Rainy Days and Pajamas: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Blast & $50 Giveaway: Dating the It Guy by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Dating the It Guy by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator’s son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon’s world and it doesn’t help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren seems determined to get back into his life along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you’re dating the it guy.

Excerpt:

“By the way, did you hear Lauren got into Senator Agretti’s old school?”

“Seriously? I wonder if she applied there because Brendon did,” I said.

Margaux snorted. “Duh, of course. Seriously, she might as well just pee on him to mark her territory.”

“Margaux, shut up,” Kylie said.

“Whatever. Anyway, the important thing is if Brendon knew she was applying there,” Margaux said. “Em, do you think he knew?”

I hoped Lauren was just trying to follow Brendon, but what if they had planned this whole thing while they were dating? What if he convinced her to apply there so they could go to college together, wear matching American flag sweaters with big scarves while drinking hot chocolate, and jump into leaf piles just like a preppy clothing catalog. At least now I didn’t have to worry about them reciting poetry to one another in South Bend, but still, what if they had made plans to go to school together?

“Don’t worry about it,” Kylie said. “She was probably trying to follow him—like she always does. She’s so pathetic.”

Kylie was trying to make me feel better, but Lauren was far from pathetic. After all, she was pretty much the “Most Likely to Succeed” poster girl. While she was out overachieving and saving the world without messing up her perfect, bouncy hair, I was trying to get through each day. I tried to push away the image of Lauren and Brendon holding hands and drinking hot chocolate under a stadium blanket.

Praise for Dating the It Guy:

“Dating the It Guy is an entertaining story that is as absorbing as it is hilarious.” Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers’ Favorite

“A satisfying YA romance that is really about growing up and learning how to deal with life.” Writing Pearls book review blog

“There is so much to love about this book. Krysten Lindsay Hager knows how teens think and speak, and she understands why Emme would feel overwhelmed by everything about Brendon – his looks, his popularity, his feelings for her, his exes, his family.” Vox libris: the voice of books book review blog

Author Krysten Lyndsay Hager

Besides mining her teen years and humiliating moments for her novels, Krysten is also a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2), and Dating the It Guy. Her debut novel, True Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book and the Dayton Book Expo Best Sellers award. Krysten’s work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Grand Blanc View, the Bellbrook Times and on Living Dayton.

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$50Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 7/23/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thursday, June 29, 2017

Tour & Giveaway: Snifter of Death by Chris Karlsen

Title: Snifter of Death

Author: Chris Karlsen

Genre: Historical Suspense (With Romantic Elements)

Release Date: May 16, 2017

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

The summer of 1889 was proving to be a strange one for Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner. They had a sexual pervert loose. The man didn’t actually harm women but threatened them at knife point, fondling them, and ultimately stealing their stockings. Far more serious were the murders of influential men, which appeared random other than they were all killed by arsenic poison. Never had he and his partner had cases with so little workable evidence. Also, the rivalry between him and his detective nemesis at London’s other police department was intensifying. That nemesis was the boxing champion of their department and looking to challenge Rudyard, who never trained as a boxer. Besides Rudyard’s pride being at stake, and the pride of his station, his nemesis also had in his possession a photograph of the woman Rudyard cares very much for. The new lady in Rudyard’s life had captured his heart and he’d fight the devil himself to save her reputation.

“What address do you show for the Cross family?” the Vicar asked. Her mind went completely blank. Finally, she blurted the only one that came to her, which was no doubt wrong. “Park Lane.” The Vicar smirked. Not smiled. Smirked. That meant it had to be wrong. “I suggest you start there. In the meantime, I will have my housekeeper escort you out. I don’t know what you’re playing at but I don’t care for mischief. You’ll do your soul a good turn to drop a coin in the poor box on your way to the street.” He rang a small bell on his desk and the housekeeper came. “See this lady out.” Graciela stood on the top stair of the chapel cursing her luck when a man’s disturbingly familiar laugh interrupted her thoughts. She took a quick step to the left and flattened herself against one of the portico pillars. The horrible laugh rippled over from close by. It sounded like Detective Bloodstone’s from the morning she’d bailed out Addy. He’d said something that sent the shine boy scampering away and had all the detectives snickering, including Bloodstone. Taking a deep breath, she peered around the edge of the pillar expecting to see the detective. His presence would’ve been the perfect end to this entire St. Jude’s Chapel mission-turned-catastrophe. To her great relief, it came from a carriage driver. She hadn’t noticed a group of them gathered at the corner waiting to be hired. Graciela, you had no reason to be frightened. You’d done nothing wrong. Stop being such a ninny. She left the church and headed home. Zachary would be getting up from her nap soon. The whole way home she questioned her luck. A dozen people are murdered every day in London. How hard can it be to kill someone?

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books. My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write. I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Addicted To Rhapsody by Selena Laurence

Title: Addicted to Rhapsody

Author: Selena Laurence

Series: Rhapsody #4

Genre: Contemporary Rockstar Romance

Release Date: July 24, 2017

Blurb:

Guilt is the hardest habit to kick.

Garrett Jakes is the sexy and sex-addicted lead singer of Rhapsody. Now in recovery, trying to clean up his act and atone for his mistakes, he's decided to stay in Portland, Oregon where he went to rehab, and more importantly, where his bandmate's sister-in-law lives. The only problem is, he can't stop the guilt he feels whenever he looks at Savvy, and he's not sure if he's helping or hurting when he sticks to her like glue.

Savvy O'Roark is a widow and a mom at twenty-eight. She watched as her husband was murdered in their pub one night while he fought to protect her. Now she's alone with her young son, struggling to keep her husband's business and his memory alive. The only problem is, she can't stop the guilt she feels whenever she looks at her brother-in-law's bandmate, and she's not sure if Garrett's helping or hurting when he stays in Portland, in her bar, and in her life.

As Savvy and Garrett struggle to overcome their demons, they must also face the one thing neither of them can take back, while learning how to honor and forgive, love and let go. Can something that started in the wrong end up so right? Or will guilt be the one habit they simply can't kick?

Find out more at: Website

About Selena Laurence: Selena Laurence is a USA Today Bestselling author who loves Putting the Heat in Happily Ever After. In 2014 she was awarded the Reader’s Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the Year. In 2015 her rock star romance A Lush Betrayal was a finalist in three national contests. Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her kids, Mr. L, “Goldendoodle” and “Demon Cat.” When she’s not writing she can be found at soccer games and tennis matches, or one of her favorite coffee shops.

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Excerpt & Giveaway: Broken Little Melodies by Jennifer Ann

Title: Broken Little Melodies
Author: Jennifer Ann
Genre: Contemporary Rockstar Romance
Release Date: June 26, 2017

Blurb:
Star-crossed lovers…

Deep among the Jeffrey Pines of Lake Tahoe, Isabelle Martin and Roman Stone find comfort in each other at a summer camp for musically gifted teens where their love grows stronger every year. But they couldn’t be more different. She’s an orphan from the West Coast running with the wild crowd, and he’s a rich kid from New York hiding the scars of an abusive home. When their worlds finally collide, the future they planned comes crashing down around them and Belle is forced to cut Roman from her life without any explanation.

Five years later…

Roman’s on top of the world. His successful rock band is preparing for their first headlining tour, but when he unexpectedly runs into Belle, old feelings for her come rushing back, and his new found bravado fails him.

Belle has learned that some things in life have the power to break your spirit, and trying to forget Roman has made her bitter—she’s merely a waitress headlining a bar-band, and he’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter. Seeing him again makes her question whether time can mend a broken heart.

Their struggles brought them together, and their differences tore them apart, but now that they’re together again, can they repair the broken pieces and get a second chance at love?

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Excerpt:

It wasn’t until after dinner when we were told to gather around the campfire that I caught sight of Roman again. Sitting in a chair far away from my bunkmates, my heart hammered in my chest when he came into the firelight. The way he swaggered ahead of a pack of loud boys, passing out high-fives and flashing a charming grin to the girls, made it seem he was the unofficial king of camp. His endearing personality seemed to win everyone over. The way the other guys watched him as if waiting for cues on when to laugh at his jokes, and when to plop down into the open chairs, they may as well have been on their knees, bowing to him. And the other girls became animated, passing him flirty looks while whispering to each other and giggling behind their hands.

A tall guy with deep dimples—I’d later discover he was Roman’s seventeen-year-old counselor—stepped out from the darkness. He leaned his head back and crooned in a strong baritone, “Good ev-en-ing, camp-ers!”

Everyone around me replied with the same enthusiastic greeting, their strong, united voices rising up like a prayer to the beautifully star-lit sky. I was grateful it was dark so no one could see me blushing. It wasn’t the first time I was the only one who didn’t know what to do, like when going the wrong way through the dinner line, or where to find the sheets to make my bed. No one was eager to help me out until our counselor arrived mere minutes before the evening sound off.

“All right! Sounds like you guys are raring to go tonight!” The guy rubbed his hands together, smiling. “As most of you probably already know, I’m Eric. Are there any newcomers here among us this summer?”

Bile rose in my throat when every one of my bunkmates swung their gaze in my direction. I tried making myself smaller, hoping no one would say anything. Then Roman’s pretty eyes found me over the flickering flames dividing us, and his wide lips curved with a bright, reassuring smile.

A little of my discomfort began to melt away until he called out, “Isabelle from Fresno!”

If there wasn’t a fire between us, I would’ve run over and punched him in the arm. When all eyes landed on me, I was sure I was going to pass out from embarrassment.

“Isabelle, we’re delighted to have you!” Eric shouted in my direction, holding his hands out like some kind of prophet. Although kind of strange, it was the warmest greeting I had received since stepping foot on Camp Oscines. “You’ve probably already heard a little bit about what we do at the nightly sound offs, but don’t be afraid to raise your hand if you have any questions. You don’t have to perform in front of this group until you feel comfortable, even if it takes all summer, although I’d like to think you’ll be ready long before then. Which voice part do you prefer?”

“Alto?” I squeaked out.

Eric clapped his hands together, making me jump a little. “Perfect! Holler if you need help picking up the alto part on any of the songs!”

I bit down on my lip, afraid I would burst out laughing. Eric was a hyper guy, and I wasn’t sure what to make of him. I happened to meet Roman’s gaze again over the flickering flames, and his lips quirked with a different kind of smile—one that felt special compared to the one he gave the girls earlier. It was slow and gentle, fueled by sincerity.

Eric spoke again, taking Roman’s attention from me. “Who wants to start us off on the solo round tonight?”

Roman jumped to his feet. “I’ll go.”

I was both impressed and taken back by his willingness to go first. His beautiful eyes disappeared behind closed lids as he cleared his throat and tipped his head backward. The second the first few hummed bars vibrated against his throat I knew exactly what he was doing before the lyrics fell from his lips.

My heart skidded to a stop as his gravelly voice sang Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” in a rendition unlike anything I had heard before. The song was one of my aunt’s favorites, but this sounded like something entirely different from the CD she played non-stop. It was slow and moving, practically bringing tears to my eyes.

I tried to pretend it was a coincidence he chose that song, that he had rehearsed it all school year, knowing it’s what he wanted to sing before we even met, and that he wasn’t in any way trying to single me out. Then his eyelids flipped open on the chorus, fixating on me, and I melted into the Adirondack chair.

I suddenly understood the reason why his parents sent him across the country for the summer. The reason he was so popular among the campers, making all the girls giddy the minute he appeared: Roman didn’t just have a stunning voice. He was a born performer. The way his body twisted when his hands came out at his sides, the way his chin lifted when he hit the high notes—it was like watching a seasoned pop star in a music video. It was kind of cheesy, but it also somehow made him irresistibly cute.

A dizzying range of emotions washed over me, from embarrassment to flattery to paranoia that he was doing this as some kind of a joke. But once he was finished and comically bowed to the burst of applause before sitting, he once again gave me one of those special smiles that made me feel like I was the only girl in the entire world.

It was the first time I had swooned over a boy, with or without pretty eyes.

But it would be far from the last.

About Jennifer Ann: Jennifer Ann is the author of ten contemporary romance novels with complex love stories. Like her characters, she's in love with the city of New York, trips on airplanes or the back of her husband's Harley, and everything rock and roll. Sometimes you can catch her driving a tractor alongside her husband in southern Minnesota while trying to keep up with the madness of their four active children.

You can connect with her online at: