I am super excited to share this book from fellow Wild Rose Press author, Mary Beesley!
BETTING ON LOVE
by
MARY BEESLEY
RomCom / Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: March 24, 2021
Number of Pages: 193 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Tempest Swan is out for revenge. Billionaire Leonard Allred’s software program has put her out of a job. She makes a bet with a friend that she’ll get Leonard to take her on a date so she can get retribution, but a fortuitous accident with an adorable nerd might just derail her vengeance.
Leonard has reasons for hiding his identity from the public. It’s worked well for him so far, until he starts falling for the honest and witty Tempest. But how can he destroy their budding romance by admitting he’s actually the guy she hates?
PRAISE FOR BETTING ON LOVE:
“If I could give Betting on Love more stars I would because 5 stars aren’t enough.” -Jacky, Goodreads reader
“BEST BEACH READ!! Witty and fun and it was super hard to put down.” – Katherine, Goodreads reader
“It had just enough spice to make you feel the sparks.” – Rebecca, Goodreads reader
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and Avon Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The Friendship Pact is a story about family, friendship, and forgiveness. The characters in this story are deeply flawed and fighting to rise above their limitations, both physical and mental.
I enjoyed many of the tertiary characters in the story, but the story focuses mainly on Tae Holmes and Riggs Copeland, as well as Tae’s relationship with her mother, April, and Riggs’ relationship with his brother, Jake.
Mistakes were made when April discovered she was pregnant after a one-night stand at a party. Lies were told. But can those lies stay buried?
Tae and Riggs essentially grew up together, both coming from hardships and struggles. Riggs’ father was an abusive alcoholic. He and his brother Jake caught the brunt force of his fists too many times. Joining the military was their way out.
Tae’s entire world revolves around her mother. They are all each other has. They’ve always struggled to make ends meet. April sought security and a better way of life for her and her daughter through a continuous flow of men through her door. As a result, Tae has become independent and tough, her heart closed to the idea of any deep relationship with a man. After all, she had no father and none of the men April chose came close to her idea of a father.
So, at age 28, Tae is a successful businesswoman, dedicated to her mother, and consumed by her work. She’s good at her job and good at protecting her heart. But now Riggs is back in town for the summer to help his disabled brother provide summer activities for wounded veterans and other disabled adults and children.
Sparks fly between Tae and Riggs. She’d lost her virginity to him in high school. But then he’d gone into the military and disappeared from her life. And she isn’t ready to let him back in. They have to find a way to work together for the summer, so a friendship pact is formed.
It doesn’t take long for that to grow into something bigger. But both are better at running away than staying. Add in the complication of a father Tae thought to be dead, showing up very much alive and this story takes lots of heart-stopping twists and turns.
The author did a fabulous job at weaving all the characters together. They are complex, multi-dimensional, and believable with relatable struggles. Tae was my favorite character. She fought hard for independence. She needed no one. Riggs’ brother, Jake, is a character I admired. Despite the paralyzed legs, he dared to live life, fall in love, and help others struggling with disabilities. While this is a romance, it is also much more, diving into dysfunctional family struggles and the attempt to forgive and heal. I highly recommend it and give it a solid four stars!
Thank you, Jan, for inviting me back to visit your blog and talk about my newest book, Finding Home Again.
I enjoy reading romance that contains a little mystery in the plot, and I’ve always wanted to try this style of writing. Finding Home Again is my first attempt at adding mystery into my contemporary romances. Adding another category into your writing isn’t easy, especially a mystery. As a writer, you must develop a plot with plenty of twists and turns. You can’t reveal too much too soon. You have to keep the reader guessing, and just when they think they have the mystery solved, you throw in another twist. Leaving snippets of clues is also a great way to hook your reader. They need to be invested in the mystery as much as the author is when writing the story. But when adding mystery into a contemporary romance, the writer has to make sure the romance remains a pivotal element. I really enjoyed writing Finding Home Again because I included several mysteries going on at the same time my characters’ chemistry is heating up. As stated in the Finding Home Again blurb, there is a missing dog, a potential poisoning, and a suspicious death. But I didn’t stop there…I have the main character discovering a personal connection to Redford Falls! Finding Home Again is the fifth book in my Redford Falls series, but each book stands well on its own. This book was my first attempt at adding a mystery element and it won’t be my last. I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Finding Home Again and let me know if you figured out who the villain was. 😊
BOOK BLURB:
A missing dog, a potential poisoning, and a suspicious death. Will Jordan and Logan find their happy-ever-after before another mysterious accident occurs?
Caretaker of a historical home, Jordan McKenzie, promised to keep a secret, but doing so gets harder by the minute, especially when an innocent kiss misses its intended target. Entangled in a web of mysterious mishaps, she discovers a surprising family connection. Is putting her trust in her boss’ handsome nephew a risk worth taking?
Chef, Logan Crane, returns to Redford Falls hoping to claim an inheritance to open a restaurant, but he side-lines his plan after meeting Jordan. When past secrets intermingle with a present attraction, will Logan open his heart to the possibility of a future in Redford Falls…and with Jordan?
BOOK TRAILER:
EXCERPT:
“That kiss was meant for your cheek. You moved.” Jordan pulled on her helmet then waved a hand for Miska to jump into his seat. She tossed Logan his helmet. “You weren’t supposed to kiss me.”
“A beautiful woman plants one on me and I’m not to respond?” He stepped beside her and ran a finger down her cheek. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell your boyfriend our outing was strictly platonic anymore. Because I kissed his girl, and I liked it.”
Blushing, Jordan nudged her shoulder against his before getting into her ATV and driving away.
Logan shouldn’t have kissed her—and he shouldn’t have flirted. But dang it, he truly enjoyed both—and given the opportunity, he would do both again.
Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to develop the many stories coming to life in her head. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador. Darlene’s favourite pastime is taking summer day trips to the Valley to soak in the small-town feel.
I am so happy to introduce another fellow Wild Rose Press author to you today. Jennifer is super supportive of other authors and has published fourteen romance novels. I’ll let her tell you about her latest release. Isn’t this a fabulous book cover?
Thank you, Jan, for hosting me today. Anytime you write a book, release day is scary. What if no one buys it? What if no one likes it? What if they trash it publicly? Part of being a writer is learning how to develop a thick skin, and that’s even more necessary, I think, when writing a series. Not only do you have those worries for each book, but for the series as well.
So why write one? Well, this series came to me when I was having coffee with one of my writer friends. She and I met through our NJ writer’s group, and we became friends. While we started out discussing plot and marketing and writing, we soon moved past all of that and discussed our personal lives. During that coffee date, we were bemoaning the state of the world. This was before the pandemic, so we could meet in a restaurant and not worry. But still, we worried about what was going on in the world and started talking about how more and more people were losing their humanity.
Something clicked. She’s the person I go to when I have a plotting problem. And she’s also great at helping me flesh out story ideas. What started out as “I wish people would do this,” turned into “What if I created characters who did this.” And the series plotline was born.
I say series because my idea involved four college friends. In my head, I thought that each friend could have his own story, thus making it a series. Each of these friends (all male) become experts in their chosen fields. Each of them becomes wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. And each of them wants more. So they decide to take the extra money they have and don’t need and invest it together in organizations that help others.
The idea immediately put smiles on our faces. Writing is a form of escapism for the author as well as the reader! Since I write romance, I then needed to create four heroines, one for each of them, who bring them to their knees. But that took me a little while. Because these men sounded perfect to me. There had to be a catch. That’s where my love of writing the wounded hero came in handy. Each of these heroes has something that makes them unworthy in their eyes or makes their search for love a little harder. And it’s not their wound that makes them unworthy, but the way they perceive things that makes it difficult.
In Unlock My Heart, the hero is hard of hearing. His hearing issues don’t make him less attractive to anyone. But in his mind, thanks to the treatment he endured from his father, he’s afraid of being thought of as “less than” by others. He’s so busy proving himself, that he doesn’t recognize when the heroine values him for who he is and takes his hearing loss in stride. Add in some outside forces like the inequality of a work relationship, and the hacking of a client and the two of them have a long way to go to find true love.
As I mentioned above, I’m nervous about reader reaction to the book and the series. But then again, that’s something I’m learning to deal with. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the book and the series. Let me know, will you?
BOOK BLURB:
Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?
Ted Endicott, CEO, and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?
As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client’s system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together?
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong, and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
I bought this book because of the setting. The Isle of Skye is fascinating to me and any story set there attracts me. And I was not disappointed. It is a love story like none other and a wonderful prequel to the Clan of Dragons series. The improbability of a huge black dragon and tiny woodland fairy falling in love is huge. But that’s exactly what happens in this story. Duff is a dragon. Robina is a tiny fairy. But when using her magic, they are able to shift into human form, and they fall deeply and eternally in love. Robina tries to return to her fairy home after making love to Duff but finds her heart is empty and torn. Then when her mother reveals a huge dark secret, it sets Robina free. I loved everything about this story from the powerful, but lonely dragon to the tiny and magical fairy. I look forward to the rest of this series.
Wow! I read this book in one sitting. I had to find the answers to Brad and Cara’s disappearance. But then when I did, I reeled with the shock of the truth. This story has all the things to keep a reader engaged. A missing twin brother, a haunted forest, rumors galore, and people turning up dead who dare to share any information. This author created a creepy and sinister atmosphere that transported me directly into that thick and dark forest along with Dan and his father, as they embarked on a mission to find out what had happened to Brad and Cara ten years earlier. Throw an ancient and evil alien into the mix and you have adventure galore! The twist the story took at the end had me gasping. The characters are multi-dimensional, the writing superb and the story gripping. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great tale!
I have to be honest, it took me a couple of tries to finally get into this book enough to read it. And when I did, I couldn’t believe the horrors that were inflicted on the Osage Indian tribe. When the United States government forced the tribe onto reservation land in Oklahoma, they had no idea they were forcing them onto huge oil deposits. Once it was discovered in the early 1900s, the Osage became the richest Indian tribe in North America. But because of the way the government still viewed Indians, they were not given control of their money. Instead, they assigned guardians. The story is based around one Osage woman’s family. Mollie Burkhurt had two sisters and a mother. The story begins with the murder of her younger sister, Anna. A single bullet to the back of the head. Then over time, other murders occurred until the only member left of her family was Mollie herself. There was now a total of 24 Osage murders and not one case solved. J. Edgar Hoover had just taken over the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation. When the huge number of murders gained his attention, he recruited Tom White, a former Texas Ranger to head the investigation. It took several years, but the corruption at every level of government was exposed along with the man behind all the murders. The motive was money and control. This is not an easy story to read and in fact, I found it quite tedious at times, but it recounts a time in American history that deserves to be told. Kudos to David Grann for telling it in such precise detail. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into research for this exposé. And I have heard they are in the process of making this story into a movie.
What a fun read! Carly is laser-focused on making her summertime business a success. When she’s not serving her delicious ice cream to patrons, she’s creating new flavors to tempt their palates. And what a great location! Her ice cream hut sits on the beach in Southern California, and long lines are common. She has no time or interest in love. She tried it once and got burned. Never again. The humiliation of the broken engagement still stings, even after a year. She wasn’t good enough for Declan (or so his mother proclaimed.) The story opens with Carly bartending at a bachelorette party as a favor to a friend. She’s anxious to try out her new alcohol/ice cream concoctions, which are an instant hit. The male strippers hired for the party are dressed as firemen. So, it’s no wonder Carly had her doubts when real firefighters showed up. Sparks flew, but she would never date a fireman again. Her father and brother are both firemen. It’s too dangerous. No, never a fireman. But when circumstances throw her and Noah together in a fake boyfriend, girlfriend scenario, neither are prepared to fall in love. This is a quick read with fantastic scenery and delicious ice cream melting under the spell of Noah Blaze.
This book is different from anything I’ve ever read. Occasionally, I thought to myself, “this is too far-fetched to be believable,” then the next thought I’d have would send me deeper into the story. Is it possible for two people to die at the same time and switch bodies when one is resuscitated? Maybe. But I’ll start from the romance aspect of the story. Leeds had money. He didn’t need to work, but he loved music so took a gig playing bass in a band that he hated their music. When they land a job playing a wedding, Leeds’ life changes forever. The sister of the bride captivates him completely. Layla is fresh, honest, uninhibited, and pushes every boundary. Months into their relationship, an incident changes both of them forever. So, when Leeds decides to go back to where their love first bloomed, at the house where the wedding had been, weird and unexplained things begin to happen. He wants so desperately to salvage the love he has for Layla, but she’s changed. She’s not the same girl and he grows farther away from her. Enters Willow. Willow is a ghost trapped in a realm she cannot get out of. But there’s something hauntingly familiar about Willow and when she takes over Layla’s body so she can communicate with Leeds, he feels the old spark he used to feel for Layla. I won’t spoil how all of this got worked out, but it is intense and I might have caught myself holding my breath a time or two. Different? YES! But a great story I couldn’t stop reading! If you like stretching your mind beyond all your normal limits and boundaries, this might be the story for you!
Lily Catherine Brownfield has suffered so much in her young life. As the book opens, she is in the hospital recovering from a horrible car crash that leaves her disfigured. Her shallow fiance takes one look at her face and immediately turns away in disgust. When she gave him back the ring, I wanted her to stuff it down his arrogant throat. She’s recuperating in her beach cottage when a newspaper blows across the pristine sand. She chases it until she retrieves the trash. But then her curiosity is piqued when she sees the newspaper is from Oklahoma, and for the lack of anything better to do, she puts it back together and reads it. But it’s a classified ad that draws her attention. A cook is wanted for a three-month round-up on an Oklahoma ranch. Maybe this is exactly what Lily needs, to get away from the awful memories of the car crash and breakup. She makes a call without realizing it’s the middle of the night two time zones over. A sleepy male voice answers and she inquires about the job. He hires her sight unseen. Case Longren just needs someone to cook for the cowboys during round-up. He’s beyond shocked when beautiful blonde-haired Lily arrives to fill the position. It is inevitable that the two of them get together, but it’s a long road. Lily’s mistrust of all men keeps him at arm’s length. After all, how could anyone look at the horrible scar on her face and not be disgusted? She is every time she looks in the mirror. To say it took some work to break through her icy barriers is an understatement. But with a lot of help from mother nature and near-death close calls, she begins to melt. I loved Lily’s father and brothers. They were all such unique characters. This is a fun read and satisfying love story with a great ending.
It’s been a while since I posted a review of one of my sister’s books, but this story captured my heart from the first page. Sam Legend Jr is a conflicted man. He’s left his prestigious family and is living like a hermit in a primitive dwelling. His only passion left in life is making knives. That is until Cheyenne Ronan bursts into the dwelling and threatens his life. The attraction between the two is a slow burn and it takes a while for Sam to forgive himself for the death of his wife and accept a new love. There is lots of action and lots of memorable characters in this story. Watching it unfold is like watching a flower open under the sun. If you love romance set in the 1800s, you will love this story. If you love flawed characters, you will love this story, as both Sam and Cheyenne have their secrets. I highly recommend it to anyone who just loves a well-written and compelling character-driven story!
Another compelling installment in Emlyn’s journey! This segment of the story begins on a slower note with Gethin and the gift of a powerful sword. Then it moves swiftly back to Pergesca where we left Emlyn, Osabide, and Zasha in Journey 10. Throughout this segment, perhaps more so than the others, Emlyn grows stronger and more confident in her powers. I loved the introduction of new characters, as well as the reuniting of the old. When Zasha goes before the High Council of The Deae Matres to warn of the dangers coming, I was somewhat surprised by the political structure of the council. I had expected it to be made up of people like the Deae Matres we have been traveling with through these novelettes. Not the case. Just that scenario brings a touch of reality into this fantasy story and I can see the resemblance of our government. What I love most about Journey 11 is the way the author brought me into the story through her excellent descriptive scenes. The clothes they wore, the food that ate, the way the city appeared—I was there! I also love how Emlyn creates and holds a portal with little help from Luce. A great part of the story!!
That’s it for this month. I hope you found a book you cannot pass up!
I am so excited to share my blog space with the amazing author, Lizzie Chantree! She is here to tell us all about her newest book release!
Thank you, Jan! I’m thrilled to be here!
I want to share a character profile from my newest book, “Shh…It’s Our Secret.”
Having good mental health can help us relax, achieve more and lead happier lives. In my latest book, “Shh. It’s Our Secret,” my main character, Violet, has been dealt some blows by life. She is determined to show her friends and her sister that she can be a strong person and successful in her chosen career, which is managing a run-down café and bar.
The café bar regulars have become Violet’s family, following the loss of her own parents, and she fights to persuade the new owners of the café that the regulars should still be a part of the rebranded bar’s make-up. Three feisty pensioners and some untrained bar staff don’t really appeal to Kai, but he soon learns why they mean so much to Violet.
Violet has a shy personality and although she is very friendly, she hides in her comfort zone and shies away from any conflict. She has a secret that could change the fate of the whole community, but to share it means that she has to believe in herself, to step out of the shadows, and find her voice.
Book Blurb:
Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them.
Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house.
When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidentally discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?
International bestselling author Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, about women with unusual businesses, who are stronger than they realise.
The tour bus is rolling one final day! I think it’s going to head straight into the shop for a 100,000-mile tune-up after this.
4 Wills Publishing offers blog tours at very affordable rates and they have provided the final stops for me, as I conclude the Ghostly InterferenceTour. And don’t forget! The book is on sale through January 22nd, so if you haven’t grabbed a copy yet, now’s the time! Just click on the highlighted title above for a purchase link.
On to my five hosts:
Rox Burkey is an RRBC member and part of a writing duo known as Breakfield and Burkey. They write techno-thrillers and draw from their twenty-five plus years of experience in the IT field to create their stories. The latest release, “Enigma Threat” is hot off the press and promises to be an edge-of-your-seat story with perhaps too much realism for comfort. We are discussing story-layering at her blog stop today. Come on over! Let’s eat an artichoke!
Jade, the Blog Tour Maven hosts authors. She generously devotes her blog to promoting others. At her stop today, we are talking about the similarities and differences between tradition and self-publishing. I’d love to hear from you!
Next, the bus stops in New York at Susanne Leist’s blog site. Susanne is an RRBC member and explores the otherworldly relations between Vampires and humans with her Dead Game Series. Her latest release, “Prey For The Dead,” wraps up the series with an epic battle between good and evil! We are discussing the three P’s of writing at her place, so come on over!
Shirley Harris Slaughter is one of the most supportive members of RRBC. She is always there with a hand-up and offering encouragement. Her latest book release, “Ronald L. Powell: Missing In Action” is a heart-wrenching tale of her brother who went to war and never returned leaving a lot of unanswered questions. At her blog stop, I am sharing five pieces of writing wisdom that I’ve learned the hard way over the years. I’d love to chat!
Charles W. Jones, another RRBC author, writes horror tales and writes them well. He can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck! His latest dystopian novel, “The Road To Saratin,” made my 2020 Top Ten List. The story gripped me from page one! We will be discussing sexual advances in the workplace at his stop today, so come on over.
Today I’m honored to be a guest of a Wild Rose Press author, Kimberly Baer. Born in Pennsylvania, Kimberly now resides in Virginia. Her most recent book release, “The Haunted Purse,” is a compelling YA tale about a bag with secrets and imbued with supernatural powers.
I enjoyed answering Kimberly’s questions and got to share a little more about the White Rune Series as a whole. Please head on over and join us!
And magically, we are stopping in South Africa at Robbie Cheadle‘s wonderful blog site! Robbie is an RRBC author and possesses many talents including the wonderful art of baking. Along with her son, Michael, Robbie wrote several children’s stories that include recipes for children to try. Sir Chocolate is the character in all of these amazing books and he has many adventures! But that’s not all. Robbie also writes poetry, short stories and has a knack for writing paranormal stories. Please take a look around her site at all of her books!
We are discussing book titles at her blog site today. I’d love to chat with you!
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