Beachboy Murder-Goddess Fish Promo Tour-Review

About the book 

Just as travel agent turned reluctant sleuth Gabby LeClair is starting to gain some of the Aloha spirit, a business consortium from Chicago breezes into the Aloha Lagoon resort and offers to buy her business. The offer is tempting...but so is hot helicopter pilot Rick Dawson, making it a difficult decision. One that becomes even more complicated when a dead body is discovered in Gabby's backyard, and she's suddenly thrust in the middle of a murder investigation! 

The dead man is a former beachboy attendant from the island. With a trail of broken hearts—not to mention jealous rivals—leading up to the beachboy, Gabby tries to uncover just who had it in for the late lothario. Is the female of the species really more deadly than the male? Or has the beachboy scorned one too many women for some other man's liking?

Read an excerpt

“Buy what?” Rick Dawson, the reason my heart fluttered on occasion, stood leaning against the wall by the door to Gabby’s Island Adventures. He was dressed in his signature uniform—jeans, boat shoes, and the royal blue polo shirt with his logo hummingbird and Rick’s Air Paradise embroidered above the pocket. He must have gotten some recent sun. His skin was golden, making his eyes shine like blue ice. He straightened away from the wall as we walked up, and slipped an arm around my waist, pulling me against him and kissing the top of my head. His scent, Old Spice and fresh island breeze, and the irresistible combination of his golden good looks and unmistakable virility definitely kept a girl on her toes but in a good way.

Inside the phone was ringing, and Lana went to answer it.

“Buy the travel agency. Lana was just asking me if I was really going to sell out to Janet’s bosses.”

While the shift wasn’t overt enough for me to be sure, I thought I felt a hint of his pulling back a little. “And what did you tell her?”

“That it was all up in the air, that I didn’t know if they’d even want the place.”

“Why wouldn’t they want it? Gabby’s Island Adventures is aces. You’re the tops, Toots.” His tone was frank, matter-of-fact. “You’ve even made my business profitable since you took over my bookings.”

“You’re biased, Dawson. You do have a business interest here yourself.”

And I thought

Written as a stand alone Beach Boy Murder is definitely a great 

addition to the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries.  You'll have no trouble jumping here with book 11.  I guarantee you'll love it but you'll be wondering what you missed. So you might plan to read all the 

rest.  I plan too. 

I enjoyed the characters.  And there were a lot of them.  I had no trouble keeping up with them or keeping up with what was going on.

The main character Gabby is considering selling her tour agency in Hawaii after her friend and mentor Janet make the suggest and bring a group of potential buyers. 

There are quite a few of them to keep up with but they are all such unique characters and they are described so well that it is not difficult. 

There are a few sub characters in the story; staff at Gabby's tour agency and hotel staff.  

And there's the hunky boyfriend Rick who owns a helicopter company.  He's just a great guy that calls Gabby 'Princess' so sweet  and romantic.  He's ready and able to save the day in the end when Gabby and a couple of other people are kidnapped by one of the villains.  

Beachboy Murder was a very fast read.  I read in one setting.

It was indeed a 5 star read.  

I look forward to backing up and reading the rest.  I was so engaged with this group of characters I want to read more.  

I received a complimentary copy.

My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

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Stinger Operation Cyclone by Bill Fortin-Book Review

About the book 

Rick Fontain is back… This Cold War adventure takes the reader inside the classified exploits of Senator Charlie Wilson and CIA’s Task Force Chief, Gust Avrakotos. Strange bedfellows they were… their alliance proved to be one of the most successful partnerships in the history of the CIA. Stinger: Operation Cyclone recounts the outcomes of their efforts.

The adventure begins with the election of Ronald Regan in 1979. This was the same year that the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Early in 1982 POTUS called for a plan of action to arm and finance the Jihadi warriors known as the Mujahideen. Operation Cyclone was the code name assigned to this project.

Rick is re-united with his Redeye instructor, Andy Davis, and together they would design a plan to kill buku Russian aircraft. The operation stalls until Rick thwarts an assignation attempt on one, Maalouf Torki bin Taisei. Mr. Taisei is a Malaysian government official. He is also the largest arms dealer on the Pacific Rim.

The Russian KGB suspects that President of Pakistan, Zia, and his ISI have aligned themselves with the American’s. Their attacks are fierce, but, the result was not what they expected. President Regan issued a change to the original operation requirements. The gloves were to come off. Rick Fontain is told to do whatever it takes to get Stinger into the hands of the Afghan Freedom Fighters.

American Special Forces, the Green Beret and DELTA, are sent to the ISI’s Ojhri Camp located just outside of Islamabad. CIA operatives LTC Jim Pezlola and CWO Gary Larson, solicit the Mujahideen Command to provide students for the  very first class of Stinger shooters.

Rick takes the graduating class into Afghanistan to the Russian airbase at Bagram. The rest… as they say… is history. Operation Cyclone may not have ended the Cold War, but it certainly had weakened the Soviet Union’s resolve. So much so… that in 1993 it financially collapsed.

And others are saying 

Praise Stinger: Operation Cyclone (Rick Fontain 2) by Bill Fortin

“This story has it all, war, politics, history and more. Enjoyable and thought provoking. I stumbled upon Bill’s first book Redeye Fulda Cold and really liked it so I decided to try his follow-up. Great read! Can’t wait to read the next one. I can easily see it being adapted for the big screen. From the opening scene in the elevator to the scene high on the narrow path to the helicopter attacks, crashes and the sad death of Rick’s friend and fellow Stinger expert Andy Davis, this book has it all. Terrific international locations and cast of characters and compelling story of providing and attempting to control the transfer of weapons and expertise needed for their use to be successful. You feel immersed in the detailed descriptions of locations in Afghanistan, Kula Lumpur, London, etc. Bill’s greatest strength as an author may be his ability to make you question how much of this is fact and how much is fiction.:”-billq, Amazon Review

Praise Redeye Fulda Cold: (Rick Fontain 1) by Bill Fortin

“With a smooth, wry touch, Bill Fortin spins a page-turning Cold War tale capturing both the great bravery and the occasional comic moments — some intentional, some classic SNAFUs — of U.S. military intelligence saving the world from Russia invasion.”- W.E.B. Griffin & William E. Butterworth IV, #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Authors

Rick Fontain tells us about his exciting adventures through a first person narrative.  As a reader, I felt that I could connect easily with Rick on his incredible journey as he takes you by the hand and doesn’t let it go until the last page. Fortin does a remarkable job of describing the people and the landscape of the late 1960s, while throwing more light onto the tactics that the American military deployed to contain Russia in the Cold War. I certainly hope that this isn’t the last we have heard from Rick Fontain, and do hope that there is a sequel in the near future, as I cannot wait to read more of this young hero’s adventures and more of his infectious good humor. Fortin has put together a remarkably well written story with a vast amount of meticulous research.”- C.R.Putsche, Amazon Review

“a fascinating, eye-opening story of the American military move to contain Russia during the Cold War in the late 1960s, when most American eyes were focused on Vietnam. Told in short scenes, making the plot really easy to follow. There is a lot of detail—I was surprised, for example, to read about the use of drones in 1969—but always the story spins out in real-life scenes. It is clearly an army account, but the emphasis stays on “story.” Descriptions, of churches, towns, airplanes—all the scenes of the book—are so good we can “see” the places. Dialogue is snappy and real. I felt I got to know Rick Fontain, and look forward to meeting him in future historical novels. He has a freshness of view that makes the very tough Cold War story understandable. Extensive footnotes show the thorough research behind this book, and above all, it is so well written that I was always surprised to see how many pages had gone by. Read this to be entertained, but also to discover a successful and little-known war-front deployment that Americans are grateful for.”-Kay In Seattle, Amazon Review

“Bill Fortin’s, Redeye Fulda Cold, is a historically accurate, yet humorous account of one soldier’s mission during the Cold War.
Although written as fiction, the novel is an exercise in authenticity, with stretches illuminating the technical expertise required for a unit to accommodate seemingly never-ending revisions to Cold War objectives. Fortin cloaks the technical military facts and technology in character moments, using them to highlight Fontain’s sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek humor. Can’t wait to read the next Rick Fontain novel!”-Lisa Wieman Meerdter, Amazon Review

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And I thought 

A guys book.  Written by guy.  But sometimes girls like 'em too.

Stinger Operation Cyclone was a page turner from page 1. 

I was swept in and ended up on a fast paced ride to the end. 

Bill Fontin knows how to weave a story with the details, descriptions of people and places to intrigue the reader and keep you engaged.  Fontin writes expertly about the Middle East and military topics in a way that your drawn in and unable to put the book down. 

I enjoyed Stinger Operation Cyclone much more than I expected to.   

A cast of characters from each location of the story is provided at the end that helps keep the reader involved in this fast paced story.

I look forward to reading more in the series. 

My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads.

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A Reason -For Living by Julian Jingles Spotlight I Read Tours

I have not read this book 

About the book (provided by I Read Book Tours)

Book Title: A Reason for Living by Julian Jingles

Category: Adult Fiction, 382 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: iUniverse
Release date: January 17, 2018
Tour dates: May 21 to June 8, 2018
Content Rating: R

Book Description:

It is the mid-1960s in Kingston, Jamaica, and the country is steeped in social, political, and economic inequities. Howard Baxter, the heir to a real estate empire, has no interest in seeking or managing wealth. Painting and deflowering Jamaican maidens are his passions. As he combs the streets looking for greater meaning in his pathetic life, it soon becomes apparent that Howard's journey will not be easy.

Bernaldo Lloyd, a member of the Baxter clan, is a medical student who is sensitive to the hopelessness of the Jamaican masses. Inspired by his close friend and Howard's cousin, Ras Robin Pone, and their ties with the Rastafari movement that calls for social and economic equity, Bernaldo is determined to overthrow the corrupt government. As Howard, Bernaldo and Robin become influenced by America's Black Power and Civil Rights movements demanding equal rights for African Americans, the women in their lives both love and criticize them. But when revolution breaks out, Howard finally discovers a purpose for his twisted life that leads him in a direction he never anticipated.

In this tale of love, passion, and self-discovery, two Jamaican men become caught up in a 1960s revolution that reveals injustices, oppression, and a purpose for one of them.

And others are saying 

“Riveting, touching on micro and macro relationships of love, sex and politics, and the search of Jamaicans for the essence of their existence, with many compelling scenes and very touching, sensitive dialogues.”
- Dr. Basil Wilson, New York Carib News
​
"A Reason for Living is a highly complex work that pits sense against sensibility. Emotions surge, transforming men in unfathomable ways. And as love and revolution march in lock-step, Jingles might well have earned a place among the region’s more interesting writers."
- Glenville Ashby, Kaieteur News

“The author, filmmaker, entrepreneur did not wile away five decades as a bystander but may have calculatedly used the hiatus to toil in order to reveal a compelling novel about the creative and volatile ‘60s in Jamaica.”
- Vinette K. Pryce, Caribbean Life

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Add to Goodreads

About the author 

Julian Jingles has had a professional career spanning 52 years writing for publications such as the Jamaica Gleaner, the New York Amsterdam News, JET magazine, the New York Daily News, and the New York Carib News. He began work on his novel A Reason For Living in 1966, a teenager just graduating from high school in Jamaica. In 1967 he went to work as a journalist at the Gleaner Company, the oldest published newspaper in Jamaica, and the Caribbean. He has written, produced, and co-directed three documentary films, production managed several music videos featuring Kool and the Gang, Steel Pulse, the Main Ingredient, promoted several music concerts, and a stage play, along with investing in several entrepreneurial projects in America, and Jamaica.

Connect with the author

Website ~ Facebook ~ LinkedIn

Giveaway 

The Devil You Know by Jena Gergoire-Book Spotlight/Giveaway

 is

I have not read this book.  Urban Fantasy isn't thing I was asked by Jena of  Pure Textuality to spotlight.  If your a fan check it out!

The Devil You Know

by Jena Gregoire

Series

Hellfire Series Book One

Genre

Adult

Urban Fantasy

Paranormal Romance

Publisher

Independent

Publication Date
June 5, 2018

About the book 

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.

Following a drunken night together, the vampire Michael “Vegas” Tremayne takes off with no explanation, leaving Deziree Davanzati to wonder if they’d made a terrible mistake. Rather than obsess about it, Dez spends most of her time at Onyx, the rock club she owns and operates for the supernatural citizens of New York City. All are welcome-werewolves, witches, and anyone else willing to play nice while under her roof and pay their tab at the end of the night.

After two weeks of radio silence, Vegas returns with alarming news. For the first time in more than four centuries, there is reason to believe a pureblood demon is walking among them. They suspect someone from the the Council may be behind the creature’s return, but to what end?

With the Sentinel Stone missing, they’re down to the wire and don’t know who to trust. Will Dez and Vegas stop the demon in time? Or will Hell itself be unleashed upon the world

Read an excerpt

After raining for the previous two days, the constant barrage of water had finally come to an end. Just in time to have to go to work, she thought while glancing in her car’s rearview mirror. The downside to living in New York City was the completely unpredictable northeast weather during the summer. The forecast could call for sunny, cloudless skies one day, and snow the next.

The shrill sound of her cell phone ringing cut into the best part of her favorite song. Turning the radio down, she picked up her phone and answered. She touched the speakerphone button and waited. It was quiet for a moment and then the sound a familiar voice filled the interior of her fully-restored 1951 Mercury.

“Did you miss me?” He offered no greeting or introduction.

“Vegas. Nice to hear from you.” She was trying to sound aloof and nonchalant, “And where the fuck have you been?” and failed miserably.

“I’m sorry. I had to leave town for a while,” he replied. “Had to take care of a few things and had to run out at the last minute. I didn’t want to wake you up, and I didn’t anticipate going this long without getting in touch with you. It’s a long story, and one I promise to explain later. What are you doing tonight?”

No matter her level of irritation, the sound of his voice was perfectly disarming. Something along the lines of gravel wrapped in velvet, rugged and raspy but still silky smooth. Disgusted with herself, she rolled her eyes and then answered, “Onyx. To work, not for fun. Why? Are you going to come see me?” Her heart began to pound. She wanted to see him. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how much she missed him.

“I’ll be there.” She could hear the smile in his voice and grinned in return. She pushed her gas pedal to the floor, suddenly wanting to be at Onyx more than ever.

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About Jena

Bestselling author Jena Gregoire was born and raised in New Hampshire, USA, and despite her abhorrence for any season which dares to drop to a temperature below seventy degrees, she still currently resides there with her two children and several furbabies. Always a passionate reader, her love of urban fantasy books inevitably morphed into a love of writing them. She is currently working on two series - the Hellfire series and the Executioner series.

Newsletter  http://www.subscribepage.com/ JenaGregoire

Website http://jenagregoire.com
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Amazon https://amzn.to/2JoEvri

Giveaway

LINK:  https://goo.gl/RA9vF2

To celebrate the release of the Hellfire series, Jena Gregoire is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to three lucky winners!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open internationally. By entering, you are agreeing to sign up for Jena Gregoire's weekly newsletter. Once the giveaway closes, all of the entries from the giveaway landing page and the Rafflecopter giveaway will be combined and the winners will be chosen at random. Three winners will each receive a $50 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR.  Giveaway ends 7/1/2018 @ 11:00am EST. Pure Textuality PR will send the prizes to the winner via email. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted

Confessions of a Red Herring-by Dana Dratch-Great Escapes Tour-Spotlight

About the book 

As a reporter, she’s used to covering the news.
Now she’s the headline.

Alex Vlodnachek has been a reporter for 12 years, a P.R. rep for three months, and a murder suspect for all of 24 hours. When her agency’s double-dealing CEO is stabbed, scheming co-workers cast the new redhead as a compelling red herring. The story is media catnip—especially her salacious nickname: Vlod the Impaler.

Even Alex has to admit she looks guilty.

Out of a job and under suspicion, Alex is running low on cash, when she’s visited by a second disaster: her family. Soon her tiny bungalow is bursting with her nearest and not-so-dearest. To keep herself out of jail—and save what’s left of her sanity—Alex returns to her reporting roots. She goes undercover to reclaim her life, break the story, and unmask a murderer. Pretty much in that order.

What she doesn’t know: The killer also has a to-do list.
And Alex is on it.

And others are saying 

Well written with an intricate plot, CONFESSIONS OF A RED HERRING is a good debut book for author Dana Dratch.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

While a red-headed Vlodnachek might not be the full attraction here, Alexandra’s family and close-knit support group provide a lively and fun romp through the storyline.
~Rosepoint Publishing

And I thought
Where to begin.  First I have to say for a new series this one is gonna be 'Killer'!  From the first page I was drawn in and I could 
not put this one down.
I was cheering Alex all the way!  While she desperately tried to 
figure out what the heck was going on I felt I was one step ahead of her yelling 'Go girl.'  
Being a person of interest in a murder isn't a great way to start a week.  And then as the week goes on things get worse as Alex becomes a prime suspect.   And then the victim when the 
wife of the deceased decides Alex is the murderer because she is 'the other woman'.
Things seem to go from  bad to worse when her younger brother and his wife(?) and puppy appear on her doorstep.  Followed shortly by their Russian grandmother when she hears all the drama on the news.  
But there just might be a little light at the end of the tunnel and maybe a little glimmer off hope in the form of the hot new neighbor across the street.  Who is turning his house into a B&B.
There are some great characters running around and helping Alex out.  
There are also a bunch of suspects.  
Dana did a great job of introducing everyone and the story just flowed.  
Alex's family even the ones that aren't around are introduced and flow into the story.  They'll be a big part I expect of future 
installments.  
There's another brother living in NYC who sends money to help Alex out.  The super model sister who now owns a modeling agency and is in Paris with the mom.   Thank goodness for that 
mom home during a murder investigation would have driven everyone nuts.  Alex's brother went from being dead broke and out of a job to pastry chef for the new B&B.  
The girlfriend was quite the # a waitress he met in Vegas. She turns out to be a good sleuth and very willing to help solve the crimes. 
If I had to choose a favorite character it would really be hard. 
I loved them all.  
From the grandmother who was a bad cook but could take out the bad guys with an iron skillet.
To Alex's best friend Trip.  He was a great guy and always ready to help except when asked to pretend to be Alex's fiance.  As much as he loves Alex as his best friend it's not in the cards.
He already has a partner that I expect we will meet in future installments maybe.  He was left completely out of the drama and only mentioned in passing.  Hmm what might be up with that?
Ian the new neighbor is British and charming and is in the wings waiting to get to know Alex better. 
I have to say the only thing I didn't like about the story/plot was 
that in the end Gabby the Las Vegas girlfriend decided to return to her previous boyfriend in Vegas.  She was a great part of the 
story and I'll miss her.  Maybe she won't find true love there after all.  We can only hope.  
Confessions of a Red Herring was filled with fun and funny 
characters.  A good 'ole mystery(s) and a great twisty turning plot that keeps you interested all the way to the end when Grandma 
clobbers one of the villains with her skillet.  

It was a great read.  I can't wait for the next one!  The author included a preview of Seeing Red.  How long do we have to wait?

I received a complimentary copy. 
This review will appear on retail sites, Net Galley & Good Reads

Guest Post

I’m Alex Vlodnachek, former reporter, ex-P.R. rep, current murder suspect. Pretty much in that order.

After being fired and framed for murder, it was actually kind of a nice surprise when Nick and Gabrielle (my brother and his new bride), showed up and wanted to stay for a while. Of course, they didn’t tell me about their dog: a puppy named Lucy. Or my new sister-in-law’s business. Some kind of online store that involves moving mountains of shipping boxes in and out of my tiny bungalow.

Hey, when they said they’d pay rent, I was relieved that I’d be able to stretch my savings to make the mortgage for a few months while I was looking for someone who’d actually hire a murder suspect.

Anyway, this is what happened the next morning:

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I ached. Everywhere.

Worse, I felt a strange pressure in the vicinity of my rib cage.

I blinked a couple of times. A blurry, doe-colored shape shifted, sighed, and rolled off my chest, taking most of the covers. Lucy.

“Coffee,” I said aloud. “Need. Coffee.”

Lucy yawned and moved into the warm spot I’d vacated. So much for constant companionship.

I grabbed my robe and padded out to the kitchen. A  sharp rap on the front door made me jump.

“Come on! We’re going to be late!” Trip.

I threw open the door, and my best friend gave me  the once over. “Love the hair. You trade the blow dryer for an eggbeater? Oh my God, what the hell happened in here? It looks like a frat house exploded.”

I looked around the living room. He was right. Pizza boxes littered the floor, with two congealed slices on the coffee table. Sofa cushions and crumpled soda cans were scattered around the room. There  was an empty cake box, on its side, in front of one chair. The stack of mailing cartons in the corner had morphed into a small mountain. And the place reeked of cigarettes.

Somehow, I didn’t think I could blame this one on Lucy. Not unless she’d learned how to dial Dominos and started chain-smoking Salems. “

“Someone throw a party?” Trip asked, eyeing the wreckage.

“Nick and Gabrielle were burning the midnight oil when I got back last night. Apparently, she runs some kind of online business, and she’s a night owl. So they were up late working.”

Retrieving a gold pen from the inside jacket pocket of his pristine light gray, chalk-stripe suit, Trip gingerly picked up a purple lace thong from the back of a chair. “Hate to break it to you, Red, but that’s not all they were doing.”

I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here? What are we going to be late for?”

“Your dental appointment, remember?”

I smacked myself on the forehead. “With everything else going on, I totally blanked.”

“Big surprise,” he said skeptically. “You’re still not getting out of it.”

When it comes to visiting the dentist, I am a total wuss. So Trip and I have an agreement. He comes to the dentist with me. And I help run interference every year when his great Aunt Camille comes to town. Not a perfect system, but it works for us.

 

“’What did you mean ‘when I got back,’” he said. “Where were you last night? Hot date? New job?”

“Long story.”

“That’s OK, we can still make this work,” Trip said, shooing me toward my bathroom. “You go get ready. I’ll tidy up a little, and we’ll get you to Dr. Drill-and-Fill  fashionably late.”

“Did you get a dog?” he called after me.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Lucy sitting in front of him, staring up. “She belongs to Nick and Gabrielle. She loves shoes, and she pees on things.”

“Gabrielle or the dog?”

When I glanced in the bathroom mirror,  I understood Trip’s crack about my hair. I’d been so tired when I got home, all I could think about was a shower and sleep. I fell into bed without even combing my wet hair. Now I looked like  The Bride of Frankenstein.

I’m what’s politely referred to as “strawberry  blonde.” Heavy on the strawberry.

No time for vanity. I smoothed my fright wig back with a little water and a lot of mousse and pulled it into a ponytail. Then I gave my teeth a thorough brushing and followed up with mouthwash and floss. Hey, I don’t want Dr. Braddock to think I’m a total heathen.

I threw on a sweater and jeans, grabbed my mascara and lipstick from the bathroom counter, and jammed them into my purse.

When I skidded to a stop in the living room, Trip was closing a trash bag and chatting with Lucy, who was looking up at him lovingly.

The pillows were all back in place. And the cans, pizza, and food boxes were gone. I was hoping the purple thong had gone with them, but I didn’t want to ask.

“I gave the beast a potty break, so we’re all set,” he  said.

“If you drive, I can put on my make-up in the car.”

“Works for me.” Turning to Lucy, he added, “Now, you be a good girl and remember what I said.”

“What did you say?”

He narrowed his blue eyes. “Never you mind. That’s between me and the little beast.” Lucy gazed at him, besotted.

I gave her a quick pat, and we bolted for the door.

Want to hear more? Check out CONFESSIONS OF A RED HERRING.

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Cover Reveal-Spotlight-Love at Last by Claudia Connor

About the book 

Easy to love, easy to leave. 

With her ex-fiance's words, I'm in love with someone else, still ringing in her ears, Clare Franklin flies off on her would-be honeymoon alone. Resigned to the fact that not everyone gets a happily ever after, she's sworn off men. Until she gets tangled up, quite literally, with one very sexy veterinarian.

The only thing Dr. Deacon Montgomery is looking to share is his surgical expertise, but his instant attraction to Clare makes him wonder if he could be more than just a doctor, and daddy to his twin two-year old daughters.

Sun-filled days and hot, steamy nights only deepens the connection, causing them each to hope for something more. Until one phone call from home changes everything. But a love like theirs is hard to find, and definitely too hard to forget. 

Read an excerpt 

His wide, warm palm grazed her lower back as they wove their way through the tables to the exit. They crossed over the water garden in silence, slowing as they reached a fork in the path.

“Which way?” Deacon asked. “I’ll walk you back.”

“That’s sweet, but you really don’t have to. It’s a five-star resort, not downtown Los Angeles.”

Deacon kept walking. “True. But you know, I took you to dinner and all.”

She arched a brow at him. “It’s also an all-inclusive resort. Maybe I took you.”

“Maybe you did.”

He flashed her that slightly lopsided grin that hit her right in the chest. She conceded to the walk, and together, they followed the brick path. The resort was dark, but lights along the sidewalk lit the path and shined up the skinny gray trunks of the swaying palms. It was quiet, and when they didn’t pass even one other person, she was glad he was walking her back.

She slowed as they came to the breezeway leading to her building and pointed up the steps to the second floor. “I’m up there, so…”

Deacon started up the steps. “I’ll walk you to the door. I’m funny like that.”

She probably should have said no, insisted that she could make it to her door on her own. Because of course she could. But she didn’t insist, just followed enormously glad she’d removed the HONEYMOON banner from her door.

They reached her room, and she turned to face him. Just the two of them now, up here, alone at her door. She felt a slight buzzing in her head that had nothing to do with alcohol.

“Well, Clare of the here and now.”

She rolled her eyes at the reminder of her earlier word-vomit ramble. “It was nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand, hoping it wasn’t sweaty.

“It was nice to meet you, too.”

It didn’t feel like a simple handshake as he wrapped his fingers around hers. “I had fun tonight. You turned what might have been a horrible night into something surprisingly nice.”

“I’m glad.”

“Thank you for catching me and saving my top and for dinner and talking and…” And maybe she could stop talking.

“You’re welcome.”

A frog gave a low croak, and another answered, but she figured the pounding of her heart was louder.

The buzzing in her head grew louder, and she felt dizzy from looking into his eyes and staring at his lips because she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel those smooth, firm lips on hers, to taste him and feel his arms around her. I'm losing my mind.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to say that all night.” He lifted his hand and lightly brushed his thumb over her cheek.

Then he leaned in, and she moved. Just…moved. In and up, her fingers twisting in the front of his shirt. She was just falling into the taste of him, just getting that warm, tingling flood of a first kiss when her brain fully registered that he’d been leaning in to kiss her cheek.

“I’m sorry.” She swallowed hard, felt a stinging heat flooding into her cheeks, and wished desperately to disappear. Deacon was staring at her in complete confusion. That made two of them. “I’m… really sorry.”

She spun to her door. A stiff wind sang through the open-air hallway, slapping her hair across her eyes. How she got her key in the lock, she had no idea. Mumbling one more apology over her shoulder, she opened the door and closed it behind her. She stood, heart pounding in mortification, her lips buzzing.

The champagne glasses and fruit and cheese tray had been cleared. The bed had been turned back, and the damn swans were back, nestled in the center of the bed and kissing right on their terrycloth lips.

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About the author

Claudia Connor is an award winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance, including the beloved McKinney Brothers series. When she's not writing, Claudia enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. In another life, she’d like to be a back up dancer for Jennifer Lopez. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

You can find out more about Claudia’s books at http://claudiaconnor.com. News on upcoming releases, promotional sales, fan club swag, and chances for advanced reader copies can be found in her monthly Newsletter. https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaConnor

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Crazy Fox Ranch by Deborah Garner- Beck Valley Tour-Review

About the book 

When NY reporter Paige MacKenzie leaves Manhattan for Jackson Hole, she has only two things on her mind: enjoy life with Wyoming's breathtaking Grand Tetons as the backdrop, and spend more time with handsome cowboy Jake Norris as he prepares to open his guest ranch.

As Paige begins to settle in, a stranger's odd behavior leads her to research western filming in the area - in particular, the movie, Shane. Will digging into Hollywood's movie connection with Jackson Hole simply lead to a freelance article for the Manhattan Post, or will it lead to a dangerous hidden secret?

And I thought

I loved this quick paced mystery.  I enjoyed meeting Paige as she begins a new life as a freelance writer in Wyoming.  The story 

picks up just as Paige is arriving into town. 

I did not realize that Crazy Fox Ranch was part of a series. 

It was great as a stand alone.  I do want to read the previous books to catch up on how Paige and Jake met. 

His reactions to her penchant for digging into things and investigating led me to think it was part of a series and he/they had been introduced before.  

I liked Jake he was patient and sweet but he didn't seem to believe

Paige when she started finding clues.   And he actually didn't pick up on the fact that someone was snooping around his ranch and digging holes looking for something.  

Paige was relentless and finally discovered what was really going on.  Who was digging and why and what the movies that were filmed in the area had to do with it.  

As Paige begins unraveling clues she stumbles onto the bad guys

and gets herself 'snatched'.  In the end Jake arrives with the Sheriff to 'save the day' and Paige. 

There was just the right mix of characters.  Not too many to make it confusing.  

I am looking forward to reading more in the series and I plan to go back and read the previous books.  

Crazy Fox Ranch was a 5 star Cozy Mystery. 

Mama and Grandma would really like it too.  It is clean no 

bedroom scenes, no violence and no language. 

I received a complimentary copy.  

This review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

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