Book Blitz – Cole For Christmas (with giveaway)

Meddling relatives, mistletoe, and holiday romance? It’s the whole package wrapped with a big shiny bow! Read on for more details about Cole for Christmas by Janet Raye Stevens! There’s also a $20 Amazon gift card to win!

Cole for Christmas

Publication Date: October 26th, 2021

Genre: Holiday Romance

They can‘t say no to the mistletoe!

Easy going event coordinator Katy Wilkins is called in to sub for her perfectionist sister at a Christmas Eve wedding in Portland, Maine. Nice guy chef Cole St. Onge takes over from his temperamental boss for the same event.

The problem? Each thinks the other is their prickly counterpart and anticipate fireworks when they meet. But it’s the sparks that fly between them that’s unexpected—and unwelcome. Katy’s skittish after a bad breakup; left at the altar, Cole’s sworn off women for good. They both vow to do their job and stay out of each other’s way.

That plan goes awry as troubles mount. A sudden nor’easter blows in, forcing guests to stay home. Mix in a stressed-out bride, an accident-prone groom, a power outage, Katy’s deejay ex making trouble, a matchmaking grandma, and lots and lots of mistletoe, and what’s supposed to be a magical holiday affair fast becomes a Christmas disaster.

Forced to team up to put out the many fires, the blaze between Cole and Katy burns brighter as the evening wears on. Can they ignore their growing attraction and keep their relationship strictly professional? Or will they give in to the mistletoe and say I do to a Christmas kiss that promises more to come in the new year?

If you love a sweet and funny Christmas romance with a dash of mistaken identity, then this delicious holiday treat is for you!

Add to Goodreads

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Janet Raye Stevens grew up surrounded by, buried under, and tripping over books. Her mother defined the term voracious reader, and Janet eagerly followed in her footsteps, haunting every book store, bookmobile and public library within a 50 mile radius.

At the age of 10, Janet decided she wanted to do what the authors of the books she loved did –write. Her first story was for a class assignment, “The Day My Teacher Wore a Miniskirt to School.” She got a C minus. She also got a lot of laughs, and that was all the encouragement she needed to keep writing.

Janet lives with her family in New England, where she indulges in her hobbies of drinking copious amounts of tea, rearranging the kitchen cabinets so her husband can’t find anything, and creating fictional worlds populated with cool chicks and hot guys.

Janet Raye Stevens | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Click the link below for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Giveaway closes December 6th!

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Book Blitz Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – Clueless in Croatia

Clueless in Croatia

D.I. Fierce always gets his man, but can he get his woman?

Actor Leonard Lupine is sick of his life, both on and off-screen, so when his agent suggests a luxury villa holiday in Croatia he leaps at the opportunity to escape. What he doesn’t realise is that his greatest mystery of all is waiting to be solved on the tiny island of Brač.

Does he have what it takes to follow the clues to love? ♥

Purchase Links

Amazon.com – https://www.amazon.com/Clueless-Croatia-feel-good-romantic-Retreats-ebook/dp/B08X1QC7B7

Amazon.co.uk – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clueless-Croatia-Joy-Skye/dp/B08X6DRPLC

Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/clueless-in-croatia/id1554657700

Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clueless-in-croatia-joy-skye/1138863706

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/gr/en/ebook/clueless-in-croatia

Universal Link – https://books2read.com/Clueless-in-Croatia

Author Bio

Joy lives on the seductive island of Corfu with her four dogs and an embarrassing number of cats.

Her many years working in the tourist industry on this sunny isle and her love of all things literary inspired her first novel Corfu Capers which recently hit the #1 spot in Parenting and Family humour much to her delight.

She loves to cook, dance and drink wine, usually at the same time, and is currently working on book number three, due to be released later this year.

She also loves to travel, absolutely anywhere, and is looking forward to jumping on a plane!

Social Media Links

Website – https://joyskye.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JoySkye4

FB – https://www.facebook.com/JoySkyeAuthor

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/joys.kye/

My Review

I’ve never been to Croatia, but after reading this it’s definitely on my list, and the sooner, the better. The author paints a wonderful picture of the island of Brac, showing how community-minded and family-oriented the people are. Sounds like the perfect place for a fabulous holiday.

As a successful TV actor with a gruff personality that he has been encouraged to adopt off screen as well as on, Leonard has become disenchanted by the industry and the demands it makes on his life. He never gets to see his two sons, his ex-wife being a major obstacle to that also. When the chance crops up of a week away from it all with his boys, he can’t wait to get away from it all and cast off the shackles of DI Fierce. It’s time to be a dad again, and his sons are so looking forward to it as well.

Isabella manages the villa where Leonard and his boys will be staying, and goes to great lengths to make sure everything is perfect for them. She has no idea who Leonard / DI Fierce is, but a quick google search shows her that the man might be best left to his own devices once she has done her job, especially since she has her own son to look after.

Of course, as romantic tropes go, they don’t hit it off immediately. Isy almost begrudges having to rescue Leonard from a few scrapes because he simply has ignored her advice, but for the sake of his adorable boys she is always on hand to put things right. Things can only get better, right?

Until they get dramatically worse and the romance that could have been looks like an impossible dream.

For me, Leonard’s two sons are the stars of this story. They’d love to spend more time with their dad; their mum is too caught up in her own life to really bother about them. When they meet Isy and her son, they see a chance for their dad to be happy again … and the little minxes go all out to encourage a romance for the adults. and who can blame them?

Well, the paparazzi for one, who can’t resist snapping photos of Leonard with Isy and splashing the news all across the papers and internet.

Is there a way back for them or will the holiday in Croatia forever be just a happy memory?

Clueless in Croatia makes for the perfect summer read, a stunning location with charming traditions, fabulous characters (the taxi driver is a star in the making), appetizing food, and the ups and downs of an unexpected romance.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book.

For more news and reviews

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – As Luck Would Have It

As Luck Would Have It

Natalie Jackson might keep up appearances on Instagram, but in reality her fiancé has just jilted her after the birth of their baby and she’s moved back in with her mum. Life isn’t exactly going to plan!

So when she enters the village raffle for the holiday of a lifetime, she thinks she has no chance of winning. But her name is pulled out – and, as luck would have it, so is a ticket bought by her childhood nemesis: Will Brimble.

Surely a romantic holiday for two is the worst idea ever…right?

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KNGS5LJ/

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/as-luck-would-have-it-19

https://books.apple.com/mt/book/as-luck-would-have-it/id1443254035

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/As_Luck_Would_Have_It.html?

Author Bio 

Zoe May is an author of romantic comedies. Zoe has dreamt of being a novelist since she was a teenager. She worked in journalism and copywriting in London before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match. Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless amounts of weird and wonderful material!

Perfect Match was one of Apple’s top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as ‘a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery – fresh and very funny’.

As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading! She adores animals and if she’s not taking a photo of a vegan meal, she’s probably tweeting about the dairy industry. She is half Greek and half Irish and can make a mean baklava. Zoe has a thing for horror films, India, swimming, hip hop and Radiohead. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of handbags having spent several years working in fashion copywriting and could probably win Mastermind if this was her specialist subject!

Zoe loves to hear from readers, you can contact her on Twitter and Instagram at: @zoe_writes. Zoe’s Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/

She posts updates and blogs on her website, http://www.zoemayauthor.co.uk

Social Media Links 

https://www.twitter.com/zoe_writes

https://www.instagram.com/zoe_writes

https://www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/

My Review

Having recently read and enjoyed Flying Solo by Zoe May, I was delighted to get another fix of witty romantic comedy so soon after. The author writes great feel-good mood enhancers; you can’t fail to be drawn into the crazy worlds she creates, and you’re always guaranteed a fun time.

Living back with her mum after her fiancé jilted her, single mother Natalie is adapting to being back in her home town. Juggling motherhood and running a business, she’s taking things one day at a time. Until she wins a holiday in the local village raffle … well, she wins one half of a holiday for two in Morocco, the other half going to Will, the boy who broke her heart as a teenager.

Given they both could do with a holiday, they decide to “share” the prize, assuming they can enjoy the break without being in each other’s pocket.

Ah, assumptions and all that “best laid plans” malarkey … it’s denial wrapped in candy floss with a cherry on top!

First comes an upgrade on the plane, seeing as they’re on their honeymoon …say, what?!

Then the honeymoon suite awaits them at the hotel …and the maid notices someone has been sleeping on the couch! They agree to make it look like they are really a newly-married couple, not wanting to disappoint their fabulous hosts. Faking wedding photos, buying a cheap ring that does the inevitable “turn your finger green” thing.

Trouble is, all of this pretending suddenly starts to feel like fun, and the two of them actually get on better than they ever expected. Both characters have a backstory littered with emotional issues; they are not the teenagers they once were, but rather adults with complicated lives and real-life problems. Yet, together they gel. Maybe time was all that was needed to make them the perfect match.

A rom-com with all the ingredients you need, a beautiful setting, and plenty of laughs. Sharp, punchy dialogue and crazy mishaps with this likeable duo make this a fun, easy read that you won’t want to finish.

I’m so looking forward to more by this author.

For more news and reviews,

As always,

Cover Reveal – The Road to Cromer Pier

If you’ve ever been to a British seaside resort, you’ll be familiar with the ‘end of the pier’ shows. So, this story based at Cromer Pier will be right up your street.

The book is to be released on June 9th, but in the meantime why not take a look at the amazing cover:

Doesn’t it bring back those memories of being a kid on holiday with your parents?

Will it be the arcades next? Or maybe an ice cream? How about some fish and chips? But, beware those pesky seagulls … and then a fun-packed show for all the family at the end of the pier?

Okay, I digress, here’s a summary of the book, complete with links and some info about the author.

Enjoy!

The Road to Cromer Pier

Janet’s first love arrives out of the blue after forty years. Those were simpler times for them both. Sunny childhood beach holidays, fish and chips and big copper pennies clunking into one armed bandits.

The Wells family has run the Cromer Pier Summertime Special Show for generations. But it’s now 2009 and the recession is biting hard. Owner Janet Wells and daughter Karen are facing an uncertain future. The show must go on, and Janet gambles on a fading talent show star. But both the star and the other cast members have their demons. This is a story of love, loyalty and luvvies. The road to Cromer Pier might be the end of their careers, or it might just be a new beginning.

Pre-order Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07R9XP3QM/

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R9XP3QM/

Author Bio

I am a 61 year old Accountant who semi-retired to explore my love of creative writing. In my career I held Board level jobs for over twenty five years, in private, public and third sector organisations. I was born in Coventry, a city then dominated by the car industry and high volume manufacturing. Jaguar, Triumph, Talbot, Rolls Royce, Courtaulds, Massey Ferguson were the major employers, to name but a few.

When I was nine years old I told my long suffering mother that as I liked English composition and drama I was going to be a Playwright. She told me that I should work hard at school and get a proper job. She was right of course.

I started as an Office Junior at Jaguar in 1973 at eleven pounds sixty four a week. I thus grew up in the strike torn, class divided seventies. My first career ended in 2015, when I semi retired as Director of Corporate services at Humberside Probation. My second career, as a Non Executive Director, is great as it has allowed me free time to travel and indulge my passion for writing, both in novels and for theatre.

The opportunity to rekindle my interest in writing came in 2009, when I wrote my first pantomime, Cinderella, for my home group, the Walkington Pantomime Players. I have now written eight. I love theatre, particularly musical theatre, and completed the Hull Truck Theatre Playwrite course in 2010. My first play, a comedy called He’s Behind You, had its first highly successful showing in January 2016, so I intend to move forward in all three creative areas.

Pen Pals was my first novel, but a second, The Road to Cromer Pier, will be released in the Summer of 2019. 

I’m an old fashioned writer I guess. I want you to laugh and to cry. I want you to believe in my characters, and feel that my stories have a beginning, a middle, and a satisfactory ending.

Social Media Links

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorGore

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Martin-Gore-Author-1237780169706466/

 

I trust you’ve succumbed to temptation and grabbed yourself a copy – or at least a pre-order anyway.

As always,

Book News: Just a Simple Little Makeover

My series – The Blackleaf Agency – has undergone a makeover, and along with new titles there come new covers. But that’s not all, because I’ve decided to move all my mystery stories to a new pen name too.

All the books in The Blackleaf Agency series are now authored by bea kendall (intentionally lower case, because …well, just because 😉 )

Here’s the first in that series:

Just a Simple Little Holiday

When “romance” needs a life-jacket, maybe it isn’t meant to be!

For some people, romance is to be avoided at all costs:

• to avoid being hurt.
• it’s simply not worth the effort.
• who could possibly fall in love with them anyway?

 

If questioned, Fern Mortimer would tick all of the above.

Following a hit-and-run, she is left in a wheelchair, and has since mastered the art of being invisible. Recovery is slow, and she hides away at her parents’ house, taking one online course after another. It’s easier to be a hermit.

But there comes a time when she’s fully qualified, and the big wide world beckons.

A few months into a new job, and with a reputation as The Ice Queen, she doesn’t expect to make any long lasting friends.

An invitation to join a co-worker and her friends on a girly holiday to The Algarve comes as quite the surprise too.

When Nessa won’t take no for an answer, and against her better judgement, Fern agrees to the trip.

Is this her chance to prove the old Fern still exists?

After all, it’s Just a Simple Little Holiday.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

A cosy mystery series with a hint of psycopath

Available from Amazon and via Kindle Unlimited

Here’s what other readers have to say about it:

The beautiful setting of the Algarve, a luxury pool in the grounds of the villa, but why is there a wheelchair at the bottom of it? And where is its owner?
Fern Mortimer keeps herself to herself since a hit a run left her in a wheelchair, she is known at the Ice Queen at work, but her new colleague, Nessa wants to be her friend. Nessa doesn’t think Fern is as bad as everyone makes her out to be.
As Nessa tries hard to be her friend she pleads with Fern to become the 5th member of her holiday group after another friend fell ill.
Fern decides she needs this holiday and eventually agrees. That’s when her life is turned upside down. Fern is seduced by the irresistible Portuguese waiter.
Twists, turns, mystery and mayhem, this story has it all, great humour and characters with depth, it’s a winner for me.
I would highly recommend this wonderful Novelette. The perfect size to read in one sitting.

This story drew me in from the start and was an quick easy read. The author did a great job of developing the characters, which is a hard thing to do in a short story. The ending had a great twist, which I didn’t see coming. A well written, descriptive story that made me feel like I was there.

A fantastic page turning short story. Very well written with great descriptions that makes you feel like you are there. Starts off with a girls holiday and turns into mystery and suspense. Brilliant from start to end I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Recommend to fans of short stories, mystery, suspense and books with a shocking ending

I won’t bore you with any more of these, but if you feel like giving it a whirl, you can get a copy here. It’s only 99p / 99c and, what’s more this is just a simple little short story. (See what I did there? 😉 )

I’ll be posting the sequel next week, which gives you just enough time to download and read this one. Well, a writer can dream …

As always,

Cover Reveal – Snowed In at The Little Duck Pond Café

Snowed In at The Little Duck Pond Café

by Rosie Green

 

The biggest snowfall in years has blanketed Sunnybrook, cutting the village off from the outside world. For Fen, who finds herself snowed in at The Little Duck Pond Cafe, it’s little more than a minor inconvenience. Her love life is finally running smoothly; it looks as if she’s found the perfect man for her.

But then a shocking secret threatens to destroy Fen’s new-found happiness.

Will being snowed in be the final straw? Or will Fen find a way through the snowdrifts to the perfect love?

Pre-order Link – https://amzn.to/2Cg99ki

Release Date: November 15th 2018

Book Four in the series

Author Bio

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

​​Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village café. The first two stories in the series are: Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe and Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café.

Follow Rosie on Twitter .