Thursday, February 25, 2021

His Marriage Gamble

 Hi there! Let's meet Nancy Fraser, author. Nancy is doing a virtual book blast tour for His Marriage Gamble, a historical romance available since February 16th, 2021 from Books From a Romantic Heart Publishing. This book blast tour will run February 22-26, 2021.


Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3663/

Blurb

Felicity Beaumont, the rebellious daughter of Louisiana elite devises a plan to move her father’s illegally owned slaves north to safety using the gambling river boat known as the Lucky Lady. Dressed as a young farm boy, she attempts to sell family heirlooms to raise the funds she needs. Short the full amount, she continues her ruse and bargains her way aboard the boat as their chaperone.

 

Charismatic owner of the Lucky Lady, Jake McAlister doesn’t trust women, and when he discovers Felicity’s subterfuge, he remembers exactly why.

 

While they find themselves in agreement about helping the free men and women, they are at odds over everything else, including their quickly escalating feelings for one another. When caught between Felicity’s powerful father and the ire of a local judge, they’re forced into a marriage neither wanted.

 

Can they make the best of a bad situation? And, will gambling on love be a bust or reap them both a happily ever after?


Excerpt

Jake McAlister lifted his foot to the railing above the Lucky Lady’s stern and lit a thin cheroot, its tip glowing bright red in the dark night sky. His cargo hadn’t yet arrived, and he felt the first stirring of concern. He’d asked permission to dock at this unfamiliar port under the guise of making some repairs. To overstay his welcome would draw attention he didn’t want or need. He’d give them twenty minutes and then… 

“Excuse me, are you Jake McAlister?”

Jake raised his head. A young boy of no more than fifteen or sixteen stood before him. “Can I help you, kid?”

“I’m here to arrange passage for some of my friends.”

The boy coughed out his words, and Jake had to stifle a chuckle at the lad’s attempt to hide the obvious changes in his voice. “You’re the one who contacted me?” Jake asked.

“Yes.” The boy shuffled nervously from one foot to the other and kept his gaze narrowed on the ship’s deck.

“And, just where are these friends of yours?”

The boy let out a shrill whistle and a long line of blacks came out from behind a nearby building, first the men, then the women and, finally, the children. They arrived carrying their worldly belongings in a few large satchels, a handful of worn burlap sacks and, surprisingly, one rather expensive-looking steamer trunk. Jake counted heads as they came on board.

“I count four men, six women, and sixteen children. At fifty bucks a head for the adults and twenty for the children, that comes to eight hundred and twenty.”

“That’s right,” the boy confirmed, “how much extra for me?”

“I don’t take spectators on these runs, boy. The agreement is to take the blacks north to freedom. From the looks of them, they don’t need a caretaker, unless it’s to help them read.”

“My friends all know how to read, Mr. McAlister. And write.”

“Then they don’t need you, do they?”

“I’ve got the money.”

“Which you are going to give to me.”

Author bio and links

Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Nancy has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

 

Author Social Media:

Website: www.nancyfraser.ca

Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor  @nfraserauthor

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/profile/nancy-fraser

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Fraser/e/B004AOL61Y/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/fraser425/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gC68iMStwKCr4v_S6fMIA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romauthor_nancyfraser/

Newletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/bxkKvD

Trailer: https://youtu.be/1StNRvGpAUE

Jigsaw: https://bit.ly/36moGf3

Will doing the right thing be his first mistake? Or, his last?

He's the owner of a gambling riverboat. She's the willful daughter of a rich man, hoping to free his wrongfully indentured slaves.

Can he help her with her quest without consequence? Or, will he end up with a bride he didn't want?

https://www.bookgems.com/3417/his-marriage-gamble/

Purchase Links:  The Book is on sale for $0.99 During the Tour.

ASIN: B08TMQ9C3W

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TMQ9C3W

Apple:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1550045267

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-marriage-gamble-nancy-fraser/1138654225;

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/his-marriage-gamble

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/bxjxP6

Custom Link: books2read.com/MarriageG

Print Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TZ6TBTL

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/his-marriage-gamble-love-s-a-gamble-book-2-by-nancy-fraser

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56775984-his-marriage-gamble

Monday, February 22, 2021

Murder with Strings Attached

 Well, today we meet author Mark Reutlinger. Mark's doing a virtual book blast tour for his novel Murder with Strings Attached, which is a mystery/crime/humorous fiction available since February 22nd from The Wild Rose Press. The Book Blast Tour will take place February 22 - February 26, 2021. 

 


Mark Reutlinger will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3620/

Blurb

Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy's priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it's already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she'd planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they're not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed?


Excerpt

I saw nothing interesting in plain sight, so I checked the bedroom closet and then lay flat on the carpet and peeked under the bed. 

Still no violin.

I was beginning to think that Aaron Levy had deliberately thwarted me by taking his violin with him or putting it in the safe—an ungentlemanly thing for him to do, given all the time and effort I was putting into finding it. I returned to the front room and was about to check the last remaining door—probably a connection to the neighboring suite—when I almost tripped over something sticking out from under the sofa. I reached down to shove it back out of the way.

The violin.

How could someone treat an instrument so valuable in such a cavalier manner, I wondered. More and more it seemed as if Mr. Aaron Levy was entirely too careless and had to be relieved of this heavy responsibility before someone…well…stole the damn thing!

And I was just the woman to do it. I opened the case and lifted up my trophy, held my flashlight close to it, and with great satisfaction, began to examine it lovingly.

And that’s when the lights came on.

Author bio and links

MARK REUTLINGER is an attorney and former law professor. He now writes novels in which the law is frequently broken, including his “Mrs. Kaplan” cozy mystery series (MRS. KAPLAN AND THE MATZOH BALL OF DEATH and A PAIN IN THE TUCHIS) and the political thrillers MADE IN CHINA and SISTER-IN-LAW: VIOLATION, SEDUCTION, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (under the pen name M. R. Morgan). MURDER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED is his latest novel. He is also a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books.

Mark and his wife Analee live in University Place, Washington, where in addition to reading and writing he plays clarinet with the Tacoma Concert Band and enjoys tennis, biking, exotic cars, model railroading, and various arts and crafts. He has no idea where he finds the time for it all.

 


Visit Mark at www.MarkReutlinger.com and www.MRMorganAuthor.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/markreutlinger

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1192934.Mark_Reutlinger

Find MURDER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED at:

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Strings-Attached-Mark-Reutlinger/dp/1509233210/ref=sr_1_1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-with-strings-attached-mark-reutlinger/1138134761

Friday, February 12, 2021

Holiday at home

 Normally, I would have been sitting on the train to Knokke this morning. Originally we planned to spend the school holiday (named crocus holiday) at the coast. But the governor of West-Flanders gave out new rules, obliging everyone to wear a face mask everywhere where there are buildings. We didn't much like to be walking around like that. 

Both my sister and I have an aversion to wearing a face mask. It hinders unbelievably. When it's cold like now (still degrees in the minus), I can't see a thing through my glasses. And without them is also not safe. Chris sweats a lot under the mask. That makes her skin raw. I actually don't see the need to wear such a mask. If you keep your distance from others, isn't that enough?

So we decided to stay at home. Actually, it's not a bad thing, with those renovations going on next door. The person who owns this house (still don't have a clue as to who it is) has hired a crew of Polish (or other Eastern country) guys to carrry out the renovations. They've been working (!) for six weeks now and you hardly see a thing changed. From what we pick up, they seem to be a gang of good-for-nothings. It's best we stay at home so we can follow what they do. I'm afraid to find a hole in one of my walls when I's go away for a while.

There won't be a problem keeping busy. We can do a thorough clean of the house and when the weather's fine we can go out for a walk. Also we will have time to decently plan our trip for next year Easter. 


Monday, February 8, 2021

It's winter!

 Here in Flanders we're experiencing a real winter period. It's freezing, and yesterday and this morning also some snow was falling. For the rest of the week the temperatures will be below zero (Celsius) - also during the day. At night it can easily freeze - 10° or -15°... 

I had to go to the shops this morning, so I prepared properly. Dressed in layers, to be warm all over. Added my warmest coat, a thick shawl and bonnet, warm gloves, put my snow shoes on my feet. Walking wasn't a problem, even where the snow hadn't been cleared. And I didn't feel cold, even when it was well beyond zero. 

That's the strange thing with me. When it rains, I always feel cold. When it freezes (and especially when the sun is shining during the day, as will happen as of tomorrow) I don't seem to feel the cold. I can equally bear dry heat. My bones need dry weather. If I had more than enough money (still hoping for a big win in the lottery, ha!) I'd spend the entire winter in some country where it's relatively warm in winter.

There wasn't a lot of traffic around this morning. The cars that drove by went very slowly. The trains are riding too, albeit with some delay. In Holland there is no public transport and they closed the schools because of the weather conditions. There they are hoping it freezes real hard so they can go skating.

How's the weather where you live?

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Who's afraid to be vaccinated?

 I don't know how the situation is in your country, but here in Belgium there is a clear difference between Flanders and Wallony/Brussels. In the Flemish speaking part of the country, about 94% of the people want to get their vaccin against Covid-19. But in the Brussels region and in Wallony (places where they speak French), just around 50% are willing. 

This can be explained because the French speaking part of our population is closer to France, where people are also less keen on being vaccinated. 

The antivaxers have the strangest beliefs. When you look at messages on social media, you can read stories about how having a vaccin would prevent you from getting pregnant; that the vaccin contains a chip (or even an embryo); ... The craziest things first.

How can you ever be so foolish? Getting the vaccin is good. The more people get it, the better as the group immunity will increase. And what can a vaccin do? Give you a (light) headache? A bit stiffness around the place where the needle went? It's quite rare that you get serious side-effects. I've had several vaccinations (against cholera, yellow fever, ...) and never experienced a problem. My sister (who's number one is scoring side-effects) once got a swollen arm for two days or so.  

I'm looking forward to the day that I'll get my first shot. Like it looks today, that will be somewhere in April. In the previous vaccination planning the government reckoned with AstraZeneca to be distributed to larger groups of people because they ordered more millions of it. But now they've made the restriction that AstraZeneca will only be given to people aged 19 to 55. Those older will have to get another vaccin. Personally I'd rather have Pfizer or Moderna - or Johnson&Johnson when that one gets approved. 

Have you been vaccinated already? Reactions are always welcome!

Monday, February 1, 2021

The Lady and Her Champion

 Today we say hello to Sara R. Turnquist. Sara is doing a virtual blurb blitz tour for The Lady and Her Champion, a clean historical romance available February 9th. This tour will run February 1st - February 26th.

Sara will be awarding a $40 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3630/

Blurb

She needs someone to fight for her. He needs to be rescued.

 

Karin and Pavel have become separated by war and the destruction of his family's home. When Pavel hears of Karin's predicament, he rushes to his beloved. But what will he find? Will the pull to remain by her side be stronger than the tug to return to the front lines?

 

Zdenek and Eva are blissfully happy after finding one another. Then his father summons him home. It is a reunion Zdenek dreads. How will his father react to Zdenek's involvement with a merchant's daughter? More...what will Zdenek do if the man does not accept her?

 

Radek, who has recently defected, finds himself caught between two worlds. He stumbles upon a Hussite captive in the Royalist camp in dire need of a champion. Can he defy yet another army? Ostracize himself and limp back to the Hussites for the sake of a woman he owes nothing to?

 

While the Hussites maintain a tenuous hold on their lands, will internal conflict prove their undoing?


Excerpt

Zdenek’s father stopped in front of him and Eva. 

Eva moved closer to Zdenek. But only slightly.

Father looked her over, eyes settling on their clasped hands. He grimaced.

Zdenek let loose her hand.

“I am…relieved that you have come, Zdenek.”

“Of course, Father.” Was his voice as weak as it seemed?

Zdenek sensed Eva’s eyes on him. Perhaps his tone needed strength.

“We have much to discuss,” the larger man boomed.

“Yes, Father.” A tug on his shirtsleeve reminded him that Eva was beside him. He had not introduced her. “Father, I would like you to meet my wife, Eva.”

“Yes. I had heard,” the great man said.

There was something dismissive about Father’s tone. Glancing at his bride, Zdenek could not mistake the hurt in her eyes. What was he to do? Speak up for Eva and anger Father further? “Father, I don’t think—”

Zdenek’s father made a motion for one of the servants across the room to come forward.

The small woman obeyed 

“Please, take my son’s…wife…to her chambers.”

“Her chambers?” Zdenek spit out. “Are we not to share as man and wife 

His father’s eyes were hard. “I only expected you would wish to bed down in your old chambers. As you may remember, it only accommodates one.” The man’s lips twisted before righting into a smile.

Zdenek swallowed. Hard. He resisted the urge to look toward Eva. Though he sensed her eyes boring into him. Dare he speak up? Dare he not?

Author bio and links

Sara is a coffee lovin', word slinging, clean Historical Romance author whose super power is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are stranger than fiction. That's what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story. 

But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact. They sure know how to distract a writer! But, alas, the stories must be written, even if it must happen in the wee hours of the morning. 

Sara is an avid reader and also enjoys reading clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling. Her books range from the Czech lands to the American Wild West and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Some of her titles include The Lady Bornekova, Hope in Cripple Creek, The General’s Wife, Trail of Fears, and the Convenient Risk Series.

Happy Reading!

 

Links:

Website: http://saraturnquist.com/

Twitter: @sarat1701    https://twitter.com/sarat170 

Facebook Author Page: @authorsararturnquist  https://www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist/

Instagram:  @sarat0103   https://www.instagram.com/sarat0103/ 

Pinterest:   @saravturnquist  https://www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/

YouTube:  Sara Turnquist     https://bit.ly/sara-youtube