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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ One Last Heist by Dahlia Donovan

5/30/2018

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One Last Heist
by Dahlia Donovan
Genre: M/M Romantic Suspense

One last heist.

It should’ve been easy. Crack a safe, steal from a villain, and go on vacation. The last thing Mack and Toshiro expect is to descend into a nightmare of betrayal.

Mack Ueda-Easton loves three things: his husband, heists, and his odd family of friends. He lives life on the edge. The only cloud on his horizon is the degenerative disease stealing his sight.

Toshiro Ueda-Easton tries to juggle his husband, his autistic sister, his interfering mother, and all of their heists. He knows they’re spiraling out of control and the journey they’re travelling can’t last.

What neither of them expect is to get catapulted straight into a dangerous conspiracy. They’re now in a race to come out on top. If they fail, the consequences are unimaginable.



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Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Website * Newsletter * Bookbub * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!

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Sleuthing Women ~ Patti Larsen

5/30/2018

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I am having so much fun discovering these amazing authors!  Join the fun in our FACEBOOK GROUP. 

​

I love a good murder mystery and Patti Larsen's first book in the Fiona Fleming Series is FREE! 
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WINNER of Chapter.Con London 2017 Best Female Protagonist!

DEAD MAN FLOATING!

Fiona Fleming is in so much trouble. Her recently inherited bed and breakfast might not actually be hers thanks to the underhanded misdealings of the local real estate bully. Despite her grandmother's last will and testament, Fee might be out of luck and on the street before she even gets settled. But when her new enemy floats belly up in her koi pond, she's the prime suspect in his murder!Can she uncover who the real killer is before the smoking hot new sheriff puts her behind bars instead of asking her out on a date?

Dive into book one of the Fiona Fleming Cozy Mysteries, and don't miss theexciting sequels!
FREE
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I'm a multiple award-winning writer with a passion for the voices in my head. With many (many!) titles across many (many!) genres, all in happy publication, there's no end in sight...

That being said, I'm short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my multiple cats, pug overlord and lady and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.


​What sort of research did you do to write this book?

The Fiona Fleming Cozy Mysteries unfold in a small town in Vermont named Reading. Not to be mistaken for the real Reading (pronounced Red-ing), it’s based on my childhood travels with my family to that part of the world, camping and exploring the mountains. As for the bed and breakfast my main character owns, that experience is taken from my oldest sister’s time running an inn and the hardships and often hilarious interactions she faced. And, Fiona’s adopted pug, Petunia, is an amalgam of my two bratty, funny and lovable fawns.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?
 wanted to write a mystery and literally asked the universe for an idea. Yes, that’s how my brain works. Trust me, you don’t want to be in here with me. It’s spooky.

What does a typical workday look like for you?
I like to sleep in because the pugs are so restless, so I’m usually up at 8am. If I’m riding that day, I’m off to the barn for a couple of hours to visit with my handsome Gyspy Vanner gelding, Fynn. If not, I’m answering emails, drinking copious amounts of coffee and getting caught up on things I didn’t get to the day before. Afternoons I typically get at least an hour of writing in, hopefully more. And evenings are for me!

What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
Go pick up book two ;)

If your novel were being made into a movie, whom would you pick to play the lead roles?
Fiona is a redhead, so I’d love to have Emma Stone. As for her love interest, I’m a massive Matt Bomer fan (who isn’t? He’s yumtastic).

What do you do in your free time when you aren’t writing?
I ride my horse, create whatever we’re into currently with my sister (my BFF), have long coffee dates with new writers and share what knowledge I’ve accumulated, and perform as a professional smarty pants in an all-female improv troupe.

Do you put yourself in your books/characters at all?
I do not. At least, I try hard not to. They aren’t about me. That’s actually my biggest concern, that I’m not doing the voices justice, that my skills are holding them back from telling the stories they want to tell. But so far, so good.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
Receiving thank yous from readers who tell me my books have gotten them through the hardest parts of their lives. We have a huge impact on those who choose our books to entertain them and take them away from their troubles. It’s powerful and I take that responsibility seriously.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?
I’ll always have a soft spot for Family Magic, book one of the Hayle Coven Novels, and the lead character, Sydlynn Hayle. She’s been with me for nine years now and though she’s been quiet lately, I know she’s not done with me.

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Cover Reveal ~ Living Out Loud Box Set by Denise Jaden

5/30/2018

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Title: Living Out Loud Box Set
Author: Denise Jaden
Genre: YA Contemporary (with romantic suspense elements)
Publication Date: June 22nd, 2018
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s Reviews & PR
Blurb:
RUNAWAYS. ROMANCE. ROAD TRIPS.
She’s guarded and angry at humanity. He’s a sensitive guitar player who is trying to escape his family drama. They don’t seem like they’d be suited for one another, but it turns out they may be the perfect match to get each other through their complicated obstacles, finding missing family members, and coming to self-acceptance. Opposites have never attracted this much.
Gritty, vulnerable, and rife with secrecy, The Living Out Loud Series is a new upper YA series for fans of Gayle Forman and Rainbow Rowell. If you enjoyed the misfit attraction of Eleanor & Park, you'll fall in love with Kass and Eli.
Grab the box set now to get the first four books in the series as well as two “Bonus Tracks.”
Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during NaNoWriMo 2007 and she loves talking with writers and students alike about her Just-Get-To-The-End fast-drafting process.
Jaden’s other young adult novels include Never Enough, Foreign Exchange, A Christmas Kerril,  and Avalanche. Her non-fiction books for writers include, Writing with a Heavy Heart, Fast Fiction, and Story Sparks. In her spare time, she homeschools her son, acts with the Vancouver film industry, and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. Find out more at denisejaden.com.
Author Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Ge6uID
Twitter: https://twitter.com/denisejaden
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisejadenauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2919206.Denise_Jaden
Website: https://www.denisejaden.com/
Buy Links:
Living Out Loud (Pre-Order): https://amzn.to/2LwSiul
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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ Preparing For My First Cockatiel by Laurel A. Rockefeller

5/29/2018

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Preparing For My First Cockatiel
by Laurel A. Rockefeller
Genre: Pets, How-To

Preparing for My First Cockatiel is a beginner's guide book for you and your children to help you know what it takes to get ready for bringing home your very first cockatiel. 

Unlike most books about cockatiels out there, this one doesn't try to cover everything, but stays focused on what you need to be ready for your new life with your bird.

Full of personal stories and photos, you will get to know what life with cockatiels is like from my many years living with and loving them. A fun book for anyone who loves animals!

Topics covered include: 
-- Cockatiels as cockatoos
-- Primary cages
-- Travel/hospital cages (including cages for domestic & international air travel)
-- Play spaces
-- Food
-- Toys
-- Perches
-- Food dishes
-- Communicating with a new or shy cockatiel
-- Preventing psittacosis (the main disease that transmits between humans and birds)
-- Games to play with your new bird



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Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller is author of over twenty books published and self-published since August, 2012 and in languages ranging from Welsh to Spanish to Chinese and everything in between. A dedicated scholar and biographical historian, Ms. Rockefeller is passionate about education and improving history literacy worldwide. 

With her lyrical writing style, Laurel's books are as beautiful to read as they are informative.

In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels, attending living history activities, travelling to historic places in both the United States and United Kingdom, and watching classic motion pictures and classic television series.


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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ Out of Reach by Kendall Talbot

5/29/2018

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Out of Reach
Maximum Exposure Book 1
by Kendall Talbot
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Adventure

In a place where a city can be lost hundreds of years . . . they can still find each other.
 
Lily saw the temple of Agulinta on television: a vast stone structure swallowed by the Yucatan jungle, rediscovered only now after hundreds of years. So why did the papers she found after her father’s death show the same mysterious carvings that puzzled archaeologists at Agulinta? Her search for answers pulls her to Mexico’s southern border, where the journey to the lost temple will take her through jungle and mountain, over waters home to crocodiles and drug runners, and into uncomfortably close quarters with a man whose need to wander has become a way of life . . .
 
Australian Carter Logan’s work as a nature photographer has given him the excuse he needs to roam wherever his restless feet take him. But in all the time he’s traveled, he’s never been drawn to anyone the way he is to this determined, cagey young American. Lily’s perseverance through dirt, sweat, and danger to the heart of the ancient temple fires through him. But when the two of them are left alone and stranded in a vicious wilderness, their connection might prove the difference between life and death . . . if the secrets of the past don’t come between them first.


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Kendall Talbot is the author of the Maximum Exposure series, and many other action/adventure stories. A thrill seeker, hopeless romantic, and award-winning author of stories that’ll have your heart thumping from action-packed suspense and steamy bedroom scenes, she lives in Brisbane, Australia with her very own hero and a fluffy little dog who specializes in hijacking her writing time. Meanwhile, Kendall’s two sons are off making their own adventures—look out world

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Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!

Jaguar Sculpture (http://amzn.to/2FErPHO)

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Sleuthing Women ~ S.E. Babin

5/29/2018

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I am having so much fun discovering these amazing authors!  Join the fun in our FACEBOOK GROUP.  Today's spotlight is on S.E. Babin. 

USA Today Bestselling author S.E. Babin has a passion for writing books with a paranormal twist. Whether it's romance or mystery, she loves taking the norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel. Beginning with discarded pages of angsty novels and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf's Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool. Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEBabin or over on Twitter @hungrybiblio. She loves to hear from readers! 

Sign up for the newsletter to hear about her newest releases at sebabin.com.
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  1. What is your favorite childhood book? Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.
  2. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Sitting down and writing.
  3. How long on average does it take you to write a book? Depends. I’ve written one in as short as ten days, but it’s taken me as long as six months.
  4. Who are some of your favorite authors? Sarah J. Maas, Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, too many to name.
  5. Who are some authors in your genre that inspire you? I love Bailey Cates and Heather Blake.
  6. What are some great books you’ve read recently? I love the Throne of Glass series. I’m re-reading them.
  7. What types of books do you enjoy in your downtime? I love fantasy, urban fantasy, chick-lit, cozies. ALL THE BOOKS. Besides non-fiction. I like to escape from the real word.
  8. What sort of research did you do to write this book? If I’m writing a book about a job, I tend to research the heck out of it to make sure I sound authentic. Other than that, I usually take a lot of liberties.
  9. How did you come up with the idea for your book? Most ideas I come up with in the shower. It’s the only quiet part of my day, usually.
  10. What does a typical workday look like for you? Coffee, repeatedly reminding the kids to brush their teeth, getting them out of the house, more coffee, updating social media, writing, somehow remembering to shower, dinner, again reminding the kids to brush their teeth.
  11. What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book? The fact that they were able to set aside a few hours of their regular day and laugh. 

​The Nerdy Necromancer (The Deadicated Matchmaker Book 1) 

I love the concept of this story.  Sounds very original and i cant wait to check it out!
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​Helen Reaper has a weird relationship with the dead. As in she can bring anyone or anything back to life, so she’s constantly bombarded by people begging her to restore their loved ones, their pet fish, that cute girl who fell off a building while taking a selfie. Super. Annoying. So Helen becomes a necessary introvert and a homebody, choosing to absorb herself in books instead of real life.

The Deadication Dating Agency, the mysterious matchmaking service in her town of Midnight Cove, comes to her in the form of a mysterious letter and a cute little puppy.

They know someone who’s already dead who won’t mind her talent one little bit.

Can a woman who raises the dead find a love that stays alive?
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Release Blitz ~ Kenzie and the Guy Next Door by R. Linda

5/29/2018

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Title: Kenzie and the Guy Next Door
Author: R. Linda
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Editor: Lori Whitwam
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Publication Date: May 29th, 2018
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb:
The last thing I expected was my ex-boyfriend showing up unannounced, demanding to see our son. The son whose existence he’d previously never bothered to acknowledge, leaving me a single mother at sixteen years old.
As if I’m not freaked out enough, I also have to deal with a loud, annoying new neighbour on top of it all.
Imagine my surprise when I discover my neighbour is none other than Jeremy, my best friend’s dangerously hot brother, who was recently released from prison.
I’m sure he’s a complication I definitely don’t need. But then he inserts himself effortlessly into my life, becoming my hero, my saviour, and someone my son can look up to, and I realize how much I actually need him.
But my ex isn’t backing off, making me wonder what he’s capable of—and how far Jeremy will go to keep us safe.
R. Linda drinks wine and writes books.
A coffee addicted, tattoo enthusiastic fangirl with a slight obsession for a particular British boy band and solo artist, she is a writer of Contemporary YA/NA Romance and Suspense, sometimes dabbling in Paranormal as well.
Renee lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two sons. When not writing she can often be found reading books to her children and cuddling up with them on the couch to watch their favourite movies.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.rlindanovels.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlindanovels/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/340494186367286/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlindaauthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rlindawrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abookishdelight
Buy Links:
Bailey and the Bad Boy: http://amzn.to/2y8hvUx
Indie and the Brother’s Best Friend: http://amzn.to/2CCpHBZ
Harper and the One-Night Stand: https://amzn.to/2GN8p3U
Kenzie and the Guy Next Door: https://amzn.to/2IAeRMN
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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ Magick Run Amok by Sharon Pape

5/28/2018

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Magick Run Amok
An Abracadabra Mystery Book 3
by Sharon Pape
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
The answer to whodunit may lie beyond the veil . . .
 
November in upstate New York can be chilly, but Kailyn Wilde’s shop, Abracadabra, is a cozy respite where you can find lotions, potions, and plenty of warm, feline company. But what customers don’t know is that the proprietor has some unusual powers—and unusual friends, including the renowned magician Merlin, who’s been transported into the modern world. All of which comes in handy when there’s a murder to be solved . . .
 
Investigative journalist Ryan Cutler has perished in a car accident in New Camel, and his friend, Travis, suspects foul play—especially when the reporter’s notes reveal a mysterious list of dead men’s names. Kailyn wants to help, but she’s also got her hands full with the curmudgeonly Merlin, who’s not exactly maintaining a low profile. Between keeping the wizard under wraps and mixing up cold remedies that work like magic, she’ll have to tap into her many talents to figure out a killer’s fatal formula . . .
 
“A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters. A fun and entertaining page turner.”—Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author


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That Olde White Magick
An Abracadabra Mystery Book 2

It’s time to work her crime-solving magic again . . .

Kailyn Wilde enjoys running her shop, Abracadabra, in the quaint New York hamlet of New Camel, where she lives with her six cats. Her family’s been here for centuries, and she’d like to keep up the tradition. But the place may never be the same if a big hotel gets built, so she does her civic duty and attends a town meeting along with her aunt Tilly . . . and Merlin. Yes, that Merlin—though he gets introduced to folks as her “distant English cousin.” The wizard is pretty grumpy about being transported here, but there are things about the modern world he doesn’t mind—like pizza.

Kailyn was prepared for a heated debate about the hotel, but she wasn’t expecting murder. When Tilly finds the body of a board member outside the schoolhouse, Kailyn doesn’t want any suspicion cast on the wrong person. She plans to crack this case, even if she has to talk to every living soul in town—plus a few departed ones . . .

“Pape has a sure handed balance of humor and action.” —Julie Hyzy, New York Timesbestselling author


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Magick & Mayhem
An Abracadabra Mystery Book 1

What’s in a murderer’s bag of tricks?

Twenty-something Kailyn Wilde has learned to embrace her unpredictable life as a descendant of small-town New Camel’s most magickal family. She just didn’t expect to inherit her mother and grandmother’s centuries-old shop, Abracadabra, so suddenly. The surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband . . .

As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s closing in on a killer—who will do anything to make sure she never tests her supernatural skills again!


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Sharon Pape is the author of the popular Portrait of Crime and Crystal Shop mystery series. She started writing stories in first grade and never looked back. She studied French and Spanish literature in college and went on to teach both languages on the secondary level. After being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 1992, Sharon became a Reach to Recovery peer support volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She went on to become the coordinator of the program on Long Island. She and her surgeon created a non profit organization called Lean On Me to provide peer support and information to newly diagnosed women and men. After turning her attention back to writing, she has shared her storytelling skills with thousands of fans. She lives with her husband on Long Island, New York, near her grown children. She loves reading, writing, and providing day care for her grand-dogs.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!

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Sleuthing Women ~ Ava Mallory

5/28/2018

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I am looking forward to diving into this series.  It looks FUN!
(This is not all the books in the series.)

Misbehaving (A Missy Rae Mystery Book 1)

Missy Rae is a typical small town girl in every way – if you ask her absent-minded grandmother. Ask Missy and you’ll get another story altogether.

Lucky for everyone in Poppy County, no one has asked until a mystery man arrives in town with a story bigger than Granny Lola’s wild imagination and the know-how to stir up trouble for the Rae family.

With long-held secrets to keep, a grandmother who may or may not be alive and a penchant for chaos, Missy must forge a plan to stop the handsome stranger before he lets the proverbial cat out of the bag and unleashes a world of trouble on the unsuspecting town and its inhabitants.

Find out what happens when a reluctant witch, a meddling witch hunter, and a ghostly grandmother fight for what’s right only to discover that sometimes it takes a whole lot of wrong to make things right again. ​

Meet Ava Mallory

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AVA MALLORY has been a grade school teacher, a psychiatric technician, a dementia unit nurse manager, and a Hospice nurse. She has embarrassed herself in front of handsome celebrities, won vocal contests much to the chagrin of her children, survived a major earthquake, and nearly drowned when she mistakenly thought a YMCA lifeguard asked her to dive into the deep end on her first day of swim lessons. She and her eternally annoyed children share their home with a massive collection of books and a never-ending supply of new book ideas.

AVA is best known for what she calls her Mysteries with Heart. She loves a great madcap adventure with lovable, yet ornery and sometimes precocious characters, who play hard, laugh often, never mind their own business, bicker, squabble, and tease relentlessly, but never forget that deep down they fiercely love each other, even if they can't bring themselves to admit it.


If you'd like to sign up for Ava's email newsletter and be the first to learn about new releases, sales, exclusive newsletter reads, and other fun things, copy and paste this link into your browser and sign up here: http://eepurl.com/dsjcvz

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/ava.mallory.9​

Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Yes, absolutely. At the risk of sounding dramatic, writing saved me after tragedy struck.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
For me, the most difficult thing is trying not to make my male characters jerks. That probably says a lot about my life, but the reality is I didn’t have many positive male role models in my life. Specifically, I had one and he lived almost a thousand miles away from my family. I’m cognizant of the disconnect, so I make extra effort and utilize a couple of male beta readers to make sure I’ve not made them harsh, unless the character/story calls for it like in my thrillers.

How many hours a day do you write?
4 – 5 hours per day. I write in short 15 – 20-minute sprints while my kids are in school. On weekends, I wake up early to get my words in before my mom duties begin.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
When it’s going well, I’m energized. When it’s not, I’m exhausted and ready to pull my hair out.

What was your hardest scene to write?
The hardest scene was in the first book I ever wrote. It’s a dark psychological thriller. I had to write about the pain of losing a child. At the time, I’d just lost my brother in Iraq. It was the most difficult thing to write because my emotions were still very raw. I worried that I’d taken it too far. Thankfully, my readers appreciated the authenticity of that gut-wrenching scene and the aftermath.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ An Unexpected Kind by Angela K. Parker

5/28/2018

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Title: An Unexpected Kind
Author: Angela K. Parker
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Tracie at Dark Water Covers
Publication Date: June 11th, 2018
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb:
Bradley
I used to think that love was for the weak.
It was not something that would ever tie me down.
Until I learned the truth behind my resistance.
When I let down my guard, I wasn’t expecting to find love.
Samantha’s voice called for my attention before I ever met her.
Now my heart is in need. My heart wants her.
And I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Samantha
All I ever wanted was to be loved.
Until love crushed my heart into a million pieces.
I built a wall tough enough that no one could ever get that close again.
But Bradley isn’t just anyone. I’m not prepared for all that he is.
He’s searching for something that I don’t think I can give.
The more I try to deny him the harder it becomes.
He’s going to tear my wall down. And I’m torn because…
I wasn’t looking for love.
Love found me.
Angela K. Parker is a country girl with a big heart.  She grew up in Greeleyville, SC where she graduated from C.E. Murray High School.  She received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Finance from Limestone College in Gaffney, SC.  Her passions include reading, writing, music and she loves spending time with her family.  When she’s not engaged in any of the above, she’s knitting or catching up on the latest movies.  She’s always had a very active imagination.  Now she’s putting it to good use.
Author Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2J7h8lS
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/JzwbFh
FB: https://www.facebook.com/angelaparkerauthor
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkersangels
Website: http://www.angelakparker.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cI3h6H
Twitter: @akpauthor
Instagram: @angelaparkerauthor
Pinterest: @angelaparkerauthor
Email: angelaparkerauthor@gmail.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-k-parker
Pre-Order Links:
Universal: https://www.books2read.com/u/brGGDM
I had a plan for my life; a well thought out plan that didn’t include love until I reached the age of twenty-nine.  According to my timeline, after I finished high school, it would take me eight years to get through undergrad and grad school.  I would use the last year to get established and prepare for whatever comes after.
All of my life, I’ve wanted to be a mathematician.  Something about numbers had always excited me.  Most of my peers are surprised to learn that about me but they respect me for who I am.
I had plenty of friends, went to parties and did normal things kids my age did.  I had also spent a great amount of time with my face shoved between the pages of books.  I didn’t have a bad life, but I had watched my parents struggle to get where they are.  I wanted to do better, be better and they wanted that for me too.
My parents, Clifford and Laura, are not the perfect couple.  I had witnessed countless arguments and disagreements throughout the years.  One memory stands out like a sore thumb; a memory that changed my way of thinking and influenced the course of my life.  I was young, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.
I was fourteen at that time.  My mom was a cashier at a local grocery store.  At the time mom’s car was in the shop for repairs.  Dad was the driver for all of us.  Dad and I had gone to pick her up from work that evening.  When we got there, mom was standing outside talking to some man.  The man’s hand was gently placed on her shoulder and he looked at her with such admiration.  Her smile was bright and she looked genuinely happy.
At home mom was always busy.  She rarely took a moment for herself and her smiles weren’t plenty.  That day when we picked her up from work, my heart was full.  It had been a while since I’d seen that smile.  It wasn’t until years later, when I saw that smile again.
            When we got home that evening, mom and dad barely spoke.  I could sense that something was off.  My dad was a casual drinker but that night at dinner he drank too much.
Mom had put us kids to bed, but I was curious.  I couldn’t sleep, especially when I heard the raised voices.  I don’t know what they were arguing about, but I recognized the words spoken that shouldn’t have been said.
I heard the front door slam shut when my dad stormed out.
I witnessed the tears that my mom shed as I exited my room to comfort her.
My dad was not a drunk, but that night he drank too much.
He left that night and stayed away for weeks.  My mom was a wreck and I didn’t understand how my dad could hurt her like that.  My child mind hated him for it.  I wasn’t supposed to be the one to make her happy, but I tried.  I shouldn’t have had to pick up his slack because he left, but I did.
When he came back weeks later, they acted as if none of it ever happened.  That simple act made me pull away from my dad, as well as my mom.  I was angry with him for leaving and thinking he could just come back without an explanation.  I couldn’t understand how she could let him back in after all of the pain he had caused.  How could she forgive so easily?
I vowed that day to never be like my parents.
Drinking caused pain.  Alcohol would never touch my lips.
Love hurts and makes you do stupid things.  My heart would never fully belong to another person.
My parents were weak and I wouldn’t make the same mistake.  When I was ready to love, it would be on my terms and half of my heart would always belong to me; because surrendering to love is weakness.
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