New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for December 26th - January 1st #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


By adding your link, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy and transmitted to Inlinkz in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here

Come back and check out the new selection every week!

I Can't Wait for... The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW @EpicReads @sarahbethdurst #yalit #yabooks #thriller #newbooks #booktwitter


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I enjoyed a previous book by this author and this one definitely has a different feel. I don't do a lot of thrillers or spooky reads, but I do enjoy suspense and mystery and the combination of the premise and it being from this author sparked my interest. It's my pick this week...

The Lake House
By Sarah Beth Durst
YA Thriller, Suspense, Paranormal
Hardcover, Audiobook & eBook, 368 Pages
April 25, 2023 by HarperTeen

Summary

Yellowjackets meets One of Us Is Lying in this masterful survival thriller from award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst.

Claire’s grown up triple-checking locks. Counting her steps. Second-guessing every decision. It’s just how she’s wired—her worst-case scenarios never actually come true.

Until she arrives at an off-the-grid summer camp to find a blackened, burned husk instead of a lodge—and no survivors, except her and two other late arrivals: Reyva and Mariana.

When the three girls find a dead body in the woods, they realize none of this is an accident. Someone, something, is hunting them. Something that hides in the shadows.

Something that refuses to let them leave.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!


Merry, merry Christmas! It's my most favorite holiday and time of the year!! I hope you all are enjoying today, for those that celebrate! If you celebrate another religious holiday, I wish you a joy!

We always spend a portion of the day with our small little family and then with extended family and I'm looking forward to that again this year. We've had family in town that we've been spending some time with although my daughter and I were sick earlier in the week which complicated things. I'm very grateful that we're past that and also grateful for a Savior who we celebrate the birth of each year and hopefully each day.

Blessings to you all,

New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for December 19th - 25th #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


By adding your link, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy and transmitted to Inlinkz in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here

Come back and check out the new selection every week!

I Can't Wait for... Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #wyomingwild #historicalromance #cleanromance #properromance #booktwitter @ShadowMountn @ProperRomance


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I apologize for this being a day late! It's been nonstop this month, but especially since I got off work Friday because I have family here for Christmas and was sick for about two months while still working and finally got well and then caught a cold again this weekend along with my youngest who has been quite miserable. We're hoping to all be well by Saturday. 🤞

My pick this week is from a favorite author who writes fantastic historical romance. Check out her upcoming release...

Wyoming Wild
(Proper Romance Western)
By Sarah M. Eden
Historical Romance, Western
Paperback & eBook, 256 Pages
March 7, 2023 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

“Page-turning historical romance. Packed with memorable, complex characters, this thoroughly satisfying, G-rated romance will have readers on the edge of their seats." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

Hearts collide when a sheriff’s daughter asks a hardened US Marshal to join her fight for justice and rid a small town of her corrupt father.

Wyoming Territory, 1876

US Marshal John “Hawk” Hawking is one of the most respected lawmen in the West, so when a telegram arrives from the small town of Sand Creek warning him of a death threat against him, he immediately begins an investigation.

Posing as a farmer, Hawk heads to Sand Creek, a town ruled by a violent and corrupt sheriff. Only one person is trying to stop him―Liesl, the sheriff’s own daughter. When she meets the self-assured and attractive new farmer, John, she hopes he might help her in the fight for justice.

John is completely unfazed by Sheriff Hodges’s attempts at intimidation, and Liesl is quickly swept up by Hawk’s courage and integrity. Just as quickly, Hawk finds himself falling for Liesl’s strength and bravery, as well as her grace and beauty.

When Liesl discovers John’s true identity, she feels betrayed. Despite her lingering distrust of him, Liesl agrees to work with him to enact a dangerous plan that will put the criminals away forever. Liesl must put her life, and her heart, in the hands of his lawman if she has any hope of saving her family and her town.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?



A beautiful narrative... All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes (Review) @AJDykes @Bethany_House #AlltheLostPlaces #AmandaDykes #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #InspirationalFiction #NewBooks #BookTwitter #AustenprosePR


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new release and my review below...

All the Lost Places
By Amanda Dykes
Historical Fiction, Romance, Inspirational
Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 400 Pages
December 13, 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man's identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

Advance Praise

“This lyrical dual-narrative historical from Dykes (Set the Stars Alight) dives into the histories of Venice, Italy, and Venice Beach, California.”— Publisher’s Weekly
 
"Introspective, surprising, and achingly beautiful."— Booklist starred review
"Dykes's pen is fused with magic and poetry. Every word's a gentle wave building into the splendor that is All the Lost Places, where struggles for identity and a place to belong find hope between the pages of a timeless story."— J'Nell Ciesielski, bestselling author of The Socialite
 
"Luscious writing, authentic characters, and an ending that satisfies to the core of the spirit, this novel is another winner from Amanda Dykes."— Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of Freedom's Ring and Hope Beyond the Waves

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

ALL THE LOST PLACES is one of those stories that flows lyrically and takes you from historical San Francisco to Italy with a story(Daniel) within a story (Sebastien) within a story (The Book of Waters). Those who enjoy lyrical historicals about characters who are searching for their place and who they are in it will enjoy this beautifully written narrative.

This story reads almost like prose in places. The writing is beautifully done with details that immerse the reader in this historical world. Both characters are interesting and very introspective as is the way their stories weave together. There is also a touch of romance and inspiration. The story's main focus are these two men who are trying to find who they are and their place in the world.

This is very much a lyrical tale at a very slow pace. I think for me, it isn't necessarily my kind of book. I felt like it didn't really get moving until maybe a third of the way through the story and by then I was forcing myself to continue reading. It is a wonderful tale, but something that struggled to hold my interest. However, this is just my own preferences. The writing was quite excellent.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a truly beautiful story. It is a story that is slowly paced and definitely in the lyrical category, so I'd only recommend it to those who enjoy such stories and have the time to savor it.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Exclusive Interview with the Author

Read the interview here.

About the Author


Amanda Dykes's debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She's also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Award finalist.


Have you read any of this author's other books? Will you be reading this one?

New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for December 12th - 18th #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


By adding your link, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy and transmitted to Inlinkz in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here

Come back and check out the new selection every week!

Read an excerpt from this new fantasy... Portal Slayer: Beneath the Shadows by SL Dooley (Excerpt & #Giveaway) @justreadtours #newbooks #fantasy #books


Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours! Check out an excerpt and giveaway below...

Portal Slayer: Beneath the Shadows
(Realms of the Periferie #3)
By S.L. Dooley
Fantasy
Paperback & eBook, ? Pages
December 2, 2022 by Torn Parchment

Summary

Darkness comes in many forms.

Raelyn is about to encounter them all.


Hidden away in the Schade Catacombs, a single portal remains in Alnok. And, pushed to near defeat, Cosyn has unleashed all his forces, taking Earth to the brink of a world war. Raelyn, in the midst of her own debilitating doubt, finds a new ally. But when no one will follow, she strikes out on her own, determined to reach the catacombs and close the portal. Only then can she finally return home.

In the far north, her mentor and guide Kade, wounded and desperate, leads a band of soldiers, also on a path to the catacombs.

As an impenetrable darkness falls on the realm of Alnok and Earth’s annihilation seems inevitable, Raelyn finds nothing is what it seems. Her calling, her newfound skills, even her reason for being in Alnok are shrouded in uncertainty.

But she must uncover the light in the darkness of Alnok, and her own heart, to locate and destroy Cosyn’s last link to Earth. If she fails, she will have no home to return to.

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

Kade let out a long, slow breath. It was time to surrender what he could not control. To rest in this moment. He let go of his anxious thoughts, one by one, as though setting them adrift on the river.

Their fate in the catacombs . . .

Raelyn’s location and condition . . .

Ditimer’s betrayal . . .

The current carried each away, the water dispersing them until they were diluted and powerless.

A heat kindled in Kade’s chest. A stirring beneath the wound, deep in his heart, something in his bones. The heat flowed down his arms and to his hands. A light flickered in his palms. Pale, unnoticeable to anyone but him.

About the Author


S.L. Dooley is a fantasy author looking for a neverending story to go boldly through the wardrobe into another adventure. She's a wife and mother of two grown kids. She lives in Texas where she collects old books and new journals.

Connect with S.L. by visiting sldooley.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tour-Wide Giveaway


(1) winner will receive a copy of the Realms of the Periferie trilogy, tea, and a mug!

Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight December 12, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 19, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

What did you think of the excerpt? Will you be reading this one?

A pure pleasure to read for fantasy fans... Calor by J.J. Fischer (Review & #Giveaway) @enclavebooks @celebrate_lit #fantasy #books #booktwitter #newbooks #cleanreads


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out my review of this fabulous book and enter the giveaway below...

Calor
(The Nightingale Trilogy #1)
By J.J. Fischer
Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling
Hardcover, Audiobook & eBook, 320 Pages
December 6, 2022 by Enclave Publishing

Summary

What if you could edit memories with a single touch?

The world-that-was is gone, lost to everything except living memory . . . but remembering comes at a terrible price. Sixty-two years after the apocalypse, a new society has emerged from the ashes of the old world where highly valued memories are traded and nostalgia is worth dying—and even killing—for.

Enslaved by a cruel master, Sephone Winter is forced to use her rare ability to manipulate memories to numb the darkest secrets of the ruling aristocracy.

Then Lord Adamo appears, speaking of a powerful relic capable of permanently erasing memories and recovering Sephone’s own lost childhood. But not everything about the young lord is as it seems, and soon Sephone must choose between helping Lord Adamo forget his past or journeying deep into the land of Lethe, where the truth about who she really is might finally be revealed . . . and a long desired future restored.

The Nightingale Trilogy is a fantasy transformation of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved 1843 tale The Nightingale, with echoes of the myths of Hades and Persephone.

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

CALOR immerses the reader into a fully imagined world, with an intriguing social system that includes magical wielders, an entertaining plot and likable characters. Fantasy fans will love this first installment in the trilogy while wishing for the next. Highly recommended!

This is the second book I've read from this author and she creates these amazing worlds that fully immerse the reader. I appreciated that she didn't info dump, but instead wove information throughout the story in pieces until the reader had a full picture. The whole premise and this fantasy world were intriguing and immediately grabbed my interest. I love stories based on fairy tales and this was a unique retelling that the author definitely made her own. I also fell in love with the characters, particularly Sephone. There was a lot going on and I enjoyed it all. Can't wait for all that's yet to come in this series!

I did have a few things that I would have liked changed or developed more. One was the ease in which the characters' enemies seemed to get to them in a few places. Another was the all encompassing way Lord Adamo was stuck in his grief. Then there was that the story didn't really go anywhere... the characters didn't find more information and there wasn't a whole lot that changed from the beginning to the end besides getting to know the characters and the storybook world, as well as some excitement and great dialogue. I still very much enjoyed all of that. I'm just hoping there's a lot more development in book two.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a highly enjoyable read! Great storybook world, intriguing plot, and wonderful characters. A pure pleasure to read for fantasy fans. Definitely looking forward to book two!

Content: Violence, but not overly detailed, and innuendo. Would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author


J.J. Fischer’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals she painstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five, to rather limited acclaim. Jasmine began writing her first proper novel at age fourteen, which eventually became her debut fantasy series, The Darcentaria Duology, which was published in 2021. She is a clinically-trained psychologist but no, she cannot read your mind. When she isn’t killing defenseless house plants, Jasmine enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours north of Sydney, Australia.

More from J.J. Fischer

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you could selectively edit your memories with a single touch? What would you choose to erase, if anything? What memories would you spotlight?

What if you could transplant someone else’s memories into your own mind (and yours into someone else’s)? What would you choose to take? What would you choose to give away?

Influencing and transplanting memories is the gift of the female main character of Calor, Sephone Winter. Her gift was inspired by my own career as a clinically-trained psychologist, working with people who frequently have pasts they wish they could forget and who so often struggle to recall the good in their lives amongst all the bad. In neuropsychology we say that our minds stick like Velcro to the negative, but are like Teflon with the positive. And I think that’s very true—it’s hard to be grateful, joyful, positive, and gracious when we live in a fallen world where there’s so much sin, pain, and darkness.

Calor is a fantasy transformation of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved 1843 tale The Nightingale (with echoes of the myths of Hades and Persephone). If you’ve never read The Nightingale, it’s worth diving into and it’s not a long story—it’s the tale of a nightingale who sings beautifully for the Emperor of China and is admired by all, only to be replaced with a mechanical, bejeweled substitute. Later on, when the substitute breaks and the Emperor lies dying, the flesh-and-blood bird returns and sings so beautifully that Death decides to spare the Emperor, and his kingdom is restored. The Emperor realizes what a great treasure he has possessed.

Calor is set in a futuristic fantasy society where people trade in memories of the world-that-was (essentially, nostalgia) because they can no longer experience it for themselves. They’re either living in the past, craving the “glory days” and immersing themselves in various pleasures, or selectively numbing bad memories, erasing everything which would take them away from the here-and-now, but at the price of their own humanity and self-awareness. You can see the obvious links to Andersen’s The Nightingale—this is a world which has embraced the imitation at the cost of the real. And though this story is fictitious, Calor really holds a mirror up to us as a society because, increasingly, I think that’s what we’re doing in the West. Our pasts are deeply painful and the future is terrifyingly uncertain, so we inhabit the space between—a space devoted to the pursuit of pleasure.

As you read Calor, I want to challenge you to think of all the times in your life when you embrace the imitation or the simulation over the real. No, I’m not talking about using fresh turmeric instead of powdered turmeric in your cooking, or throwing away your camera and basking in the mountain scenery out from behind a lens, but you get the idea. How do you rely on the world to fulfill God-shaped needs and longings? Are you dwelling among echoes of the truth rather than seeking the truth itself? To where (or to whom) does your pain drive you, and how can you let it drive you into the arms of your Creator instead?

Whoever you are, wherever you are, it is my dearest hope that this story entertains you and blesses you and encourages you, and speaks to your soul in the same way that Andersen’s tale first spoke to me.

Cherish the Real,
Jasmine

Tour Schedule

Texas Book-aholic, December 15

Wishful Endings, December 16


Through the Fire Blogs, December 17 (Author Interview)




Blossoms and Blessings, December 21 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, December 21



Blogging With Carol, December 24

Rebecca Tews, December 25




Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, J.J. is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, a signed bookplate, and four character art cards commissioned especially for the book release!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.


Have you read this author's previous series? What do you think about this one?

Read an excerpt from this winter romance... The Last Cottage on Pinewood Lane by Melissa McClone (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #romancebooks #cleanromance #cleanreads #booktwitter #newbooks @justreadtours


Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours!
Read an excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

The Last Cottage on Pinewood Lane
(Hope Crossing #2)
By Melissa McClone
Contemporary Romance, Clean and Wholesome Romance
Paperback & eBook, ? Pages
December 14, 2022





PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads


Summary

She’s his Christmas miracle. Now all he has to do is convince her of that…

Figure skater Tasha Ramson used to love the holidays. But with her career on the skids, she needs a break from the festive season—and Berry Lake is the perfect place to take it. Organizing a Christmas fundraiser was not on her agenda. Neither was falling for the small town’s handsome lawyer. But…she did…

Elias Carpenter needs a break, too. Between the demands of his family firm and managing the ice show fundraiser, he’s at the end of his rope. Tasha showing up is the best thing that could’ve happened for him professionally and personally. Now, if only he could convince her to move him out of the friendzone…

When a pesky ghost from Tasha’s past arrives to wreck her present, will she hang onto Elias when it matters most? Or will she let her happily ever after skate away forever?

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

“Dog. Higgins. Stop.”

Pulse pounding, Elias raced out the door. His feet sank into the snow covering his front yard.

Higgins ran toward the end of Pinewood Lane. The blue leash dragged behind him like a malfunctioning kite tail.

The dog wouldn’t get far. Elias’s legs and strides would overtake the dog’s shorter legs soon.

His breath huffed. At least no cars. “Higgins!”

The dog didn’t slow but sped up.

So much for Higgins being smart and chill. The dog needed obedience lessons.

Or a new foster.

Elias picked up the pace, ignoring the stitch in his side and the burn in his thighs. He’d been away from the gym for too long if a brief run wore him out.

Higgins ran past the last cottage. He veered between the tall pine trees onto the path that led to the lake. For a dog who’d only arrived, he seemed to know where he wanted to go.

Please don’t go on the ice.

The lake remained frozen most of the winter, but Elias didn’t want Higgins out on the ice. It was solid enough near the edges for people to skate, but farther out wasn’t as thick.

“Higgins.” His voice hung on the wind.

Elias cleared the trees to a snow-covered area known as Pinewood Beach in the summer. Higgins sat facing the lake at the edge, where a short ridge of snow had built up. He walked slowly so as not to spook the dog.

Movement caught Elias’s attention. He glanced past Higgins to the lake and squinted.

Someone was on the ice.

He did a double take.

A figure skater, wearing black—except for her skates and a multicolor beanie—glided across the ice. Her graceful movements with outstretched arms and fast spins reminded him of the ice show his grandmother dragged him to when he was twelve. He’d gotten snacks, which made the two hours pass quicker, but he would have rather watched the Mariners or Seahawks. That was well before the Volcanoes, an expansion hockey team, arrived in Seattle.

No music played, yet she skated as if performing for a packed arena. She…captivated Elias.

The skater must have tucked her hair inside the beanie, and he wanted to know what color her hair was. Eyes, too, but he stood too far away.

And then he remembered…

Higgins!

The dog sat facing the skater.

Elias took a slow, careful step and then another. The dog didn’t flinch.

Only another two feet to go. Snow crunched under his left foot. He inhaled sharply.

Higgins bolted across the ice directly in the path of…

“Stop!” Elias yelled.

Neither the dog nor skater listened. The leash slid across the ice right in front of the skater, who skated with her chin up.

“Be careful!”

The scene played out in slow motion. Higgins froze. Her right skate hit the leash, and she stumbled. The skater tried to keep her balance by sticking her arms out, but her action didn’t stop gravity. She hit the ice with a thud.

Higgins jumped on top of her and licked her face.

The skater laughed. She reached into her jacket pocket. “Well, this is a first. Where did you come from, cutie?”

About the Author


USA TODAY bestselling, award winning author Melissa McClone writes heartwarming women’s fiction and sweet contemporary romance novels for Tule Publishing Group, Harlequin Books, and Cardinal Press. She has also optioned two screenplays. When she’s not writing relatable characters and sigh-worthy happy endings, she spends her time in the rainy Pacific Northwest reading from her Kindle’s ever-growing TBR, napping with her Norwegian Elkhound and two mini panthers, and decorating her Happy Planner. Melissa graduated from Stanford University with a mechanical engineering degree, but discovered she prefers writing happily ever afters to jet engine testing and analysis.

Connect with Melissa by visiting melissamcclone.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tour-Wide Giveaway


(1) winner will receive a Christmas Mystery Prize Pack including a $10 Amazon card, a $10 Starbucks card, and Christmas items!

Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight December 14, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 21, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Do you like to read books set during the holidays or winter during this time of year? What did you think of the excerpt?

I Can't Wait for... Worlds Collide by Traci Hunter Abramson (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) @covenant_comm #CWW #WOW #romancebooks #cleanromance #newbooks


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

It's so rare to read a series with characters who professionally skate on ice. I've enjoyed this series so far (reviews to come) and am looking forward to this next installment. It's my pick this week...

Worlds Collide
(Dreams Edge #3)
By Traci Hunter Abramson
Contemporary Romance, Clean and Wholesome Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & eBook
February 14, 2023 by Covenant Communications

Summary

"Abramson knocks it out of the park." - Readers' Favorite five-star review

Pairs figure skaters Tyler and Amaliya have achieved the ultimate victory: a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. But somehow, that victory holds less weight than what faces Tyler next: asking Amaliya’s overprotective father for permission to marry his daughter. When Robert senses a disconnect in Tyler’s and his daughter’s goals, he withholds his blessing, and the couple must determine if what lies ahead for each of them can truly align. As they consider their next steps together, they are unaware that their careers are in jeopardy. They have caught the attention of dangerous and powerful men―men who have vowed to never again allow the American pair to rise above the Soviet’s.

Amaliya’s mother, Katerina, is haunted by the decisions of her past and longs to be reunited with her brother, who is trapped behind the Iron Curtain. But her attempts to see him do not go unnoticed. The KGB does not let its people go easily, and now they know where to find Katerina, the defector. With danger closing in on Katerina and the competition heating up for Tyler and Amaliya, it seems that their dreams for the future may shatter.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

New Releases/#Free & Bargain Books for December 5th - 11th #freebook #booksale #booklinkup #booklinky


Here are the New Releases / Free & Bargain Books, hosted by
Sharon over at Beck Valley Books, for this week! Check it all out below...

Authors please feel free to add your own books.
Readers please free to add your own finds.
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!


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Come back and check out the new selection every week!

Read an excerpt from a favorite author... Meriden Park by Julie Daines (Excerpt & #Giveaway) @juliedaines @Covenant_Comm @justreadtours #meridenpark #booktwitter #historicalromance #regencyromance #cleanromance #cleanreads #newbooks


Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours! I've been a fan of this author for some time and am just waiting for my book to arrive in the mail to read this one, so look for a review in the future. In the meantime, read an excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

Meriden Park
By Julie Daines
Historical Romantic Suspense, Clean & Wholesome Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & eBook, 240 Pages
December 5, 2022 by Covenant Communications

Summary

Following her childhood rescue from the gutters of Calcutta, Mary Grace’s life has been an astonishing rags-to-riches tale. The Wellings raised the half-Indian orphan with all the love and care the childless couple possessed, allowing her to grow into a beautiful and refined woman. But upon Mr. Welling’s death, it is time for Mrs. Welling to take Mary home to England―home to Meriden Park.

Despite her genial nature, Mary is received with suspicion by the villagers. For his part, however, Mr. Robert Markham is intrigued by the curious new beauty in town. Determined to make her acquaintance, he offers Mary a bargain she can’t refuse: a hot cross bun for a kiss. That seemingly innocent exchange is the first of many encounters between Robert and Mary, whose friendship blossoms into love during long walks in the privacy of Sherwood Forest. But the shadows of the forest hide a sinister secret, one Mary fears Robert might be a part of. As the mystery of the recent string of murders creeps closer and closer, Robert and Mary are drawn into a dangerous game, and unless she can unearth the truth, the couple risks losing one another forever.

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

Mary lowered her eyes as she walked along the great hall filled with portraits of stern-looking men all frowning down upon her. Angrezi sahib—English gentlemen. She need not see their scowls to know she did not belong here. That she was an impostor was written clearly upon her face, upon the color of her skin.

Had they known the truth about her beginnings, they would understand that the source of her shame had nothing whatsoever to do with her skin. But still, they looked down on her, these Angrezi sahib, along with everyone else, not caring one whit about the person behind. This was why she’d lowered her eyes. It was easier to keep her head down and avoid the whole mess.

She was tired of it all. So very tired. Why should their opinions matter to her? They were not so high and mighty now. Their glorious lives reduced to nothing but brush strokes on canvas nailed to ancient walls. She paused at the top of the stairs and glanced back. None of the portraits had ceased their glowering looks. She lifted her eyes and gave each of those stodgy men her most defiant glare before turning to descend the grand stairs.

About the Author


Julie Daines is an award-winning and best-selling author. She was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.

She loves reading, writing, and watching movies—anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her vervain.

Connect with Julie by visiting juliedaines.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Schedule

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tour-Wide Giveaway


(1) winner will receive a signed copy of book, $25 Amazon gift card, bookmark, stickers, and button.

Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight December 5, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 12, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Are you a fan of this author or historical romantic suspense? What did you think of the excerpt?

I Can't Wait for... Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #BHPFiction #blackstonelegacy #newbooks #histfic #christfic #romancebooks @bethany_house


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I fell in love with this author after reading A Desperate Hope. She does a marvelous job in making historical facts and settings interesting while bringing to life her characters. Her upcoming book is the third in her current series, but can be read on its own. It's my pick this week...

Hearts of Steel
(The Blackstone Legacy #3)
By Elizabeth Camden
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & eBook, 336 Pages
January 17, 2023 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

His steel empire has catapulted him to the top of the world, but loving her could cost him everything.

Maggie Molinaro survived a hardscrabble childhood in the downtrodden streets of Manhattan to become a successful businesswoman. After a decade of sacrifice, she now owns a celebrated ice cream company. But when she offends a corrupt banker, she unwittingly sets off a series of calamities that threaten to destroy her life's work.

Liam Blackstone is a charismatic steel magnate committed to overhauling factory conditions for the steelworkers of America. Standing in his way is the same villain determined to ruin Maggie. What begins as a practical alliance to defeat a common enemy soon evolves into a romance between two wounded people determined to beat the odds.

A spiraling circle of treachery grows increasingly dangerous as Liam and Maggie risk their lives and fortunes for the good of the city. It will require all their wit and ingenuity to protect everything--and everyone--they hold dear.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?