Thursday, November 21, 2024

The Geography of Happiness by Jay Hogan Excerpt & Giveaway

The Geography of Happiness
Jay Hogan
(Mackenzie Country, #4)
Publication date: November 21st 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

One thing I know about Terry O’Connor—the man has complicated relationship written all over him, something I’ve avoided for pretty much forever. One thing I know about Terry’s hometown, Painted Bay—it’s a long, long way from my life as a Mackenzie Country veterinarian, and dedicated, carefree bachelor. All of which should be good news.

No reason to look twice at the gorgeous man currently staying at Miller Station with his daughter.

No reason to daydream about his soft lips, quirky sense of humour, sexy smile, or the way he blushes whenever he catches me staring which is far too often.

No reason to second guess my future plans or reconsider the no-strings lifestyle I’ve worked hard to perfect.

And absolutely no reason to feel disappointed that Terry is even less interested in a relationship than I am. I should be relieved.

Then why can’t I stop thinking about him and how right it feels when we’re together? Why does my heart spin at the very mention of his name? And why does the thought of moving on without Terry and his daughter in my life feel like the loneliest decision in the world?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

“There’s the welcoming committee.” Luke indicated directly ahead, where three tiny figures stood next to a red-roofed hanger, a group of dogs sitting quietly to one side. “I’ll have you down in a jiffy.”

A minute or so later, the chopper’s skids set down gently on the grass, and I immediately recognised the dog trainer, Zach, from his website. He wore a green checked shirt and light-wash jeans tucked into leather cowboy boots—handsome and wholesomely country. I glanced at Luke who was wearing a broad grin, his attention locked on his husband. The other two men had to be the station owners, Gil and Holden, although I wasn’t sure who was who—one blond and one with a head of messy dark curls.

When the chopper powered down, Zach jogged across and opened Hannah’s door, wearing a dazzling smile that had me warming to him immediately. “Well, hello there, beautiful girl. You must be the one and only Hannah O’Connor.”

Hannah beamed. “I am. Nice to meet you, Mister Lane.”

Luke snorted. “Just call him Zach. We don’t want to give him any ideas.”

“Too late.” Zach threw his husband a cheeky grin. “I think I like the sound of Mister Lane.”

Luke laughed. “Yeah, right. In your dreams, sweetheart.”

“And you must be Terry.” Zach offered me his hand. His website photo had really done zero justice to those stunning green eyes.

“I am.” I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Right, let’s get you out of there.” Zach offered Hannah a helping hand, which she accepted while I stared at my daughter in amazement. Hannah hated being helped to do anything if she could possibly avoid it.

Hannah turned to grab her elbow crutches and shot me a don’t-you-dare-say-anything look. Like hell. I wasn’t that brave. But it was a good start to the week if my daughter already trusted the trainer, so I took it as a win.

With Hannah on the ground, Gabby swept past my knees to join her while I grabbed our bags, Hannah’s canes which she used on her better days, and her wheelchair which she needed for longer distances.

“Here, let me take some of that.” Luke took our bags and popped the canes under his arms before making his way back toward the other two men.

“Well, hello there, girl.” Zach dangled his hand for Gabby to take a long sniff but made no move to touch her. The retriever eyed him suspiciously before finally nudging his hand with her wet nose in grudging approval. That done, she scoped out her surroundings, her gaze lingering uncertainly on the other dogs.

Zach instructed the group of three to stay where they were. “We’ll let Gabby settle in before they meet properly. Right now she’s understandably nervous. Was that her first flight?”

“First time in a chopper,” Hannah corrected. “She flew to Wellington with us last week and then down to Christchurch.”

Zach nodded. “Helicopters are scary beasts. Looks like she did well. But these surroundings and all the smells are new, and she won’t feel safe leaving your side for a while.”

Hannah nodded. “She’s a good dog.”

Zach smiled approvingly. “I can see that. Now come and meet the others.” He led us across to where Luke stood chatting and waved a hand at the curious canines as he passed. “Get away back.”

Every dog walked a good ten metres away and sat.

“This is a beautiful place you have here,” I commented as we reached the others.

“Not mine, unfortunately.” Zach nodded toward the two men. “Holden here is owner. I just have the privilege of living and working here.”

I kept my surprise under wraps as the younger of the two—mid-thirties at a push—stepped forward to shake my hand, his dark brown eyes scanning my face. “Nice to meet you, Terry. And you, Miss Hannah.” Holden shot Hannah a wink. “Call me Holden.”

Hannah smiled brightly. “Nice to meet you, Holden,”

“And this is my partner and much better half, Gil.” Holden extended his hand toward the blond man who was maybe in his forties with shrewd hazel eyes that seemed to look right through you. The man took it without hesitation, allowing himself to be pulled forward. “Gil manages everything around here that doesn’t have four legs. He’s also a psychologist and is responsible for the station’s wellness retreat programme.”

Gil chuckled. “Well, Holden’s right about the four-legged part, at least. Those critters are definitely not my superpower. Nice to meet you, Terry. You too, Hannah.” He shook hands with both of us.

The two men made a handsome couple, but when I shot a sideways glance to where Luke and Zach were sharing a quiet moment, I amended that thought—make that two handsome couples.

“And while we’re doing introductions . . .” Gil indicated the large huntaway sitting off to one side with the others, his gaze locked on Gil. “That’s Spider. You might say he’s my self-appointed and self-trained assistance dog. Where I go, he goes.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Self-trained?”

Gil winked. “I’ll tell you about it one day. The dog next to Spider is Batman, one of Holden’s dogs, and the girl at the end is Nina. She belongs to Zach.”

A car horn blasted, and I turned to see a ute, barrelling down the road beside the air strip, with Oakwood Veterinary Clinic stamped on the driver’s door. As it drew alongside, the ute slowed and the driver stuck his head out the window. “I’ll need to come back to finish the others later in the week. And I want to check that bull again if you can bring him in. I’ll let you know when.”

Holden nodded. “Sure. No problem.”

The driver’s gaze slid sideways to me and a warm smile stole over his face. “So, who do we have here?” He looked me up and down. “A set of fresh victims—oops, I mean guests.”

“Hardy har har,” Gil mocked. “You think you’re so funny.” He shot me an apologetic look. “Excuse our friend here. He’s off his medication.”

“Terry and Hannah, this is our vet, Spencer.” Holden swept a hand toward the ute.

Hannah gave the man a wave. “Hi, Spencer.”

“Hi to you too.” Spencer shot Hannah a sunny smile. “That’s a good-looking dog you’ve got there.”

Hannah practically glowed. “Thanks. Her name’s Gabby. She’s a golden retriever and she’s my service dog. I have juvenile idiopathic arthritis.”

I rested a gentle hand on Hannah’s shoulder. I loved that she was always so open.

“Is that right?” Spencer leaned out his window for a closer look at Gabby. “Well, she sure is a beauty. She must be a big help to you.”

“She is.” Hannah nodded enthusiastically. “But Dad calls her a lovable drain on our bank accounts.”

Everyone laughed, including Spencer.

“Wow, thanks for that, sweetheart.” I walked over to shake Spencer’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

The vet’s warm hand wrapped around mine. “The pleasure is all mine.” His gaze lingered and heat raced into my traitorous cheeks. I smiled faintly and quickly stepped away as he added, “Don’t let these guys boss you around. Before you know it, they’ll put you to work and have you thinking it was all your idea.”

“Ignore him.” Holden slapped the ute’s roof a couple of times. “Go on, get out of here. I’m not paying for your idle chit-chat.”

Spencer laughed. “You wish.” He shot me another quick smile and then disappeared in a cloud of dust.

Author Bio:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She's travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Website / Amazon / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Instagram / TikTok / Bookbub


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DON'T LOOK, JUST RUN by R.A. Clarke Excerpt & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DON'T LOOK, JUST RUN by R.A. Clarke Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: DON'T LOOK, JUST RUN

Author: R.A. Clarke

Pub. Date: October 30, 2024

Publisher: Page Turn Press

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 272

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Consider this book a cautionary tale. The short stories, flash fiction, micro fiction, and poems contained within this collection are the stuff of nightmares—things you should’ve run from when you had the chance.

You’ll read a rhyming tale about a crafty northern witch with a deathly holiday fetish, the journal of a troubled woman who's been offered revitalization in the form of experimental skin therapy, and two flirty college students who learn exactly why taking strange drugs is bad. Lock your doors and pull your blanket up a little higher while you navigate a feud between neighbours that spirals out of control, operate a camera with a thirst for blood, and even chuckle while a family of vacationing demons let their hungry lil’ guy trick-or-treat, human-style.

If you take away anything from this book, besides a cramp from turning pages too fast or a case of spine tingles that won't quit—it should be this... Don't look, just run!

 

Excerpt:

From the moment I met Terri, I knew it was fate.

She was looking to hire a very particular kind of somebody, and stumbled across my Craigslist ad, which read: The Finisher - A Step Above the Rest. Proof on Film, Every Time. Completion, Discretion & Creativity Guaranteed.

She’d sent me a message and, though I wasn’t sure if I’d accept the job, I agreed to meet her here. Not exactly the nicest part of town, but it made sense, considering.

I smiled and shook her hand. "I’m Winston. Nice to meet you."

"H-hello, yes, I'm Terri. Same to you, too." She seemed nervous, her eyes darting around and hands quaking. But, after a few moments, her posture relaxed a little. Probably realized the shabby pub was practically empty—nobody to overhear our conversation.

What a beautiful creature...

I ordered two bourbons, sliding one across the table to further ease her worry. I wanted to assure her I wasn’t some generic thug, but rather an educated and well-mannered man who possessed a unique set of skills for which others paid handsomely. A professional.

Terri sipped her drink and proceeded to explain why she’d called. She wanted someone to scare her cousin, Damien. They lived next door to each other, stuck in a horrible feud that was getting out of control. Terri had apparently cared for Damien's ailing mother, a woman he sorely neglected. Years later, when the mother finally died, she’d left Damien's share of the inheritance to Terri instead of her own son. He began tormenting her, poisoning her flowers, leaving hateful notes on her car, and shooting paint balls at her cat.

“He even accused me of stealing!” she said, cheeks flushed. I suspected this accusation wasn’t entirely untrue. Clearly, the pretty thing had stolen his mother's heart. It wasn't a shock to me. Of course, the old lady would love Terri. Not only was she lovely, but this Damien guy sounded like a real asshat.

"Anyway, I eventually got fed up and fought back," she explained, staring at her hands. "I'm not proud of it, but I spray-painted Damien’s precious sports car, poured bleach onto his lawn, and tossed cat poop into his yard."

Good for her.

"I didn't know what else to do. None of it worked! He didn’t back off." She flung her hands out, then reeled them back in with a nervous glance at the bearded bartender.

"Oh, don't worry about ol' Bob—he's heard a lot worse things than that in this bar," I said with a reassuring smile. I leaned back, waving a hand at her. "Please, continue."

Terri took a deep breath. "Damien slandered my name all over our neighbourhood, calling me a scheming gold digger who had manipulated his mother. Said I was toxic. He turned most of my extended family against me; made me into a black sheep."

Terri explained she went to the police, and I shook my head. Calling the police almost never solves these kinds of issues. The way her voice shook, I could tell she was torn up inside.

Poor thing.

“I just need someone to make him believe bad things will happen if he keeps harassing me,” she said with a weak smile. "I think that will make him stop."

I was unsure about the job. Honestly, it seemed a little beneath me. Sure, it would be easy money, and cultivating fear was definitely in my wheelhouse. But my true specialty was death and disappearance. Money wasn’t everything, after all. This kind of gig offered little opportunity to indulge in the creative expression I enjoyed.

I nearly said no, but then Terri looked up at me with her big, innocent eyes. The delicate curve of her lips buckled my resolve, swaying me. Seducing me. A woman like this needed a white knight—a protector. Knowing I could be that for her, I obliged. 

 

 

About R.A. Clarke:

When she's not writing children's literature, Rachael Clarke enjoys writing short stories in all kinds of genres, including dark fiction, and horror. So not to confuse or frustrate her younger readership, Rachael publishes her short fiction under the pen name R.A. Clarke.

R.A. Clarke has a dedicated Facebook page for fans of her work.

You're invited (and very welcome) to join the community!

https://www.facebook.com/raclarkeauthor

Thank you for reading!

Sign up for R.A.’s newsletter! (scroll to the bottom)

https://linktr.ee/raclarkewrites 

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends December 3rd, midnight EST.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/4/2024

TX Girl Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

11/5/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

11/6/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

11/7/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

11/8/2024

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

11/9/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

11/10/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

11/11/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

11/12/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

11/13/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

11/14/2024

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

11/15/2024

Katherinelovesbooks

Review/IG Post

11/16/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

11/17/2024

@fiction._.fuss

Review/IG Post

11/18/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

11/19/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

11/20/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/21/2024

Deal sharing aunt                  Excerpt

11/22/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

11/23/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

Week Four:

11/24/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

11/25/2024

@thepageladies

Review/IG Post

11/26/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

11/27/2024

thefashoionistfiles

Review/IG Post

11/28/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/29/2024

rolo_the_book_lover-

Review/IG Post


Plausible Deception by Dwain Lee Interview & Giveaway

 

Plausible Deception by Dwain Lee

About Plausible Deception

 

Plausible Deception 

Mystery/Detective/LGBT/Quozy 

Setting: Primarily Los Angeles/Anaheim CA; Louisville KY; New York NY 

Publisher: Butler Books (October 15, 2024) 

Paperback: 332 pages 

ISBN 978-1-964530-02-4

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There’s only one Jackson Stradivarius.

Welcome to the arcane world of handcrafted, professional violins. Master luthier Greg Zhu and his husband, Presbyterian minister Dan Randolph, travel to Los Angeles, where Greg’s newest design is competing for recognition from the Violin Society of America. Only a handful of participants know that the Jackson is at the conference, but the owner offers Greg the rare opportunity to examine it—and Greg is the last person in the room before the violin disappears. Greg and Dan team up with the authorities to clear Greg’s name, catch the thief, and recover the priceless violin before it is lost to the arts and antiquities black market.

About Dwain Lee

 
 Dwain Lee grew up in Masontown, Pennsylvania, where his first job was working as a coal miner during the summers of his high school years. He graduated from Penn State University, majoring in architecture, and he owned and operated his own architectural firm in Columbus, Ohio for twenty years. During the thirty years that he lived in Columbus, he raised a family and also served as President and Chairman of the Board of Montana de Luz, an orphanage in Honduras for children living with HIV/AIDS. Transitioning out of the architectural profession, he obtained a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and for many years has served as an ordained Presbyterian minister and pastor. In addition to more typical pastoral duties, a large part of his time in ministry has focused on social justice issues, including LGBTQ+ equality, refugee and immigrant issues, and racial justice. Dwain has two amazing, wonderful adult daughters, Erica and Andrea. He and his husband, George Yu, an internationally recognized violin maker, currently live in an old double-shotgun house in the eclectic Germantown/Schnitzelburg neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to writing, he enjoys spending time with George traveling, gardening, doing never-ending home renovation projects, camping, and yoga. 

Interview:

Where are you from?

Hi - First, thank you very much for the opportunity to be interviewed! My husband and I live and work in Louisville, Kentucky, and we both love it! I’m a Presbyterian minister here, and I serve as pastor to a fantastic congregation in the east suburbs. I’ve lived here since 2016. Before that, I lived for two years in Auburn New York, in the Finger Lakes region of the state, and before that, I lived in Columbus, Ohio for thirty years. All of that hopping around originally started, though, in Masontown, Pennsylvania, in the southwestern corner of the state, where I grew up.

Tell us your latest news?

Wow, things around here are very exciting at the moment. The book was released on October 14, and I’m in the middle of a whirlwind of personal appearances and promotions. It’s now listed on Goodreads, and I’m thrilled to report that the US Review of Books has just given the book a RECOMMENDED rating, reserved for the top 10 to 20% of books they review, and they will be featuring it in their various online platforms in November. You can read that full review at

https://www.theusreview.com/reviews-1/Plausible-Deception-Dwain-Lee.html

In other news – Plausible Deception is a story woven around two recurring events in my husband’s professional life – he, like one of the two main characters in the book, is an internationally-recognized violin maker. The mystery takes place during a very prestigious convention and competition he was part of in Los Angeles in November of 2022. Right now, he’s working literally around the clock to get ready for the same competition, which will be taking place in Indianapolis this year. In fact, the date you’re scheduled to read this interview, I’ll be at that convention doing a book signing, and in the evening, the two of us will be attending the big awards banquet for this year’s competition – wish him luck!

When and why did you begin writing?

I can remember writing stories pretty much as soon as I learned how to print the alphabet. I loved being read to as a child and quickly learned to read myself. Once that happened, I read everything I got my hands on. To keep me in stock with reading material, one of my grandmothers cut children’s stories out of magazines she subscribed to and pasted them into an album, making a story book for me. I remember thinking that if she could make a book, so could I, so I started crafting books of my (very simple) stories, binding them together with yarn or metal clasps. Maybe the writing bug started in that early experience. In my first career as an architect, I loved the written part of the profession, explaining and detailing the concepts behind the architectural designs, painting images with words to go along with the actual graphic images, every bit as much as the designing itself. During that time, I was also doing some amateur short-story writing in a now-defunct internet forum. Since then, I’ve written a couple of magazine articles that further whetted my appetite for writing.

In my current career, of course, I write a kind of story every week, as I research and craft my weekly sermons. That’s a very different kind of writing, at least for me – where most of my writing up till then was “writing primarily to be read,” sermon writing is “writing primarily to be spoken,” which is a very different task with a different set of rules, allowable grammar, syntax, etc. Now that I’m writing more to be read again, I’m enjoying the kind of code-switching that requires.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Based on my last answer, I’d say around age five! I’ve beena number of things in my life, but the enjoyment of writing in some manner has woven through all of it. As an architect years ago, I knew a consulting engineer who poked fun at self-proclaimed experts of one discipline or another by commenting, “You aren’t really an author until someone else calls you an author.” That comment has always stuck with me, and while I’d say I was a writer my entire life, I hesitated to call myself an author until this book was actually in print, and someone else had read it, and called me an author. So maybe the real answer to your question is “somewhere between age five and 64.” 😊

What inspired you to write your first book?

I’d actually started writing a bit of non-fiction – a biography of Eugene Carson Blake, head of the Presbyterian Church and a major civil rights advocate in the 1960s who worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bayard Rustin in organizing the 1963 March on Washington – but I hit constant roadblocks and eventually gave up with that project. Even during that effort, though, I felt like I’d like to write some non-fiction, but something based in reality. This book accomplishes that for me.

The idea for this book originated in a harrowing, almost heart-stopping incident that happened to my husband in the main terminal of LAX as he was arriving for that 2022 competition – an incident that’s recounted in the book almost exactly as it happened. Afterward, I’d commented to him that the incident sounded like something you’d read in a book, not experience in real life. That comment stuck with me, and even before the end of that convention I was teasing out a rough idea for a mystery spinning outward from that near-disaster. While the theft of the violin in the story is completely fictional, much of the story is framed in real events and situations.

The book is also intended to give me a vehicle to examine parts of my own life’s journey, trying to embed my own self-reflection into the story. It’s also meant to offer a realistic portrayal of a loving same-sex marriage of two sixty-year olds looks like, in the hopes of dispelling inaccurate and often hateful stereotypes that are so common in our society today. My goal in writing this book – and subsequent books in what I hope will become a series –will be to do both of those things in a natural, organic way integral to the particular story being told.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m not equating the quality or importance of my own writing with these two at all, but I recognize some instinctive stylistic similarities between my writing style to some of that of Frederick Buechner and James Baldwin – so if anyone is familiar with those two brilliant authors, if you like their style, mine might resonate with you. 

How did you come up with the title?

The phrase “plausible deception” is something said by the character Greg Zhu early in the story. He makes the comment related to the way he antiques the violins he creates, making them look like they’re hundred of years old when their actual age might be measured in weeks. But the term becomes a recurring theme in the plot, where deception of various types play out – in violins, in situations, and in people.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I hope that readers enjoy the mystery which offers a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of fine violins and violin making – a world few of us are part of – but there is definitely more to the book. It’s also an essay on serious issues such as xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, and racism - that many individuals are quick to judge based on surface perceptions, obscuring their ability to see people and situations for what they really are. I sometimes describe this book in a self-effacing way, saying it isn’t anything deep or intellectual – it’s just light, fun reading. But maybe readers will discover that that in itself is just another of the deceptions found in the book.

And of course, I hope that readers will find themselves enjoying the characters of Dan and Greg, and that they’ll want to read more about them in the future.

What would you like my readers to know?

I’d love for your readers to give this debut novel a read, and to let me know their thoughts – not just what they liked or disliked, but why – as a first-time author, I really appreciate readers’ feedback. I’d also love to hear from them regarding any questions about the story, the characters, or plans for subsequent books in the series. They can always reach me by email at dwainlee.author@gmail.com , or through the Dwain Lee, Author Facebook page.

Thank you again so much for the opportunity to speak with you and your readers. I’ve really enjoyed your questions!

 

Author Links: 

Author's Website:www.dwainlee-author.weebly.com 

  TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 14 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
November 15 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
November 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 17 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT
November 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
November 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – StoreyBook Reviews- CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 21 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 22 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 24 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Never Hollowed By The Stare – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 27 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW


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Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Off the Bench by Tiffany Noelle Chacon Excerpt & Giveaway

Off the Bench
Tiffany Noelle Chacon
(Sports in the Sunshine State RomComs, #2)
Publication date: November 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Austin Taylor, once an undrafted free agent and a third-string quarterback, was never supposed to be the starting QB for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Except now, he is.

Dani Marshall, the Bucs’ data analyst whiz, is all in—betting her career, and even her car, on Austin’s success. The real challenge? Keeping her heart out of the game.

Austin

When the achingly gorgeous Dani Marshall shows up in my tiny Ohio town to sign me to the Bucs, I can’t say no. I expect to ride the bench in obscurity for my entire NFL career. What I don’t expect is to become the starting QB in my first month—or to end up as a viral GIF, tripping over my cleats.

Dani’s betting on me, but I’m starting to think her faith might be misplaced. The closer we get, the more her walls stay mile-high—even as I’m being pulled to her as surely as the moon pulls the tides.

Dani

Research shows that spending time together and sharing personal goals increases the likelihood of developing romantic feelings by 30%. (I will not be part of this statistic. I will not be part of this statistic. I will NOT be part… oh crap.)

After I sign Austin Taylor to the Bucs, I make it my mission to stay away from him—he’s too attractive for me, and, as an absolute rule, I don’t date athletes. Not after what happened last time.

But when I make a bet with my work nemesis over Austin Taylor’s performance, my car is on the line. Now I have to get involved.

The problem? The more I work with Austin Taylor, the more afraid I am that he’s going to steal my heart.

This is the first novel in the Sports in the Sunshine State RomCom series: a collection of interconnected, clean sports romances, each featuring its own unique love story. While all books are linked, they can be enjoyed as standalones. You’ll enjoy high-action sports sequences, sizzling chemistry, with no cursing or smut.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

This scene picks up after the NFL draft, where Austin did not get drafted. His two friends, Omar and Caleb, take him out to try to cheer him up.

As I peruse the new photographs in my buddy Omar’s bar, my eye catches on a girl walking into the bar. She’s tall and elegant, gliding as if she’s not even touching the ground. I find myself taking in every detail of her, because I can’t help it. Her braids are caught in a twisting bun at the top of her head. Her almond-shaped eyes are assessing the room, as if she’s looking for someone. Her dark cheekbones shimmer with a mesmerizing blend of girl magic that I don’t understand. I admit I linger a little too long on her full lips. Her long neck reminds me of a dancer—she’s as graceful as a ballerina. I’ve only gotten to her shoulders when Caleb notices my perusal.

“Ask her to come over here,” he says, mouth full with chicken wings.

I force my eyes from her, feeling greedy for more. I push my IPA away, wondering if the pull I feel toward her is more a product of the alcohol rather than some kind of supernatural tug she has.

“I’m not going to go just talk to some random girl who’s clearly here to meet someone else.”

“Maybe she’s here to meet a hunky football player,” Omar says with a smirk.

I snort, but don’t speak the words that come to my mind: I’m not a football player anymore.

And it’s the first time since the draft ended that I’ve felt a deep twinge of grief. I may have convinced myself that I’m content with how things worked out, but I’ve been a football player my whole life. I don’t know how not to be a football player. I sigh and half-heartedly dip a chip in the artichoke dip when I realize Caleb and Omar are still looking at me expectantly. “Guys, I’m not going to go talk to her. It’s just not who I am.”

“Tell me, exactly, what you are, man. Because I don’t get it.” Omar’s got that fire in his dark brown eyes that always makes me a little uncomfortable, like he’s about to start a fight. “From where I’m sitting, it seems like you’re just someone who lets opportunities slip from his fingers without a fight.”

“Dang, bro, chill,” Caleb says to Omar as he reaches for more nachos.

“It’s fine,” I say.

Omar plants his hands on the table, standing. “It’s not fine.” And then he walks away.

“Who got his panties in a bunch?” I mutter.

“He’s overcompensating for your lack of feelings over the draft thing,” Caleb says in a fleeting moment of insight. I grunt and return to my IPA. But I just about spit it out when I realize Omar’s gone over to talk to the girl. I mutter under my breath as I set the IPA back on the table, where it sloshes over the edge, getting beer all over my hand. I scramble for a napkin, keeping my focus on wiping up my mess as I sense Omar and the girl walking over to our table.

When she’s beside us, I finally glance up. Looking at her up close takes my breath away, and I’m pathetically speechless.

“Austin Taylor?” she says as I’m momentarily distracted by the mesmerizing way her lips move. Then I’m confused about how she knows my full name.

“Uh, yeah?” I’m struck next by how closed off her features are. This girl didn’t come over here to flirt with a guy—and the realization cuts almost as deep as my football future.

Then, she says the craziest words I’ve ever heard: “My name is Dani Marshall and I’m here to sign you to the Tampa Bay Bucs.”

Want to find out what happens with Dani and Austin? Pre-order Off the Bench here. While you wait, read the first two chapters on my website here.


Author Bio:

Tiffany LOVES love. Married to her middle school sweetheart, this award-winning novelist adores writing stories with heart, humor, and depth. As a five-time national equestrian champion, she loves sports romances with heart-pounding action sequences and a whole lot of sweet romance. She received her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Tampa. A homeschooling mama, she lives in Tampa with her husband and their two wild and crazy sons. She loves hearing from readers and would love to connect with you on any social media platform at authortiffanynoellechacon or on her website at tiffanynoellechacon . com.

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Copper Waters (Annalisse Series #4) By Marlene M. Bell Review

Copper Waters book cover
Copper Waters (Annalisse Series #4)
By Marlene M. Bell
Genre: Mystery / Suspense
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 5 December 2022

Blurb:
A rural New Zealand vacation turns poisonous.

Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.

Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.

But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on the family sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.

Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.

The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.

As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.


Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- B&N


Earlier books in the series:
Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series #1) by Marlene M. BellSpent Identity (Annalisse Series #2) by Marlene M. BellShattered Legacy (Annalisse Series #3)


Marlene M. Bell
About the Author:
Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep in beautiful East Texas with her husband, Gregg, three cats and a flock of horned Dorset sheep.

The Annalisse series has received numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romance are found at marlenembell.com. She also offers the first of her children's picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.

Author links:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Bookbub
- Goodreads
- Amazon
- Instagram

My Review:
This book picked up where book 3 left off. I was not happy to see that Alec and Annalisse were fighting. This installment brings us to New Zealand. The author has a great way of describing where the characters are. I learned a lot about sheep and found it interesting. Again the author is great at mystery and kept me very intrigued by the plot. The book was hard to put down. There is definitely something about this author and long-hidden family secrets. I love the story arc from all four books and I can not wait to read more from this author. The secondary characters and their banter was well worth the read. They carry their own and make for great secondary plots. I definitely recommend this series be read all at once. I hope to see these lovebirds in future works by the author. I would love updates. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy, all opinions are my own.

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