#BlogTour: #ForeverSummerReading; June Edition

A Summer Memory

By R.C. Ryan

Every summer of my childhood, my family traveled to a little island in Canada where my grandmother lived. One of my aunts owned a rustic cabin in the woods on the banks of a clear sparkling lake. I'm sure it would seem primitive to some, but I loved it. From the log cabin dormitory where my sisters and I slept, to the isolation, it was a place set apart from the world. Not another soul around for miles.

I remember waking at dawn to mice and chipmunks chasing across the walls and ceiling. I can still see us slipping into our bathing suits and diving into the icy waters, my mother waiting on shore with big beach towels and breakfast over the campfire. We spent hours in the water, or on rafts, riding the current. We could ride our bikes for miles on dirt trails. At night for entertainment, with no TV or movies, we helped ourselves to books from the box my mother always packed. (I remember reading Lonesome Dove and True Grit.) For a girl who couldn't get enough of reading, it was pure heaven.

Just writing this has me smiling. Such happy memories.

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Cowboy on My Mind 

by R.C. Ryan  

available on June 26, 2018

About the book:

Ben Monroe was the ultimate bad boy – and everyone in Haller Creek knew it. But now as a sheriff’s deputy, Ben spends his time breaking up bar fights rather than starting them, and staying away from trouble…until Becca Henderson comes back into town. She’s just as beautiful as Ben remembers – and just as far out of his reach.

Coming home is exactly what Becca Henderson needed. A place of her own, a successful new business, and a chance to reconnect with the sexy cowboy she had a crush on in school. Ben has always blazed his own path and never let anyone stand in his way. It excites-and scares-her. But when an unexpected threat surfaces, Becca will see just how far Ben will go to protect the woman he loves-and fight for their chance at forever.

Buy link:

https://www.forever-romance.com/titles/r-c-ryan/cowboy-on-my-mind/9781538711149/

About R.C. Ryan: New York Times bestselling author R.C. Ryan has written more than ninety novels, both contemporary and historical. R.C. Ryan is a pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ryan Langan. For more information on R.C. and her books, please visit RuthLangan.com.

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#ForeverSummerReading Sweepstakes

Book Enthusiast Promotions Presents: The Lighthouse Keeper by Cynthia Ellingsen; #BlogTour, #ComingSoon, #PreOrder, #Giveaway

#TheLighthouseKeeper #CynthiaEllingsen  
#Contemporary #WomensFiction  

Book Title: The Lighthouse Keeper 

Author: Cynthia Ellingsen 

Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction 

Release Date: April 4, 2017 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Dawn Conners’s parents are famous for finding historic treasures, but she has a knack for losing things—her job, her boyfriend, and now, her reputation. Thanks to a mud-slinging exposé, Dawn’s late great-grandfather is assumed guilty of stealing silver from a century-old shipwreck. Hoping to clear his name, Dawn returns to Starlight Cove, her idyllic hometown on Lake Michigan, where the doomed vessel sleeps beneath the beam of a ramshackle lighthouse.

Her plan: remodel and sell the lighthouse while untangling the perplexing family mystery. Neither task is easy, especially once her well-meaning parents and the quirky locals—including nautical researcher and Starlight Cove’s most eligible bachelor, Kip Whittaker—get involved. Despite their attraction, Dawn is reluctant to trust Kip, or any of the close-knit townsfolk. But as she pieces together the truth, Dawn’s once-shuttered heart opens up. And if she’s willing, the lighthouse might guide her to a place she never expected to find, where the past entwines with a bright new beginning.

“Dawn Conners?” a voice called.

I snapped out of my reverie and stared.

A gorgeous guy in his midthirties dragged a rickety rowboat through the water. His dark hair was windblown, cheeks rough with stubble, and his navy T-shirt clung to a strong upper body. He flashed me a smile I felt all the way down to my toes.

“Are you Dawn?” he called.

“Yes,” I said, smoothing my hair.

Who on earth was he?

I watched as he tossed a bowline knot over a metal pole and cinched it with a firm tug. The rope went taut, along with his upper arms. Then he jogged across the sand and came to a halt next to the boardwalk.

Midnight-blue eyes surveyed my fitted linen dress, bare legs, and low pumps. In a voice much too husky for polite conversation, he said, “You always wear high heels to the beach?”

I flushed.

Even though Libby liked to say that my fitted dresses and pinned-up hair made me look like a candidate for public office, I didn’t expect to hear it from a stranger.

“Depends on the day,” I shot back. “Do you always look like you just rolled out of bed?”

He grinned. “You’re already thinking about me in bed?”

“I have an appointment with Kipling Whittaker,” I said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to—”

“You can call me Kip.”

Arrgh. I couldn’t believe this.

The fact that my mother had led me to believe that this guy was a gentleman of a certain age meant she was up to one thing: matchmaking. In her mind, I came to Starlight Cove for a fun, relaxing summer vacation. That assessment could not be further from the truth. The last thing I wanted to do was waste time flirting with some rumple-haired playboy.

Especially one named Kip.

Cynthia Ellingsen lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and is the author of two previous novels: The Whole Package and Marriage Matters. She loves connecting with readers through her website, Facebook, and Twitter. Visit her at www.cynthiaellingsen.com.

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Audio bookworm Presents: Meeting Lydia by Linda MacDonald; #AudiobookTour, #OutNow, #Review

Author: Linda MacDonald

Narrator: Harriet Carmichael

Length: 8h 43m

Publisher: Essential Music⎮2016

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Release date: Nov. 17, 2016

Rating:  4.5 Stars

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Ronelle Antoinette. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Edward Harvey. Even thinking his name made her tingle with half-remembered childlike giddiness. Edward Harvey, the only one from Brocklebank to whom she might write if she found him.”

Marianne Hayward, teacher of psychology and compulsive analyser of the human condition, is hormonally unhinged. The first seven years of her education were spent at a boys’ prep school, Brocklebank Hall, where she was relentlessly bullied. From the start, she was weak and frightened and easy prey for Barnaby Sproat and his gang. Only one boy was never horrible to her: the clever and enigmatic Edward Harvey, on whom she developed her first crush.

Now 46, when Marianne finds her charming husband in the kitchen talking to the glamorous Charmaine, her childhood insecurities resurface and their once-happy marriage begins to slide. Teenage daughter Holly persuades her to join Friends Reunited, which results in both fearful and nostalgic memories of prep school as Marianne wonders what has become of the bullies and of Edward Harvey. Frantic to repair her marriage, yet rendered snappy and temperamental by her plummeting hormones, her attempts towards reconciliation fail. The answer to all her problems could lie in finding Edward again... But what would happen if she found what she seeks?

 

Buy on Audible⎮Amazon

Born and brought up in the town of Cockermouth in the Lake District in England, Linda MacDonald has a degree in psychology from Goldsmiths’, London University, and a PGCE in biology and science. She retired in 2012 from teaching psychology in a 6^th Form College in order to focus on writing, and has now published three print novels, the first of which is now an audiobook. She lives in Beckenham in Greater London, and travels to speak to various groups about the inspiration behind the ‘Lydia’ series and the psychology of internet relationships.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮LinkedIn

I've always loved doing voices. I grew up with Radio 4 being on constantly in the background. Somehow the voices and accents broadcast over the years soaked in. And now I do voices. Or if you ask my agent, I'm a "voice artist".

For the last seven years I've spent most of my days in front of a microphone: as myself; as seven-year-old boys; talkingbaboons; angsty teenagers (usually American); androgynous talking cats; Glaswegian Grannies; the cast of The Archers...

After university I trained at The Oxford School of Drama and then acted mainly with touring theatre companies - some brilliant, some not so... I had a lot of fun, but once I started doing voiceovers in warm studios with good coffee, being on the road lost some of its appeal.
And the voice can do much more than people think. Tone, timing, pitch and accent can all vary depending on the job. From commercials and corporates to cartoons, computer games and audiobooks, it's a brilliant job and, really, I owe it all to Radio 4.

Website

Where does Meeting Lydia rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say that this would be in my top third. One reason being that this is a book I can picture myself listening to more than once. It's one where you feel that the female character understands what you, as a woman, is going through at that certain point in your life.

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator was so easy to listen to. She just seemed to get me; to let go of all my outside troubles and concentrate on the story that this author has written.

Have you listened to any of Harriet Carmichael’s other performances before? How does this one compare? 

I have not listened to any of this narrator's performances before. But after listening to this book, I've already scoped out my next one narrated by Ms. Carmichael and put it on my wish list.

If you could rename Meeting Lydia, what would you call it? 

I would never even think of doing that to an author. They have picked the title for a specific reason and since I enjoyed the book as it was why would I want to make any changes. I may not have picked up the book, and probably would have bypassed it, but having the audio copy showed me what I might have missed otherwise.

Any additional comments?

This author has put a voice to what a lot of women go through once they hit that "M" stage. It may not speak to everyone but there will be a few who may understand some of what Marianne was going through. It had me wishing that she were my friend so we could meet and chat.

It's a story where a woman is trying to reconnect with her husband but is there someone else trying to get his attention. Marianne then recollects about a friend from school that she remembers fondly and tries to renew their friendship. Isn't that something like we do when we go to school reunions? How many of us try to track some of those friends down using the resources of the internet? Don't we want to know that we still matter?

This was a great way to find both a new author and a new narrator. I can't wait to get my next read from both. It was a story that made my commute and my days where stress started to overtake me more pleasurable.  

Feb. 13: Jorie Loves A Story (Guest Post)

Feb. 14: A Page to Turn (Review)
Country Girl Bookaholic (Interview, Spotlight & Giveaway)

Feb. 15: A Gingerly Review (Review & Giveaway)

Feb. 16: Ali the Dragon Slayer (Review & Giveaway)

Feb. 17: Jorie Loves A Story (Review)

Feb. 18: Highway YA (Spotlight)

Feb. 19: Haddie's Haven (Review, Spotlight & Giveaway)
Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm (Spotlight & Review)

Feb. 20: That Wild Soul (Spotlight & Giveaway)

Feb. 21: Mel's Shelves (Review)
The Bookworm Lodge (Spotlight)

Feb. 22: Holed Up In A Book (Review)

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Tasty Book Tours Presents: Meant To Be by Jenna Harte; #VirtualTour, #ComingSoon, #Giveaway

Will they both allow resentments and misunderstanding spoil 

their chance of discovering what was meant to be?

MEANT TO BE

Southern Heat #2

Jenna Harte

Releasing Sept 27th, 2016

Penner Publishing

Charming and sexy, detective Mitch McKenna lets women into his bed—not into his heart.
When his first love left him in a lurch, crushing his soul, Mitch swore off relationships and love. After all, any woman who chooses what her parents want over what she wants is not worth fighting for.

Or is she?

Successful New York doctor, Sydney Preston left the only man she ever loved to follow the path that her parents paved for her. When a tragic incident at the hospital threatens her life, Sydney moves to Virginia to rekindle the spark with her ex-fiancé.

But Mitch isn’t interested in reigniting the flame that fizzled out long ago. Will they both allow resentments and misunderstanding spoil their chance of discovering

what was meant to be?

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“You need to get laid.”

Mitch McKenna cast a suspicious glance at his partner and best friend, Kevin Taggard. “You get laid too much.”

Kevin grinned. “I’m married. It goes with the territory. Besides, is that even possible?”

Mitch laughed. “God, I hope not.” He pulled the unmarked police car into a parking space outside Charlotte Tavern General Hospital. “But it’s a little sappy that every day we have to stop by and see the missus.”

“I know it and I don’t care. Someday you’ll be in love, and you’ll see.”

God, I hope not. Mitch shuddered.

“Besides, there are plenty of hot nurses who would love to find out if the Mitch McKenna reputation for stamina and prowess is true.”

Mitch stepped out of the car, grinning at his friend. “Oh, it’s true.”  His smile faded, as he realized Kevin might be right—maybe he did need to get laid. It had been a while. If he’d cared at all about his playboy reputation, he would have remedied the situation. Except he didn’t care. In fact, it bothered him. It suggested that he engaged in one-night stands with women he didn’t know or was cavalier with their feelings. Granted, he kept his relationships with women short, but he was always upfront with them about his position and most accepted it. A couple cried when they hadn’t been able to change his mind. One had keyed “Bastard” into the side of truck.

“Hey Mitch.”

Mitch’s gaze swung to the feminine coo of Becky Lancer. She might be willing to help him with his sexual dry-spell. He smiled and waved but kept moving. He’d once gone out with her sister, and he knew better than to date siblings.  

He and Kevin walked into the hospital and took the elevator to the maternity department on the fourth floor.

“I guess it won’t be long until Jenny is a client here instead of a nurse.” Mitch patted Kevin on the back. He enjoyed razzing his friend about his wife, but deep down he was happy for him.

“A year maybe. Right now we’re just practicing.” Kevin waggled his brows.

Mitch rolled his eyes as the doors opened, and they stepped out into the hall.

“There’s my gal now.” Kevin snuck up behind a dark-haired woman in pink scrubs with rainbows on the shirt and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the floor. She let out a squeal. When he set her on her feet, she laughed.

“Great day, baby cakes. You scared the life out of me.”

He gave her a kiss. All in all, it was sappy. It was the same type of stuff he had to endure when he visited his sister, Lexie. Even after nearly two years of marriage, she and her husband, Drake, were sappier than Kevin and Jenny, which was saying something. It was a wonder they didn’t already have a whole brood of kids.

“I’m nearly ready for my break.” She turned her smile toward Mitch. “If you’re tired of feeling like a third wheel, I can snag you a date. There’s a new doctor I’ve been meaning to introduce you to. You can see if the McKenna charm will work on her.”

“I like being a third wheel.”

“No, you don’t, but you’re nice to put up with Kevin and me. She’s really, really nice. She’s been giving me articles and tips and encouraging me to get my midwife certification.”

“You’d be good at that.” Mitch meant it too. She was one of the sweetest, most generous hearts he’d ever met. There’d been only one other person he’d known who he’d thought was as good. He shook his head to rid his thoughts of another sweet, generous woman, who, in the end, turned out to be neither.

“Thank you. I wonder how much longer before Lexie and Drake will need a midwife.” She raised her eyebrows, hoping for gossip.

“I imagine once they start, they’ll need one fairly often.” His sister wanted a whole passel of kids, and Drake would give her whatever she wanted. Mitch thought he’d be a good father, but since having a family was out, he’d settle for being the coolest uncle ever.

All of a sudden, the air around Mitch changed, causing the hair on his arms to stand. It wasn’t the type of sensation that triggered danger, but it was definitely a warning.

“Oh, look, there’s Doctor Preston. She’s the one I want you to meet, Mitch.”

“I don’t need you to set me up—”

“I know that. The whole county knows how easy it is for Mitch to get a lady.” Jenny laughed. “But I still want you to meet her. Doctor Preston?” Jenny looked behind him and waved.

The warning grew more intense until Mitch couldn’t help but turn around and stare right into the beautiful hazel eyes of Sydney Preston.

His heart stuttered in his chest as a wave of conflicting emotions; anger, love, bitterness, joy crashed through him. His first instinct was to leave, which only pissed him off. He’d stared down insurgents in the Middle East. He could survive seeing Sydney Preston. Another, equally strong, part of him wanted to touch her, to hold her close and see if she felt as soft, smelled just as sweet as he remembered. But he wouldn’t succumb to her charm again. Like a steel gate, everything inside Mitch closed.

Jenna Harte is a die-hard romantic writing about characters who are passionate about and
committed to each other, and frequently getting into trouble. She is the author of the Valentine Mysteries, the first of which, “Deadly Valentine,” reached the quarter-finals in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013. She is also the author of the contemporary romance series, Southern Heat, with includes Drawn to Her, and upcoming September 2016 release of Meant to Be. She has a bundle of stories filled with romance, mystery and even time travel rattling
around in her head and is eager for the day when a device is invented allowing her to download what’s in her brain onto her computer. When she’s not telling stories, she works by day as a freelance writer, author, blogger and online entrepreneur. She lives in central Virginia with her husband, two college-bound children and a two fat cats.

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Rock Star PR Presents: Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery; #Contest, #Spotlight, #PreOrder, #Giveaway

Daughters of the Bride - Pre-Order Campaign by Susan Mallery

Date of Publication: July 12, 2016

Blurb

With Joy, Love, and a Little Trepidation Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You To the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother's

Courtney ~ The Misfit ~

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom's wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family's view of her—and how she views herself—forever.

Sienna ~ The Free Spirit ~

When Sienna's boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say "I do" even if she's not sure she does?

Rachel ~ The Cynic ~

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom's wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she's forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she'll let pride stand in the way of her own happily ever after.

A must-read for anyone who has survived the wedding of a sister, a mother, a daughter—as told by #1 New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller Susan Mallery!

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About Susan Mallery:

Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan's books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans.
Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they're an integral component to a happy life. Visit her online at www.SusanMallery.com.

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