Spotlight: Lacewood by Jessica James

Sometimes love is just too powerful for one lifetime…

Part love story, part ghost story, Lacewood is a timeless novel about trusting in fate, letting go of the past, and believing in things that can’t be seen.

MOVING TO A SMALL TOWN in Virginia is a big change for New York socialite Katie McCain. But when she stumbles across an abandoned 200-year-old mansion, she’s enthralled by the enduring beauty of the neglected estate—and captivated by the haunting portrait of a woman in mourning.

Purchasing the property on a whim, Katie attempts to fit in with the colorful characters in the town of New Hope, while trying to unravel the mystery of the “widow of Lacewood.” As she pieces together the previous owner’s heartrending story, Katie uncovers secrets the house has held for centuries, and discovers the key to coming to terms with her own sense of loss.

The past and present converge when hometown hero Will Durham returns and begins his own healing process by helping the “city girl” restore the place that holds so many memories. As the mystic web of destiny is woven, a love story that might have been lost forever is exposed, and a destiny that has been waiting in the shadows for centuries is fulfilled.

Rich in emotion and poignant in its telling, Lacewood is an unforgettable story about love and loss, roots and belonging…and spirits of the past that refuse to be quieted.

A haunting story from award-winning author Jessica James that connects the past with the present—and the present with eternity.

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About the Author

Jessica James is an award-winning author of suspense, historical fiction, and military fiction ranging from the Revolutionary War to modern day. Her highly acclaimed Civil War novel Shades of Gray won numerous national literary awards, and is often compared to Gone with the Wind.

By weaving the principles of courage, devotion, duty, and dedication into each book, James attempts to honor the unsung heroes of the American military–past and present–and to convey the magnitude of their sacrifice and service. Her novels appeal to both men and women and are featured in library collections all over the United States including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy.

James resides in Gettysburg, Pa., and is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, NINC, Sisters in Crime, and the Romance Writers of America. She is a two-time winner of the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction, and was featured in the book 50 Authors You Should Be Reading, published in 2010.

Sign up for her free newsletter at www.jessicajamesbooks.com and ask for a free copy of From the Heart: Civil War Love Letters and Stories. You can also find Jessica on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Lacewood

Spotlight: It's A Ghost's Life by Erin McCarthy

When the bitterly cold days of January descend on Cleveland, Bailey Burke finds her “Put It Where?” home staging business is as frozen as her toes. The only bright spot is the return of her friend Ryan after his, ahem, eviction from heaven. Especially since no other dead people seem to be harassing her in recent weeks.

Yet when her grandmother’s bingo buddy turns up frozen solid in a stranger’s back yard, Bailey is the only one who finds the death suspicious. Bailey knows fashion and she knows Vera, a one-time film star, would not be caught dead, literally, in a stained nightgown and cheetah-print boots. Determined it prove it is homicide and not dementia, she enlists Ryan’s help to investigate, despite his ghostly limitations.

This time Bailey is ready to play it smart, solve the crime, have the bad guy do the time… only all is fair game when it comes to eccentric backstabbing biddies at bingo.

A full-length novel in the hilarious Murder By Design series...

Excerpt

Vera used her phone way more than Grandma Burke. She had social media accounts where she followed fashion and Old Hollywood accounts. She had TMZ. Rent the Runway. Images of sexy men reading books. She had a reading app with hundreds of books on it, from classics to romance novels to modern literature like The Kite Runner.

Her texts were from her friends and her niece, Eva. A man I assumed was her nephew. A couple of guys who were clearly flirting with her. I scrolled through the thread with the man named “Colin” and let out a startled yelp. Right there in their conversation going back and forth, was a dick pic. “Dang, Vera.” I quickly scrolled past it, then out of pure curiosity went back because it didn’t look like a selfie from a ninety-year-old man.

They say that men don’t age there the way they do elsewhere but even so… the thighs appeared to be a man in his prime. I suddenly felt like a naughty schoolgirl. Vera might be a cougar, and that was all well and good, but I had a boyfriend.

“Moving on, Bailey.” I closed that thread a heartbeat after I should have, and felt guilty as all get-out for that.

Then I found a thread with a man named Stanley.

It appeared he had come into town and had made plans to see her Friday night.

So lovely to see you again, she’d written at midnight on Friday.

Interesting. I wonder if he had any clue she had passed away?

I needed to call him and ask some questions but I needed to work up the courage to do that.

Dashing back downstairs I snagged a crystal flute from her dining room hutch, and using a towel from the kitchen, opened the champagne. I took the bottle and the glass upstairs and poured in Vera’s bedroom.

“To you, Vera,” I said, glancing around her inner sanctuary. “You were a cool chick who lived life to the fullest. May you rest in peace, dahlin’.”

I half-expected her to answer me. Maybe I was hoping she would. But the room remained silent. Vera had a record player on an etagere in the corner and I opened it to see what record was on it. Glenn Miller. I turned it on, not wanting to snoop in silence.

Sipping champagne, I went through Vera’s closet, drooling over the vintage pieces nestled up against the modern designers. Nothing was cheap. There were classic, timeless pieces, then funky and fun accessories. She had mastered the art of dressing in well-made basics, then adding shoes, jewelry, a turban, or a funky shawl to change up her look.

Her shoes were to die for.

I gave a laugh of horror in the closet at that thought. To die for. Yikes.

There were drawers lined with felt that had a drool-worthy collection of brooches, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. She even had hairpins that I suspected were from the 1930s. I did notice what looked like some odd empty spots in a few drawers and I wondered how closely Pam had inspected the collection. Or if Pam had swiped a few items on her way out.

There were four stacks of hat boxes, which was glorious.

Beside them were photo boxes. Inside I found newspaper clippings from seventy-five years earlier.

Miss Vera Rosenbaum, 21, model with the House of Chanel, is engaged to legendary film star, Frank Torro, 37. Nuptials to be held at the private home of Humphrey Bogart in a simple ceremony, in accordance with wartime sacrifice.

There was an engagement photo where Vera looked way older than she actually was at the time. Dressed in a suit with shoulder pads, she looked glamourous as hell. Her lips were dark, eyebrows dramatic, hair perfectly curled. Her fiancé was what I would call dapper but not particularly handsome. He was glancing affectionately down at her. On the other hand, she was staring boldly into the camera, sensual and full of life.

“Age is a funny thing, Vera, isn’t it?” I said out loud in the closet, draining my glass.  

The box was full of old photos. Wedding photos of Vera at different ages. Photo shoots. A three-legged race on the lawn of a mansion, palm trees in the background. Runners laughing as they held on to each other.

Man, I was having a melancholy day.

There were love letters in the box too. Passionate notes from Vera’s third husband, things like “Even on the darkest day, you are the sun that warms my soul.”

Now it’s all text messages.

I would fall over if Marner wrote me a note.

There was also a nasty note from a woman that Vera had kept, which I found fascinating.

It was a woman named June calling Vera a homewrecking whore.

“Why would you save this?” I murmured.

And was June still alive? Had she gotten her final revenge on Vera? That seemed unlikely. She was probably ninety herself.

The record playing cut off suddenly.

I jumped, dropping the letter from angry June.

My heart started racing.

It didn’t sound like the record had ended on its own. It had cut off mid-song.

Could Vera do that?

Then I realized I heard footsteps.

Shoot.

Crawling on my belly, I reached the closet door and tried to ease it closed so as not to alert the intruder.

It was too late. I was on my stomach, staring at Italian loafers.

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About Erin McCarthy

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy first published in 2002 and has since written over sixty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult romance, paranormal, and contemporary romance. Erin is a RITA finalist and an ALA Reluctant Young Reader award recipient, and is both traditionally and indie published.

When she’s not writing she can be found sipping martinis in high heels or eating ice cream in fleece pajamas depending on the day, and herding her animals, kids, and amazing renovation-addicted husband.

Website: http://www.erinmccarthy.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinMcCarthyBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorerin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorerinmccarthy/

Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/yc2xuxbw

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-mccarthy

Spotlight: Within and Without by Deborah Maroulis

Some people go to great lengths to fit in. But how far is too far?

After her parent’s divorce, sixteen-year-old Wren Newmann is forced to move from a small California town to her grandmother’s vineyard, where she’s convinced she’ll die a shriveled, wine-country virgin. Her dad’s gone AWOL, her mom’s hooking up with anything in pants, and her best friend has found the love of her life. Apart from the annoying but cute Greek farmhand Panayis, who doesn’t appear to notice her awkwardness or thunder thighs, Wren’s life has hit an all-time low.

That is until her own dating life improves unexpectedly when Jay, Wren’s long-time country crush, notices her. Yet it’s as if people don’t want her to be happy, with their warnings and advice that perhaps Jay isn’t the right guy for her. But they don’t know, and Wren’s done being Beached Whale Girl. She’s determined to become social, skinny, and sexy, because Jay wants her—every part of her.

Though her anxiety and secret purging sessions sing another warning that she finds hard to ignore. And when a series of personal tragedies strikes, Wren’s life is flipped upside down and she’s left to pick up the pieces of her broken relationships. Now, she must find the inner strength to decide if the illusion of being loved is worth sacrificing her health, and maybe even her life.

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About the Author

Born and raised in a small town in Northern California, Deborah Maroulis is lucky enough to surround herself with the things and people she loves. She teaches English and mythology at her local community college, studies myth and depth psychology in her Ph.D. program, and writes contemporary Young Adult novels. She lives in a slightly bigger town than the one she grew up in with her husband, newly-adult children, and her daughter’s very spoiled, semi-retired service dog.You can find her on Twitter as @yaddathree or through her website, deborahmaroulis.com.

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Spotlight: Broken Pieces by Tori Fox

Broken Pieces
Tori Fox
Publication date: June 20th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

I’ve been broken. Time and again.

My body.

My heart.

My soul.

I’m tired of pretending I’m happy. Even when he makes it seem easy. But my heart is incapable of loving again.

________________________

She thinks she can’t love.

That there is nothing left in her to give to anyone.

Especially me.

But I would give anything to love her. If only my demons can stay in the past.

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—

EXCERPT:

I roll over on to my stomach with my feet in the air and look out the window. “Oh, I didn’t tell you? I am supposed to help with the bed and breakfast and bake treats for the guests.”

“When did you start baking again?”

“I was helping Ivy out at the diner.”

“I’m so happy for you Rae! You loved baking when you were younger and now…”

I start to tune her out as I stare off into the distance outside. I see a very half-naked man a few hundred feet away hosing himself off. The sun glistens off the water on his chest as it drips down from his hair. He starts to take his boots off which are covered in mud and then realize his pants are also muddied up. His hands go for the button of his jeans and there is no way he is just stripping down outside where anyone could see him?

Sure enough, he turns around and strips his jeans off. And oh god he is completely naked now. I thought he was attractive before with those abs, but those legs and that ass, I almost want to go outside and grab it. Who cares about Easton’s no boys rule, right? What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

“Earth to Raelynn!” I snap out of my daze when I hear Tacoma scream into the phone.

“Oh, ugh, sorry. I got distracted.”

“By what?”

“Ughh, nothing. Yeah, just a bird outside.”

“Really? A bird? I said your name five times before you answered,” she says.

“Well, it was a really big bird, oh my god!” I squeal as I see Brooks turn around and I get a full frontal. Definitely big but not a bird.

“What the hell, Rae?”

“Holy shit!” I still am at a loss for words as I stare at the perfectly sculpted specimen of a man showering off outside. He suddenly looks up toward my window and smirks at me as he lets his hand travel down his body.

I squeal again and fall off the bed with a thunk onto the floor.

“Rae, what is wrong with you?” Tacoma shouts into the phone.

I am at a loss for words but manage to get out big and naked.

“A big, naked bird? Well, that’s a first. Maybe you should take a picture.”

“Oh my god, Tacoma he saw me staring,” I mutter into the phone embarrassed.

“Oh, so this big naked bird was really a man, huh? He get your feathers in a twist?”

“Shut up! He saw me watching him. He was hosing himself off. Outside. Naked!”

“Well, that is infinitely better than hosing off with clothes on.”

“But he saw me and then he started touching himself.”

“Please don’t tell me it was an old man. That is just wrong.”

I crawl toward the window trying to see if he is still there. “No. Not old.”

“Well, who was it then? I am dying over here, Rae. I am literally looking out the window at a brick wall and you are seeing young, attractive men getting dirty with a watering hose.”

“It’s one guy Tacoma. Not a whole slew of them.”

“Well it should be. I’m gonna pretend that it is. Now fess up, who is it?”

“Brooks Anderson.”

Author Bio:

Tori Fox loves books. So much so she decided to write one. It didn't go well. But after genre changes, many rewrites, and lots of editing she finally finished. And now that she is done, she doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. Besides writing you can find her curled up on the couch with her dog reading a book or lost in a makeup store purchasing more makeup than is necessary for a human. She is also a fan of hockey and whiskey, especially together. Tori lives with her fiancé in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

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Spotlight: Of Knights and Dogfights by Ellie Midwood

Austria, 1938

On the verge of the most devastating war of all times, four young men found themselves sharing a room in a flying school dormitory. A bohemian Berliner, a Flieger-Hitlerjugend member, a prodigy pilot, and a butcher’s son, with nothing in common but their love for the Luftwaffe and the freedom the sky has to offer. The bond they develop is put to the test by what might be a stronger adversary – war itself. Over the English Channel, in the dusty skies of Africa, on the brutal Eastern front, they will discover where their loyalty lies, and what true bravery means.

“It’s Großdeutsches Reich, soldier. When one has a family at home, it doesn’t leave him many chances for the revolt.”

As the war progresses, Willi and Johann grow more and more disillusioned with the regime they’re protecting with their lives. An SS unit appearing on their base to claim one of their own; bits of conversation revealing the truth about the extermination program accidentally overheard during the official reception – the pieces of the puzzle are slowly coming together, but it’s too late to do anything but fight to the bitter end, whatever it may bring.

Set during one of the bloodiest wars in history, “Of Knights and Dogfights” is the story of the shattered illusions of youth, tyranny and freedom, friendship and love guiding one out of the darkest hell of Soviet captivity.

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About the Author

Ellie Midwood is a best-selling, award-winning historical fiction writer. She’s a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, a neat freak, an adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew and a doggie mama.

Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical Fiction category (2016) – “The Girl from Berlin: Standartenfuhrer’s Wife”

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical Fiction category (2016) – “The Austrian” (honorable mention)

New Apple – 2016 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing – “The Austrian” (official selection)

For more information on Ellie and her novels, please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Of Knights and Dogfights

Cover Reveal: The Nanny Rules by Melynda Price

The Nanny Rules
Melynda Price
Published by: Entangled: Brazen
Publication date: August 12th 2019
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports

Don’t touch the nanny. It’s one rule I’m most certainly going to break.

Since becoming a single father, I have two things that keep me sane—my daughter Lily and playing football for the NFL. But when my meddling sister hires a nanny without my knowledge, I’m not thrilled to come home and find the woman has taken over my house. Our instant attraction is one more complication I don’t need in my life.

But my daughter loves Amelia, and I will do anything for that tiny munchkin. Even if it means walking around with blue balls most of the time. Why does the nanny have to be so sweet—and drop dead gorgeous? She’s driving me crazy. Never in my life have I wanted a woman more.

I just need to make it through this season. I can do that. Hands free, of course. But then there’s that moment, and I know she’s thinking what I’m thinking and, well, yeah. Screw the rules…

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Author Bio:

Melynda Price is a bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her novels have finaled in and or won many awards such as the RONE, USA Today BBA, Golden Quill, National Readers’ Choice, Write Touch, and New England Readers’ Choice.

What Price enjoys most about writing is the chance to make her readers fall in love, over and over again. She cites the greatest challenge of writing is making the unbelievable believable, while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion and unique twists and turns. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. She currently lives in Northern Minnesota with her husband and two children where she has plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with her Chihuahua and a hot cup of coffee to write.

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