Can't Let Go by Chrissy Brown - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chrissy Brown will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner, also an ebook of the second installment of the series Come a Little Closer (tentatively to be released 2/9), to another randomly drawn winner, both via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A sweet, yet steamy new adult romance about a girl who's not ready to fall in love and a boy who isn't ready to let her go.

Beau
She is beautiful, probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, but she's damaged.
Her a-hole exboyfriend broke her.
I still want her.
I can show her that all men aren't the same
That I'm different.

Mallory
He's everything I need to stay away from, and I try.
I really do, but he's relentless.
So, I give in and let him have me.
All of me.
I should have known better.

Read an Excerpt:

I spend my days wondering what she’s doing.

Is she okay?

Is she out drinking herself to death like I am as I try to block out the pain?

Or, the worst one of all, did she get over me and move on to someone new? I think that thought tears me up the most. I know we haven’t been apart long, but the phrase “to get over someone you have to get under someone else” haunts me.

Thinking about her in some other man’s arms, his lips kissing her soft skin, his hands roaming her body, makes me sick. The only thing that helps numb the suckiness that has become my life is the whiskey.

I grab the bottle of Jack beside my bed and take a swallow, then chase it down with another and another until the pain doesn’t hurt quite as much. But no matter how much I drink, there’s always a dull ache that is Mallory.

About the Author:

Chrissy Brown is a Contemporary Romance and New Adult Romance author. She lives in Central Florida with her husband, twin girls, two dogs, and the neighborhood cat.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like cuddling on the couch watching movies with her family, reading, Netflix, and beach trips. She reads two to three books a week, but favors stories with strong women, true love, and steamy scenes.

When Chrissy is not sitting at her computer, fantasizing about gorgeous country boys, she is teaching third graders how amazing books are...and writing, and math. She has also been an amateur wedding photographer and a CNA (to which she gives kudos but says never again.)

https://chrissybrownauthor.com
https://twitter.com/Thechrissybrown
https://www.facebook.com/chrissybrownauthor
https://www.instagram.com/chrissybrownauthor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MHPGL3V/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 357 - A Duke in Need of a Wife by Annie Burrows, California Girls by Susan Mallery

A Duke in Need of a Wife by Annie Burrows
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What happens when you are invited along with five others to audition for the role of Duchess. Sophie just does not go along with the plan. She keep throwing things in the way while getting the Duke's attention. This is a nice sweet story with a child in the middle of the plot. Sophia and Oliver (the Duke) are a great couple who have to find their HEA in a very short time. Great characters and a nice story line.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


California Girls by Susan Mallery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Three sisters who each get dumped on the same day. What follows for each is the heart of the story. This sends each on a very different path. I enjoyed meeting the three and their slightly off center Mother who just wants to be a grandmother. For each of the sisters the result is not what they expected. This follows them for a year and the result for each is a bit of a surprise. A nice contemporary romance that has both serious and light moments.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham - Blog Tour and Giveaway

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham

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A young widow embraces a second chance at life when she reconnects with those who understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s The Military Wife.

Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.

Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.

In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.

In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?

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EXCERPT:

Present Day

Winters in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, were temperamental. The sunshine and a temperate southerly breeze that started a day could turn into biting, salt-tinged snow flurries by afternoon. But one thing Harper Lee Wilcox could count on was that winter along the Outer Banks was quiet. 

The bustle and hum and weekly rotation of tourists that marked the summer months settled into a winter melancholy that Harper enjoyed. Well, perhaps not enjoyed in the traditional sense . . . more like she enjoyed surrendering to the melancholy. In fact, her mother may have accused her of wallowing in it once or twice or a hundred times.

In the winter, she didn’t have to smile and pretend her life was great. Not that it was bad. Lots of people had it worse. Much worse. In fact, parts of her life were fabulous. Almost five, her son was happy and healthy and smart. Her mother’s strength and support were unwavering and had bolstered her through the worst time of her life. Her friends were amazing. 

That was the real issue. In the craziness of the summer season, she forgot to be sad. Her husband, Noah, had been gone five years; the same amount of time they’d been married. Soon the years separating them would outnumber the years they’d been together. The thought was sobering and only intensified the need to keep a sacred place in her heart waiting and empty. Her secret memorial. 

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REVIEW:

This is a very readable story about living through painful events that change how you look at life. Each of the characters face different challenges. Harper must move on from the death of her husband. Bennett Caldwell has to accept and share the death of his best friend. Others are dealing with the results of seeing action that is burned on their brains resulting in PTSD. As grim as all of this seems the story shows as way out. I loved how Harper took charge of her life and how some of that change helped other Military Wives find jobs that they loved while also making a big change in her own life. This is the start of a series and if this one is any indication the start of a very interesting series.

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LAURA TRENTHAMis an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She is a member of RWA, and has been a finalist multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.

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Buy-Book Links:  : https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250145536

I am More Than My Hair by Alyscia Cuningham - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

I Am More Than My Hair

by Alyscia Cunningham

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GENRE:   Women's Issues; Photography

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BLURB:

From the time we are young, girls are pressured into a set belief of beauty standards. Hair is certainly high on the list and is often labeled as our "crown and glory." Where does this notion fit for a girl with alopecia (the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness)? This new coffee table book should bring light to the issue.

I Am More Than My Hair: My Outward Appearance Does Not Define Me, is a two-part project, documentary film and coffee table book. The newly published book features 138 portraits of 46 women and the stories of their experience with hair loss, as well as women who cut their hair in solidarity of a loved one.

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EXCERPT

Amy, 39

Pull-Quote:

I look a little different, but I’m still me — I’m still Amy!

Story:

Never in a million years did I think I would have alopecia.

It started with a small bald spot on the back of my head and, four months later, I was completely bald. I had no choice but to wear wigs and try to go about my life like nothing was wrong. That is so much easier said than done!

I distanced myself from friends and family and avoided social situations at all costs. I did not want people to see me differently. I felt like a completely different person on the outside, and it started to make me feel different on the inside, too. I spent months feeling isolated and depressed, and it started to take a toll on me. 

I had an “Aha!” moment one day when I was sick of missing out on life because of my own excuses. I realized I am not my hair! There is so much more to me than my outward appearance.

Yes, I look a little different, but I’m still me—I’m still Amy! I feel like my diagnosis was God’s way of telling me to not be so concerned with what other people think of me and to just get out there and enjoy life! It has been a slow process, but now I don’t let being bald hold me back from doing anything. I go for that boat ride or swimming; I do not mind a windy day, and I get myself to the gym. I am still not comfortable going out in public without my wig, my hat collection has grown tremendously.

Losing my hair has taught me to be a stronger, more confident woman, and I know I can handle whatever curve ball life sends my way! I am more than my hair because my external appearance does not represent all I have to offer on the inside. “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” —Maya Angelou

Review:

I Am More Than My Hair is a very powerful book.  Each page features someone's story but the most powerful part are the photographs of each woman.  Hair is very important in our day and time.  All you have to do is watch the number of men who try to hide their bald head.  For women it is more difficult but as you look at the photos you see that as the title says, I Am More Than My Hair.  Each on is beautiful and powerful even with their hair.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Alyscia Cunningham is an entrepreneur, author, filmmaker and photographer who has contributed to the Smithsonian, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and AOL. In September 2013 Alyscia self-published Feminine Transitions, a photography book encompassed with portraits of raw feminine beauty. Her recently published photography book and upcoming documentary film, I Am More Than My Hair, features 138 portraits of 46 females and the stories of their experience with hair loss as well as females who cut their hair in solidarity of a loved one. Alyscia creates these, and future projects, with the consideration of art for social-change.


Alyscia specializes in promoting our natural beauty because she believes the media does a good job of focusing on our insecurities by bombarding us with ads proclaiming that their appearance without enhancements is inadequate or faulty. Her portraits are unaltered by Photoshop and reveal women as they are naturally, without the façade they put on for others.


Her work has been featured on Fox5 News, The Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, APlus, and Proud2BMe. To learn more about Alyscia and her work, visit Alyscia.com.


Alyscia also invites you to view her video introductions to Feminine Transitions, and I Am More Than My Hair.

I Am More Than My Hair book is now available on Amazonand at these retailers: 
Bluestockings Bookstore (New York, NY)
BookWoman (Austin, TX)
East City Bookshop (Washington, DC)
Politics and Prose (Washington, DC)
Sandy Spring Museum (Ashton, MD)
Vroman's Bookstores (Pasadena, CA)
Women's Museum of California (San Diego, CA)

Social media pages:

Twitter - @alyscia_c

Instagram - @Alyscia Cunningham

Facebook - @Alyscia Cunningham Images

and @I Am More Than My Hair.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Alyscia Cunningham will be awarding a limited edition 2019 calendar for "I Am More Than My Hair" (US only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 356 - Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder, A Cowboy's Choice by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This has an unusual concept. Remember the life-sized terracotta Warriors found in China. Well what if we find them when we go to space and what if they are on more than on planet. That is the main plot point in Navigating the Stars. Lyra Daniel has to follow her parents from planet to planet as they study the Warriors. Each time she leaves friends behind, not only in space but in time. I loved all of the different concepts in Navigating the Stars. The two young adults carried the story but they are backed up by a great cast of secondary characters. There is plenty of danger and tension in the story. Also some unexpected surprises as the plot unfolds. Great world building and back story as this sets up the Sentinels of the Galaxy series.


A Cowboy's Choice by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can go wrong when you decide to skip the dating and go right to spending a weekend together. Well seems like a lot. Brendan Sawyer has come home and one reason is Jo Fielding. Jo hates dating and thinks a weekend together will tell if they are compatible or not. Of course all kinds of things go wrong even as some go right. I liked the fact that this one featured older characters and that they find their HEA. This is a fun series the next book looks like even more fun as a relative comes over the pond to hide from his actions.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 355 - Abandoned by W. Michael Gear, Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport

Abandoned by W. Michael Gear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I reviewed Outpost I said it set everything up for the next book. Abandoned takes up where it left off and added some interesting plot elements. Donovan is just as dangerous as ever. It takes some of the main characters off on further adventures and adds other characters to the mix. One lesson that Donovan is teaching is that humans need to work together to survive. Of course some just do not get the message. I loved the action and how characters changed and grew as the story progressed. What did not change in Abandoned is the fact that plot set up everything up for the action in the next book. We got change in a story full of danger and tension. We got great characters. While we got a solution to some things we did not get a solution to the biggest problems on Donovan. That may come in the next book Pariah.


Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oichi is a very interesting character. She has many facets but the main one seem to be how easily she kills. Not that she does it for any but the best reasons. She is on a mission to change life on the generation ship. Turns out that ship is not all that it seems. The plot starts moving toward one goal with one set of characters then turns and turns again often with a new set of characters. The changes also change the world building while the back story drives the characters in different directions. This is book one in The Medusa Cycle and while it answered some question it creates others as the story progresses. It did leave a lot up in the air but there is help on the way. Book will be out soon.

Caitlin Davies does a great job giving the right emotion to all the different voices in the story.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 354 - Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong, Detonation Event by John Andrew Carr

Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rockton is still having trouble. Someone is not who they seem. Why does that cause trouble? Because it brings in someone trying to make an arrest and capture. That just cannot be allowed but the way it is stopped is not the best way to stop it. In fact that just brings more trouble. Casey Duncan and her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton are both such great characters and it is great fun following them as they try to unwind everything that is happening. There are some very interesting new characters that play a part in this story. I think the best is Casey's sister. It will be interesting to see how her story plays out in future books. This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Detonation Event by John Andrew Karr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the title suggests this starts out with a bang and one that arrives ahead of time. At its heart is the battle between those who want all efforts made on Earth and those who see space as part of the salvation of humans. I found a lot of this new and interesting. There are the changes to humans that most of us would not think are good changes. While the detonation event is part of the story there is also another event that has to be faced. As the story progresses the two events are woven together until they join near the end. This keeps all the main characters alive and kicking but leaves the big problems still to be solved. Stay tuned. The next book should be as wild a ride as Detonation Event.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Mostly Innocent by J.M.Jinks - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. J.M. Jinks will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Meet Layla James, your typical smart and snarky chick—except for the whole succubus thing. After nearly a millennium on Earth, Layla’s settled down in a boring life in Palm Springs, until a smoking-hot hunter comes to arrest her for murder. But Layla knows the rules—she'd never kill someone and incite the wrath of The Powers That Be.

Elijah Daines is a hunter, maintaining the balance of good and evil in the mortal realm, his power stronger than any hunter she’s ever encountered. Plus, he’s a seriously sexy distraction. Too bad he’s accused her of a crime she didn't commit.

As the killer continues a murder spree that not only frames Layla but threatens to expose the existence of supernatural creatures to humans, Layla and Elijah team up to investigate. Hopefully, they can fight off their escalating attraction for each other long enough to exonerate her and stop the murder madness.

Read an Excerpt

He edged nearer the counter. I, or maybe my succubus, decided on a whim I would not be intimidated by his power. I wasn’t sure where my sudden courage came from. He had to have sensed my succubus signature. We weren’t a violent race when we controlled our urges. I’m Queen of Control over here. I’m sure he knows I won’t hurt him. Right?

But why is he here? Something must be wrong.

With every step he took closer, I had a better look at him. His dark hair was in slight disarray and his crystal blue eyes scoured my face. He towered over me in every sense of the word. My stomach dipped.

He and Jolene should go back-to-back so I can get an accurate measure of his height.

I shook away my thoughts of him. Given his disapproving glare, he came here on a mission. Greek god or not, he was still a hunter, and I—

I was a product of evil, aka something he hunts.

“Succubus,” he growled. One little word filled with eons of unabashed hatred. It vibrated through me. All hopes of him wanting a new bathroom paint color vanished. No, this visit wouldn’t be pleasant, not at all.

Perhaps I could seduce him. Hell, he could do me right on the floor of aisle nine next to the light fixtures, if it kept him from killing me. I bit my lip. Hunters weren’t typically susceptible to succubi charms. A failed attempt of Aphrodisia could earn me more problems.

I released a breath. Some buried-deep, natural instinct rolled through me again, and I decided to stand my ground. I stood straighter and barked back, “Hunter.”

About the Author:

J.M. Jinks was born and raised in Southern California. She lives with her husband, two dogs, and two cats in her hometown. J has a Bachelor’s in French and a Master’s of Education. She is a teacher by day and a writer by night. J and her husband welcomed a baby boy in May 2018.

J has always had a love of reading that progressed into writing. Mostly Innocent is her first published manuscript.

J loves to connect with her readers. You can find her at:

Website/Blog: http://www.authorJMJinks.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorjmjinks Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjmjinks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jmjinks
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorjmjinks

https://www.amazon.com/Mostly-Innocent-Powers-That-Book-ebook/dp/B07JMCGNM6/ref=sr_1_1

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