Along the Dusty Road by Joey Jones blitz with giveaway
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Along the Dusty Road
Joey Jones
Publication date: October 5th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
An unexpected love. A surprising second chance.
Everything Luke Bridges always wanted is in the small coastal North Carolina town where he has spent most of his twenty-six years—a fulfilling mental health therapy career, a loving family, baseball games with his dad, an adventurous beach life, and a close-knit group of friends. The only piece missing is someone to share it with, a genuine and lasting love that satisfies the soul.
He once thought Emily Beckett, the girl he dated ten years ago who has happened back into his life as his sidekick on the coed beach volleyball team, could be that someone. Emily has a seven-year-old son and an ex-husband with dangerous addictions. Although Luke enjoys spending time with Ayden, he has no interest in the challenges of being a stepfather.
Luke only dates women he can see himself marrying. With the “just friends” title firmly placed on his relationship with Emily, he agrees to a blind date with Mindy, his mentor’s cousin. As he explores a connection with Mindy, the “just friends” veil with Emily is suddenly ripped away. Now he is torn between two very different women—one who might be perfectly right for him and one who doesn’t seem to fit the mold but just might make his dreams of forever come true.
Fears, tragedy, love, and second chances all collide Along the Dusty Road.
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EXCERPT:
Stargazing on a blanket near the ocean hadn’t been on my agenda for the night, but I certainly was elated it turned out this way.
“It’s getting a little cool out here,” Emily said after pointing out several constellations.
“I can run inside and grab another blanket to use as a cover,” I offered.
She shook her head from side to side. I waited a moment and then scooted close to her.
“That’s what I hoped you’d do,” she admitted.
I wasn’t sure if she also hoped I would roll onto my side, gaze into her deep blue eyes, run my fingers through her soft hair, and then gently kiss her shivering lips—but that’s exactly what I did next.
Beyond us, waves rolled one over the other; the seabirds called out through the gentle breeze; and ships sailed in the distance.
Emily’s thin lips tasted like perfection, and I found myself caught in a moment more intimidating than anything I had done in a long time. I felt her body flush against mine, causing
my insides to tremble ever so slightly. Our lips moved together, slowly and passionately, as if dancing to the most romantic song the Universe ever played. Before I could think about what was happening between us, I realized her arm caressed the back of my head and her leg wrapped around my thigh.
I desired this moment for so long even longer than I realized. To touch her soft skin and to sense the tiny movements between our bodies felt good. Her perfume tickled my nose as I kissed her neck. She turned slightly, and I continued to navigate my way across her collarbone with my lips. At the same time she rubbed my back with her hand barely digging her fingernails into my skin causing me to want more of her. Yet this was just enough. Kissing her. Touching her. This was intimacy.
What was happening between Emily and me at this very moment meant way more to me than any encounter I talked myself into on lonely nights. It was real, and I think it meant as much to her as it did to me. I could tell this by how our eyes locked every time we looked at one another. Even though we kept our clothes on as we rolled around on a blanket by the sea for nearly thirty minutes, I felt as though I already made love to Emily Beckett.
Author Bio:
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
GIVEAWAY!
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Just a Fika by Beck Erixson blitz with giveaway
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Just a Fika: Coffee, Connection, and a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmother
Beck Erixson
Publication date: October 3rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Family.
They’re always meddling in your love life
Even after they’re dead.
Brooklynite-and genealogist-Ingrid Ekstrom accepts a surprise request from her typically estranged family: to become the live-in caretaker of their shared historic house in the sleepy Jersey Shore town of Aegir Haven. A fun-loving cousin is quick to introduce Ingrid to the local handyman and bluegrass musician. As he fixes up the place, Ingrid digs into the house’s past and learns about the family she barely knows.
And then Mormor-her long-dead grandmother-shows up, acting as though not being in the spirit realm is perfectly normal.
Ingrid’s always yearned for stronger family connections, and it’s nice having Mormor around. Mormor tries to set her up with a young real estate attorney who’s closer to her more thunderous, god-like personal standards than the musician with keen senses Ingrid is falling for. As lore and legends mingle with real life, she’s torn. Mormor’s fantastical family sagas can’t actually be true, right?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
“Mormor?” I mouth to her. Numbness spreads inside of my shoulders, and I let my arms fall to my sides.
“Did you say something?” Kurt asks.
“Oh, I asked if you needed more.” Think, think. What is she even doing? “Sugar. Do you need more sugar?”
“Nah, I prefer black coffee.” He leans to catch my gaze. “How did you sleep?”
“Pretty well.” Can he not see the massive distraction wandering around us?
His eyes trace up and down my face, which is fair considering I’ve already memorized the sculpted lines of his.
Ignore her. She’s not real. “You know how it is when you sleep in a new bed, it takes a lot to find the right position.” I cringe at the poor phrasing.
“We can get you a new mattress.” He laughs. “Consider me an extra set of hands.”
“For breaking in mattresses?” Nope, that’s not what he meant, and yet it flew from my mouth.
“I didn’t mean…” Kurt fidgets with his mug and can’t seem to hide the shades of pink in his cheeks. “Your cousin said you could use some help with the house.” He clears his throat. “Unless this wasn’t about repairs.”
“The little I know about my family, I wouldn’t put it past her.” I take a sip of the icy drink. “Don’t worry. I don’t throw myself at strangers.”
He chokes on a sip and blinks in response.
Bail out, I need to bail out. “Any help you can give with the house is much appreciated.”
The woman is still looking straight at me. She sticks out her tongue and crosses her eyes before pulling the newspaper closer to cover her face. Mormor? But it can’t be. Mormor is dead. The air is playing tricks on me.
Author Bio:
Beck Erixson writes about the beautifully awkward world of navigating the journey to true happiness through friendships, love, and family—be it blood, found, or chosen. Her stories enhance the importance of positive interconnection, even when we feel lonely. She lives on the Jersey Shore, and can often be found either writing by the river, or in it in some way. Her short stories have appeared in Many Nice Donkeys, and Full Mood Mag.
GIVEAWAY!
WIN a paperback of Just a Fika!
To enter, follow @beckerixsonauthor, repost an image of the book, and comment using the hashtag #JustAFika between 10/01/2023 and 10/10/2023 on Instagram to be entered into the giveaway. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and Washington D.C. (excluding HI and AK)
Cover Reveal: The Secret World of Willowwood by Mystee Ryann
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The Secret World of Willowwood
Mystee Ryann
(Homeschool Heroes Series, #1)
Publication date: November 11th 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Middle-Grade
When twelve-year-old Mia’s family moves to the small town of Willowwood, she is bored and misses her old life. One day while exploring the nearby woods, she and her new friends, Tom and Lily, stumble upon a hidden cave. There, they discover a world filled with magical creatures, including mermaids, unicorns, and talking animals. The trio soon learns that they are the chosen ones to help save the magical world from an evil witch who wants to destroy it.
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Feeding My Addiction…
**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**
Well, this week is yet again another double edition post covering two weeks of new books but yet again I didn’t go crazy over the two weeks thankfully leaving only nine new books to share. Since my goal was nine or less a week I consider that amount in two weeks a big win and have continued my now eighteen weeks of behaving, I just may faint!
As always clicking the covers will take you to the book on Amazon!**
New additions from Netgalley Sept 24th – Oct 8th
After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
American chef Georgia May Jackson has one goal—to run her own restaurant in Paris. After a grueling decade working in Parisian kitchens, she is on the cusp of success. But in one disastrous night, Georgia loses her sous-chef position, her French boyfriend, and her sense of taste! Renowned for her refined palate and daring use of bold flavors to create remarkable dishes, Georgia is devastated to discover her culinary gift has simply…vanished.
When she receives a surprising invitation from her estranged mother, Georgia flees to a small island near Seattle hoping the visit will help her regain her spark in the kitchen. As she tentatively reconnects with her mom, a free-spirited hippie eager to make up for her past mistakes, Georgia realizes there is something about the enigmatic island she just cannot piece together. Good luck charms start appearing in the oddest places. Her neighbor is a puzzlingly antagonistic (and annoyingly handsome) oyster farmer. And her mom keeps hinting at a mysterious family legacy.
With the clock ticking and time running out to win her dream job in Paris, Georgia begins to unravel some astonishing secrets that make her wonder if the true recipe for a charmed life might look—and taste—very different than she ever imagined.
Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.
Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.
Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.
Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.
But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.
A teenager explores the darkness hidden within his hometown in this spellbinding supernatural thriller from bestselling author Scott Carson.
For a sixteen-year-old, a summer internship working for a private investigator seems like a dream come true—particularly since the PI is investigating the most shocking crime to hit Bloomington, Indiana, in decades. A local woman has vanished, and the last time anyone saw her, she was in the backseat of a police car driven by a man impersonating an officer.
Marshall Miller’s internship puts him at the center of the action, a position he relishes until a terrifying moment that turns public praise for his sharp observations and uncanny memory into accusations of lying and imperiling the case. His detective mentor withdraws, friends and family worry and whisper, and Marshall alone understands that the darkness visiting his town this summer goes far beyond a single crime. Now his task is to explain it—and himself.
Lost Man’s Lane is a coming-of-age tale of terror that proves why its author has been hailed as “a master” by Stephen King and one who consistently offers “eerie, gripping storytelling” by Dean Koontz.
Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in Mindy Quigley’s delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.
While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move.
But Delilah’s hopes of perfecting a new “free-from” pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too.
The case in Olivia Matthews’s Coconut Drop Dead is going to be a tough nut to crack.
Brooklyn’s annual Caribbean American Heritage Festival is finally here, and Spice Isle Bakery is thrilled to be one of the event’s food vendors. After all, the Murrays have been attending the festival for years. Co-owner Lyndsay Murray hopes their West Indian pastries and finger foods draw people back to the bakery in Little Caribbean. She’s looking forward to having fun, connecting with customers, and celebrating with her family.
The day’s festivities are cut short when Camille, lead singer of an up-and-coming reggae band, dies. The police think it may be a tragic accident. But Lyndsay’s cousin Manny was close to Camille, and he believes someone cut her life short. Now Manny needs Lyndsay’s help to make sure a killer faces the music.
In the latest enchanting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, kitchen witch Mia Malone is working as a catering director at a ski lodge, but when her roommate’s ex checks in, everything starts going downhill . . .
To keep her cooking school and catering business, Mia’s Morsels, afloat, Mia’s handed off oversight to her boyfriend Trent’s mother while she focuses on earning a steady paycheck. Too bad her mean-spirited boss at the lodge keeps the misery flowing as steadily as the money. At least her roommate, Christina, is still dedicated to Mia’s Morsels—though she’s also distracted, thanks to her clingy mother’s constant demands. And the distraction only grows when Christina’s old flame shows up in Magic Springs, Idaho, in his Escalade, claiming out of the blue to be her fiancé.
The arrival of some homeless kittens, as well as Trent’s new familiar, a cute little Maltese, brings more chaos—as well as a strange spiritual energy that seems to emanate from the animals. But before Mia can figure out what kind of paranormal pets she has on her hands, she finds herself with a murder to solve—when a dead woman is found in the lodge rental of Christina’s suddenly attentive ex . . .
Follow the aroma of shamrock sugar cookies to the Beacon Bakeshop, a lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan where amateur sleuth Lindsey Bakewell is busy preparing for Beacon Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities – with a little help from her adorable Newfoundland, Wellington, of course!
Lindsey is baking up a storm—shamrock sugar cookies, Guinness chocolate cupcakes, Irish soda bread—for the well-timed grand opening of the Irish import gift shop, the Blarney Stone, owned by her boyfriend’s uncle, Finnigan O’Connor, recently relocated from the Emerald Isle.
But it’s Uncle Finn himself who seems full of blarney when he gleefully reveals a pot of real gold he claims he stole from an actual leprechaun. And Finn’s fortune takes a turn for the worse when he’s arrested for the bludgeoning of a small unidentified man dressed as a leprechaun—the murder weapon alleged to be his now-missing shillelagh.
Eccentric Uncle Finn may enjoy believing he’s outwitted a leprechaun, but he would never be so deluded as to clobber one with his walking stick. Now Lindsey will need more than the luck of the Irish to seize a golden opportunity to catch the real killer . . .
B&B owner Charlene Morris expects Salem’s first annual mermaid parade will make quite a splash, until a high-profile murder threatens to sink the whole event . . .
Charlene and her handsome spectral friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, are thrilled that their Salem, Massachusetts, B&B is overflowing with mermaids in advance of the town’s newest attraction—a mermaid parade! Retired Hollywood actress Trinity Powers has even agreed to appear on the lead float to commemorate her breakout role as the eponymous mermaid in the blockbuster cult classic, Sirena. The parade also features Trinity’s rival, an up-and-coming ingénue, who stars in the film’s recent (and somewhat controversial) reboot. Though their rabid fan clubs seem ready to tear each other—and the festivities—apart, the vying actresses are keeping it cool, for now . . .
But when Charlene discovers a mermaid murdered, she realizes a killer is out to steal the show. With the help of Jack and Detective Sam Holden, Charlene plunges into the case, determined to stop a killer from striking again . . .
Set in small-town Oregon, the latest in the witty, charming Witch Way Librarian series from acclaimed author bestselling Amazon Angela M. Sanders features a spellbinding heroine, a clever cat familiar, colorful locals—and of course, murder. The perfect read for fans of Bailey Cates, Adele Abbott, Juliet Blackwell, and all cozy mystery lovers with a taste for the supernatural.
When human bones are discovered beneath an old outhouse covered in blackberry vines, no one knows who they once belonged to. But elderly Helen Garlington wants Sam the sheriff to test the remains, suspecting they may solve the mystery of her long-vanished husband. It’s not a match, and Helen takes it hard, drowning her disappointment in sherry at the tavern—where she sees a contestant on a game show who she swears is her missing spouse, Martin. To ease the woman’s mind, Josie contacts the show to track down the look-alike guest, who kindly agrees to travel to Wilfred—and is then found dead the next morning.
Horrified by this fatal turn of events, Josie asks the spellbound books for help, seeking the aid of Sherlock Holmes. But strange things continue to happen—frightening images flash on the screen of a long-abandoned movie theater and flocks of crows seem to appear wherever she goes. Is Josie about to meet her own Moriarty? It will take all her courage to untangle the twisted vines of this mystery before this chapter in the colorful story of Wilfred claims another life . . .
Bewitched at the Bash by J.C. Valentine blitz with giveaway
**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**
Bewitched at the Bash
J.C. Valentine
(A Coffee Break Mystery, #1)
Publication date: October 4th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance
Bakery owner Lucy is focused on growing her small business when her matchmaking best friend insists she attend the annual Halloween bash in their quaint town to meet some new romantic prospects. Although reluctant, Lucy dons her Day of the Dead costume and shows off her festive Halloween-themed cupcakes at the party. But when her signature treats vanish, Lucy switches to detective mode to uncover the confectionary thief.
Amidst the outrageous costumes, apple bobbing, and spooky decor, she finds an unlikely assistant in Sam, the handsome new firefighter in town. As they team up to solve the sweet mystery of the stolen cupcakes, Lucy wonders if she’s met her perfect match. Will brave Sam fan the flames of romance with shy Lucy, or disappear like her vanished cupcakes by the end of the kooky Halloween night?
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EXCERPT:
I frantically checked every inch of the kitchen, high and low, even in the cool professional-grade oven that I briefly wished I’d had the opportunity to test out for this occasion, but there was absolutely no sign of my cupcake creations. Someone had clearly taken them. There was no other explanation.
Panic surged through me, and I spun around and punched open the door and called out for Marie right away. “The cupcakes are gone!” I shouted in panic and despair.
“Wait, what? Are you sure?” Marie responded, her head popping up from laying out the last of the cookies. She appeared baffled as she rushed to my side and saw for herself that the kitchen was empty of any more baked goods.
I recounted searching every possible place in the kitchen they could be, tears stinging my eyes. “I worked so hard on those.” Weeks of baking and freezing and crafting the flavors and planning. Now it was all gone.
Dismayed, Marie grabbed me up for a quick hug and set me free again, determination in her light eyes. “I’ll go ask the servers if any of them maybe moved them somewhere. They have to be around here. Cupcakes don’t just get up and walk away!” She was already gone, leaving the swinging door batting back and forth behind her.
It didn’t matter what she promised though. Like a mother’s sixth sense about the safety of her children, I knew, deep down, that the cupcakes were gone.
Author Bio:
J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.
Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.
Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB
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