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Scotland, United Kingdom
Hi! My name is Kendall, I'm 29, a Media Graduate and I'm from Scotland. I'm a Reader, Reviewer, and Blogger.

Saturday, 29 March 2025

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Vengeful CONspiracies [Sadie Sabatini Mystery 02] by Nicole Leiren!


Excerpt!

   I grabbed my laptop and returned to the counter. Since Kelsey didn’t want to talk about the election now, I wouldn’t bother her. I was curious, though, about the candidates. The seats being voted on were currently occupied by Jim Bob (JB) Nester, Alan Knightly, and Ted Birmingham. Ted was the only one not running for re-election. I was a little surprised by this. When it came to the Birminghams and their legacy, both influence and power were important. Since Ted typically did what his father wanted, I had no doubt it was Robert’s idea.
   Next, I wanted to take a look at the candidates running to occupy those seats. “Hey, Tessa is running.”
   Kelsey looked my way and grinned. “I knew you’d do some research before Sunday.”
   I shrugged. “The Boy Scouts and I have that in common–always be prepared. I’ve visited her shop, Tessa’s Treats, many times.”
   “She will be a great asset to the board, for sure. One vote down, two to go.” She winked.
   Next up was Karen Bizzy, the “Karen” to beat out all other “Karens.” She had definitive plans for the town of Wilson, very few of which I supported. Denise McDowell and Jackie Price were also vying for a seat. I wasn’t sure either was truly qualified, but out of the two, I knew Denise better. Her motivations, at least, were easier to understand. Jackie, on the other hand, was still a mystery.
   Since I was familiar with them, I hadn’t selected the hyperlink under their name to see the bio and picture. The new guy, Miles Gentry, needed additional research. I hovered over the blue letters that contained his name and hit enter.
   As his picture appeared on a new page, my heart stopped beating for a moment. His hair might no longer be black, and contacts had replaced his glasses, but the face struck a familiar chord from my past. This man was not Miles Gentry. No, I’d recognize the smug look on his narrow face anywhere. This was none other than Miles Grant, a former pharmaceutical executive my team brought down about a year ago due to his use of experimental pesticides which poisoned the workers in the field. He had also skimmed money from the company to fund other experimental programs. In sum, he was a bad actor who had either learned his lesson and was starting a new life, or he had moved from California to Texas to start a new venture where no one knew him or his reputation. At least, he would think no one knew him.
   Either way, I didn’t trust him. My gut was rarely, if ever, wrong. Right now, it was screaming at me that his presence in Wilson spelled bad news for the unsuspecting people of this town. Deep down, I also knew it wouldn’t be long before our paths crossed, which undoubtedly would mean nothing but trouble for me.

Sadie is settling into her new life in Wilson, Texas. She’s making friends and her business, Tesoro, is starting to thrive. But the past is never far behind. When two former team members come for a visit, they bring trouble in the form of a mutual enemy set on revenge threatening to disrupt Sadie’s fresh start.

She can’t turn her back on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The more Sadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the con this time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of her decisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question the choices she made leading to this point.

When their mutual enemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race to the truth reveals who can be trusted and who is running their final con.


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Author bio:

Described by those who know her best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole Leiren likes to have fun -- in life, with her characters and, of course, her readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets while traversing the country.

Nicole enjoys sharing the love, laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or happily ever after (usually both!)
 

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Friday, 28 March 2025

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: The Dan Alsop Series by SJ Slagle!


Thanksgiving Storm [Dan Alsop 01]

A cowboy lies dead on the trail, shot through the heart with no one around. Detective Dan Alsop must find his killer through a maze of squabbling relatives, disgruntled friends and Hollywood mobsters. Was it a single event or will the killer strike again?


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Thanksgiving Murders [Dan Alsop 02]

His mentor lies dead at his feet. Detective Dan Alsop is stretched thin with only the notion of an ancient casino robbery to guide him. His search for the elusive killer takes him to cemeteries and silver mines until he strikes again.


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Author bio:

SJ SLAGLE started her career as a language arts teacher. When she began writing, her initial interest was children’s stories, but then she moved on to Western Romance, Mysteries and Historical Fiction. She has published over 30 novels and her website is www.sjslagle.com.

SJ has written several Western Romance series including the THESE NEVADA BOYS, RANCHER, and THE WESTERNERS, as well as Mystery series: FLOYD SISTERS MYSTERIES and SHERLOCK AND ME. All her books are distributed in digital, paper and audiobook formats.

Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. She conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area.

S.J. Slagle lives and works in Reno, Nevada.




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Wednesday, 26 March 2025

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Touch of the Elegrian by Cheryl A. Arko!


Excerpt!

   Krenshaw rushed up the ramp and slammed the hatch shut. With a deft move he engaged the lock. The hatch viewer showed the man hanging onto the entry handhold just outside the locked door.
   “Pilot’s seat.” Erys got the words out between clenched teeth. “Quickly.” He was working overtime to hang on to consciousness.
   Kaytee put her arm around his shoulders and steered him to the command chair. Pounding on the hull reverberated through the small hopper cabin. Their attacker was not giving up. At least his presence was keeping his fellows from firing on them.
   Erys’s arm trembled. The smell of the chief’s apprehension was rank in his nose. Behind him, Kaytee stood stiff as an iron rod, her hands gripping his shoulders. He stretched his hand toward the control panel, stroked it gently. His fingers left a trail of blood.
   He inhaled sharply. Suppressed a curse.
   This time he did not seek to neutralize the controls but rather visualized them in their operating state. The hopper hummed to life. His energy sapped, he sank back in the pilot’s seat and ratcheted up his pain shield.
   He reached his other hand to the left side of the control panel. Flinched as he forced the contact. Then he took over with his mind, and the craft rose from the ground.
   The main view screen flashed on automatically when the hopper took to the air. The man hanging onto the hatch door released his hold, falling to the ground. The remaining thugs crowded onto the landing pad below them. One raised a large tube to his shoulder. The crumbler. With its settings adjusted from micro-assault to maximum width and range, the illegal weapon could definitely bring down a hopper.
   Erys toughened his resolve, his will holding the controls in a life-or-death grip. He was a better than average pilot—but what he was doing now went beyond any evasive maneuvering he had learned in his training.
   An earsplitting boom rumbled through the hopper. Then, the groan of twisting metal. The caustic fumes of melting plastic. The tingle of overworked circuits pulsing in the control panel beneath his hands.
   They had taken a hit.

Prejudice. Legacy. Redemption.

Erys carries a secret that could shatter his world. The telepathic Elegrian has spent his life atoning for his dead father’s role in humanity’s disastrous first contact. Now, as a tech specialist for the Earth-led alliance, he serves in silence—until sabotage threatens the lives of dozens of human children. And the traitor is one of his own.

Forced to work with a brilliant but hostile human engineer, Erys must dismantle not only the deadly conspiracy but also the deep-seated mistrust between their peoples. With time running out, he faces an impossible choice: break the fragile Elegrian-Human treaty and invite the death penalty to forge a forbidden mind link with a human… or let innocent lives be lost.

Two worlds on the brink. A single act of defiance. Can compassion rewrite a doomed future?


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Author bio:

CHERYL ARKO is a science fiction author and an accomplished senior data scientist with a long career in IT and medical data analysis. She has loved reading science fiction ever since she could connect letters into words, devouring everything from Andre Norton to E.E. "Doc" Smith to more and more authors through the years who have shared their thought-provoking ideas of imagined places and alternate realities.

TOUCH OF THE ELEGRIAN is Cheryl's debut novel and was a Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist for best Science Fiction/Fantasy. She writes stories that take her to the stars, imagining who we might find out there, inviting readers to come along for the ride to visit new worlds and their people. To explore what makes us different—and what makes us the same. And to discover the inherent good that exists in the universe to balance against darkness, no matter how far we travel.

A seasoned dog trainer, Cheryl lives with her beloved Airedales in a tiny house nestled within thirty acres of serene Minnesota pine trees.

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: The Unveiled Fling [Boys of Bragg 04] by Randa Knight!


One costume is all it takes to change everything.

Joel

My dream girl unexpectedly falls into my life, but with only one weekend together, she’s left me craving more. When she reappears, warnings from my friends urge me to stay away, but I can’t. I keep finding reasons to see her. Talk to her. Be near her.

Can I convince her to give our connection a chance?

Sami

I never imagined encountering my Comic Con fling among my sister’s social circle, only to have him play the role of a stranger. Despite his charming demeanor, Joel doesn’t fit my usual type of nerdy guys. But as I discover more about him, I question whether there’s more beneath his confident exterior.

Can he show me that opposites attract in the most unexpected ways?

Will they give in to their feelings and give their romance a chance, or will they let their differences and their friends keep them apart?


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Author bio:

Randa Knight was born and raised in a small little town on the Ohio/Indiana border. Her love of reading began in middle school and never ended. For the past few years, she has been an avid reader and blogger. She studied Literature with a Creative Writing minor at Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) where she fell in love with writing. The idea for Boys of Bragg series began during a creative writing course.

When she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out with her four boys, husband, and new puppy. Or spending copious amounts of time on Tik Tok instead of writing or cleaning.
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Monday, 24 March 2025

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Pity Play [Pity 06] by Whitney Dineen!


Excerpt!

   Walking to the bedroom door, I open it while staying hidden behind it. Then I listen for any sounds coming from my room. There’s nothing, so I tiptoe down the hall. I discover my room is empty, so Luke must already be downstairs. Exhaling loudly in relief, I continue to stare at my bed. It’s rumpled like it’s been slept in, but the covers are pulled as though an attempt has been made to make it.
   Luke Phillips slept in my bed last night. As that image soaks into my consciousness, I feel teenage giddiness flow through me.
   I hear a creaking noise behind me and immediately realize my mistake. Luke isn’t in my room because he’s in the bathroom across the hall. I turn to run back to my parents’ room, but something in my brain decides that it’s too far away, so I wind up dashing into my own room. I make a run for the closet and manage to cross the threshold in the nick of time.
   From my secret vantage point, I watch Luke as he walks into the room. He’s only wearing a towel. Holy heck! What do I do now? I can’t stand here and watch him undress, can I? Well, maybe just for a second. I chastise myself not to act like a perve-o, but I take too long. Luke drops his towel which causes me to gasp, loudly.
   “Lorelai?” I hear him call out. He doesn’t sound pleased.
   He knows I’m here. All he has to do is walk over for confirmation. “Oh, hey, Luke …” I sound like an idiot. “I just came in here to get a … a … a sweater.”
   He rustles around for a moment before I see his shadow creep toward the door frame. I turn to face my sweater collection, so I don’t have to make eye contact with him. “Did you find one?” Oh yeah, he’s mad.
   Grabbing the first sweater I see, I take it off the stack and pull it over my head. Oh dear, it’s tight so I know it’s an old one. But the only way out of this situation is to keep going with the lie. Turning around, I force a smile to my face, and blurt out, “Good, you put some pants on.” Great, now he knows I saw his towel fall off. Why can’t I keep my mouth shut around him?
   Embarrassment blooms across Luke’s cheeks. “Lorelai, I think we need to talk.”
   Dear God, no! We can never speak of this, ever. “No need,” I tell him. “I’ll just move more of my clothes over to my parents’ room, so this never happens again. But I’ll do it later so you can keep getting ready.”
   I try to scurry past him, but he gently grabs my arm to stop me. “This is the sweater you came in here to get?”
   “Yes, it is,” I tell him emphatically. “It’s my favorite.” Belatedly, I look down and see that I’m wearing Mickey Mouse’s face embroidered across a purple acrylic garment that’s so small it’s practically cropped. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a big hole in one of the armpits and a snag running through Mickey’s face.
   There’s nothing I can do but brazen this out, so I disengage from Luke’s hand and announce, “Mickey Mouse is my ideal man.” Then I make a run for it.

I’ve loved my brother’s best friend for as long as I can remember. Newsflash, he doesn’t see me that way. But now that Luke Phillips is coming to town and needs a place to stay… could this be my big chance?

It’s not like I’ve sat around for the last twenty-eight years waiting for Luke. Not really. But ever since I moved back to Elk Lake, I can’t help but hope I’ll run into him. Enter my big brother calling and asking if his bestie can bunk with me. My younger self is doing backflips at the possibilities.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Luke is looking for a long-term situation. He’s made it clear he’s got some business to take care of and then he’s on the first train back to Chicago.

But then he kisses me. And everything changes.

At least, I hope it has…


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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




Sunday, 23 March 2025

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Lines We Shouldn’t Cross [The Innocence Series 01] by Harper Reynolds!


Excerpt!

Ella

   This, this… guy! I stalk out of the dining room, fuming.
   Of all the people for Pippa to rent the carriage house to, it had to be him. And now he’s living right next door, invading my sanctuary, the space I’ve always considered mine.
   Why did he have to ruin my hope of living in the carriage house? There must be plenty of places available for rent in town. I sigh, trying to let my frustration go because bitching and moaning won’t change a thing.
   I’d spent countless sleepovers there with my best friend, trading secrets, and dreams. Later, losing myself in romance novels, I’d imagined my own epic love story. Yeah, well, that had been a big naïve fantasy. Most guys turn out to be jerks—like my ex—not some swoon-worthy hero who sets my body ablaze while cherishing my soul. That kind of guy only exists between the pages.
   Now, another real-life example of an arrogant jerk stands right there in the dining room, pouring wine as if he owns the place. His broad frame fills the space like a quintessential guy’s guy. His large hands tell a different story. Hands that could build barn walls or something, not pouring wine with unexpected gentleness. Strength and softness, wrapped in those sexy, veiny forearms. If he’d be anyone else, I’d be hopelessly flustered.
   Fine, the man’s hot enough to melt steel, but that's where my appreciation ends. His charm could strip paint of wood, and it's just about as healthy to be around. He might have fooled Pippa, but not me. And now we’re supposed to work together? Fricking perfect.
   In the kitchen, I muster a smile. “Need a hand?” The lasagna’s rich scent fills the room, promising comfort.
   Pippa, beaming as though she’s crafted a culinary masterpiece, hands me a tray bearing the night’s first course. In the center, a mason jar filled with her homemade ranch dressing takes the spotlight amid the salad greens and a basket of still-warm bread.
   “Could you bring this in?”
   Her warm smile tells me she’s missed me and is happy I’m home.
   “Of course.” I won’t rain on her parade, so I nod and smile. One quick taste of the creamy dressing first, then the breadbasket joins the greens as I steady myself to face Mr. Arrogance Next Door.
   “Thanks, darling.” Pippa smiles. “I’ll be right there.”
   Yes, please, I pray silently. I don’t care to be alone for even one minute with that infuriating man. I let out an inaudible sigh, part frustration, part resignation.
   “Alright,” I say, forcing a cheery tone. With no excuse to dodge McCocky, I carry the tray out of the kitchen.

When they first meet, sparks fly…but not the romantic kind…

Ella Westhoff is a marketing genius. But romance? Not her strong suit. So, while she’s prepared to return to her small hometown and help her grandmother successfully reopen her B&B, she will not fall for the grumpy landscaper on the job—the one who so thoroughly annoyed her at first sight. That was the plan, anyway…

Cooper Daniels isn’t cut out for love, either. His bitter divorce certainly taught him that. One-night stands are all he’s willing to commit to these days. Which means that even though he enjoys bantering with the brilliant Ella, he knows he can’t be the kind of guy she deserves. No matter how much she makes him wish he could be…

Somewhere between fresh starts and past hurts, business and pleasure, Ella and Cooper might be able to claim a happily ever after. But only if they’re willing to cross some lines along the way…


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy here


Author bio:

I write the kind of romance novels that blend sweet and spicy into something deliciously real - stories that'll warm your heart one minute and make you reach for a fan the next. My characters are flawed souls who stumble their way to love with enough emotional baggage to fill a cargo plane, but they're worth every messy moment.

Life handed me my own romance novel when I fell for an American military man while living in Germany. Now I'm living my happily-ever-after in a cozy Kentucky town, where my European roots tangle perfectly with Southern charm. You'll find me powered by excessive amounts of coffee, testing ice cream flavors (strictly forresearch purposes), and soaking up cuddles from my golden retrievers, Dakota and Tucker.



Saturday, 22 March 2025

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Frozen Flames [The Hollow 03] by M.H.B.!


One mistake.
A tragic accident.
A life-altering event.

Something I can never take back.

What do you do when you meet the girl of your dreams but you’re now a shadow of who you used to be.

Gemma Ackerman, my girlfriend, was my everything. Her quiet, nerdy aura drew me in and I never wanted to let go. Life on my Harley with her by my side was perfect.

Until it wasn’t—until I lost myself.

Because a part of me died that night and it was never coming back.

I welcomed anger instead.
I greeted loneliness like an old friend.
I allowed guilt and sorrow to nestle inside my head.

That’s when I met Claire Edwards—the epitome of joie de vivre. She showed me a new colorful way to see the world. She turned numbness into eagerness for a taste of life.

And now I’m torn between a girlfriend that never gave up on me and a woman I picture as my wife.

I had no other choice.
I let myself die, so that I may live.
And it’s all thanks to her. . .


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Author bio:

M . H . B . graduated law from a Canadian University. She loves spending time with her partner and her dog. She has a passion for animals and loves the simple things in life: chocolate, music, books, sunny days, and overall wellness. When she is not writing, her mind is in another world with a book in hand.