🌟 BOOK BLITZ 🌟 How to Solve a Murder with a Grump by Laura Pauling {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

How to Solve a Murder with a Grump by Laura Pauling

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Pages: 291

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance

Barrie:

I am determined to make my best friend’s wedding weekend perfect. That includes editing the best man’s speech and making sure he doesn’t drink too much.
Except, he’s the worst kind of grump with a capital G.
Not only that but when this perfect wedding unravels, I find myself the object of his wrath.
He blames me.
So I run.
And I’m wearing the wedding dress. (Don’t ask.)
As I hide out in a small town, following my dreams, I stumble upon a decades-old murder mystery.
Turns out texting the grump might be my only lifeline. And I’m definitely not flirt-texting. Nope. Not me.
Because falling for a grump can only lead to a broken heart.
Right?

Miles:

For the record, I am not a grump.
It’s not me. It’s them.
It’s women.
I’m looking forward to the wedding this weekend. My best friend is getting married.
And the maid of honor texts me.
Not just once.
Oh, no, because that would be much too sensible. Nope. Try a dozen. It felt like a hundred.
I can tell by a glance at the texts that she’s one of those micro-managing, in your business, thinks-she-knows-everything type of woman.
Forget it.
I don’t want her number. I don’t want coffee. I don’t want a date.
I don’t want a single conversation.
Okay, fine. I’m a grump.
But can you blame me?

How to Solve a Murder with a Grump is a full-length hilarious romantic mystery with a swoony, heart-thumping, happily-ever-after kind of ending complete with glitter bombs, snapping turtles (imaginary or not), a decades-old murder, and grand romantic gestures.

Amazon

{EXCERPT}

(Miles, Chapter 3)

I almost respond to her text, then I don’t.

Yes, she’s been sending me a ridiculous number of texts. I’m trying to have a beer with my best friend before he ties the knot, and she keeps interrupting. 

Maybe she has an illness. A texting disorder. 

No, I haven’t responded to the maid of honor, who is texting like the world’s about to end.
You can go ahead and judge me. 

I know you want to. 

But try, just try and keep an open mind to my side of the story.

It isn’t the first time I’ve been called a grump. It isn’t the second or the third time, either. In fact, I’m growing into the moniker. It’s me. I kind of like it. The grump with a capital G.

But it’s been twice in one day. 

The first time, the clearly insane but gorgeous woman with all the suitcases shouted it at me after the elevator doors closed. 

And now, the maid of honor sends me texts that make no sense—so I ignore her. While at the same time, the groom, my best friend, tries to tell me all about how perfect Jillian’s best friend is for me. Her name is Barrie Croft, he says. She’s perfect for you, he says. Just a coffee date, he says.

Right.

Sure.

What guy wants to receive a million texts a day from anyone? No thanks.

AUTHOR BIO:

I write about spies, murder, and mystery. I love a lot of things about writing and reading stories that have mystery and romance. I love the puzzle of a whodunnit and witty banter between characters who love to hate each other. Especially, when they don’t know they are falling in love.

There are about a gazillion books in the wilds of Amazon and maybe half of them are mysteries. If you want to make sure you know when I have a new release in a current series or the start of a new series then visit www.laurapauling.com and sign up for my newsletter.

X (Twitter), Website, Facebook, Goodreads

{GIVEAWAY!}

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🌟 BOOK BLITZ 🌟 Penalties and Proposals by Anne Kemp {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

Penalties and Proposals by Anne Kemp

Release Date: October 17th 2024

Series: Love on Thin Ice

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Three abandoned cowboys, born in heartbreak and bonded by brotherhood, are brought together by the fierce love of the grandparents who took them in and the ranch that’s the only home they’ve ever known…

Surly cowboy, Ford Lassiter, named after the truck his dad was driving when he’d left him and his mother, has only known abandonment and doesn’t trust relationships—until he shares an intimate weekend at a wedding with a woman he met by chance. Now he can’t stop thinking about her and what could have happened if she hadn’t driven away from him too.

Tall and curvy, Elizabeth ‘Bitsy’ Cole, who is anything but bitsy, has spent her adult life wishing for change but is afraid to take risks. Then a crazy hot weekend with a cowboy finally gives her the courage to make some big changes in her life. She quits the family business to start her own accounting firm and buys a rundown farmhouse in the mountains with a yard for her dog, finally leaving her dinky apartment in the city that’s never quite felt like home.

So what happens when the handy-man she hires to help fix up the farmhouse turns out to be the same cowboy she spent that steamy weekend with? She thinks he was only with her out of pity and as a favor to the groom, but the looks he’s giving her now makes her wonder if there might be a chance for something more. If she has the courage to find out…

Amazon

{EXCERPT}

Willa's POV

“Is this the only table you have available?”

My eyes cannot be deceiving me. I’m standing in a restaurant with no one else in it, save another couple at the opposite end of the room. Surely the only table they have for me to sit at is not the one that happens to be directly beside Noah? Not to mention the fact the place is small enough I’d practically be sitting at his table anyway, the tables are that close to one another.

The young girl looks at me woefully. “I’m really sorry, but we’re full with reservations tonight.” Her tone is apologetic, and she’s young, so I’m not going to debate the situation … but still. The odds. I flex my hands, stretch my fingers, and take a deep breath, trying to fight back my irritation when I see a sliver of my tattoo under my sleeve.

Believe. Ha. I almost snort out loud. How about I believe I’m Harry Potter and I cast a quick spell to time travel to another restaurant in another town altogether?

“What about the bar?” I nod my head toward the old wooden bar where an older woman is busy making drinks and watching me through narrowed eyes. “Looks like there’s space there.”

“Our bartender isn’t on duty for another hour.” When I shoot her a questioning look, obviously confused by the woman pouring herself a soda from the beverage gun, the young girl stammers. “I’ve been asked to not have anyone sit there until his shift begins.”

So this fact leaves me to be seated by the blight that plagues me. Yes, I’m being ridiculously overdramatic, but the thought of chewing my dinner and having to stare at Noah, or work hard to look anywhere in this room besides at Noah, turns me off in the biggest way. Like a light switch after a big night out. I didn’t go to that party tonight because I wanted some time alone, time to myself to plan out the schedule I need to juggle in the days ahead.

“Fine,” I say with a sigh, pulling out my notebook and phone. When I look Noah’s way, he’s watching me, his expression frozen. I can’t read him, but he could be as weirded out that I’m about to be seated beside him as I am. I’ll save us both the trouble. I pick the chair where my back will be facing him and pull it out and settle in.

The hostess hands me the menu and asks for a drink order before she disappears from sight. I make a mental note to apologize to her. Poor thing. It’s not her fault she’s seated me next to the devil.

“Hi, Willa.” Of course his voice is like hot chocolate. The devil’s would be velvety and delicious. My instincts tell me to ignore him, but I’m here to work. I can hear my mom’s voice in the back of my mind telling me to play nice.

I pick up the menu and fake peruse it. Fake because of course I can’t think about anything else right now except that he’s right there.

“Hello, Noah. Fancy running into you at dinner.”

“A man’s gotta eat,” he responds.

“No doubt, but when I heard about the party happening in town tonight, I figured you’d be the first one signed up to be there.” I flip a page of the menu a little more aggressively than intended and manage to rip it a tiny bit. Must. Breathe.

“Contrary to past reports, I’m not the guy who goes to all the parties any longer.”

I want to turn around and face him, see the look on his face, but the stubborn part of me refuses. He’s the one who is engaging me; I can only imagine that eventually my lack of wanting to chat will catch on and he’ll focus on something else.

“So, you’re telling me a leopard can change his spots. That’s nice,” I manage to say, doubt dripping with each word. Holding my menu up in the air for him to see. “But, the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned. If you’ll excuse me, I need to decide on my meal.”

There’s a pause before he answers. “Of course, sorry. I’ll leave you to it.”

A weight slides off my shoulders. Was it really that easy? I decide it has to be and go about choosing my meal, landing on the lasagna, then turning my attention to my notebook. This was to be a planning session for Noah’s photos amongst other work, and I intend to stay focused, even if he is right behind me and I can hear him breathing. 

AUTHOR BIO:

Anne Kemp is a bestselling author of romantic comedies. She loves reading (and she does it ridiculously fast, too!), gluten-free baking (because everyone needs a hobby that makes them crazy), and finding time to binge-watch her favorite shows. She grew up in Maryland but made Los Angeles her home until she encountered her own real-life meet-cute at a friend's wedding where she ended up married to one of the groomsmen. For real.

Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn’t have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and when she’s not writing, she’s usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.

You can find Anne on her website - come say hi! She’d love to hear from you: www.annekemp.com

Author links:
https://www.annekemp.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@annekempauthor
https://www.instagram.com/annekempauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/missannekemp/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5805725.Anne_Kemp

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🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 Just One More Mistletoe by Carly Phillips

Just One More Mistletoe by Carly Phillips

Release Date: October 15, 2024

Series: The Sterling Family #3

Pages: 71

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

What happens under the mistletoe stays under the mistletoe…

Brandy Bloom plans to seduce the man of her dreams at an office Christmas party but finds herself kissing his twin, instead. One night only is her plan but Max Corbin has other ideas. The sexy elf who kissed him under the pretend mistletoe is a special woman he has no plans of letting go. 

Kindle, Nook, Apple, Kobo, Google Play

My Review:

A mistaken identity at an office Christmas party turns into so much more in Phillips’s third book in The Sterling Family Series. Just One More Mistletoe will leave you swooning and rooting for the characters until the very end!

As the year is coming to an end, Brandy Bloom is ready to start the next chapter of her life away from the bustling city and onto the suburbs of Long Island. Her life has come in a long way and Brady is at a point in her life where she is truly happy. Yet, it’s time to move on and she can’t leave the office until she seduces the man she’s desired for a while now. But her plans to spend the night with Stephan Corbin do not end up working out like she planned. Instead, Brandy finds herself kissing the wrong twin. If it weren’t for his brother that invited him to the office Christmas party, Max Corbin, would never had the chance to meet the gorgeous woman dressed as an elf. The minute their eyes connected, Max knew that she was different from other women. Their electrifying chemistry is what ultimately gives Max the more reasons to make Brandy his for good.

Though the story was short and sweet, Brady’s story packs a punch as she gets to know Max. It’s clear that they have a lot in common and they’re able to relate to each other right away. Brandy’s walls enables her to give people the chance to get to know her. Which makes Max that much more adamant to let her see who he really is and give her the chance to see if they can have their happily-ever-after. I would highly recommend checking out this book as well as any others by the author. You will not regret it! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating:

Meet Carly Phillips:

Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books!

https://www.carlyphillips.com/subscribe-newsletter/

To learn more about Carly Phillips & her books, visit here!

Connect with Carly Phillips:

https://www.carlyphillips.com/ 

Thanks for stopping by! 📚