Spotlight: Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen

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(Love on Thin Ice, #1)
Publication date: August 29th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Synopsis:

What do an entitled billionaire and small-town ice-skating coach have in common?

Ellie
My life is not turning out like I thought it would.

My mom’s arthritis has gotten so bad that I had to move in with her. I’m making ends meet by giving ice skating lessons at the arena in Maple Falls. I’d be in serious trouble had the Harts not given me that job.

Which makes it impossible to say no when they ask me to let Troy’s obnoxious billionaire brother stay in the cabin on my mom’s property during the charity hockey event they’re running.

Zach
First the tabloids call me out for being a cheapskate and then Yolanda Simms takes to national television to tell everyone what a vicious heartbreaker I am?

Yeah, my life has been better.

My brother thinks I can fix my bad press by coming to Maple Falls and donating big to his new charity endeavor. Too bad he didn’t mention the woman who owns the cottage I’ll be staying at hates me with a passion.

He also didn’t mention she’s everything I’ve ever looked for in a woman…

Excerpt

Ellie

Kelly Hart, who’s been watching from behind the boards, steps over a break in the barrier and hurries to Brooklyn’s side. “You did a fantastic job, kiddo!” She brushes her hand over Brookie’s box braids. Lifting her phone, she announces, “I got it all on video. Your mom’s going to flip when she sees this.”

The little girl’s look of pride makes my heart clench. Like many of my students, Brooklyn doesn’t come from a well-to-do family and her lessons are being funded by Kelly and her husband Troy.  “You’re the best, Mrs. Hart!” 

Kelly shoots her a double thumbs up before pulling me off to the side. While Brooklyn takes off her skates, my boss says, “I have a favor to ask.” 

“Anything for you.” The Harts have singlehandedly kept me in work for the last year since my flower shop closed. They’ve been super flexible with my schedule too, which means the world to me as I’m my mom’s primary caregiver. 

Both my mom’s health and her income have dwindled significantly since my dad died. As such, I try to stay on top of the upkeep and maintenance at her house. I also make sure she has food in her cupboards and drive her to her various doctor’s appointments. Osteoarthritis is no joke and I’m afraid that one of these days, I’m going to have to liquidate her assets so I can afford to put her into an assisted living situation. That day appears to be coming much sooner than I would have ever thought.  

 Kelly interrupts my thoughts. “My brother-in-law is coming to town, and I was hoping he could stay in the cabin on your mom’s property.” My parents have a small cottage behind their house that they used to rent out during the summer months. Unfortunately, there have been no takers for five years. While Maple Creek is a fabulous vacation destination, these days most people want more excitement for their money. Therefore, they either stay at the Hawk River Lodge or the Regent Hotel.  

“Which brother-in-law?” I demand like I’m questioning her in an espionage case. I’d be fine with any of them except for Zachary. That arrogant man makes me mad just looking at him. All six foot two, wide shouldered, chiseled jaw, and grey-green eyes that resemble a mossy pond … Where was I going with this? 

Brushing a wisp of light brown hair aside, Kelly answers, “Zach. I know your mom wants a long-term renter, but I figure while she’s waiting, she might as well make a few bucks.” 

“Zachary Hart?” I spit like I’ve just taken a bite out of a rotten apple. My expression contorts into a look of pure disgust. My inability to control my facial features is the main reason I’m such a horrible poker player. Everyone knows what kind of hand I have just by looking at me.  

“You can’t possibly hate him so much you’d cut off your nose to spite your face.” She gives me one of her famous “talk your way out of that” looks. 

I ram my hands into my pockets and turn her logic back on her. “How can I hate him when I don’t even know him?” 

“I know you think Zach is a stuck-up playboy with too much money and too little compassion.” She knows this because I recently told her as much after watching an interview with Yolanda Simms.

“Well, isn’t he?” As far as I’m concerned, people like Troy’s stinky little stuck-up brat of a brother are the reason we have so many poor people in this country. Zach is a Mr. Moneybags always looking to build his own worth instead of helping others. How much money does one person need anyway?

Narrowing her eyes to half-mast, Kelly says, “He’s nothing like you think he is.” 

“That’s not what’s being said on the news.”

My boss’s spine straightens. “Yes, well, they’ve got it wrong. Why would you ever believe those yellow journalists over me?”

She’s got me there. Not only do I run errands for Kelly and Troy, but I’ve also taken on the job of their housecleaner, pet sitter, and I occasionally stay with their kids when they’re out of town. 

Kelly takes my silence for capitulation. “So, you’ll talk to your mom about renting him the cottage?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Brooklyn tie her shoes. “I guess so, but you should know the cabin is pretty basic. I’m sure Mr. Fancy Pants will hate it.”

“Zach isn’t fancy.” 

I don’t believe her for a minute and my left eyebrow arches accordingly. “How long will he be staying there?”

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About the Author

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to. 

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Connect:
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Spotlight: A Safe Place by Becky Flade

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Genre: Romantic Suspense 

15-year-old runaway Kat Anderson witnesses a gruesome murder. Social worker Maddi O’Hara is called in to provide emergency housing for the flight risk teen.

While Maddi works to reunite Kat and her brother, Nathaniel, it becomes clear the man the police are looking for is hunting Kat. As the danger escalates, Nate finds himself falling in love with the woman protecting his little sister.

Tragedy and betrayal are everywhere. Does Maddi have the courage to accept the chance at the family she’s being offered? Or will a murderer make the decision for her?

Excerpt

Kat’s breath chuffed out in frosty clouds as icy wind howled through the narrow alley nestled between the towering brick wall of a Trader Joe’s and a run-down church. Hidden behind a sagging chain-link fence wrapped in tarp and weathered signs boasting People for the Steeple, she rubbed her numb hands together, hoping to feel something. Gaps in the fence allowed slivers of moonlight to pierce through, casting eerie shadows her imagination built into creeping beasts. Her stomach growled, as the monsters couldn’t.

She clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering then wiped her running nose on her sleeve and tried, again, to sleep. She had a house, half hers by law. A warm, cozy place with locks on the doors, running water, and beds. Her bed sat empty in her room, which was full of her books and puzzles. The knowledge made sitting there, hiding in a construction zone, in the cold, a thousand times worse. But if she went home they’d find her.

Kat didn’t know she’d drifted off until the voices woke her.

“Give it to me,” a man said.

“My money first,” another responded.

The voices were hushed, but the first man’s anger was clear. The second man’s voice quivered. Sounded fearful. Kat lowered herself, shrunk back into the church’s shadow, hugging her backpack close to her chest as she tried to make herself smaller. If they found her…

A muffled thump, like something heavy falling, followed in the silence. Scrunched down as she was, Kat could see a small duffel bag on the ground through a tear in the tarp. A man came into view, bent over the duffel. Light glinted, and she blinked as it reflected into her eyes. The man’s hand came up to his throat. Something dark and wet pumped through his fingers. He gurgled and quietly fell to the sidewalk.

Kat scrambled back, and the rubber soles of her sneakers squeaked on the pavement. The fence rattled, and a man dropped to his feet in front of her. The knife in his hand dripped. Time froze. He was tall and beefy, with a saggy chin like the guy down the street from her grandmother’s house who drank too much and sang off-key. But unlike Mr. Grady, this man had mean eyes under thick, graying eyebrows.

She shifted onto the balls of her feet and sprung as he lunged. Swinging her pack over one shoulder, she vaulted the stone banister and ran toward Broad Street. Hurdled buckets of plaster and paint, then darted around an upended wheelbarrow. He followed, crashing into things as he went. Her heart pounded. Kat scooted and slid through a hole in the fence. It was too small for him to follow. It was barely big enough for her to squeeze through. Something burned across her cheek and yanked her hair, jerking her head back.

Hair tore from her scalp as she pumped her legs. Kat exploded onto Broad Street. Didn’t dare look back. She scanned right and left. Cops! She ran toward them, ignored the people she bumped into and pushed out of her way. She skidded to a stop where two officers stood talking with steam rising from paper cups clutched in their hands and City Hall looming behind them.

“Hey, kiddo, where’s the fire?” the younger of the two asked.

“He killed him,” she panted. “He killed him.”

“Get home, girlie, it’s late.” The other, an older man who reminded her of the one chasing her, looked away. She swung out. Her hand struck his arm. Coffee spilled down the front of his uniform. “Son of a bitch! You asked for this, brat. You’re under arrest.”

“Sherman, come on, man. Let it go. Look at her.”

“Screw that.” He crushed the paper cup, tossed it in a nearby trash can, and unhooked his handcuffs.

The light from the streetlamps glinted off the metal. They clicked like angry crabs dangling from his hand as he reached for her. I could run. The fat one wouldn’t follow or not for long. The younger didn’t want to arrest her but if he ran after her, he’d catch her. Nausea twisted Kat’s empty stomach. She looked over her shoulder. The man with the mean eyes stared back from half a block away. Safer with the cops. Kat held her hands out, palms up, like she’d seen on television.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

When I was little, I thought everyone had stories in their head. When I found out only special people had stories to tell, I wanted to be one of the magical ones who shared their stories with the world. I wrote my first book in kindergarten with the help of my teacher, Mrs. Daniels. My mom – my biggest fan and most ardent supporter – has that little crayon-drawn book tucked into the pages of her family bible. It took almost thirty years to get from there to published but here I am, making my own dreams come true, one happily ever after at a time. 

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Cover Reveal: Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa

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(The Pursuit, #2)
Publication date: October 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Mia Nightingale Marcos is more nightmare than nightingale.

I’m handed the reins to the family business along with an inexperienced assistant barely out of high school. Not to mention, she’s distractingly beautiful and completely off-limits. I plan to be so unbearable she’ll quit, but she’s tougher than she looks. Now she appears to be hiding something and the deeper I dig, the more invested I become, causing my world to spin.

Just when I think I’ve got her figured out, she vanishes, leaving a trail of unanswered questions, sending me on a dangerous pursuit.

Jackson Soloman is the boss from hell.

But I can handle him. Balancing work by day and poker by night was a breeze until Jackson stepped in. It was easier when he was making my life hell, not trying to play hero. Now, I can’t shake him off, and with the growing attraction between us, I’m not sure I want to.

Just when I think I’ve hit the jackpot, I’m forced to fold, leaving everything behind for a chance at salvation.

Will Mia and Jackson survive the trials of deceit and danger that lie ahead? In a heart-wrenching climax that tests their love and commitment, every decision could be their last bet.

About the Author

Bethany Rosa has been passionate about romance since her teenage years. After raising four wonderful daughters, she embarked on a writing career, channeling her love for the genre into crafting captivating stories. Bethany enjoys creating sexy tales featuring alpha males who fall for strong, independent women, making the chase irresistible. Besides writing, she loves to travel, especially to visit her two (soon to be three) daughters living in Europe. When not globetrotting, she enjoys time at home with her husband, dividing her days between the serene mountains of Montana and the sunny landscapes of Arizona.

Connect:

https://bethanyrosa.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbethanyrosa

https://www.instagram.com/bethanyrosa_author

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/48354542.Bethany_Rosa

Spotlight: Lost In You by Brenda Rothert

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I’ve got one job: protect the younger sister of my best friend and team captain. Then our private plane crashes in southern Alaska, and we’re the lone survivors.

The two of us are the unlikeliest of partners when we find ourselves stranded in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. My hockey playing skills are of no use here, where the bitter cold is my new opponent. And Trinity Lorenzo? She’s about as warm as a block of ice. I get it, she’s fleeing an abusive boyfriend and she and I are strangers. But I always keep my word, and I promised Dalton I’d keep his prickly sister safe. If we want to live, the two of us will have to find a way to get along and work together.

Our ordeal draws Trinity and me closer, and fighting the pull between us becomes harder than anything we face while hoping for rescue. Whether we make it out or not, I need her. More than water or shelter—more than anything. Dalton will never forgive me if I cross the line with her, but surviving means something different now. Surviving means making her mine.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

A former print journalist, Brenda Rothert has written more than fifty romance novels. From hot hockey romance to steamy romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. Her print and e-books have been translated into German, Italian and Portuguese, and her audiobooks have been translated into German.

WEBSITE: https://brendarothert.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrendarothert/ 

Spotlight: The Roots Beneath Us by Joey Jones

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Publication date: August 17th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Fate brought them together. Their pasts tried to tear them apart.

Leaving behind a career filled with danger and secrets, Piper Luck arrives in Duck, North Carolina, on her fortieth birthday, determined to build a new life. Starting with The Roots Beneath Us, a local course her friend and father figure swore would transform her, she embarks on a new journey. However, on the first day of class, only one other person shows up—a shy, guarded man.

Like Piper, Boone Winters just moved to the Outer Banks at the suggestion of his now deceased mentor and boss, who promised Boone a job when he arrived if he worked up the courage to leave an abusive relationship. The job: Build a luxurious oceanfront home. However, there are contingencies. He must attend The Roots Beneath Us program, have an accountability partner, and live alone.

With no other course participants, Piper becomes Boone’s accountability partner. Together, they work through the course by facing their fears, setting goals, overcoming obstacles . . . and forging an unlikely friendship that evolves into something deeper. Nonetheless, when their previous lives resurface and threaten the tentative roots they’ve planted, they must each courageously confront their past demons once and for all in order to claim their future.

Excerpt

It surprised Piper when Boone’s skin touched hers. She wondered if he meant to be so close. Part of her liked it. Lying here with him felt comfortable even though she hadn’t been romantically attracted. Something about Boone seemed different than any other man she met. She felt safe in his presence.

For a moment, Boone froze. He knew he should probably move his arm before it became awkward, but all he could do was stare through the trees at the stars even though he wanted to turn and look at Piper.

Piper considered scooting over an inch to create space, but then as the moonlight filtered and the stars twinkled through the silhouette of hundreds of tree branches, she decided she was okay with Boone’s arm being pressed against hers. A couple of his fingers settled on hers delicately like a fallen leaf on the summer grass.

“Boone, this is lovely,” she admitted.

Boone began to breathe again although he didn’t know what to say. “It is,” he finally uttered.

“You were right about this view. I think I could lie here all night.”

Neither of them spoke a word for the longest time. They simply basked in the ambiance surrounding their lives at the present moment.

Eventually Piper broke the silence. “Sometimes I try to count the stars.”

Boone smiled in the dark. “That sounds fun.”

“You’re fun, Boone,” Piper stated, wrapping her pinky around one of his fingers. She turned and looked at him. “You deserve this freedom.”

Boone didn’t know precisely what freedom she meant, but he felt as free as the owls in the trees. The way her pinky wrapped around his finger made him more alive than he ever remembered. “Thanks,” he responded, slowly turning his head to meet Piper’s gaze. The clarity of her charming brown eyes surprised him, and once again he experienced that previous connection.

Piper studied Boone’s green eyes. “No matter what happens, you never ever have to go back to her.”

“I know,” Boone replied, trying his hardest to believe it. Suddenly he wanted to kiss Piper’s lips but couldn’t. He could write that on his journey list a thousand times but doubted he ever would, and right now he couldn’t muster up the courage. Baby steps, he heard someone on his shoulder say.

Piper considered rolling onto Boone and kissing him gently. She doubted he would make the first move. Almost any other guy would have already jumped on top of her but not Boone Winters. He was scared and scarred but also a gentleman. This man had been taken advantage of so many times he understood the danger in crossing boundaries. She understood his delicacy and wanted to treat him with the respect he deserved, realizing most of the women he encountered probably jumped on top of him.

Piper and Boone didn’t say much more the rest of the waking night. They just let things be. Mostly they stared at the stars. Their bodies didn’t move, not even their fingers, slightly intertwined like many of the branches above.

It shocked Piper when Boone dozed off to sleep, but it made her glad to know he felt comfortable. She knew she needed to leave but hated to wake him, so she kept gazing at the stars and listening to the ocean, imagining he would wake up soon.

As Piper listened to the steady rhythm of the rise and fall of Boone’s breath, the owls hooted, the sky glowed, and before she realized it, her eyelids collapsed, and sleep captured her body.

The moon moved across the North Carolina sky. The branches slowly danced to the breeze blowing off the Atlantic Ocean. The critters went on about their night. Everything seemed completely peaceful, and then something unexpected happened.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

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.

Connect:

https://joey-jones.com/

https://www.facebook.com/joeyjoneswriter/

https://www.instagram.com/joeyjoneswriter/

https://x.com/JoeyJonesWriter

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14919765.Joey_Jones

Cover Reveal: Royally Matched by Kate O’Keeffe

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(Royally Kissed, #2)
Publication date: September 26th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

I’ve got 99 problems, and picking the wrong guy might be all of them.

I’ve always had my royal checklist: Attend the Husband Hunting Ball? Check. Find the perfect match for a princess like me? Check. Feel zero sparks with Mr. Right (aka Enzo Revera)? Sadly, double check.

But then I met Marco, Enzo’s charming and rugged brother. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, especially since I’ve planned my life to avoid the messiness of love.

When a twist of fate puts Marco at my side, I can’t deny our chemistry, even if he’s all wrong for a princess like me. Thrown together by royal duties and an ancient riddle, Marco and I embark on a crazy adventure that leads us to hidden clues.

As we unravel a secret that changes everything, I’m faced with a choice between duty and desire. Can I defy expectations and claim both the throne I’ve always wanted and my true love?

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kate O'Keeffe writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family. When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195990.Kate_O_Keeffe