Spotlight: The Rebound Play by Kate O’Keeffe

(Love on Thin Ice, #2)
Publication date: August 29th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Synopsis:

If you get a second chance at love with your hockey star ex, should you take it?

Keira
What do you do when your NHL superstar ex skates back into your small town? Drop to the ground and hide behind the bleachers, hoping he doesn’t see you. But Lady Luck must be in a bad mood today because Dan spots me, my hood over my eyes, pretending I’m not there.

Mature? No.

Necessary? Oh, yes.

Humiliation washes over me, and the wall around my heart stands firm. Dan might be back, but I can’t afford to let him in again. Not after the heartbreak of losing him once before.

When he offers to coach my nephew, I reluctantly agree. Every smile he flashes at me, every kind word, threatens to crack my resolve. But I can’t go through that again. I have to protect my heart.

Dan
I want Keira back. End of story.

The Rebound Play is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet hockey romcom series. It’s a second chance at love story about a jock and a nerd who get a second chance in this small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Excerpt

“I get it. Hockey’s your world right now,” Troy replies. “Which is why coming back to your hometown to play is so perfect for you. I can work things out with your team management to get you the time off, and we’ve got an excellent PT. She’ll get that wrist back into shape before you know it.”

“I’ve got to admit—it’s tempting.”

And besides, there’s another reason for going back home, and it’s kind of a big one. Keira Johnson. My Kiki. Only she hasn’t been my Kiki for ten years now.

Just the thought of my high school girl—the girl I left behind—has my pulse kicking up a notch or ten. 

Keira is the girl I’ve never been able to forget. 

Sure, there’ve been other girls. It’s been a long time and I’m no saint. Women tend to throw themselves at you when you’re an NHL player, particularly when you’re known as the pretty boy of the team. Those puck bunnies, as they’re sometimes called, simply come with the territory—and it’s fun territory, believe me.

Of course, the fact that my kid brother is the current heartthrob on the hit Netflix fantasy show, It Came One Winter, doesn’t exactly hurt, either. 

But here’s the thing: Most of the women I meet are only interested in me because I’m Dan Roberts, center for the Chicago Blizzard, brother to the guy they love to watch on TV. Relationships for me tend to last a few weeks, a month, tops. My lifestyle means it’s hard to hold down a relationship. And besides, those women aren’t interested in plain Dan Roberts, the hockey-obsessed kid from Maple Falls, who worked his butt off to make it to the NHL. 

So, my heart has been safe, never forgetting my first love. Keira.

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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.

Visit kateokeeffe dot com to sign up to her newsletter and you'll receive a FREE romcom.

Connect:

https://kateokeeffe.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/kateokeeffeauthor

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-o-keeffe

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

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Spotlight: The Sea's Edge by Garth Pettersen

The Atheling Chronicles , Book #4

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 11-12-2023

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

In 1030 C.E., Cnute, king of England, Denmark, and Norway, sends Harald, his middle son, to the Kingdom of Dublin to meet with his Norse-Irish allies. Harald’s mission is to coordinate an invasion of the northern Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd, to replace King Rhydderch who is growing too powerful on England’s borders. Harald is reluctant to be involved in affairs of state, but agrees to go, even though his beloved wife, Selia, is unwell. Harald tells Selia he will not have to take part in the fighting.

While she waits for Harald to return, Selia and her friend Gudrun befriend a young and attractive gleeman (poet-minstrel). When the gleeman is accused of a crime, Selia seeks witnesses in his defense.

Harald becomes involved in a conflict with Dublin’s neighbor, and to appease the king of Dublin, he commits to leading their combined forces in the attack on Wales. The plan is to replace King Rhydderch with Iago, the weaker King of Anglesey. The more Harald learns of these monarchs, the more his allegiance leans toward the man he has been sent to kill.

Will Harald unseat a strong and just ruler to carry out his father/king’s commands, or will he tread a more righteous road, which will destroy the life he and Selia have built in England?

Excerpt

The rain beat upon the thatch of Gwyn and Gudrun’s new hall, running off in rivulets that wet-tapped the ground in a thousand places on each side. The evening fire in the hall’s center warmed the occupants where they sat upon benches finishing the evening meal. The woodsmoke rose just well enough to find the smoke hole in the roof. The tang of the smoke was as natural as to them as the smell of the brook trout caught that day. This night all savoured barley-bread hearthcakes and a hearty pottage to which the fish chunks had been added. With Gudrun, Meleri, Selia, and their guest, three hirelings and their small families shared the meal. Two older children sat with Meleri. The housecarls Gunnar and Geir joined the gathering, while Sture acted as wardmann, watching through a watery curtain that dripped relentlessly from the roof of an out-building.

“Tell me, Trygve,” Selia said, scooping the pottage with her chunk of hearthcake, “why are you known as Trygve det Kostbar, ‘Trygva the Precious’?”

The ale-scop finished drinking from the horn of ale that was going round and passed it to another. “It is not always the best names that attach themselves. Whether it was originally a jest, I know not, but where I grew up in Jórvik, there was more than one Trygve. They say I was an attractive and well-behaved child and folk called me “Precious.”

“Not because of self-love?” Selia shot a knowing glance to Gudrun, who stifled a laugh.

“I...” Trygve began to speak but probably decided against defending himself. “No, I think not.”

“And what were the other Trygves called?” Gudrun asked with a barely hidden smile.

“Trygve Bent Nose,” Selia suggested.

“Trygve Small Balls?” said Gudrun.

“Trygve Cat Whiskers?” Selia added. By now the women laughed with abandon and even the children joined in.

“Trygve Dog Shit?” said the young boy, Cerdic.

To his credit, Trygve the Precious laughed along with everyone.

The jibing continued until everyone’s wits became stale and the names less clever.

“Well, Trygve,” said Gudrun. “It is a wise man who can laugh when the jest targets him,” 

“An ale-scop would soon be unwelcome if he took offence at every fire he shared.”

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About the Author

Garth Pettersen is an award-winning Canadian writer living in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, BC, where he and his wife board horses. Pettersen has a BA in History from the University of Victoria and is a retired teacher. His short stories have appeared in anthologies and in journals such as Blank Spaces, The Spadina Literary Review, and The Opening Line Literary 'Zine. Garth Pettersen's historical fiction series, The Atheling Chronicles, is published by Tirgearr Publishing and is available on most online outlets.

Connect:

Website: http://www.garthpettersen.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writeandride/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/garpet011

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199652360-the-sea-s-edge?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_28

Spotlight: The Dreams We Share by Belinda Benna

Release Date: September 5

AVAILABLE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Two dreams. One summer. A life-changing love story.

The world is full of wonders. That's what my father taught me. And that's something Josh has absolutely no clue about.

Granted, he's strong, stronger than I'll ever be. Because he fights for his dream while I've long given up on mine. As a star pianist, he's even nominated for the International Music Award this year. But at the same time, he's so afraid of his five-year-old daughter that he hired me as a nanny.

Josh is peculiar. And honestly, he should mean nothing to me. But when he plays the piano, I still wish he would do it just for me.

This man touches my heart. But I can't allow that.

Because within me lie memories that must never be awakened. And slowly, I realize that he could be the one to do exactly that.

It's impossible not to be moved by this uplifting romance novel about the pursuit of happiness and finding your place in life. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Paige Toon, and Beth Moran.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

Meet Belinda Benna

Belinda Benna is an award-winning author whose moving romance novels are filled with emotion, allowing you to lose yourself between the lines and find yourself at the same time.

Experience stories that will make you cry, laugh, and fall in love-each with a message that will stay with you for a long time.

In her newsletter, Belinda provides exclusive insights into unpublished manuscripts and her life as an author.

Keep up with Belinda and subscribe to her newsletter: https://www.belindabenna.com/newsletter

To learn more about Belinda Benna & her books, visit here!

Connect with Belinda Benna:

Instagram: @belinda_benna_author

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TikTok: @belinda_benna_author

Spotlight: Awake For Ever in a Sweet Unrest by Chuck Rosenthal

Deep within the hidden library of Los Angeles' iconic poetry venue, Beyond Baroque, all modern electronics mysteriously fail. There, 19-year-old Beatriz encounters Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley, who promises a magical adventure back to 19th-century Europe.

There, Beatriz meets literary legends John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Lord Byron, experiencing the romantic landscapes and dangerous exploits of their world. As she navigates this liminal space, Beatriz discovers the power of poetry and art, and the courage to find her own identity.

Rosenthal, an acclaimed author, brings historical figures to life, offering a deeply intimate tale of passion, creativity, and self-discovery. Awake For Ever in a Sweet Unrest is perfect for anyone who has ever lost themselves in the magic of a hidden library.

Buy on Amazon Hardcover | Paperback

About the Author

Chuck Rosenthal is a writer living in Topanga Canyon, California. He is the author of Awake For Ever in a Sweet Unrest as well as fourteen other novels and five other books. He is a Romantic writer.

Connect:  https://chuckrosenthal.com/

Spotlight: braveing the way by Laurel C. Fox

Publisher: Independent

Publication Date: June 20, 2024

Pages: 186

Genre: Memoir

When Laurel's fourteen-year-old daughter experiences a life-altering event, her entire world is upended overnight. Faced with her child's precarious fight to survive and the daunting road of rehabilitation ahead, Laurel discovers fountains of courage and devotion she didn't know she possessed.

Despite the hardships and her own private grief, Laurel tackles each grueling day with positivity, resilience, and humor. She becomes a tireless advocate for her daughter by pushing past exhaustion and uncertainty, focusing on savoring small triumphs, finding meaning amidst tragedy, and opening the door to the healing force of community.

Sharing her deeply personal experience, she delivers an emotionally charged story that reveals the extraordinary power of a mother's love, underscoring the lengths a parent will go to for their children. Laurel's own self-discovery will both encourage and inspire you.

Laurel says to her readers “My book is about a trauma that happened to my daughter, Taylor, when she was fourteen years old. My story ‘braveing the way’ takes you deep into my own journey while being beside my daughter in her seperate journey of survival.”

Buy on Amazon Hardcover | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Laurel C. Fox was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Aspen, Colorado from the age of nine, through high school. She went back to Milwaukee for her first year of college at the University of Wisconsin at Madison/WI. After one year at Madison,  she moved on to finish college in California, earning a BA in Liberal Arts at Excelsior College, with her course studies done at UCLA in Los Angeles. You can visit the author’s web page at www.braveingtheway.com and Instagram at https://instagram.com/laurelcarini. 

Spotlight: Won't Back Down by Harper Jackson

Release Date: September 6 

I drowned when I was sixteen.

My brother's best friend brought me back, but nothing was the same. I can't remember what happened. My parents dragged me away from my island home in the name of keeping me safe, and thrust me into hell instead.

I came back to Hatterwick to rebuild my life and--hopefully--my memory.

Now a new inheritance threatens to expose those long buried secrets, and someone will stop at nothing to ensure I never remember what really happened that fateful night.

The only thing standing between me and whoever wants to hurt me is a marriage of protection with the boy who saved me--now a man grown and determined to keep me safe at all costs.

But what began as protection turns into more. Because he's the key to unlocking what hides in the shadows of my mind, which will either save or damn us both.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Bookshop.org

Meet Harper Jackson:

Harper Jackson has rescued her co-workers from a hostage situation, battled ninjas, and stopped international espionage—in her head anyway. Now that she’s no longer busy devising ways to make staff meetings more entertaining, she’s pouring that imagination into tales of breath-stealing, small-town romantic suspense. She believes that peach cobbler with ice cream is the best dessert ever and has a black belt in taekwondo to back it up. She lives in the Deep South with her husband and three canine furbabies.

To find out about Harper’s upcoming releases sign up for her newsletter here!

To learn more about Harper Jackson & her books, visit here!

Connect with Harper Jackson: harper@harperjacksonbooks.com