Bio:

JJ Knight is the USA Today and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedy including Tasty Mango and Big Pickle.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon / Bookbub / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

This is my post during the blog tour for Get You the Moon by Hasnita Singh. Get You the Moon is a standalone coming of age story about academic rivals whose animosity turns into something more.

This blog tour is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours and the tour runs from 18 till 31 October. You can see the tour schedule here.

Get You the Moon
By Hasnita Singh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: July 15, 2021

Blurb:
Scarlet Bridge is beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious. In her final year of high school, she has five goals she wants to achieve before graduation, and she won’t let anything – or anyone – stand in her way. Not even everyone’s favorite golden boy, Levi Henare.

Levi has it all – good looks, quick wit, and he is a rugby prodigy. And nothing gives him more pleasure than getting on Scarlet’s every last nerve.

When Scarlet accidentally dials Levi’s phone number, a chain of events that neither of them expected is set into motion.

Thrown together by a twist of fate, will Levi and Scarlet overcome the challenges of their final year at school, their mutual dislike of each other, and their own personal demons to successfully graduate?
Links:
– Goodreads
– Bookbub
– Amazon
– Bookdepository
– Waterstones
– Indiebound
– Books a Million

About the Author:
Hasnita Kiran Singh is a twenty-one-year-old living in Auckland, New Zealand. As a university student, she spends most of her time procrastinating. As an Optical Assistant, she’ll do everything to convince you to get glasses. When she’s not writing (which is unfortunately too often), she can be found baking or trying out new restaurants. She loves her friends, being on time, and chocolate fondants as much as she loves reading. She is a proud feminist, typically sleep deprived, and a lover of the stars.

Author links:
– Website
– Wattpad
– Twitter
– Goodreads
– Pinterest
– Instagram
– Newsletter

I quickly have to thank Lola’s Blog Tours for letting me be a part of this blog tour and for sending me the ebook version of the book to read and review for my tour stop today.

I think that this has to be one of my new favorite tropes to read, academic rivals to lovers. Although I should mention that this book definitely has some triggers that might affect people (sexual harassment, PTSD, mentions of suicide, racism, homophobia, panic attacks, smoking). There is nothing graphic in the book.

Our main characters are Scarlett and Levi. Both characters are in their final year of high school and they both have clear goals they want to achieve and don’t want anything to sidetrack them. Each other has basically been a thorn in each other’s side for a little while now. They each want to be the best. Each other loves taking jabs at each other because they both know it gets to them.

As the story progresses we realize why there is this rivalry between them. Scarlett feels that Levi is the golden boy and can do absolutely nothing wrong in everyone’s eyes and for Scarlett, she feels as though everyone is watching and scrutinizing her because of her brother’s actions. Let’s just say that once upon a time her brother, Sawyer was the golden one until he did something, and it’s not good.

As the story progresses the unthinkable happens between Scarlett and Levi. For some reason whenever Scarlett tries to call her boyfriend, Jack and she either is misdialing or the connection is getting mixed up because she is calling the wrong number. She has no idea who is she calling and neither does the person at the other end. It doesn’t take long before the two are talking. What will they do when they realize who each other is?

I loved reading the chemistry building between the two when they didn’t know who each other was. This is definitely a slow burn romance and I was all there for it.

As you are reading you can see how real life was added to the book and it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. There needs to be more books that tackle these issues because so many teens can relate to the storyline.

This turned into a pretty quick read for me and pretty much devoured this in a day of on and off reading. I definitely will be picking up Hasnita Singh’s future books. I should mention that this is a debut young adult contemporary romance.

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE FORTUNA COIN by Karen Ann Hopkins Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: THE FORTUNA COIN

Author: Karen Ann Hopkins

Pub. Date: October 12, 2021

Publisher: Karen Ann Hopkins

Formats: Paperback, audiobook, eBook

Pages: 305

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, TBD

Read for FREE With
A Kindle Unlimited Membership!

“A must-read. Not the typical book you would expect from Karen Ann Hopkins if you’ve
read any of her Amish series’ but she absolutely nailed this one!! This book jumps right in on page one and makes you not want to put it down even for a second all the way to the end and I loved that! Would absolutely read it again and definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance thriller with some Sci-fi elements in there too.” Cassandra, Book Sirens Reviewer

Wendy Catalano, a newly remarried mother of four, finds herself, her husband and her children, murder victims of her ex-husband. A family heirloom takes her back in time to the beginning of her relationship with her eventual killer where she’s given the magical opportunity to change the future and stop her
family’s tragic ending. But she isn’t aware that she’s reliving a tortured life. With only glimpses of the future, Wendy struggles to survive present day, unaware that a bloody and unforgiving destiny awaits her.

The Fortuna Coin is a haunting psychological thriller about second chances…but will the truth really set Wendy free?

Before I get into my review of The Fortuna Coin, I just quickly have to thank Rockstar Book Tours for letting me be a part of this book tour and for providing an egalley book for me to read for my review today.

Do you remember many years ago when it seemed like time-traveling books were all the rage? I was instantly sucked into that genre and read so many books, I think I over-read and soon stopped reading them until now. The Fortuna Coin is a time-traveling book (which by the way makes me want to look some up so I can read that genre again) and it’s filled with suspense and a little romance.

I should say right away that the first few chapters and then here and there in the book could be a trigger warning for some readers.

The book begins in 2017 with our main character, Wendy (who has just remarried) having fun at her wedding with her husband, Ben, and her four children. Things seem to be going well for the newlyweds until her ex calls her out of the blue. You know that this is not a good thing especially if said ex hasn’t been in touch for almost two years.

At this point, I was curious about her ex, Josh, and what he was like and what would have driven him to do what he did to his ex and his kids.

Wendy wakes up confused and disoriented. What just happened begins to fade and she is a 21-year-old in a bar. Little does Wendy know that she has been given a second chance at her life and this is because she has the Fortuna Coin that her father gave her. She didn’t realize how much power this coin had. She quickly begins to have feelings of deja vu and memories of her future. What will Wendy do when she meets her soulmate? Will she follow her heart or will she go the route of Josh?

I think The Fortuna Coin was the perfect book for this time of year and especially on the day that I read it because it was raining and cool. Plus it was a pretty quick read for me because once I started I had a hard time putting it down. I was instantly sucked in from pretty much the first page. It’s been a little while since that has happened and I love when it does.

Karen Ann Hopkins is new to me author and I definitely want to read more of her books especially if the writing is anything like this one.

About Karen:

Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Karen’s main job is homeschooling the kids, but she finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write.

She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lived in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.

Their story continues in Belonging, where their families and cultures threaten to tear them apart, and with Forever and Deception, where we find out once and for all if love is enough for them.

Lamb to the Slaughter, the first book in Serenity’s Plain Secrets, is Karen’s newest Amish endeavor, opening up the darker, grittier and more secretive lives of Amish society. It’s a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a cornfield during the harvest.

Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the rural town of Blood Rock, and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate.  At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidently shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community, and even the girl’s parents, react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting. Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman. He left the Amish when he was nineteen and has his own dark reasons to
help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up.

Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end.

Karen’s YA paranormal/urban fantasy series, the Wings of War, is an epic story about Ember, whose normal life ends abruptly
when her parents are killed and she discovers she’s a descendent of angels. Still coping with her strange powers, Ember finds herself — and her heart — in the middle of a centuries-old war in this “compulsively readable” novel (Kirkus Reviews).

Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York.  She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, was rewarded with her first horse at the age of eleven.  The feisty horse’s name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen’s steadfast companion.  Through the years, the constant force in her
life was horses.  Eventually, she found her place as a riding instructor herself.

Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Karen is currently working on her bestselling Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets, along with the YA paranormal/fantasy series, the Wings of War. Karen is also excited to announce there will be more
books in the Temptation series.

Website | Twitter | Instagram |  Facebook | Amazon  | Goodreads | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $75 Amazon GC, International.

5 winners will win a finished copy of THE FORTUNA COIN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today Mallory Hart and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for HIT, the first book in her new Mafia romance series which releases November 30, 2021! Check out the awesome cover and enter the giveaway!

On to the reveal! 

About the Book

Title: HIT (Mafia Born Book 1)

Author: Mallory Hart

Pub. Date: November 30, 2021

Publisher: Mallory Hart Romance

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited
Membership!

GIUSEPPINA

I was never supposed to meet him, but one fateful night in an alleyway had him saving my life.

Now he thinks he owns me. I’m his to keep.

He’s ruthless, cold, and a killer, but something draws me to him anyway.

I know what he’s capable of. I know he was meant to kill me. And I know one wrong slip may make him change his mind about sparing my life.

But I want to test him, push him, be a part of his world.

I know I should be afraid. I know I should run. But something about Darragh has taken me over, and I don’t know how long I can resist . . .

Book One in the Mafia Born Duet

Excerpts:

About Mallory Hart:

Mallory Hart is the writer of steamy stories to make you swoon. When not writing, she can be found with a glass of red wine, blasting music and dancing in her underwear or reading books that make you blush. For updates on new releases, visit her website and
subscribe to the newsletter.

Her first full-length work, Hit,
releases 11/30/2021 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Sign up for
Mallory’s mailing list!

Website
| Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon  

Giveaway Details:

3
winners will receive an eBook of HIT, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls
Katie Mettner
Publication date: October 12th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Actress Carrie Murray’s films are a Christmas lover’s delight. Filled with twinkling lights, festive carols, and happy endings, they’re the perfect escape from reality—for her and the audience. Then Tinseltown calls.

Braxton Timothy is Hollywood’s biggest action star. Handsome and talented but decidedly on the naughty list, no one can fathom his sudden desire to produce a feel-good Christmas movie—least of all, his no-name co-star.

Alternating between scenes reminiscent of everyone’s favorite made-for-TV movies and unexpected, off-screen chemistry, Gingerbread Falls has surprises in store this holiday season. The question is, will there be enough Christmas magic to convince two imperfect people that they’re perfect for each other?

This “sweet as a Christmas cookie” romance (bestselling author Heidi Swain) includes an original recipe for Maple Glazed Gingerbread Scones.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:

Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of, ‘the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill,’ and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest — now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

I quickly have to thank Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour and for sending me an eArc of A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls so that I could read and review it for my tour stop today.

A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls is a stand-alone book.

I think I can officially say that this is my first Christmas book of the season. I was really excited when I received the email for this tour because this year I really want to read more Christmas-themed books.

This was a fun and heartful quick read. This definitely felt like a true Hallmark Christmas movie being made and I would definitely watch it if it was an actual movie.

Our main characters are Carrie and Braxton are both actors in the midst of filming A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls. They are playing Noelle and Carson. Noelle is the owner of the Gingerbread Cafe and Carson is the new doctor in town. Doesn’t this scream a Hallmark movie?

The book is told in alternating points of view that of the actors and that of the roles of the characters in the movie. I have to admit after a rough night of sleeping when I picked this back up to read the next day I was confused so needless to say I had to reread what I read for it to make sense in my MS brain.

On-screen Noelle and Carson are told to not kiss and to keep this a sweet as possible but off-screen things are heating up between the two. You definitely see the chemistry both on and off-screen with these two and I have to say it’s a sweet tender romance. Nothing over the top with details.

In the beginning, you can see that Carrie and Braxton are complete opposites but as the story progresses you see that they both have been hurt and are looking for the special someone but as they both begin to open up to each other you see their love growing and you can’t help but root for them both to get together in the end. Will they both decide to take this leap or will they both walk away?

I definitely want to read Kate’s other books especially if they are anything like this one.

Just an FYI there is even a recipe for Maple Glazed Gingerbread Scones which I definitely want to make really soon IE when I purchase all the ingredients I need for it.

GIVEAWAY!

Grand prize 1:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand prize 2:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by: