Archives for May 2021

So Not My Type by Amelia Kingston – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amelia Kingston will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

An endearingly irreverent love story.

To Jackie Ryan, insults are foreplay and love is war. What the feisty redhead lacks in stature, she makes up in attitude. She’s made more than one grown man cry and she’s damn proud of it. Little does the rowdy barista know she’s about to meet her match in the shape of a walking, talking pair of starched khakis.

When unassuming Eddie Jaworski stumbles into a quirky coffee shop, he isn’t expecting a battle of wits with the maniac behind the counter. Still, he can’t help be intrigued by the endearingly irreverent human enigma. She’s brash, but considerate. Closed off to most, but fiercely loyal to a few. Everything is a joke, except those things that are sacred. Jackie doesn’t trust easily and if he wants to get close, he’s going to have to work for every inch. Good thing he’s up for the challenge.

But Eddie has a secret—one he didn’t mean to keep—that’s going to tug at the delicate strings weaving the pair together. When everything begins to unravel, Jackie must decide just what she’s willing to risk for love.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

“I’m here for the irresistible asylum-esque ambiance.”

“Oh, fuck off.” She leans back and flips me off with both hands for good measure.

“See? Don’t get that at Starbucks.” She shakes her head and bites her lip to stifle a laugh. I shift on the bench, finding myself leaning in closer to her. “I met your Pops.”

“I heard.” She leans forward across the table, her chin nearly resting on the screen of my laptop. “Sounds like there was some confusion…” Her voice goes soft and sensuous. “So, do you or don’t you have a cock piercing?”

“Jesus Christ!” I pinch the bridge of my nose and squeeze my eyes shut.

“You showed it to JC?” She gasps and yells across the cafe, “Hey, JC, is it Prince Albert or a Jacob’s Ladder?”

“No, that’s not—” I try to off-ramp this colossal miscommunication.

“Prince Albert,” Jesús shouts back with a wink.

Red lifts out of her chair to peek at my lap, as if she’s going to be able to see the non-existent piercing through my pants.

“Shame. I always wondered what a Jacob’s Ladder would feel like,” she replies loud enough that Jesús can hear her behind the counter, but her eyes are locked on mine. They are a mesmerizing soft hazel with a mischievous glint. My heart pounds in my chest and my mouth goes dry.

“It’s all about how they use it,” Jesús answers, shouting over the hiss of steaming milk.

“Ain’t that the truth.” Red wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“I don’t have a dick piercing!” I shout over the both of them.

About the Author: Amelia Kingston is a California girl, writer, traveler, wife and dog mom. She survives on chocolate, coffee, wine, and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order. She’s been blessed with a patient husband who’s embraced her nomad ways and cursed with an impatient (although admittedly adorable) terrier who pouts when her dinner is five minutes late.

She loves to write about strong, stubborn, flawed women and the men who can’t help but love them. Her irreverent books aim to be silly and fun with the occasional storm cloud to remind us to appreciate the sunny days. As a hopeless romantic, her favorite stories are the ones that remind us all that while love is rarely perfect, it’s always worth chasing.

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Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray – Spotlight and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Kate McMurray who is celebrating the recent release of Like Cats and Dogs. Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a copy of Like Cats and Dogs and The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes.

The fur flies in this hilarious romantic comedy where the owner of a Brooklyn-based cat café and the local vet go ahead to head. The attraction is instant, but can you fight like cats and dogs and still be perfect for each other?

Things are getting ruff in this Brooklyn neighborhood when new veterinarian Caleb Fitch moves in next door to the Whitman Street Cat Café and gets on the wrong side of café owner Lauren Harlow. Lauren has a few things to teach the new vet on the block, and rescuing kittens is only the start…

Lauren can’t ignore her attraction to Caleb, but he gets her even more riled up when he argues with her about how best to treat the cats in her care. Determined to smooth things over, Caleb comes to the rescue when a new litter of abandoned kittens is left on Lauren’s doorstep, and they confront the fiery attraction that’s been building between them from the start. But saving the baby kittens getting them ready for adoption is only the first challenge Lauren and Caleb have to face, and when a real estate developer comes sniffing around their block, they’ll have to work together, or risk losing everything…

Enjoy an Excerpt

Evan walked into the Whitman Street Cat Cafe, pushing through the second door and grinning at Lauren like he’d already had three cups of coffee.

“Derek got married this weekend,” Lauren said by way of greeting.

“Aw, honey, I’m sorry,” said Evan. “Anything I can do?”

“Drive to New Hampshire and punch him in the face?”

Evan tilted his head and seemed to consider doing just that. “As fun as that sounds, Derek is kind of a big guy. He might punch back, and I bruise like a peach.”

Lauren laughed despite herself. She shoved her phone in her pocket. “I’m over it. So my ex got married? It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“Attagirl.” Evan looked up at the menu like he didn’t get coffee here nearly every morning.

“Not that I’m sad for the business,” said Lauren, “but where did all these people come from?”
“Didn’t you hear? The Star Cafe closed last week.”

The Star Cafe was a great independent coffee shop that had, apparently until last week, been right across the street from the Cat Cafe. If it had closed, that explained all the people here, the last place that served coffee between Henry Street and the subway entrance on the next block.

“I’m devastated,” Evan continued.

Lauren raised an eyebrow at him. “If anything, this is probably better for your health. There are only so many cups of coffee you can drink per day because you think the barista is cute before the caffeine gives you heart palpitations.”

Evan sighed and leaned against the counter next to Lauren. “Pablo gave me heart palpitations.”
“Any idea what he’s up to now?”

“When I got my caramel vanilla latte on Friday, he told me he’d applied to work at that little indie bookstore a few doors down. Hope springs.”

“Crazy idea, but you could, like, ask him out.”

Evan gasped dramatically. “Where’s the romance in that? We’re performing an elaborate dance.”

“Right.” Lauren glanced behind the counter, where Monique looked panicked as she took another order. “Maybe I should hire him.”

“He makes a mean caramel vanilla latte.”

A bewildered man with light brown hair walked into the cafe then. Lauren had never seen him before, and she would have noticed. He was so handsome, Evan sucked in a sharp breath.

Lauren had sworn off men ever since Derek had announced his engagement, because she was tired of getting her heart stomped on, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look. Because this man was pretty foxy. He was tall and fit, with neatly trimmed hair, a square jaw, and blue eyes that sparkled even from behind the dark-rimmed glasses he wore.

“Hello,” said Evan.

The man looked around. When Sadie trotted over to investigate him, he looked a little startled by her presence.

“Oh,” he said, catching Lauren’s eye. “I’ve heard about places like this, but I guess it didn’t occur to me that the cats would just be… out.”

“Only Sadie has free rein in the cafe,” said Lauren. “She’s in charge. She’s also terrified of cars, so she doesn’t try to escape. The rest of the cats are through that door.” She pointed.

“Ah.”

Lauren wasn’t really sure what to say next. Evan elbowed her, though, so she said, “Did you want to see the cats, or—”

“I just need a cup of coffee for now. This place is hopping.”

“Go on,” Lauren said. “I’m not in line and you look like you’re in a hurry.”

The man pulled a phone from his pocket and glanced at the time. “Yeah, a little.” He slid forward. “Thank you.”

“Are you new to the neighborhood?”

“Yeah. Just moved to Brooklyn a week ago, actually.”

“Welcome!”

He shot her a bashful half smile and nodded. “Thanks.”

Monique said, “Next!”

The light-haired man nodded at Lauren and then walked to the register.

Victor, the other barista, must have noticed this guy was a little twitchy, probably with a job to get to—he was wearing a blue oxford shirt tucked into navy blue slacks, the uniform of the Midtown office worker—and he grabbed the pot and poured a cup of coffee right away. Once the man paid, Victor handed him the cup and said, “Milk and sugar are at the end of the counter.”

“Great.” The man took his cup.

“The usual,” Lauren said to Monique now that the line had dissipated. Then she walked over to the man as he shook a sugar packet. “I’m Lauren, by the way.”

The man gave her a genuine smile this time. “Caleb. Maybe I’ll see you around, Lauren.” Sadie meowed and sat at his feet. “And you, too, Sadie.”

Handsome and he liked the cats. No wedding ring. This had some potential.

Oh, except for the part where Lauren was not dating in order to concentrate on making a fulfilling life for herself without a man.

Caleb walked back outside.

“Girl,” said Evan. “He was totally checking you out.”

Warm excitement spread through Lauren’s chest. It had been a while since she’d met anyone who made her pulse race like this. She wondered if Caleb would come back.

“Boss, your coffee’s ready,” said Monique.

Lauren took it gratefully. “All right. Do you have to work today, Ev, or do you want to meet our newest resident? We’ve got a gorgeous new calico named Lucy.”

“I’m meeting a client at ten, so I gotta go, but you can tell me all about Miss Lucy and report back on that tall guy over drinks tonight.”

“Pop at seven?”

“Perfect.”

Monique handed Evan his coffee, which he took with a grin. He blew Lauren a kiss with his free hand and then walked out the door.

“Come on, Sadie,” said Lauren. “Let’s get to work.”

***

Excerpted from Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray. © 2021 by Kate McMurray. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks

About the Author:

Kate McMurray writes smart, savvy romantic fiction. She likes creating stories that are brainy, funny, and, of course, sexy. She advocates for romance stories by and for everyone. When she’s not writing, Kate edits textbooks, watches baseball, plays violin, crafts things out of yarn, and wears a lot of cute dresses. Kate lives in Brooklyn, NY, with two cats and too many books.

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Imperfect Timing by Bobbie Candas – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
The author will award a $30 Amazon/BN gift card as well as a print copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner (book available for continental US only). Clkck on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Time is ticking on this second chance at romance…

With a recent promotion and loads of confidence, Chloe Stevens has landed in sunny LA as a sales director for a leasing company. Quickly picking up on successful business strategies, Chloe also zeros in on a challenging romance option, Zane Shepard, an LA city planner. Chloe and Zane quickly discover an intriguing lust/love attraction, eventually transforming it into the perfect relationship.

After a year, Chloe is ready to take the next step, cohabitation, but instead, Zane blindsides her with the unexpected news of a breakup.

After months of sleepless nights doubting herself, Chloe decides their breakup stemmed from the issue of bad timing; she was ready to commit and he wasn’t. Armed with her theory of choosing future relationships based on matching timelines, Chloe packs up her damaged heart and moves home to Dallas. She quickly lassos a new love interest, Trey Morgan; a boyfriend with good timing who’s ready to take the plunge.

Twenty years later, Chloe’s world unravels when she discovers her marriage to Trey is riddled with infidelity and lies. Taking on a new job, she’s forced to confront her past and rebuild the confidence she had in spades when she was younger. Unexpectedly, she has a chance to take a second stab at romance, but finds her good timing mantra severely tested.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Coupling up, making that long-term commitment. Everyone says it’s all about that one-in-a-million someone, fate and a chance meeting, that special sparkle in the eyes. Bullshit. I say it’s all about timing. A couple can be absolutely smitten, madly in love, devoted initially, but if the timing’s not right, forget about it.”

I was explaining my theory to Mimi, a bored co-worker, and she wasn’t buying it. Perhaps I was sounding a little too passionate. After all, it was only lunch, with no liquor involved. I’d taken her out for sushi and as Mimi looked around at the lunch crowd, she sipped her water and decided to engage.

“OK, Chloe, so you’re saying all these co-habitating couples right here, are not or weren’t necessarily in love when they committed. It was only a matter of good timing for all of them; chemistry had nothing to do with it? People are only settling because they’re in the right spot at the right time.”

“Bingo; exactly. I’m not saying one hundred percent have settled. A few got lucky right off the bat with the right-place, right-time thing, but yeah, a whole heck of a lot of people are married to a person because someone wandered by, caught their eye, and lassoed them in when they were ready to say yes.”

Three months of sleepless nights, tangled in sheets, with my mind running in circles ruminating on what had gone wrong, had led me to the conclusion of lousy timing.

About the Author:I’m a Texas girl: grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, two kids and a few cats. My husband and cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m a sucker for a robust discussion.

For years I’ve been involved in retail management, but have also really enjoyed writing, taking deep dives into the lives of my characters. When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I’ve been known to imbibe in a few glasses of wine and have been spotted forking into some decadent desserts while gathering with friends and family. I enjoy shopping, usually on the hunt for apparel with a weakness for shoes, and will frequently jump at the opportunity taking an unexpected trip to a far-away place.

In addition, there’s always time for reading. I keep a stack of novels ready and waiting on my night stand, with a few tapping their toe in my Kindle as well. I bounce around genres, snoop around the best-seller lists, and on the ready for a good recommendation.

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Silenced Girls by Roger Stelljes


Silenced Girls by Roger Stelljes
Publisher: Bookouture (an imprint of Storyfire Ltd)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

The beautiful young woman is perfectly still, curled up in the trunk of the car, her long dark hair hiding her face. Her cotton blouse has ridden up a little, revealing two small dots an inch apart on her back. Just like the others.

Guilt has kept FBI Agent Tori Hunter away from her home in Manchester Bay, Minnesota for twenty years, ever since her twin sister disappeared on the Fourth of July, when the girls should have been together. But when she receives an anonymous newspaper clipping about another missing girl, Genevieve, Tori is dragged back to the past. Just like Tori’s sister, Genevieve vanished without a trace, her empty car abandoned on a lonely lakeside road as Independence Day fireworks lit up the sky overhead.

Returning to Minnesota lake country, Tori finds Genevieve’s distraught parents desperate for answers. How could their beautiful, popular daughter be snatched so near her own home? Under pressure to make an arrest, the police have no time for Tori’s theories. Besides, they already have a suspect for Genevieve’s abductor: a local man seen flirting with her the night she disappeared.
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But then the suspect is found dead in his isolated cabin, days before another girl’s body is discovered bound and strangled in the trunk of her car, two strange dots on her back. The bloodstains surrounding her body belong to the one man Tori thought she could trust. Reeling, Tori knows the closer she gets to the truth, the more her own life is at risk. But can she catch this killer before it’s too late for Genevieve?

I enjoyed this strongly written suspense/thriller full length book. While I found the plot to be fairly mainstream (twin sister of kidnap/murder victim returns home as an FBI agent after twenty years trying to get her life back on track after her world was shattered) this book is totally noteworthy and saved by both the author’s writing style – which I loved – and a large cast of very strong and exceptional characters. Indeed, I feel this book could have all too easily slipped into the category of “yet another FBI thriller”, but I enjoyed this story enough to feel compelled to write a review.

The characters – Tori in particular – really struck a chord with me as being believable and interesting but not picture-perfect. Tori comes across as intelligent and sensitive, but still warm and caring. She has a well-deserved ego and is confidant in her abilities but is still humble enough to understand she can miss things and make mistakes and doesn’t just automatically assume she’s right or her way is best. I really felt the author did an excellent job in balancing her character with realism while still making her gripping and intriguing enough to keep me as a reader turning the pages.

I found the plot well thought out with a good number of red herrings and false starts. To be honest the main draw back I felt with this book was the fact when you simplify the plot (unknown serial killer kidnapping and killing girls and burying them so they’re never found and the killer can fly under the radar) it’s pretty standard and nothing too exciting. That said, the way in which the plot unfolds and the story is written completely saves this book from being “one of many” to a book that really manages to stand out in my mind. The characters, the small town, that intricate network of everyone knowing and dealing with everyone else – that side of this book is so very well done and really takes up a huge portion of the story. This totally saves the book and makes me happy to recommend it to others and go back to order the second in this series.

There is a slow unwinding of the plot, and I enjoyed following along with Tori and Detective Will Braddock as they try to follow the few clues in the new case and slowly unravel a huge web of mysterious disappearances from all around the local area and state over the past twenty years. I love how while the case – and number of victims – grew throughout the story it was all totally logical and well-woven. Not once did I roll my eyes or feel anything was too coincidental or anything other than good writing. The mystery and thriller aspect to this story was great and the characters were phenomenal. There is a little (mostly off-screen) romance between Tori and Will, and a few (non-gory and only lightly descriptive) thriller/killer style of scenes.

Overall I feel most readers should feel this book stays within the usual acceptable boundaries and doesn’t push too far over the line into the thriller/horror category. This isn’t a cozy mystery, nor is this a romantic suspense, this is a strong mystery/suspense and light on the thriller aspects and in general I don’t feel it should upset or trigger the majority of readers. While the plot isn’t fresh or new (to my personal perspective) I feel it’s exceptionally well written and strongly plotted. I adored the characters and found the whole range of them complex, well written and really interesting. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more by this author.

A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck


A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck
Scarred Hearts Book 1
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Meg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she’s found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger.

Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he’s lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he’s not lonely.

Simon’s new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg’s secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg’s love?

I literally just finished this book and the first thing I want to say is, if all the other books in this series are as great as this one then I will continue to read this series. A Reckless Heart was fulfilling. I don’t recall ever using that word in any of my previous reviews and I’m approaching my two hundredth review. Why that word has popped into my head is unknown to me other than to say that is how I feel at the moment. Sometimes I’ll use the term “book glow” but in this case that term is shallow.

I can see how many readers might compare this story to the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale. However, A Reckless Heart resonated with me. I guess there’s my answer as to why I found this book to be fulfilling. Not only did I relate to the plot but I also related to the characters. I am someone that lives with pain and deformity thanks to arthritis. I consider my hands to be hideous and yet my husband doesn’t think or see that when he holds my hands.

Meg Thurgood, the heroine, paid a price for misplaced loyalty. Something many people can relate to at one time or another. I at least have had many friends that I learned later were indeed not a real friend. Unfortunately, Meg paid a steep price for that life lesson. I had an instant connection with Meg’s personal conflict. She just wanted solitude and a chance to rebuild her life.

Simon McAlter, the hero, really hit home with me. Sometimes I want to stay hidden in my house. Society’s judgements can often be cruel to people who are different from the norm–whatever that norm is that day. Simon has been in solitude for quite some time.

A Reckless Heart is beautifully written. The descriptions of the landscapes, flowers and my favorite…the inner turmoil thoughts and feelings inside Meg and Simon’s heads. Meg’s cruel life lesson has made her a better person – one who can see past Simon’s physical appearance. Simon has a heart of gold but unfortunately a fire left him scarred physically and emotionally. The story is heartwarming as the two work through building their trust and love between each other while working on their own demons.

My interest was captured immediately and never wavered. The storyline flowed and even had a few plot twists that left me agape, but that is what made the book so much better.

There are other characters in the plot line who are relevant to the success of this book such as Simon’s business partners. I hope they are considered as future heroes in this series. A Reckless Heart’s setting is on the coast of Maine, which means it is a small town where everyone knows everyone. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing especially when there’s rumors going around. I used to live in a small town in Massachusetts so I’m all too familiar with how the gossip mill works.

The one thing that hiccupped me was how Meg’s secret was portrayed as “complex” throughout the story. I carried that weight with her. I couldn’t see a solution. Reviews are subjective; I feel bad mentioning anything negative but the collaboration it took involving Meg’s secret left me feeling as if the conclusion was rushed. However, I assure you that I still enjoyed the conclusion very much. I’m not a writer, I don’t pretend to be one. I just read and review how a book impacts me.

With that said, A Reckless Heart definitely left its mark on me. I will be adding it to my “keepers’ shelf”. I look forward to the next story in the series and highly recommend this book to be read. I’d love to discuss this novel in a book club to see how other readers were inspired by Meg and Simon’s endeavor. They displayed courage, bravery, love, humor, forgiveness and of course, chemistry. I felt their romance was an effective mixture of sweet and sensual. Overall, I absolutely loved this romance book.

A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler


A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

A century ago, the fairy crown was stolen from Alina Lehrer’s clan, but now the usurper is dead and it’s time to reclaim what’s theirs. Rylan Jackson, codename Orion, is The Court’s most trusted assassin who always gets the job done. Until his target is Alina, the one woman he can’t resist. Fate has placed them on opposing sides for the crown, but Alina soon learns Fate isn’t set in stone.

Before I start, let me share this warning: this story contains issues concerning Post traumatic Stress Disorder, if this will trigger you, please do not continue with this review.

This story starts with an explanation of how fairies became to be. They had come from another world and were sent to Earth as a punishment. Yet, they contained their mystical abilities and they turned into two factions, the fairies and wizards. As you can imagine one side tends to rule over the other, which happens with the fairy’s treating the wizards as servants. As history has taught us all this never turns out well and, as expected, the wizards waged war against the fairies. The feud is still going on during the present day and the fairy’s court has hidden itself in London a long time ago that has now faded into legend.

In Chicago we meet our main character, Alina Lehrer, her older brother Atlas, and his wife Lucie whose mother, Gina DeLafontaine was part of the royal family. Alina has had far too many expectations on her shoulder as a young child since Gina, who has the ability to see in the future, believes that her daughter will be the one who brings back their family’s glory.

Alina is a wonderful character that is dealing with the world she has been thrust into as best she can. She had enough of the pressure that was forced upon her and rebelled by canceling her engagement to another strong fairy family that had been set up since her days in the crib, and instead started her own business.

Alina uses her business to hide away from herself, refusing to deal with her past which makes it worse. You see, she had been captured, tortured, and was forced to watch a good friend, Kurtis being tortured in front of her. This caused her to experience flashbacks and anxiety attacks at any time when she is triggered by something or it could come upon her without notice. These attacks are horrible for anyone that has gone through a trauma as she is transported back to the room where she had been tied up in and expecting to die.

I have to admit that her business fits her like a glove as her gift allows her to feel emotions and auras that allow her to help her patience make the best decisions in their life. Too bad that she can’t use her gift on herself when she thought that her friend Kurtis was attracted to her and she thought they could make a life together. Unfortunately, this goes horribly wrong as she misunderstood his signals, which caused Alina to place an icy boundary around her heart. Like most of us that have gone through the first pangs of a crush that blows up in our face, she can’t see him without feeling embarrassed. Her pain is real and as she had watched him being tortured this also affects her ability to be in the same room with him. The only good thing that came from her mistake was to receive a book that was in Kurtis’ father’s secret library that was supposed to belonged in her family for many generations and proved their lineage to the fairy court.

What nobody knows is that she has a hit out on her because of the broken engagement although that happened five years ago, which is strange since if any fairy rebelled against the court, they were often taken care of right away. Rylan Jackson, the spymaster, and assassin of the court where the current leader, Monoceros sent him out to complete the hit.

Rylan is an interesting and complex character with his own moral guide that sometimes can make his life difficult. When he sees Alina for the first time, he is struck by her beauty and as they talk, he enjoys her witty responses and the strength that she doesn’t realize she has herself. He charms Alina and offers to be a guide in Paris. As you can imagine this goes against all the rules of his profession.

Paris is where Alina really becomes into her own. I love how she decides to throw everything that she was in Chicago and become a completely different person. It was fun watching her grow and allow herself to do whatever she wants with no expectations from her mother and the joy of exploring a beautiful city. A wonderful example of her feel free to express herself is when she goes and gets a Henna tattoo of a butterfly. It’s a great symbol for her as she is trying to go through a metamorphosis and hopes to bring back her new courage.

The relationship between Rylan and Alina is almost instantly full of lust, but also tenderness. Alina she has never felt for a man that she feels for Rylan, the protection, the willingness to spend time with her and actually get to know the person behind all her masks. This is a book that shows just how, when you’re suffering from unresolved trauma, that love, help from a professional and letting those that are closest to you in will help you work through the flashback and anxiety attacks.

There is so much strength and tenacity in these two characters that it draws you in. Yes, the plot is well constructed but it’s the characters that really carry it off. Each one has a wonderful personality and a history full of sorrows and happiness.

This is a good book with some wonderful characters that have had to grow and face betrayal, and a past that has ruled life far too long. We see fate take its hold on both Rylan’s and Alina’s lives as you can tell almost right away that they are made for each other. I absolutely enjoyed it.

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Night Walk by Sara O’Leary


Night Walk by Sara O’Leary
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When a little girl can’t sleep one night, her dad asks if she’d like to go for a walk. They tiptoe through the silent house and step out into the dark.

It’s strange and exciting to be out so late. Walking down the street, the girl can see inside the lit-up windows of apartment buildings and houses where people’s lives are unfolding. Kids are having a pillow fight in one house, while a family has gathered for a festive meal in another. She and her dad reach the still-busy shopping area, walking past restaurants and enticing store windows, then stop for a tranquil moment in the park before returning home.

Sara O’Leary has captured a child’s nighttime wonder as she explores her neighborhood and comes to the comforting realization that she belongs. Ellie Arscott’s illustrations, luminous and rich in color, perfectly complement the story.

If falling asleep isn’t possible, it might be a good idea to get up and do something else for a while instead!

Some of my favorite sections were the ones that showed the main character’s reactions to the evening lives of the people in her neighborhood whom she normally saw under very different circumstances. For example, there was a local shop owner who often looked sad during the day when she sold snacks and other items to the community. What this woman’s life was like at night surprised both me and the protagonist. Children don’t always realize that people’s behavior can change in various parts of their lives, so it was lovely to see it explored here.

I did find the ending abrupt. An important part of the plot was never resolved by the final scene. While I can see an argument for the idea that readers were supposed to come up with our own ideas about how that played out, it still would have been helpful to have more direction there. This was something I’d expect to answer questions about if I were to read it to the little ones in my life.

There were some beautiful turns of phrases here that painted vivid images in my mind. For example, an early scene described the main character and her father walking past an “island of light” from a streetlamp and nearby house as they began their walk. These phrases were easy to understand but wonderfully poetic as well. I smiled every time I found a new one.

Night Walk was such a peaceful bedtime story.

Flirting with Forever by Sara Ohlin – Spotlight and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Sara Ohlin who is celebrating the recent release of Flirting with Forever, book 3 in the Graciella series. Enter for your chance to win a fabulous gift package from romance author Sara Ohlin and get a FREE eBook from the author!

What would you give up to make forever come true?

Adam Brockman has been working the land and the horses in Graciella since he can remember, and the new Brockman Farms business ventures are all blossoming. Adam’s always believed in the farm, in family, and he’s convinced he’ll find the perfect love in the perfect moment.

Widowed Cassandra Dorsey hopes her stay at a Brockman Farm cottage will help find peace and get her life back on track after losing her dream job as the food editor of The San Francisco Chronicle and being reckless with men in order to feel again have done nothing but leave her numb.

Tumbling headfirst into love, Adam sets out to woo Cass into staying in Graciella and becoming his forever. Although initially convinced she needs to get her old job back, the land and love revive Cass’s senses and she starts to imagine new dreams that include a gorgeous farm and her sexy cowboy.

But a bombshell flips their world upside down and shakes the foundation of their fledgling relationship. Will the shock of a lifetime tear them apart…or grant Adam and Cass their chance at forever?

Enjoy an Excerpt

It wasn’t every day a man got to stand in the most perfect, spectacular place on earth. Lush farmland, rows of apple trees, green hills rolling off into the Pacific Ocean. A fantasy map drawn to perfection. Exactly what dreams were made of. Adam Brockman got to live it.

Gonna be another scorcher. Adam shielded his eyes from the blinding sun and took in the farm spread out below him. This land had never looked better. Full to bursting with things growing and thriving, crops, trees, animals, his family. The back of his pickup stood open and he shoveled farm compost, or good old-fashioned manure, whose ripe and humid scent wafted around him, beside the new walkways strewn throughout the farm.

First week of November and summer temperatures still beat relentlessly at the land. Long rays streaked across the colored leaves and toyed with the dirt drifting across the ground. But he wasn’t fooled. Fall beckoned right around the corner, despite the heat.

With the trees exposing their reds and yellows and the sun sinking earlier, the land was preparing for hibernation. The knowledge tightened in his bones. It charged through him, the change in the air. But for a few more dreamy days he subscribed to the mirage. He would be perfectly fine if they had summer’s sunshine and warmth all year long.

But damn, he hadn’t planned on planting hundreds of perennials in ninety-degree heat. He’d already added tulip and daffodil bulbs. Come spring, the hard, monotonous work he’d put in would pay off, with gorgeous blooms lining the paths. Although Adam preferred working with the horses, beautifying his family farm was important to him, to all his brothers now. The threat of old ghosts was finally demolished, allowing them to make Brockman Farms shine again. They’d spent months cleaning her up, nurturing her. Lily was nearly finished with all the cottages. Yes, come spring this place would be brilliant.

“Shit!” Adam yelled as his puppy, Bullet, streaked by in a wisp of golden fur chasing something, probably imaginary, and tripping Adam in the process. He lost his footing on the slippery ground, his bucket and shovel flying from his hands, and found himself butt down in the pile of compost he’d just finished mounding over the sedum. Being surrounded by manure, as a farmer, was nothing new, but marinating in it wasn’t on his agenda. “It’s a good thing you’re cute, you menace!” Christ, now the scent did more that waft around him, it oozed into his skin.

“What…what the hell?” A throaty, indignant voice interrupted his predicament. To his side stood a woman, bathed in the dusty glow of lazy sunlight, and compost. Well, shit is right. It was mostly at her feet, covering her shoes and ankles, and splattered on her jeans. A few globs clung to her cute T-shirt she had tied at her waist. Adam closed his eyes, banishing his clusterfuck, then risked peeking. There was even shit in her long hair, brown streaks of it splotched on her honey-blonde waves.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She tried to stomp her foot, but with the wet pile of poop, her boot made more of a squelching sound. “Shit!”

Adam couldn’t help the laugh that exploded out of him.

“This is not funny.” Eyes narrowed, she skewered him with a look.

“It isn’t?” Adam tried to keep the question out of his voice. He took in his body splayed in a pile of cow shit, raised his head and grinned at her. He couldn’t tell from his spectacularly awkward spot on the ground if she wanted to scream at him or demand help. She’d just been assaulted with manure. Okay, okay, maybe it wasn’t funny on her end.

Swallowing back his laughter, he said, “I’m so sorry, gorgeous.” Dragging himself up, he tossed the shovel out of her way and offered his hand to help her out of her stuck situation.

“Gorgeous?” She huffed at him.

“Uh…” She doesn’t think she’s gorgeous or she doesn’t want me to tell her she’s gorgeous?

Deep chestnut eyes held more than disbelief or anger. Stories lingered there, buried deep. People always said so much more with their eyes than they realized. A smear of super-organic plain old manure stuck to her cheek. He reached for the bandana in his back pocket, then barely stopped himself from laughing again when he realized there was no way his compost-soaked cloth would do her any good now.

“A bit clumsy today, darlin’. I’d offer you my bandana”—Adam gestured to the disaster he now was—“but I’d get compost all over you, or more over you.” He made to wipe his hands on his jeans, but he was covered in shit.

“Don’t,” she said and shoved her hands up.

“Look, you’re stuck in…well, you don’t want to stay there, do you?”

“It’s cow poop! You flung it at me. I’m literally covered in shit. Why is it all over the place, anyway?” She reached up to pull a piece of hair away from her cheek. “Ugh!”

“I’m planting,” Adam said. “Didn’t expect my dog to toss me over. Or a beautiful stranger to come traipsing through and be caught in the shitstorm.” He couldn’t help it. His inner ten-year-old self found all the jokes and puns about this hilarious.

This hardened the indignant freeze in her eyes and shuttered all her hidden tales. Shame. He could wade in and happily discover each one.

“What is it with you people?” Wow, he was amazed at how angry she could make her words sound with her lips so tight and rigid. Sure has pretty lips, though.

“People?” He put his hands on his hips and got ready to face off with this gorgeous but prissy lady. He wasn’t mad—it took a lot to anger him—but he did take pride in his work. Plus, if she wanted an argument, he was happy to provide one. Bantering with a pretty lady was much more fun than digging in the dirt.

“Men!”

She wiped the spot on her cheek but all it did was smear it across her flushed skin.

“Oh.” Adam relaxed and smiled at her. “I thought it was farmers that ruffled your feathers. It’s men you don’t like.”

“Yes, arrogant jerks with your swaggers and winks, tossing ‘gorgeous’ and ‘darlin’’ around thinking all women lap that up. And I do not have feathers! Ugh!”

Laughter bubbled out of him again. “You do know what a figure of speech is, though, right?” He checked his surroundings. I’m still on the farm. Haven’t stepped into an alternate dimension or anything. “This is all my fault and I’m sincerely sorry. Here, please take my hand and step out of that mess.”

“No…I…” She shooed his arm away. “This is unbelievable and yet so fitting at the same time.”

Are we having two separate conversations? “Are you mad because of the sh—compost? Or because I like to use the correct words to address something? Do you not like people calling you gorgeous?”

“Ugh, men always thinking a woman’s worth is only through her appearance.”

“That’s not what I said or meant. Don’t go putting extra thoughts in my head.”

She nodded and gave him a fake smile that did not match the rest of her expression. “Right. Of course. Is your head overloaded already?”

Points for sarcasm. Probably wise not to laugh this time. Oh yeah, she’s ready to spar. It was entertaining watching her try to insult him. Adam’s defenses were a steel vault. Her insults were nothing compared to what he and his brothers threw at each other. Even so, she still confused the hell out of him. “Why…go to all that trouble—” He swore as he rubbed the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. He probably had a nice streak of manure on his face now too.

“What was that?”

“Now you want to hear my thoughts?” he drawled as he peeled his work gloves off and tossed them aside.

“It’s not polite to mumble at people.”

“I said, why do women go to all the trouble in the world to appear gorgeous, with your sparkly makeup to highlight the gold flecks in your stunning eyes and hair products to entice seductively soft locks, but prance around like a snobby cat the minute we dumb men comment on it?” He intended to provoke her a bit, tangle her up, but damn he sank into the shimmering depths of her eyes.

“How I dress or wear makeup does not give you the right to hit on me. It’s polite to address people by their names, not stereotypical monikers perpetuated by society’s gender biases.”

“Oh.” Adam barked out a laugh. There was no sense trying to hide his humor, since she was zapping him left and right. “I wasn’t hitting on you, but I get it now. You’re giving the poor dumb farmer lessons in politesse.” He stepped closer. Dang! Prickly and stuck-up though she is, she sure smells pretty, like wildflowers in a sunny field. It obliterated everything else, like a shot of adrenaline. He wanted to lie down in a meadow with her and explore her scent. They could argue and kiss and learn each other’s bodies. Whoa, slow down, slim.

“Wha-what?” She blinked. “No—”

He didn’t give her a chance to finish because what had started out as enjoyable banter had turned into a confusing tumbleweed blowing around inside him. What is that feeling? Annoyance, frustration, agitation? There was a whole lot of agitation going on in his chest and other places right now and he needed to get the heck away from her. But first he put his large hands on her waist, lifted her out of the shit pile and placed her gently back on the path that wasn’t covered in manure.

“Oh,” she gasped but placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself, stretching her body closer to his.

Her touch annihilated any lingering lightheartedness of this situation. Instinct and manners warred in his body, heart and head, with instinct wanting him to tug her tight into his body. They’d fit in all the right places. His head ordered him to flee immediately. Is that my head issuing orders? His synapses were all jammed up. Her eyes fluttered closed and he wanted to shake her gently, make her open them back up when he kissed her.

WTF? Red warning lights flashed. He ripped his hands off her soft hips. “Sorry I ruined your boots, miss.” He tipped his cowboy hat to her in one last stupid flourish and headed toward his north star, the barns. “Maybe stay away from us idiots,” he yelled over his shoulder. “I guarantee you’ll enjoy your stay better.”

About the AuthorSara Ohlin has lived all over the United States, but her heart keeps getting pulled back to the Pacific Northwest where it belongs. For years she has been writing creative non-fiction and memoir and feels that writing helps her make sense of this crazy world. She devours books and can often be found shushing her two hilarious kids so that she can finish reading. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’ll most likely be in the kitchen cooking up something scrumptious, a French macaron, shrimp scampi, a fun date-night-in dinner with her sexy husband, or perhaps her next love story.

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SARA OHLIN IS GIVING AWAY THIS FABULOUS PRIZE TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AND GET A FREE EBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR! Notice: This competition ends on 25TH May 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod – Spotlight and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Xio Axelrod who is celebrating the recent release of The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a set of The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes and Like Cats and Dogs.

Her name’s Antonia “Toni” Bennette (yeah, she’s heard all the jokes before) and she’s not a rock star. Neither are the Lillys—not yet. But the difference between being famous and being almost famous can be a single wrong note…or the start of something that’ll change your life forever.

Growing up in dive bars up and down the East Coast, Toni Bennette’s guitar was her only companion…until she met Sebastian Quick. Seb was a little older, a lot wiser, and before long he was Toni’s way out, promising they’d escape their stifling small town together. Then Seb turned eighteen and split without looking back.

Now, Toni’s all grown up and making a name for herself in Philadelphia’s indie scene. When a friend suggests she try out for a hot new up-and-coming band, Toni decides to take a chance. Strong, feminist, and fierce as fire, Toni B. and the Lillys are the perfect match…except Seb’s now moonlighting as their manager. Whatever. Toni can handle it. No problem. Or it wouldn’t be if Seb didn’t still hold a piece of her heart…not to mention the key to her future.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The smile on Toni’s face faltered as Seb approached, eyes wide with disbelief. She banged the sharp edge of her guitar case into Jordan’s leg, and he made a pained sound.

Toni winced. “Oh God! I’m so sorry.”

Jordan laughed it off. “It’s okay. Seb has that effect on people.”

Her hair had fallen into her eyes, hiding her from him. It wouldn’t do. Seb itched to reach over and brush it back. After so many years apart, he needed to see her, to look into her eyes. He needed to apologize, though no apology would ever be enough for what he’d done.

As if steeling herself, Toni took a deep breath and raised her head to meet his gaze.

Seb watched as confusion morphed into suspicion before giving way to unmistakable anger, which coalesced white-hot as her gaze narrowed.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Jordan cleared his throat. “Toni Bennette, this is Sebastian Quick,” he said. “Seb, Toni the phenom.”

Lilly nodded to Seb in greeting and pulled Tiff over to the piano, where a pile of headshots lay spread out on its ebony top.

Seb’s heart hammered in his chest. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The connection between his brain and his vocal cords had been severed, which was just as well. He had no idea
what to say.

“Nice to meet you.” A flush spread across her cheeks, but the ice in her voice sent a chill down Seb’s spine and made his jaw snap shut. Nice to meet you?

Despite the greeting, Toni made no move to shake his hand, clutching her phone in one and her guitar in the other. Her eyes were steely and there was a clear statement in them: I don’t know
you. Or, maybe, I don’t want to.

Seb managed to nod. He wasn’t sure how to play this but thought maybe it was best to follow her lead. He owed her that.

Jordan arched an eyebrow as if to say What the fuck is wrong with you?

From his left, Seb could feel Candi’s stare burning into the side of his face. He needed to get his shit together.

“Nice to meet you, too,” he finally said. And kudos to him for not screwing that up. “Nice stuff.”

“Nice stuff,” Candi repeated, mocking his stiff tone. She stuck her hand out to Toni. “You know your shit, missy.”

Toni held Seb’s gaze for a beat before she turned to her, giving her a warm smile as she shook her hand.

“Thanks so much. You’re Candi, right?”

“The one and only,” Candi replied pointedly before dropping her hand and walking over to Lilly.

Again, Toni’s smile faltered.

“Okay,” Jordan said loudly, his eyes still on Seb. He turned to Toni. “We’ll definitely be in touch.”

“That’s great, thanks,” Toni replied, her eyes kind for Seb’s best friend. “I’ll keep my phone charged.”

Jordan gave Seb one last look, sent Toni a little salute, and jogged over to the others.
Seb found Toni studying him again, her expression indecipherable.

Finally, she rolled her eyes with a huff and moved toward the door.

Before he could think better of it, Seb followed. Grabbing the door before it could close behind her, he trailed Toni into the hall.

She was moving fast, giving him a healthy dose of déjà vu.

“Wait up!” He caught up to her in front of the bank of elevators. Seb watched her shoulders rise and fall on heavy breaths.

Despite her distress, Toni’s voice came out even. Measured. Glacial. “You’re the last person I expected to see. Again.”

“Yeah, well…” Seb rubbed the back of his neck.

Slowly, Toni turned to face him, and they stared at each other for a long moment.

Seb couldn’t read her at all. “You sounded good in there. Great, actually.” His words were so fucking inadequate.

“Thanks.”

Now that she was in front of him, Seb floundered. He needed to organize his thoughts. Figure out a way to approach her that didn’t cause her to shoot daggers out of her eyes.

“I, uh… How—?”

The elevator doors opened, interrupting whatever Seb thought he might say.

Lifting her eyes to his, Toni walked slowly backward until she was inside.

“See you around,” she said, dropping her gaze. “Maybe.”

***

Excerpted from The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod. © 2021 by Xio Axelrod. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Xio Axelrod is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of contemporary romance. In 2017, she founded the Philadelphia RWA chapter. Xio grew up in the music industry and began recording at a young age. When she isn’t writing stories, she can be found in the studio, writing songs, or performing on international stages (under a different, not-so-secret name). She lives in Philadelphia with one full-time husband and several part-time cats.

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Background of the Book by Chad Musick – Guest Post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chad Musick will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Background of the Book

Not My Ruckus is a book in which the characters go through a lot of trauma. Reviews have called it “sharp”, “brutal”, “brutal”, and “brutal” (it’s come up a few times), but most readers have agreed that it’s not a book about trauma. Bringing in trauma without making it the central theme was something I spent a lot of time working out with my critique partners. Clare, the main character, draws on a lot of my own life, though skewed in some ways. This is not an autobiography.

There are three big parts of the background to the book. One is the physical place and time. The whole story takes place in a year in Texas in a fictional town in 1980 and 1981. I spent part of my childhood in East Texas, and the town is patterned after a lot of small towns that I have been to. These towns have a sharp sense of place, but also seemed to me like they could be anywhere. Some experiences that I thought were universal when I was young are, I’ve been told, not actually universal. The wildlife was always there: scrub jays, crawdads, crickets, ants, and other crawly things. And the sense of being completely isolated from neighbors that lived next door but close to those who might live farther away. Now, I associate that with age: I only cared about neighbors who were my own age.

A second part of the background is disability. And this is “spoiler” territory, but … not really? Clare is autistic and epileptic, like me. Because we’re seeing the world through her eyes, we get a very limited perspective. She doesn’t pick up on social cues – she’ll notice the actions, but not know how to interpret them. She has memory loss, so some things that she should remember, she just doesn’t. All of this is interior to her as a character, so there’s only a little of her saying “Wait a minute, my body isn’t doing what I want it to,” and that’s related to a temporary condition. When you have congenital disability, it just seems normal. I’ve tried to show it without dwelling in it. I don’t dwell in it in my everyday life, even though I talk about it on social media.

The last part of the background is child abuse. Read the content notes before you read the book, definitely. They’re on the publisher’s website and also in the book itself. (They’re not obvious in the audiobook sales pages, which is regrettable.) I’m not going to write about it in detail, but it’s astonishing to me to see things that I just assumed were normal as a kid (in the 1970s) making the national news when parents do them now. Times have changed, and in many ways for the better.

The brief version of the background: In 1980, there was a Texas girl who got kissed by the girl next door and then things went badly.

Folks know 14-year-old Clare isn’t normal, even for a tomboy. She runs too much, talks too little, carries a gun too often, and holds a grudge forever. Only her papa’s job at the bank keeps gossip quiet. It’s unwise to risk the cold anger of the man who knows everyone’s secrets.

Clare feels prepared for everything from fire, to flood, to what her momma calls demon attacks. When her neighbor Esther kisses her, though, Clare has no ready script. Maybe she could write one, given time she doesn’t have. At the moment of that first kiss, Esther’s mom is bleeding out from a gunshot wound.

Clare can read the signs everyone else is determined to ignore. A murder was only the beginning. Esther needs protection, whether she wants it or not, and Clare won’t abandon her friend just because things are hard.

Maybe one day she’ll be forgiven for doing what’s needed.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I was watching the sunlight coming through the clerestory— with the attic gone, its windows got a fancier name—creeping ever closer to the edge of the oriental when the doorbell rang.

I peeped through the hole and opened the door for Esther. Papa had said I couldn’t leave, but he hadn’t forbidden me company. She came in without even a howdy, which is what best friends can do, I guess.

She started crying hard and pulling heavy on my neck and blubbering up her words. Finally I figured out she was saying “She’s dead,” over and over.

Esther just wanted to cry a bit and not talk, so we went back to my bedroom. I pulled back the covers and let her crawl in, and then I covered her up and sat on the bed. The canopy was making the light hazy, and I could see the sunbeam traced in dust. Momma didn’t approve of dust, so I should probably clean it up before she got back, but I hoped she’d understand that your friends are more important.

Cleanliness might be next to Godliness, but people must matter at least a bit.

Esther calmed down after a while, except for the occasional sniffle.

“My mom died yesterday.”

I was the world’s worst friend. I had been so relieved momma was okay that I hadn’t even checked on Esther. Me being upset made her cry again, and we went back and forth like that for a long time.

About the Author: Chad Musick grew up in Utah, California, Washington, Texas, and (most of all) Alaska. He fell in love in California and then moved with his family to Japan, where he’s found happiness. He earned a PhD in Mathematical Science but loves art and science equally.

Despite a tendency for electronic devices to burst into flame after Chad handles them, he persists in working in various technical and technology-related roles.

Chad makes no secret of being epileptic, autistic, and arthritic, facts that inform how he approaches both science and the arts.

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