A Soccer Mom's Book Blog

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Spotlight for Other People's Things by Kerry Anne King

Other People's Things by Kerry Anne King

Paperback, 366 pages

Publication: September 21st 2021 by Lake Union Publishing

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

From Goodreads: From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a witty, magical story about improbable connections, difficult gifts, and the unexpected events that heal us and bring us together.

Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways.

Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Meet Kerry Anne King: Kerry Anne King (who also writes as Kerry Schafer) is a Washington Post and Amazon charts bestselling author who writes compelling and transformational stories about family and personal growth. She loves to add in mystery, humor and an undercurrent of romance, and celebrates when she succeeds in making readers both laugh and cry.

Kerry Anne has been chosen as the 2020 Writer of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Association. Her most recent novel, Everything You Are, is a finalist in the Nancy Pearl Awards hosted by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She is enthusiastic about encouraging and supporting other writers and is the host of Tell Me Your Secrets, a videocast/podcast featuring lively, informal interviews with authors and other people involved in bringing books into the world.

When not absorbed in creative pursuits, you’ll find Kerry Anne hanging out with her real life Viking on their little piece of heaven in rural northeastern Washington

Monday, September 20, 2021

Cover Reveal for West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras

West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras

Release: May 3, 2022

On pre-order now: https://mybook.to/WSLS

This is book 1 in a new series; however, each book will be a standalone

West Side Love Story synopsis:

Two familias in Texas, both alike in dignity, rivalries, and passion . . .

Having grown up in the nurturing household of Casa Capuleta, Mariana will do anything for familia. To solve her foster parents’ financial problems amid their rapidly changing San Antonio comunidad, Mariana and her younger sisters are determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands. That means competing against Casa Montero, their father’s arch nemesis, and escalating a decades-old feud. It also raises the stakes of Mariana’s forbidden attraction for a certain dark-eyed mariachi who sets her heart racing.

To Angelo Montero’s familia, Mariana is also strictly off limits. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing her. As their secret affair intensifies and the competition grows fierce, they’re swept up in a brewing storm of betrayals, rivalries, and broken ties. Against the odds, they vow to bring peace. But what sacrifices must be made and what consequences must be weighed for two star-crossed lovers to make beautiful music together and win an impossible happy ever after?

Add to Goodreads TBR: https://bit.ly/WSLS_TBR

On pre-order now: https://mybook.to/WSLS

Review for Make Me by Evelyn Sola

Falling in love is the last thing single mom Laci Hogan is looking for. Too bad her new neighbor didn’t get the memo. Cooper Stevens isn’t a stranger to hard work and when he wants something, he won’t stop until he gets it. Fall for this hard-working hottie in Make Me by Evelyn Sola, a Widow Romance, the next book in the Blue Collar Romance Series.

Read Now!

Laci Hogan isn’t looking for love when she moves back to Oak Bend. Coming home is all about Laci gaining her independence she once lost. Besides, getting over a rocky past and losing her husband is more than enough for her to juggle while raising her two-year-old daughter but old acquaintance - Cooper Stevens can be persistent when it comes to getting what he wants. No stranger to hard work, he’s willing to do all it takes to prove to his new neighbor Laci that she doesn’t have to do life alone and that with the right person, a relationship makes life better - oh so much better. Will Cooper make her see that this could be all the happiness she never knew she was looking for?

My Thoughts…

Make Me is the third book in the Blue Collar Romance books. This one had me blushing. It was steamier, hotter, sexier, and everything else more than the first two in this series. I am not usually a huge fan of the extra sexy books and had thoughts of stopping and reading but I really really liked how Cooper was with Laci’s daughter. His sweetness, softness, and understanding when dealing with a two-year-old won me over. He was not her father, but he treated her like she is a princess. I love how he showered her in love but also taught her to be a good girl.

The relationship between Laci and Cooper was not a surprise. In a shorter book, there can not be too much build-up and Make Me moves right along. They see each other, sparks fly, they play a little cat and mouse, coming together and finding the HEA. I loved seeing how they worked through their past, figured out what they wanted their futures to be, and worked together to make it all happen while keeping Laci’s daughter's happiness in their plans.

The Blue Collar Romance series is a series of books written by different authors all with a common theme. I love this fun series. The books are not long, the setting is a small town, and the romance is sweet, sexy, and steamy.

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Excerpt

Just as I approach the corner, I’m hit on the shoulder by another body. I’m pushed to the wall, and the mountain of books in my hands crashes to the floor. The red folder holding my English term paper lands on top of the heap. “Watch where you’re going!” the person who bumped says. She doesn’t have the decency to stop, but by the sound of her giggles, I know who it is. And there’s no way the school’s most popular senior would give me the time of day. I sigh and drop to the floor to pick up my things. My heart starts to beat erratically because if there’s one thing I know—wherever Candace is, he’s never too far behind. I’m proven right. A pair of black boots enters my line of vision. Cooper Stevens. Those are his boots. He was wearing them the very first time I saw him, and I remember wanting to be swallowed up by the ground. The only thing that saved me from total embarrassment was the fact that I know someone like him would never notice someone like me. I hold my breath while he approaches and quickly turn to my books. Please leave. Please leave. Please leave. I busy myself arranging my books. I won’t stand up until he walks past me. Only he doesn’t. He drops down to my level and grabs my red folder. Instead of handing it to me, he opens it and starts to look through the pages. I finally find the courage to look at him, and our eyes lock. For the first time ever, I notice the hazel flecks around his brown eyes. I look away and drop my head, and because this is the day from hell, my glasses slide off my face and land on the floor. We reach for them at the same time, and his large hand ends up covering mine. I let out a small sound, and I say a silent prayer that he didn’t hear it. I note the contrast of our skin tones, his white hand covering my brown one before I pull mine away. He lifts my glasses and brings them to my face. I’m as still as a statue while I look down at the linoleum floor. He moves closer and slides the glasses back onto my face. I take a deep breath and bask in the smell of his leather jacket mixed with his fruity shampoo. When he gets the glasses on my face, he moves his hands behind my ears to make sure they are secure. “You okay?” he asks. He lifts my chin and forces me to look at him. Like a deer in headlights, all I can do is stare. “Be careful next time, Laces,” he whispers. I lick my dry lips. “Um, my name is—” The words get locked in my throat. I grab my books and finally stand up. He stands right along with me. When we’re both upright, he takes a step closer. “Your name is what?” he asks. He hands me my folder, and when I take it from him, his fingers touch mine. “Um, my name is—” I clear my throat and try again. The entire time he stares at me with an expression I can’t interpret. “My name isn’t, um—” I never get a chance to finish my sentence. “Cooper!” Candace yells in the hallway. She runs over to us and grabs the sleeve of his leather jacket. “Come on! What are you still doing here with her?” She points at me without bothering to look in my direction. “Let’s go. You did your good deed of the day. Maybe you should tell her to run a flat iron through that hair.” The entire time he was being dragged away, his head was turned in my direction, until they turned the corner and he disappeared

About Evelyn Sola

A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor. She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters. Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Reader Group | Goodreads | BookBub | Newsletter | Amazon

About The Blue Collar Romance Series

Escape to Oak Bend where blue-collar hotties work hard and love even harder. From broody carpenters to sexy electricians, these eight standalones are packed with small town feels, heat, and heartwarming happily ever afters. Enjoy your favorite tropes written by an amazing group of authors: Jaymee Jacobs, Alexa Rivers, Evelyn Sola, Kate Carley, Tracy Broemmer, Mila Nicks, Claire Wilder, and Moni Boyce. Fall head over heels for swoon-worthy book boyfriends who aren’t afraid of a little hard work for that happily ever after.

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Cover Re-Reveal for By Mistake by Sigal Ehrlcih

BY MISTAKE by Sigal Ehrlich has a brand-new look! This witty, meet-cute, slow burn standalone romance in the Poison & Wine Series is available now and FREE for a limited time only!

About BY MISTAKE:

You've Got Mail meets Grey's Anatomy in this sweet slow-burn, virtual meet-cute romance. There's so much going on in Anna's life. Teaching countless hours at the studio and nurturing the three major relationships of her life - her group of tight-knit friends, all while attempting to not screw up this whole adulthood thing leaves very little time to waste on yet another dating app. At this point, a relationship is off the menu. Being "self-partnered" is more than enough. A serious relationship has been crossed off Liam Brody's list of goals, at least for the foreseeable future. Completing his residency and becoming a trauma surgeon is his only priority. Casual relationships, his friends, and books are the only things he's willing to lose his precious free time to. When an accidental email starts a deep online connection, both Liam and Anna dive in with zero concern . . . because there's really no harm in getting close to someone who you'll never meet in real life, right? Wrong. When a turn of events brings their "safe" virtual connection to an unexpected face-to-face, Anna and Liam learn their online chemistry pales in comparison to the real deal. A realization that brings along the bazillion-dollar question - what do you do when you meet The One at the most impossibly wrong time? ** by Mist@ke is book 1 in a standalone series with connected characters, but independent storylines.

Download your FREE copy today

Amazon | Apple Books | B&N | Kobo

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Giveaway!

Enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 paperback copies of BY MISTAKE a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Sigal Ehrlich is a bestselling author of refreshing, fun, and sweet romance books. She loves books, cold weather, and the occasional bubbly drink. Living as an expat for most of her life, Sigal has been lucky enough to visit many exotic places and meet some unique people from all corners of the world, while experiencing the sweet triumphs and travails of trying to acclimate to new "homes." Currently, Sigal calls the Czech Republic home where she lives with her husband and three kids.

Connect with Sigal

Release Blitz for Harvest of Love by Melanie Moreland

Title: Harvest of Love

Series: Instaspark

Author: Melanie Moreland

Genre: Contemporary Romance Standalone

Release Date: September 23, 2021

Cover Design: Karen Hulseman of Feed Your Dreams Designs

Cover Photgraphy: Regina Wamba of Exclusive Book Stock

Danica Rawlins

She’s a career woman, constantly busy, under pressure, and in demand. But the job that once seemed like a dream to her now feels more like a nightmare.

When the stress gets too much, she escapes the office and drives, discovering beauty in the wide-open spaces that surround her in the country. Leaving the worries behind, if only temporarily.

The last thing she expected to find was him.

Noah Edwards

He left the big city behind him long ago and forged a different path. One of earth and sky instead of steel and smog. Acres of plants instead of thousands of people.

The day she stumbled into his life, everything changed.

He saw his former life in her.

And when he looked in her eyes, he saw his future.

He was determined to save her.

Show her a life she never dreamed existed—and a love that would enrich them both.

“And what do you do, Noah?”

He grinned. “I pick vegetables and help out pretty ladies in distress.”

I shook my head.

He sighed. “I do a lot of things, Dani. I work in the store, the restaurant, the fields…like I said before, I wear many hats.” He turned to me, his eyes serious. “You thought I was just a stock boy.”

“You sort of let me think that.”

He smiled. “It was rather endearing, to be honest. The way you kept getting worried about me being in trouble.” He lifted his hand, wrapping a long strand of my hair around his finger and tugging it. “I kinda liked that.” His voice lowered and he shifted closer. “I liked the fact that you came back, even if you thought I was just a stock boy.”

“I couldn’t stay away, Noah. I think—” I swallowed, my voice sounding husky even to my ears “—I think you’re too special to be ‘just’ anything.”

He slipped his hand around my neck, his long fingers warm on my skin. “Dani,” he whispered. He ducked his head, his breath blowing over my face. He was so close, his hair was a brilliant kaleidoscope of color around his face, dancing in the breeze. He hesitated, then pressed closer, and my eyes drifted shut as I felt the heat of him against me.

His lips touched mine. Brushed gently, teasing me with his tenderness.

Once. Twice. Then again.

When you want a bit of naughty along with the nice. From NYT Best Selling Author M Moreland are complete standalone reads with one thing in common - lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst - love and happiness abounds.

While addicted to coffee, and challenged with computer-related and technical thing, she relishes cooking. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, but finds coming home is always the best part of a trip.

Melanie loves stories, especially paired with wine. She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

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Friday, September 17, 2021

Blog Tour for Worth Letting Go by Amanda Kelley and a Giveaway

We are thrilled to share Amanda Kelley's Contemporary Romance from her Worthy Series, Worth Letting Go with you today!

Make sure to check below for more information, purchase links, and an amazing international giveaway from Amanda!

GoodReads ~ AmazonUS ~ AmazonUK ~

AmazonCA ~AmazonAU ~ Barnes&Noble ~ Kobo

Book Description: Harper Davenport is widowed, homeless, and nearly broken. So, in a moment of bravery—or possibly stupidity—she moves her and her six-year-old son, Greyson, back to the only place that has ever felt like home. Too bad starting over is exactly as hard as she feared it would be. The last thing she needs is for Kade Dawson to be her new boss. The man is talented, handsome, and ridiculously magnetic. He draws people in with his looks and hooks them with his personality. Harper is no exception, but she has more than herself to consider. Kade’s reputation is well earned, but lately, he’s been craving something more. As soon as Harper walks into his life, he’s captivated. Only…things are complicated. Despite his desperate attempts to keep things platonic between them, Harper still manages to become the best part of his day. He just doesn’t know if he can be the man she and Greyson deserve. Sometimes, falling back into old patterns is easier than taking a chance on something he knows will change everything. If Kade and Harper can manage to let go of the past, they might just be able to have a future they’ve both only ever dreamed of.

* Books in the Worth series can be read as standalones*

Excerpt:

Harper didn’t want to be here.

Not in this building.

Not in this dress.

And definitely not at this point in her life.

But life didn’t give a flying squirrel about her feelings.

She’d been rooted to this same spot for nearly two hours, and there was still no end in sight to the barrage of people offering their tear-filled condolences.

As far as she was concerned, funerals were a cruel ritual that forced people in the depths of their grief to pull themselves together enough to appear presentable, so they could make conversation with people they really didn’t give a damn about.

Harsh? Maybe.

But Harper had been feeling a bit harsh lately, which only made it that much harder to keep up the act. If she were on the outside, she might feel differently, but it had only been six days since her entire world had been irrevocably changed, and she was still struggling to pick up the shattered pieces.

Harper didn’t even know most of these people, but still, she accepted one unwanted hug after the next because that was what she was supposed to do in this situation. Wasn’t it?

Truthfully, Harper didn’t have the first clue as to how she was supposed to be acting.

Was she supposed to be crying?

Because she wasn’t.

Was she supposed to be making small talk?

Because she didn’t have anything to say.

Was she supposed to be doing anything?

Was there really a proper way for her to act when burying her husband? The man that she’d spent the last ten years of her life with. The father of her child. A man she never really knew at all.

If proper decorum existed for this situation, she’d appreciate it if someone clued her in.

She’d been told lilies would be appropriate for the flower arrangements, and she’d agreed even though she hated them. She’d been told which photo of Reed would be suitable to put beside the guest booklet. She’d been told which casket to purchase and which poem to print in the pamphlets. Yet not a single person had given her tips on how to forgive a dead man.

Enter Amanda's Giveaway to win one

SIGNED SET OF THE WORTH SERIES.

This giveaway is open Internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And check out the beautifully redesigned covers for Worth Holding On and Worth Fighting For!

They are all so gorgeous together!

Worth Holding On

Worth Fighting For