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# Fantasy Friday #Book Blitz #The Upside Down of Nora Gaines by Cathrina Constantine #YA Fantasy @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
The Upside Down of Nora Gaines
by Cathrina Constantine
Publication date: March 5th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

Book & Author Details:
The Upside Down of Nora Gaines
by Cathrina Constantine
Publication date: March 5th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Synopsis:

Nora has visions of horrific things. Things that lurk in the shadows and feast on bones. After moving with her mother into an old farmhouse, Nora discovers a blank journal that fills itself with an ominous warning. A cursed beast is coming for her and time is running out. When the blood moon rises, so shall the beast.

Local teen, Rebel, has his own trepidations about the house. His parents, both paranormal scientists, were investigating it when they died under mysterious circumstances. His growing feelings for Nora motivate him to battle the ghosts of his past, if it means keeping her safe.

Allies to turn to enemies. Fiction turns to fact. The past and the present collide. All in an epic battle to claim unfathomable power. Can Nora unlock the secrets buried within the farmhouse in time to save herself and those dear to her from a grisly fate?

Goodreads

Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.

I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I’m devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.

I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.

Author links:

twitter / facebook / blog / bookbub / goodreads / instagram

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$20 Amazon gift card

rafflecopter

Excerpt

Nora liked birds, except when the choirs assembled at the break of dawn outside her window. Slitting one eye she peered into the dimness and grumbled. Ugh! She flipped onto her stomach and burrowed her head underneath her pillow. Drifting into a restive slumber was when she’d experience her crazy daymares. Normally, those frittered into nothingness, but, a few would haunt her…

The beast’s strong fingers clamped the young man’s throat, not to strangle, but to subdue him. Suddenly, he felt bored. The thrill was gone. In spite for his jaded mood, he squeezed the man’s larynx, harder.

When the young man’s lips parted, to scream or to breathe, a visceral grin spread over the beast. The moment had arrived. The beast opened his mouth, drinking in all of him. But not his soul. His soul he couldn’t claim, only his spirited innocence, and this young man had zilch to quench his addiction.

With the deed accomplished, the beast wasn’t fulfilled as in years past. The unpalatable murdering of innocents lost its flavor, and there was no tolerance for the mundane. “You were too simple,” he grumbled at the young man’s ashen face as it purpled into a death mask, eyes open. “No struggle. No fight. You offered yourself without resistance. What fun is that. Your brother at least provided me incentive.”

He turned to the adjoining twin bed. “Youngsters can surprise me. You were tastier,” he said, peering down at another boy, roughly twelve, brown curls littering the pillow, eyes open, dead. “Fighting until the end. Your spirited demise has strengthened me. Thank you for that.”

He gathered the boy in his arms, carried him downstairs, and sat him on a chair facing the fireplace. Then the beast repeated his action with the young man, depositing him on the couch, between his sisters.

Grabbing the iron poker, he revived the flames. He set the poker aside and turned to admire his handiwork. “What a perfect family. You should be happy to spend eternity together on the same day.” Scrutinizing their faces, he reenacted each termination. “Mama in her shawl, and papa in his nightcap. What a hoot.” He readjusted papa’s cap, then swerved to his staged bodies.

“Demure Louisa, Elizabeth, and wimpy Stephen.” He shelved his hand beneath Stephen’s chin and raised it to speak to the young man. “You were born with a burden of wickedness, and groveled like a cowering worm before me. Pleading I took you anyway which was a grievous error. Your foul spirit embitters my gut even now.” He removed his hand from Stephen’s chin, letting it drop like a lead weight.

“Lastly, Edward. Ahh, Edward, you did not disappoint. An unsullied spirit.” The beast petted the boy’s hair. “Vulgarity and iniquity I have in abundance.” Forlorn tears bathed the beast’s eyes as if seeking absolution. “You must understand,” he sobbed, grimacing in anguish. “I crave virtue and purity. I need it to survive.” He spread his arms in front of his victims, begging for their forgiveness.

“I devour spirits. The more chaste the better, and they are hard to come by. Virtues keep my urges at bay.” He browsed his knuckles over Edward’s supple cheek. “My brave boy. Your purity astounded me. To lay down your life to save your family is a gift. Alas, I had already consumed their spirits.”

The beast’s face distorted into a scribbling mess as if whiffing rotting flesh.

Performing a flamboyant bow, he said, “Your hospitality was most welcome.” The phantom beast evaporated, leaving in his stead a wisp of vapor.

A gasp parted Nora’s lips, snapping open her eyes. Her rapid beating heart slammed against her ribs like a warning mallet. She didn’t or couldn’t move, her body a frigid plank. Her eyes had the capacity to flit about the room, which was now bathed in sunlight.

#Blog Tour #Book Review #The First Man by Alex Kelly @rararesources

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for the second book in ALex Kelly’s series From Connemara with Love.

Synopsis:

The First Man
Shane
Do you want to know what it means to live like me? It means being forced not to look at him, not to touch him, not to be left alone in the same room as him.
Not to seek him out. Not to want him. Not to love him.
Do you know how it feels to spend your entire life pretending to be someone else? Do you know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t want to be loved?

I’ll tell you how it feels.

It feels as if you’re living in constant torment: you know which path you should follow, but you also know that, if you follow that path, you can never turn back. And I can’t do that to him.
Every day I come back, because I know that he’s waiting for me.
Every day I promise him that he will never have to live without me.

Andy
Do you know what it means to live like me? It means being forced not to touch him, not to kiss him, not to be able to leave the room while he’s still in it.
Not to breathe him in, not to lust after him. Not to love him.
Do you know how it feels to spend your entire life pretending to be someone else? Do you know what it’s like to love the only person you’re not allowed to love?

I’ll tell you how it works.

You can’t seem to feel anything other than him; when you walk away, you know that you’re turning your back on the only thing that’s good in your life.
Yet you still walk away.
Every day I leave, knowing that he will be standing there, watching.
Every day I ask him to promise me that I will never have to live without him.

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://amzn.to/369E3rG
Apple: https://apple.co/2LlXq8X
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2JjQvMr
Google Play: http://bit.ly/35eZOpg

My thoughts:
The First one is the second book in Alex Kelly’s series From Connemara with Love. I haven’t read the first one, The Best Man, which dealt with Ellie and Alex Brennan’s story. It is possible to read and enjoy The First Man as a standalone, but I would recommend starting from the beginning of the series. There’s a lot of backstory you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

If you’ve read the synopsis, you already know that this book is about Shane (Ellie’s brother) and Andy, the owner of the Veldons pub, and you know how passionate they are about each other. So what is holding them apart? In a small town identities and reputations are set early on and passed on in families. Shane comes from the family that owns the distillery, which is the biggest business in their small town, while Andy’s father was an alcoholic who saddled his family with an enormous debt and bad reputation.

When Andy inherited the pub, he knew he’d have to make a lot of sacrifices to keep it afloat and to take care of his younger brother Brian. Not many people went beyond appearances and befriended Andy or Brian, but Reid and Shane were an exception. When Reid asked Andy to keep an eye on Shane, Andy couldn’t imagine he’d fall in love, but that’s what happened. You’ll have to read the book to find out how difficult it was for them to deal with their feelings and the whole situation.

The book goes very deep into the main characters emotions and I have to say some of the things they said made me tear up. Since Andy and Shane’s relationship has stayed secret for long time, you can imagine that there are a lot of pent-up feelings and a lot of push-and-pull / leave me-don’t leave me-I can’t do it-but-neither-can-I-live-without-you stuff.

There were also some very steamy scenes, so, if you prefer clean romance, you need to take this into consideration. The secondary characters are also very important in this book, as they have a lot of influence on the protagonists’ lives. I don’t want to say on their choices, because, ultimately, the choice belongs to Shane and Andy, but, clearly, family relationships and friendships are at the heart of this whole series and this book in particular.

The book is a bit on a lengthy side, and you see not only how the MCs got into certain behaviour pattaerns, but also how they found it difficult to break from them. On the plus side, there is also friendly banter and some sweet and tender moments that any fan of the contemporary romance genre loves to see in a book.

This was an enjoyable read and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Author Bio

Alex Kelly writes uplifting, emotional and heartwarming Romantic Fiction and Family Sagas.
She’s a bibliophile, a Yogi, a lover of English literature and a baking enthusiast.
She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar.

Social Media Links
Website: www.authoralexkelly.com
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2EY07e3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AKelly_Writes
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aXiHNk

Thank you for reading the post! If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought of the book, here is the full blog tour schedule:

#Blog Tour #Book Spotlight #The Spanish Girl by Jules Hayes @raresources

Thankyou to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Spanish Girl, a new historical novel by Jules Hayes.

The Spanish Girl

A country torn apart by war.
Two love stories divided by decades.
One chance to discover the truth…

Feisty journalist Isabella has never known the truth about her family. Escaping from a dangerous assignment in the turbulent Basque country, she finds her world turned upside down, firstly by her irresistible attraction to the mysterious Rafael, and then by a new clue to her own past.

As she begins to unravel the tangled story of her identity, Isabella uncovers a story of passion, betrayal and loss that reaches back to the dark days of Spain’s civil war – when a passionate Spanish girl risked everything for her country, and for the young British rebel who captured her heart.

But can Isabella trust the man she’s fallen in love with? Or are some wartime secrets better left undisturbed…?

Heartbreaking, gripping historical fiction about the tragedy of war, and the redemption of love. Perfect for fans of Angela Petch’s The Tuscan Secret and Kathryn Hughes’ The Letter.

Purchase Links

UK / US

Author Bio.

I have a degree in modern history and I’m fascinated with events from the first half of the 20th century, which is the time period my historical fiction is set.

My work has been longlisted in the Mslexia Novel Competition, and shortlisted in the prestigious Bridport Short Story Competition.

I live in Berkshire, UK with my partner, daughter and dog. Before writing stories, I was a physiotherapist.

Jules Hayes is a pseudonym for JA Corrigan who writes contemporary thrillers. Falling Suns by JA Corrigan (Headline Accent) was published in 2016.

Website: https://www.jules-hayes.com/

Twitter @JulesHayes6 – http://www.twitter.com/JulesHayes6

Facebook Author Page: JulesHayesAuthor – http://www.facebook.com/JulesHayesAuthor

Instagram: JulesHayes6 – http://www.instagram.com/juleshayes6

Thank you for reading the post! If you wouldliketo see what other bloggers thought of the book, here is the full blog tour schedule:

#Book Blitz # It’s My Party by Whitney Dineen #Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #3 @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
It’s My Party
by Whitney Dineen
(Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #3)
Publication date: March 16th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis:

High off her success of playing matchmaker for both of her sons, lodge owner Ruby Cavanaugh decides to try her hand pairing other eligible singles–starting with her executive chef and her new event coordinator.

Party planner Claire Choate has a cheating boyfriend who also happens to be her boss. After visiting Oregon for her brother’s wedding–which didn’t even happen–Claire is offered a job that gets her out of LA for good. How can she pass up an opportunity like that?

Even though he has little time for a social life, executive chef Geoffrey Bere loves his job. After a past complication left him gun shy about workplace entanglements, he lives by a strict, “no dating co-workers” policy. But when Claire Choate arrives on the scene, he finds himself ready to break his own rule.

Will Ruby cement her reputation as matchmaker extraordinaire or will Claire and Geoffrey prove too much of a challenge for even her?

Find out in this deliciously fun third installment of Seven Brides for Seven Mothers!

Goodreads

Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook

GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INT)

2x $25 Amazon gift cards

rafflecopter

It’s Monday! What are you reading? March 15th, 2021

It’s Monday! What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, a place to share and discuss what we’ve read in the past week and what we’re in the middle of or are planning to read this week.

What I read / listened to last week

I participated in several blog tours last week:

Float Plan by Trish Doller

Moments Like this by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha

It’s kind of a cheesy story by Lauren Morrill

All you Need is Love by Jessica Redland

What I am reading/listening to now:

It’s my Party by Whitney Dineen

Party planner Claire Choate has a cheating boyfriend who also happens to be her boss. After visiting Oregon for her brother’s wedding–which didn’t even happen–Claire is offered a job that gets her out of LA for good. How can she pass up an opportunity like that?

Even though he has little time for a social life, executive chef Geoffrey Bere loves his job. After a past complication left him gun shy about workplace entanglements, he lives by a strict, “no dating co-workers” policy. But when Claire Choate arrives on the scene, he finds himself ready to break his own rule.

Will Ruby cement her reputation as matchmaker extraordinaire or will Claire and Geoffrey prove too much of a challenge for even her?

Drown Her Sorrows (Bree Taggert #3) by Melinda Leigh

Sheriff Bree Taggert is blindsided by a killer’s devious plan in number one Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of escalating shock and suspense.

When Sheriff Bree Taggert discovers the body of a young woman floating near the bank of the Scarlet River, a note in her abandoned car suggests suicide. The autopsy reveals a different story. Holly Thorpe was dead long before she dropped off the bridge and hit the water.

As Bree and her investigator Matt Flynn delve into the case, secrets in Holly’s personal life complicate their efforts to solve the murder. Holly left behind a volatile marriage, an equally divisive relationship with her sister, and an employer whose intimate involvement with Holly was no secret. Each one has a motive for murder.

When Holly’s sister is terrorized by a stalker’s sick prank, and the prime suspect turns up dead, everything Bree was sure of is upended and her case goes off the rails. When the killer strikes close to home, Bree and Matt must race to solve the murders before one of their own becomes the next victim.

Terrestrial Magic by Marina Ermakova

Most sensible people avoid fire-breathing carnivores that prey on humans. But Jordan has built a career out of studying such legendary animals, creatures thought mythological until their reemergence in the world three decades ago. She and researchers like her believe that knowledge is the key to reclaiming the land they’d lost back then, when humanity retreated into designated safety zones.

But when the humans moved out, the legends moved in. They were the descendants of mythical heroes, inheriting the powers of their ancestors, and they weren’t afraid of the monsters. Jordan never expected to run into a legend, but when a field expedition turns into a trap for her team, she realizes that one deliberately tried to kill her. It’s a diplomatic nightmare the Roman authorities might happily sweep under the rug. But if Jordan doesn’t figure out who attacked her and why, they could try again. Yet even if she does solve the mystery, what could one stubborn scientist possibly do to stop a powerful legend?

What I’m reading /lstening to next:

Moorings (DI Tanner#3) by David Blake

A war veteran murdered in his home, a property developer with links to organised crime, and an old family secret that seems unwilling to stay dead.

When Harry Falcon, a wealthy boatyard owner and highly decorated World War Two veteran, is found drowned in his bath, DI John Tanner and DC Jenny Evans start by questioning his two sons, each with a motive for wanting him dead.

But when the elder son is found with his head smashed in under a toppled yacht, and that the younger son has been talking to a local property developer, one who’d spent months trying to buy the yard from his father, the investigation soon leads them towards a dark and dangerous secret, one which nobody can quite believe.

Set within the mysterious beauty of the Norfolk Broads, this fast-paced British detective series is a cozy murder mystery with a slice of humour and a touch of romance, one that will have you guessing until the very end, when the last shocking twist is finally revealed.

How did your last week go and what are you reading this week?

#Book Blitz #The Electric Girl by Christine Hart # YA # Science Fiction #Fantasy @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
The Electric Girl
by Christine Hart
Publication date: March 15th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Polly Michaels is trying to forget that her mom has cancer. She keeps busy at school and plods through a normal social life. Until a freak electrical storm and a unicorn appear in the orchard next to her house.

Sy’kai wakes on an orchard floor to the smell of rotting cherries and wet earth. She doesn’t know where she is—or what she is—but she knows something is hunting her.

Polly recruits her friends to find the mysterious creature she saw from her window while Sy’kai, a confused shape-shifting endling from another dimension tries to piece her mind back together. Once the human girls find Sy’kai (whom they nickname Psyche) the mystery unravels and the danger facing all of them comes into focus.

A gritty struggle ranges throughout the girls’ rural hometown and in the wild terrain around it. All while two questions hang over their heads. Can an alien deliver a miracle for a human mother? Can a group of teens defeat an interdimensional demon?

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

AUTHOR BIO:Award-winning author Christine Hart lives on BC’s beautiful West Coast. She loves writing about places and spaces with rich history and visually fascinating elements as a backdrop for the surreal and spectacular.

Christine has an undergraduate degree in writing and literature, along with a professional background in communications and design. She is a member of the Federation of BC Writers and SF Canada.

When not writing, she breaks stuff and makes stuff – in that order – for the Etsy shop Sleepless Storyteller.

Author links:

website/ facebook / instagram /pinterest / twitter / goodreads

GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (US/CAN only)

3 winners for:
- 1 paperback copy of The Electric Girl
- 7 sticker modules
- 1 stack of jelly bracelets
- 1 canvas high-top keychain

rafflecopter

#Blog Tour #Book review of All You Need is Love by Jessica Redland #BoldwoodBloggers @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks @JessicaRedland

Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for All you need is Love by Jessica Redland. The book is set in Whitsborough Bay and has been previously published as Bear With Me.

All You Need Is Love

When you’ve loved and lost, how do you find the strength to let love in again?

Jemma thinks she’s found the love of her life. Scott is everything she ever dreamed of and she can’t wait to begin the next stage of their life together. But just as she is heading for her happy ever after, a shock revelation shatters Jemma’s life as she knows it. Left to pick up the pieces, Jemma’s friends and family rally round to help her find the courage to move on.

Sam think he has his future all worked out. A thriving career, lovely home and an amazing fiancée. But when tragedy strikes, he finds himself alone, far from everyone he cares about. Did he do the right thing by running away and trying to rebuild the tatters of his life alone?

This is the story of Jemma and Sam. Two lost souls, desperately trying to find closure and happiness. When a chance meeting brings them together a friendship is formed, but the guards are up.

Will it finally be their turn for a happy ever after? Or will the secrets from their pasts prevent them from moving on?

Escape to Whitsborough Bay for an emotional, uplifting story of love and friendship from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland.

This book was previously published as Bear With Me.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/2XgHkjt

My thoughts:
This was my first visit to Whitsborough Bay, but I was already a big fan of Jessica Redland’s Hedgehog Hollow series and this one was just as entertaining and uplifting!

To be honest, I don’t know how much I can tell you about the plot without giving the story away. There are plenty of twists and turns, which is a part of the book’s charm. Jessica Redland does plenty of foreshadowing, so you do know or rather feel in your heart what is going to happen. And when it does you are still swept away by all the emotions the ineviatble drama creates.

28-year-old Jemma is a museum curator, taking care of the children’s section, which is pretty much a dream job who grew up helping her mum with her business of designing and making teddy bears. She is the sweetest person imaginable and has wonderful flatmates/flatmates, plus her childhood bestie Karen. Karen is a girl after my heart- she will tell you the truth when you are making a mistake, but will stand by you, while you are waiting for your broken heart to heal.

Sam Jones is also trying to recover from a personal tragedy. The cover of this book isn’t just gorgeous, it is also incredibly meaningful, but you will have to discover its significance and the significance of the title (actually both titles, the old and the new one are perfect) by reading. Suffice it to say that yes, Jemma and Sam both need love and maybe they can find it with each other, if they allow themselves to hope again.

Did I say how much I liked the characters, primary and secondary? There’s a very special thread in the book and although I know it’s a spoiler, I have to mention it. One of the characters has a neurodegenerative disorder and it is clear that the author did a huge amount of research to describe what it’s like to live with it both for the person affected and their family. My grandfather had it and I cannot thank Jessica enough for raising awareness of this disease.

Jessica’s trademark sense of humour makes the reader empathise with the narrative even more. Some moments and experiences will make you tear up, but bear with the book as there is a happy ending (onceagain my intention to write a spoiler-free review goes out of the window, but I just can’t help myself).

I’m really glad to have discovered the wonderful world of arctophilia and I totally agree that hugging teddy bears (as well as giving them and getting them as a present) has numerous therapeutic properties and makes countless people happier every day.

Hope you pick up this book and get a wonderful escape from reality into this gripping story, full of love and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources and Jessica Redland for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Author Bio:

Jessica Redland is the author of nine novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough, she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/
Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland

Thank you for reading the post! Have a great Sunday!

Ifyou would like to see what other bloggers thought of Jessica Redland’s book, here is the full blog tour schedule:

#Book Bitz #Lost In Nowhere by Barbara Pietron #YA @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Lost in Nowhere
by Barbara Pietron
(Legacy in Legend, #3)
Publication date: April 20th 2021
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Jeni has fully accepted her spiritual ability, and yet she’s unnerved by the apparition of Marielle, the ghost of a pioneer girl asking for help. As the ghost’s tragic love story unfolds in her dreams, Jeni’s resistance melts and she resolves to save the soul of Marielle’s lost love.

When she discovers her own impulses cause Marielle to act uncharacteristically, Jeni believes she can change the past. Despite warnings against meddling with time, Jeni’s convinced she can save the soul of Marielle’s lover. Deep inside a dream and intent on her quest, Jeni is lured into a trap that binds her soul to Marielle’s.

With no allies, no knowledge about crossing through time and with limited 18th century resources, Jeni is terrified: failure will leave her soul trapped in the past, or worse . . . lost in nowhere.

Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

AUTHOR BIO:

Having a love for witches and vampires before they were trendy, Barbara gravitates toward stories with supernatural elements both when she reads and when she writes. Although classified as young adult, her books are enjoyed by a wide audience–pre-teen through adult.

Barbara’s novel Thunderstone was awarded 2013 Book of the Year Finalist status by Forward Reviews and before it was published, Thunderstone was a quarter-finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakout Novel Award contest, winning a review by Publisher’s Weekly.

When she’s not writing, Barbara works in a library where she’s tortured by all the books she has yet to read. She’s a cult fan of the movies Labyrinth and Nightmare Before Christmas and a fan of all things Tim Burton. Barbara lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with her husband, daughter and a cat that often acts like a dog.

Author links:

website / facebook / instagram / goodreads

GIVEAWAYBlitz-wide giveaway (INT)

Signed, hardcopies of books 1 and 2 of the series, and a Bookshop gift card
rafflecopter

#Book Blitz # Four Letter Feelings (Jeremy Lewis #1) by Lasairiona McMaster @Xpresso Book Tours

Book & Author Details:
Four Letter Feelings
by Lasairiona McMaster
(The Jeremy Lewis Series, #1)
Publication date: September 24th 2020
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Sports

Synopsis:

Jeremy Lewis has just returned from a year in Europe, ready to start college in Alabama and pursue his dream career in the National Hockey League. Other than boring school work, he’s eager to play hockey, hang out with his new teammates and maybe even rekindle an old flame when Chelsea Davis unexpectedly reappears in his life.

Life is looking pretty darn peachy.

But when his world is turned upside down by a tragic loss, merely surviving each day feels like an achievement. How can he get through college and keep his budding career on track when all he wants to do is drink and squander his parent’s fortune? Can he convince Chelsea he’s a changed man when he seems so intent on his own destruction?

Goodreads

Purchase:99c for a limited time only!

Amazon

AUTHOR BIO:

Lasairiona McMaster writes sassy, classy and badassy women and strong, yet vulnerable men. She challenges reader’s expectations by openly dealing with mental health issues, often exploring tough-to-handle topics and ‘taboos’ and books with a whole lotta heart.

She can either be found enjoying a gin and lemonade by the Irish sea, or baking sweet treats in her kitchen while singing at the top of her lungs. When she’s ‘home’ in Texas, and isn’t eating fresh-popped popcorn while buying things she has absolutely no need for in Target, she can be found at Chuys eating her body weight in chips and queso and washing it down with a margarita swirl. She loves to make friends out of strangers.

Author links:

website / facebook / instagram / twitter / goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)

$20 Amazon gift card

rafflecopter

#Blog Tour #It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill #YA @Xpresso Book Tours @FSG

Book details:
It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story
by Lauren Morrill
Published by: Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication date: March 9th 2021
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:

A delicious love story with all the toppings, Lauren Morrill’s It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story is a contemporary YA rom-com about love, friendship, and pizza, perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

After her mother gave birth to her in the bathroom of a local pizzeria, Beck has been given the dubious privilege of having minor fame, free pizza for life, and a guaranteed job when she turns sixteen—a job she unfortunately can’t afford to turn down.

Now she’s stuck with her geeky co-workers instead of taking Instagram-ready shots with her best friends (and her epic crush).

But maybe the pizza people aren’t all bad. Maybe that pizza delivery guy is kind of cute. And maybe there’s a way to make this Bathroom Baby thing work for her. Because when disaster strikes the beloved pizza place that’s started to feel like home, she’s going to need a miracle—one that might even mean bringing her two worlds together.

Goodreads

Purchase

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My thoughts:

I fell in love with this book straightaway. There was something special about Beck’s narrative that made me relate to her. Beck’s identity of a baby born in a pizzeria is, of course, unique, but the observation that identities are often set early on and not easy to change if you happen to live in a small town is very true.

Your teenage years is the time when you are supposed to figure out what you are, who your friends are and why they are your friends, and what makes your heart beat stronger, and Lauren Morrill does a wonderful job of exploring this topic. I just loved the idea of a Schroedinger crush- that particular state of things when you don’t know if your love interest is into you or not, but you are afraid to say or do anything to find out for sure.

Due to the accident of her birth Beck has always known that she would have a job in the pizzeria where she first saw the light of the world, that is should she want it. Although she would love dearly to escape anything to do with pizzas or any kind of fast food, we all know how limited job opportunities for teenagers are. As far as the first jobs go, this isn’t a bad one. Her co-workers are friendly and she doesn’t have to try to be something else to fit in with the others, because the Hot’n’Crusty people know and love her as she is. I really enjoyed Beck’s journey towards understanding various relationships and friendships she forms and how they all reflect various parts of her identity, which isn’t set in stone, but is still developing.

If you are looking for a story with a sweet and adorable high school romance, changing friendships, supportive parents, realistic, but also entertaining interactions between the characters, and great sense of humour- this is a book for you. A book that will put a smile on your face and will make you feel better about life.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)) and Giselle from Xpresso Book tours for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

Print copy of It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story

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AUTHOR BIO:

LAUREN MORRILL grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, where she was a short-term Girl Scout, a (not so) proud member of the marching band, and a trouble-making editor for the school newspaper. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in history and a minor in rock & roll, and now lives in Macon, GA with her husband and sons.

Author links:

website / instagram / pinterest / goodreads / facebook / twitter

Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Friday and a lovely weekend!

If you would like to see what other bloggers thought of this book, you can find the full blog tour schedule here:

March 8th
–The Avid Reader >> Interview
–The Heart of a Book Blogger >> Guest post
–Bookish Trisha >> Review
–Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile >> Review
–We Live and Breathe Books >> Review
–Literati Psyche >> Review

March 9th
–I’m Shelf-ish >> Guest post
–Sascha Darlington’s Microcosm Explored >> Review
–The Candid Cover >> Excerpt
–Sadie’s Spotlight >> Excerpt
–Twirling Book Princess >> Excerpt

March 10th
–Why I Cant Stop Reading >> Review
–TheBookNerdDiaries >> Guest post
–Captivated Reading >> Review
–Uneek Book Lover >> Review

March 11th
–The Book View >> Review
–Kait Plus Books >> Interview
–Book Briefs >> Review
–What Irin Reads >> Review
–DEEKAY | Daily Dose of Reading >> Review

March 12th
–Reading Tonic >> Review
–Chonky Books Review >> Review
–Windows to Worlds >> Review
–Lisa Loves Literature >> Interview
–The Tattooed Librarian >> Review