Spotlight: Savoring Christmas by Shanna Hatfield

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(Rodeo Romance, #10)
Publication date: November 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He’s a former rodeo star who gave up his career to run the family ranch.

She’s an aspiring chef with a food truck, a dream, and no interest in another man coming along to ruin her plans.
Troy Lucas walked away from his winning rodeo career to run the family ranch after the death of his grandfather. Now, being a rancher, a farrier, and even team roping just for fun can’t seem to keep him satisfied. He didn’t think he’d miss his glory days in the rodeo when he came back home – in fact, there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Still, he can’t deny the hole inside that keeps reminding him he’s longing for something . . . more.

Chef Lark Gibson has only one thing on her mind: opening a restaurant in Portland. Until that day comes, Lark will take her food truck to as many events as possible and make sure her customers are always begging for more. The last thing she expected was to find herself distracted by a knight in dusty Wranglers, until a handsome cowboy comes to her rescue and catches her off-guard.

Will the approaching Christmas season lead this hungry cowboy and ambitious chef to realize that what they think they want isn’t what they really need? Find out in Savoring Christmas, a sweet romance full of humor, heart, and holiday fun.

**Until December 24th, 10 percent of the proceeds from every book purchased (any Shanna Hatfield book including ebook, audio, paperback and hardback formats) will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. (Find more info at https://shannahatfield.com/give-back)

Excerpt

His grandmother raised an eyebrow and studied him for a long moment. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to the fair? I heard from four different people that you made a new friend today.” 

Troy assumed the four tattletales included Doris, Truitt, and two of his grandmother’s cronies who happened to see him walking away from Lark’s food truck after he’d eaten lunch there. 

Bunch of gossiping busybodies. 

Surely, they had more interesting topics than his befriending Lark. It wasn’t like he didn’t have any friends, although Truitt seemed to have ten times as many. Troy had always been more about quality than quantity when it came to … well, everything. 

“Is the girl as pretty as I heard? Does she really have bright red hair?” 

Troy’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he drove away from the rodeo grounds. “Who said she was pretty or anything about her hair color? And it’s not bright red—more of a warm, rich ginger color.” 

His grandmother’s eyes widened. “You don’t say. Well, Doris mentioned you helped her up after the steer knocked her down and that she has a lot of red curly hair. Truitt said she was pretty, at least from what he could see when she was in the food truck. And Marlene might have mentioned she has freckles on her nose, pale green eyes, and a heaping helping of spunk.” 

The low, growling noise that came from Troy’s throat made his grandmother laugh. 

“From that response, I’ll assume everything I heard today is true,” she said, reaching over and patting his arm. 

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About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.

Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield

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Spotlight: Love You More by Julia Kent

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(Love You, Maine, #3))
Publication date: November 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Colleen Luview’s love life is cursed. No—really. The small-town nurse is notorious in her touristy mountain community. After every third date she’s ever had, the guy ends up in her emergency room.

She’s untouchable now, and it’s not her fault.

Resolved to branch out and find a way to have a life with a partner, children, meaning, and free from being a love pariah in a town devoted to it, she decides to leave her beloved Love You, Maine—where every day is Valentine’s Day—to find a bigger dating pool.

And a better nickname.

Moore Mottin hates feeling like damaged goods. Married and divorced twice before thirty, he has a fourteen-year-old from a teenage pregnancy, was cheated on during his second wedding, and now even his best friend, Luke Luview, considers him the butt of every bad-luck joke when it comes to love.

When Luke’s sister, Colleen, picks him up from the airport and a freak snowstorm forces them off the road, he rescues her from an icy pond and finds an old hunting cabin for shelter and safety. Vulnerable and shaking, the two give in to long-simmering feelings for each other, but when they’re discovered in the worst way possible, what seemed like a new lease on life turns into a life-altering mess.

Can Moore and Colleen overcome all the obstacles holding them back from a love that’s been in front of their faces all this time?

If you’re looking for a story featuring two star-crossed lovers doomed by unfair reputations, featuring a smooth-talking single dad who runs a jewelry store and his best friend’s sister, set in a small town in New England, with a calico cat named Sandwich, a heroine with a dry wit and a can-do attitude, and a hero who just wants a good relationship with his estranged child and the chance to find permanent love…then this is your book.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and maybe some peanut butter for your burger (what? It’s a thing…), and get your happy meter ready as you read the third book (a standalone!) in the Love You, Maine series—where love isn’t just a feeling…it’s a way of life.

✓Standalone

✓One-night stand

✓Forced proximity

✓Best friend’s sister

✓Single dad

… and a calico cat named Sandwich

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls. 

She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

Spotlight: Just One Night by Felice Stevens

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Publication date: November 9th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

In the rough and tumble world of New York City, these men don't mind getting down and dirty—in business or each other.

It isn’t every day a gorgeous stranger shows up in my bedroom wearing not much more than an arrogant smile. When I discover he’s a high-priced escort and a surprise birthday present from my sister…now she’s gone too far.

Except I haven’t been able to stop kissing him long enough to tell him to leave.
No one has to know he’s spent the night. And when we’re done, he’s gone and out the door. Never to be seen again.

Well, not exactly.
Because for some crazy reason, I can’t quite forget Archer Strong.

It’s a job like all the others. Another evening of million-dollar seduction and fake desire that’s made me the most exclusive escort in New York City.
But after one kiss from billionaire real-estate mogul Madden Steele, I’m not pretending anything.

And when he wants to see me a second time, I break my rule of one and done.
Because just one night with Madden isn’t enough. I want to see him again.
And again.

Now he’s asking for something more. Something that could solve all my problems, and his. But it’s something I can’t give him.
Or can I?

With an enemy from inside Madden’s family scheming to take control of his company and destroy me, we’re in for a fight. Holding on to each other might be the biggest risk of our lives, but it’s the only way to reap the greatest reward—love.

From Lambda Literary Award-winning author Felice Stevens comes a passionate story of two men fighting the demons of their past and unexpected desire for each other. Expect steamy encounters, backstabbing relatives, lots of cuddling and junk food in bed.

Excerpt

I swiftly left the ballroom and saw Madden entering the bathroom. Pretending I was on a call, I leaned against the wall and waited.

Madden stepped out the door and paled when he saw me. “What’re you doing here? Are you following me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Christine’s husband was ill, so she asked me to step in for him.” I crossed my arms, deliberately slowing my heated gaze over him. “You’re looking well.”

“Excuse me. I have to return to the party.”

“Come on, Madden. Don’t pretend you’re not the least bit happy to see me.” I caught his arm as he pushed past me. “Why did you really text me the other night?”

“It was a mistake.”

A quick glance around the hallway showed we were the only ones there, so I took advantage of it by opening a door marked Linens and pulling him inside with me. “I don’t believe that.” I cornered him against the door.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he spat at me. “Get off me.”

“You wanted to see me again, didn’t you?”

His hot breath hit my cheek. “No. I didn’t.”

“Yes. You did. But you can’t bring yourself to ask me.” My eyes bore into his. “You don’t want to want me. But you do.”

“How do you fit through the door with that overinflated head of yours?” He shoved me, but I remained steadfast. “I told you it was a mistake.”

“Madden Steele doesn’t make mistakes. Not from what I’ve seen.” I desperately wanted to kiss him, so I leaned in close. “I won’t tell anyone. It’ll be just one night. Tonight. You and me.” Our breaths mingled. “After the party. No one will ever have to know.” My mouth settled over his, absorbing his heat. As before, I lost myself in the incongruity of this hard man’s soft, sweet kiss. His tongue parried and teased with mine as we grew frantic and desperate. What was it about him that made me lose the control I so prided myself on? Breathing heavily, I reluctantly loosened my grip on him.

“I-I…” He touched his reddened lips, swaying slightly, those moonlight gray eyes glazed and hazy with lust. I had zero qualms about pushing him past the point of no return, so I cupped his groin, tracing the thick bulge behind his zipper. The strangled sound that escaped those lips was one I’d hear in the dark of night for a long time.

“Say it, Madden. We’ll leave separately, and I’ll meet you at your apartment.”

“I have to get back to the party. They’re going to be looking for me. I have a speech to make for Chelsea.”

Disappointment filled me, but I shrugged. “I won’t keep you, then.”

I stepped away, and without another word, he opened the door and walked out. Waiting a minute, I left the room and entered the bathroom to check my appearance. The last thing I needed was Christine suspecting something. The woman was relentless and could sniff out a scandal, especially one involving sex. I straightened my bow tie and noticed with some relief that the flush of desire had receded from my cheeks.

When my phone buzzed, I sighed, knowing she was probably wondering where the hell I was.

Hello. What do we have here?

My smile grew wide as I read the message.

I’ll be home by 2 a.m. You can come if you want.

Grinning, I slipped the phone into my pocket and washed my hands. I’ll be there, Madden, and I won’t be the only one coming.

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About the Author

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, because just like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

Felice is the 2020 Lambda Literary Award winning author in best Gay Romance. She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her watching reality TV or procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice's Breakfast Club.

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432880.Felice_Stevens

Audio Spotlight: Ghosts & Gravity Anthology

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Genre: Supernatural

Publisher: The Audio Flow, LLC

Publication Date: Nov. 11th, 2022

New York City, 1972.

Between Central Park and the East River sits an apartment building as tall as a castle and as orange as a sunset. The Wellraven barely pricks a skyline so grand, but its curious history reaches out through occupants, young and old.

Eleven stories chronicle the life and times of characters who cross paths and share destiny’s fire escape. Ghosts, gravity, romance, and secrets weave the communal narrative.

Step into the elevator. Push any button, but try to remember your way back out. Not everybody makes it.

Full cast: Aaron Shedlock, Amy Deuchler, Amy Landon, Andrea Emmes, Deanna Anthony, Hillary Huber, James R. Cheatham, Jocqueline M. Protho, Krys Janae, Lydia Palmer, Marnye Young, Michael Wolfe, Noya Einhorn, Teri Clarke Linden, Zachary Johnson

Buy on Amazon | Audible

Participating Authors:

BT Urruela & Anne Malcom

Shani Struthers

Becca Vry

AI Tran

A.S. Orton

Susan K. Swords

Kris Babe

Christopher Winks

D.L. Hartman

Rumor Haven

Morgan & Jennifer Locklear

Cover Reveal: Pretty Evil by Zoe Rosi

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Publication date: January 17th 2023
Genres: Adult, Thriller

You’ve done a bad thing. She has you in her sights. Now you’re going to pay.

Meet Camilla Black: an affluent, respected, influential fashion magazine editor, who lives it up in her beautiful Mayfair apartment. But Camilla’s glamorous life is a lie. Behind her poised exterior beats the cold dark heart of a vigilante killer, a murderer hell-bent on wreaking vengeance upon bad men.

Camilla expects to get away with murder. She’s careful. And anyway, it’s worth the risk. She’s making the world a better place with each predator she kills. But when one of her victims’ bodies is unexpectedly found, his gruesome death is splashed all over the papers.

To make matters worse, she’s now being pursued by Detective Wheelan, a new addition to the Met with laser-sharp focus and a worrying habit of solving impossible crimes…

She knows she should stop, but she can’t. Some men just deserve to die. Will Camilla’s insatiable appetite for justice be her downfall, or can she outsmart the police?

Revised edition: Previously published as Predator, this edition of Pretty Evil includes editorial revisions.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Zoe Rosi has a background in journalism and copywriting. She worked as a reporter for local and national newspapers before moving into the fashion industry as a copywriter. Zoe had four romantic comedies published before writing her debut thriller. It was while working as a fashion copywriter that Zoe had the idea for Pretty Evil, which she describes as The Devil Wears Prada meets American Psycho.

Connect:

https://www.zoerosi.com/

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Spotlight: Whiskey on Our Shoes by Tonya Preece

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Publication date: September 16th 2022
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Eva dodges the fans, media, and gossip that follow her supermodel mom and rock star family members by wearing disguises. After an aimless gap year, she struggles to figure out what she wants from life. She moves in with her famous guitar god brother in Austin while he recovers from a drunken stage stunt accident and tries to stay sober. When a hot Texas cowboy named Alex takes Eva by surprise, she risks her safety and security of anonymity by letting him into her unconventional life.

Alex is captivated by Eva and promises to protect her privacy. Yet he has a secret of his own—the fling he had with an older woman is fraught with scandalous potential for him and now Eva. He broke free of that mistake months ago, or so he thought. As things heat up with Eva, his old flame returns and won’t leave him alone.

Just when Alex thinks he has the reins on the situation, his ex teams up with a gossip reporter hell-bent on invading Eva’s privacy. The resulting exposé, with a sly spin on a recent encounter with his ex, is Alex’s worst nightmare, and Eva’s unsure what to believe. Can she face the world with Alex at her side or will she return into hiding?

Excerpt


I drive to the house, and she’s on the porch wearing shorts and a tank top. The sight of her does my heart good. She runs to me as soon as I leave my truck. I pick her up and love the way she wraps her arms and legs around me.

I laugh. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“You’re here.” Her bare legs squeeze my hips, and she kisses me. I could become real used to this, with her breasts mashed against my chest and my hands cupped under her butt.

“Come on.” She slides down my body—oh damn, that was hot—and takes my hand. “Hector’s teaching me to cook. We’re making salmon with roasted red pepper pesto.”

In the kitchen, Hector’s setting out ingredients and cookware. “Hello, Alex. Eva wants to learn to cook. Any idea what that’s about?”

“No idea.” I grin, appreciating the Wonder Woman apron Eva’s putting on.

“You like it?” She strikes a pose.

“I love it.” I pull her to me and kiss her, long and hard.

Hector clears his throat—loudly. “Are we cooking here, or what?”

“Sorry, Boss.” Eva laughs, and I move to the other side of the bar.

A pen and notepad call to me, begging me to draw the scene. In my sketch, I nickname Hector “Honcho,” as in head honcho. I draw Eva in a Wonder Woman costume. She and Hector put the salmon in the oven, and she heads over to sit down by me at the bar when he orders her to the sink. “These dishes aren’t washing themselves.”

“Sir, yes sir!” She salutes him. “Show me what to do.”

He explains what needs to be washed by hand and what can be put in the dishwasher, like it’s the first time she’s done this. How strange and different from me. I’ve been washing dishes since I was five years old. Mom had me stand on a chair to reach the sink.

Hector throws together a rice and vegetable side dish.

Once everything’s ready, Eva and I carry our plates to the theater room.

“Have you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer?” she asks.

“Yeah, it’s good. Cassidi and I watched the whole series a few years ago.”

“I’m up to the ninth episode.”

By the end of the show, we’ve finished eating and share the after-dinner mints she brought from the kitchen. She shuts off the lights. We get comfy in the oversized theater seats and play the next episode. It’s about nightmares coming true in an alternate reality. One of them involves a character being chased by a scary clown.

Eva switches the lights back on and shudders. “I hate clowns.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot that part of this episode. We can skip it if you want.”

“No, I wanna see the end, but can I sit on your lap?” She laughs. “Wow, how cheesy.”

“I like cheese,” I joke. And of course, she’s welcome to sit on my lap anytime she wants.

She leans against my chest, and I put my arms around her. She smells delicious. It’s the usual vanilla but with a hint of something else. Peaches?

The rest of the show is lost on me. I concentrate on having her close.

As the episode ends, she nestles her head between my neck and shoulder and our fingers entwine. Can she hear how fast she makes my heart race?

I press my nose to the top of her head. “You smell like peaches and cream.”

She looks up at me with those beautiful green eyes. “Is that a good thing?”

“It’s a very good thing.” I kiss her, and she shifts on my lap, pushing the button to recline my seat back. Soon, she’s lying on top of me.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Tonya Preece writes romance and contemporary young adult fiction and incorporates music into all her books in one way or another. She lives near Austin, TX where she’s a small business manager for a forensic engineering firm. She and her husband enjoy traveling, live music, wine, and spoiling their fur babies.

As an active SCBWI member since 2015, Tonya has volunteered for several conferences and has served as a critique group facilitator. She joined the Writer’s League of Texas and The Author’s Guild in 2021. She’s serving as the 2022 WriteOnCon Financial Administrator and Critique Boutique Coordinator.

Tonya’s 2022 debut, Whiskey on Our Shoes, was selected for the 2019 #WriteMentor program. One of her YA novels, THE MISSING MEMORIES OF CORDY O’REILLY, earned her a 2020 scholarship/mentorship with Austin SCBWI and was a finalist at the 2018 Houston SCBWI conference.

An avid consumer of written stories, Tonya reads and/or listens to an average of 75 books a year. Some of her favorite YA authors include Jeff Zentner, Julie Buxbaum, Sarah Dessen, and Robin Benway. In adult romance – Kate Clayborn, Christina Lauren, Helena Hunting, Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez. Series she tries to keep up to date on: Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. Recent mainstream faves are Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Five Fun Facts about Tonya that aren’t reading or writing related:

1. She volunteers at a local food pantry, where she’s enjoyed serving weekly since 2017.

2. Her travel bucket list includes Italy, Ireland, and Bora Bora. Australia would be awesome, too!

3. She loves ziplining, indoor skydiving, and rollercoasters.

4. She’s a fan of bands like With Confidence, Broadside, All Time Low, State Champs, Sleeping with Sirens, and As It Is.

5. 5. In her free time, she can be found indulging a jigsaw puzzle habit and/or binging shows like Outer Banks, Never Have I Ever, Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Good Girls, Veronica Mars, and iZombie.

Connect:

https://tonyapreece.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tonya.preece.1

https://www.instagram.com/tonyapreecewrites/

https://twitter.com/TonyaPreece

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22855925.Tonya_Preece