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    A bumper New Release Friday with 5 fabulous new reads for the weekend

    9/7/2018

    New Release Friday
    The Perfect Catch (Kissing the Enemy Book 1)
    The Perfect Catch - Cover
    Her brother’s best friend used to be Callie’s friend too. But that was before he became a jerk, and then her coach, and now…her first kiss.

    There’s no doubt about it, Noah is avoiding Callie like the plague now that she’s living in the dorms on his college campus. She’d hoped this weeklong softball clinic would help put their past awkwardness behind them–after all, he’d taught her everything she knows about the game. But her brother’s best friend is more of a jerk than ever. Until he kisses her. And now…well, now she doesn’t know what’s going on between them. But it doesn’t matter, not really. She’s not here for Noah, she’s only here to show the recruiters at the big showcase game that she has what it takes to play for a college team.

    It’s a solid plan…until it all falls apart. Thanks to Noah’s overprotective interference, she’s kicked out of the showcase game, and any chance of college scholarships slips out of her reach. But there might be a way to salvage her plan and her future. She just has to be seen, right? Noah’s the new coach for a charity softball event and he owes her big time. She might just be able to save her scholarship chances if she can survive his coaching…and his kisses.
    ​Get it here

    Frankie B – Captain’s Gold – A paranormal witch cozy mystery (Marina Witches Mysteries Book 2)
    Frankie B Captain's Gold - Cover
    Faced with a potentially-lethal blood curse, should she really be on this crazy treasure hunt? Yes, if finding the gold will help break the curse.

    Rid of the ghost of Captain Russell Garnet, Frankie thought she could get on with life, if only she wasn’t lumbered with this pesky blood curse. And if only her troublesome grandmamma — the not so ex-pirate — Anne Bonny hadn’t managed to get herself in a heap of trouble.

    But before any rescue can take place, Frankie needs to get a handle on her new witchy powers. While she’s no longer stuck with housework spells and the occasional ward, her new power levels are unstable at best. And completely missing, at worst.

    And yet again, she’s training with the drop-dead gorgeous Zane, making concentration difficult, especially when the air between them is laced with magic.

    Will Frankie break the curse, and find out who killed her mom and dad, or will she die trying? With Dex, her familiar, and Zane at her side, how can she possibly fail?

    Grab a copy here

    The Wedding Photo (Wedding Bouquet Novellas Book 1)
    The Wedding Photo - Cover
    An outrageous dress. An unexpected proposal. A photo that never should have happened.
    Bridesmaid Katherine’s perfect boyfriend, Michael, just got down on one knee and she screwed it all up. What is wrong with her? And what is she going to tell Michael?
    Bryan doesn’t get close to people. Not anymore. Maybe he dropped out of life a little bit, but, hey, it was his life to drop out of.
    But when Bryan’s photography hobby accidentally makes Katherine a viral sensation, all bets are off. Suddenly, she’s in his face and he’s not unhappy about it. Maybe she isn’t either…
    Can one picture change everything?
    The Wedding Photo is the first book in the Wedding Bouquet romantic comedy novella series. If you like light, sweet, romantic reads told with humor and heart, you’ll love The Wedding Photo.
    Grab a copy to curl up with today.
    (The Wedding Photo is a Sweetheart Read. The romance is sweet, the language is clean.)
    Grab a copy today

     

    Saving Sarah (The Gold Coast Retrievers Book 1)
    Saving Sarah - Cover
    A shy girl, a social guy, a second chance to get their stories right…

    Sarah Campbell loves living vicariously through the residents at the Redwood Cove Rest Home. But when a surly patient insists she can’t die before “setting things right,” Sarah finds she may end up taking on far more than she ever bargained for… especially since all signs point to murder. Have she and her therapy dog Lucky stumbled upon the key to solving the most famous cold case in Gold Coast history?

    Despite creating the world’s most popular social network, Finch Jameson lives a life of ashamed solitude. The last thing he wants is to draw attention to himself, but that’s exactly what happens when a distant relative delivers an earth-shattering confession in her dying days. Soon he finds himself more intrigued by the shy and beautiful nurse who’s committed to helping him solve his great-aunt Eleanor’s mystery than in the mystery itself. But will she ever let her guard down long enough to let him in?

    Can Finch and Sarah work together to solve Eleanor’s big mystery before time runs out? And might redeeming Eleanor’s legacy somehow save them both in the process?

    Find out if Lucky can help these two humans get to the bottom of this mystery and get a head start on their own love story. This sweet tale of suspense, secrets, and second chances is one you won’t want to miss… Get your copy and start reading today!

    Hot Mess: Lucy Davenport: Season One, Episode One (The CRD Series Book 2)
    Hot Mess - Cover
    In the pilot for the series, you met the #Davenport clan and all their craziness.
    Pick up in episode one where the pilot for the book left off.

    Lucy Davenport is a Hot Mess, no doubt. She’s digging herself in deeper and deeper with the surprise announcement from her in-laws. They are demanding that she marry Cash Davenport, her deceased husbands brother. Her family will bond together to fight them, but their hilarious
    dys-FUN-ctional antics will land them in trouble, maybe even in jail.

    Warning: If you are looking for a sweet, sensitive book with a happily ever after, this isn’t it. It is a totally inappropriate book about a completely dysfunctional family. The F word flies free along with many other curse words. Feel free to get drunk (because the Davenports sure are!) while you’re reading it, and prepare to wet yourself laughing. If sex scenes are not your thing, this book might not be your thing. But, if you have a crazy sense of humor and like raunchy comedies – you’re in the right place. Join in on the craziness of The Crazy Rich Davenport Family.
    Get it here

  • Blog

    Three great weekend reads this New Release Friday

    6/29/2018

    New Release Friday
    A Wave of Love by Monica Donnelly
    A Wave of Love - Cover
    Fintan Doherty was back.

    Polly had spent a decade avoiding the man who’d broken her heart as a teenager but now he was back in town and she couldn’t seem to escape him.

    Fin wanted to make amends, not for leaving but for the way he left. He’d gone to pursue a career as an World Champion Surfer, that was his dream and he’d fulfilled it. He didn’t regret going but he did regret that his leaving had broken Polly’s heart.

    Polly hated that Fin was still the one man she’d ever loved. She’d tried to move on and now ran a successful vineyard but for some reason no one else had touched her like Fin, which meant here she was nearly thirty and still a virgin.

    If Fin wanted her forgiveness all he had to do was commit to some no strings attached sex while he was in town. Polly was certain it was a win-win for everyone.

    The only problem was Fin wasn’t planning on leave and he definitely wasn’t planning on kissing Polly good-bye again.

    This is the second book in the Henley’s Bluff series and can be read as a stand-alone novel

    Grab yours here today

    Dancing by the Moonlight: (A sweet summer romance to read on the beach) (A Carlisle Bay Novel) by Angie Ellington
    Dancing by the Moonlight - Cover
    Olivia Shields is a new resident to Carlisle Bay, Connecticut, after having traveled the world as a professional ballet dancer. Dancing was her life. Chasing performance dreams is all she’s ever known or planned for. Now, she’ll take on a new role as the manager of her aunt’s coastal boutique.

    Brady Carlisle has recently returned to Carlisle Bay; the hometown of his family’s namesake. He’s spent the last decade in California, designing and patenting surfboards. Becoming his own man without relying on the Carlisle name is all he’s ever wanted.

    Just as life seems to be getting on track, the boutique could be lost. The Shields women have got a few storms to weather. They aren’t the only ones. The Carlisle family has held on to secrets for over a decade.

    Starting over isn’t always simple. Will they try and recapture a summer love swept out at sea thirteen years earlier.. Will secrets and heartache of the past keep them apart? Life may not always be smooth sailing along the shores of Carlisle Bay, but fireworks are sure to be found.

     

     

     

     

    Get your copy today

     

    Frankie B – The Ghost Ship – A paranormal witch cozy mystery (Marina Witches Mysteries Book 1) by Andrene Low
    Frankie B - The Ghost Ship - Cover
    She’s a jinxed witch with Bruce Lee moves. The coven’s being haunted and witches are disappearing. Will she be able to save the coven and herself?
    Not yet over the loss of her mom, Frankie B’s in a new city, without family, a home or her full powers. Thank goodness for her familiar, Dex, the best Jack Russell in the world.

    They’re faced with moving into a flea-pit motel, when Dex spots a vacancy at a nearby marina. But this is no ordinary marina, and before they’ve even had time to finish unpacking, life takes a deadly turn.

    Will Frankie solve the mystery of the missing witches and rid the coven of the ghost of Captain Russell Garnet? Or will her ability to make him corporeal see her being held as his prisoner until her dying breath? Either way, she’s not going down without a fight.

    Frankie B and the Ghost Ship will have you longing to perform magic of your own and maybe even considering a few self-defence classes…

     

     

     

     

    Claim your piece of magic by getting a copy today.

  • Blog

    Writers on Wednesday Featuring Andrene Low

    2/7/2018

    Andrene LowAndrene’s love of writing was instilled by her mother, although if her mum was still alive, she’d be smacking Andrene across the back of the head given the direction her writing has taken. Irreverent, cutting and reflecting her background as a stand-up comic, it’s edgy with humour that’s very dark in places.

    1. What was the inspiration for your latest novel?
    My latest novel is “Strapped for Cash”, the third book in my Sexy Seventies Series (although it can definitely be read as a standalone). It’s been described by one reviewer as being “Not chick lit. Not pure comedy. Not romance. Not crime. But a delicious mixture of all those genres.”
    The inspiration was where the main character, Brenda, chose to take me, something that can happen when you’re writing a series. Being something of a loner, I wanted her to find the love of family and that wasn’t going to happen with any of her blood relations, mainly because most of them were doing time for various petty crimes. While starting out in Melbourne, the main part of the story is set in London allowing me to catch up with favourites like Eadie, an old aged pensioner who’s going down fighting and Charlie, the world’s largest black and white cat, who’s also prone to going down fighting.

    2. When did you take up writing?
    I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, from essays at primary school through to poetry in high school. I even remember reworking the lyrics to several songs for a talent contest when I was travelling around Europe on a bus tour – we won!

    After that there was a long break with work getting in the way, but it was this very thing that got me back into my writing. I was sent on a presentation skills course for work and part of that was writing a speech for the graduation ceremony. Mine was entitled “Breeding Before Forty”, with a funny take on just how loud that body clock can sound in the small hours of the morning. This was recorded and a workmate at the time saw it and next thing I know I’ve been signed up for a Rookie’s Night at a local comedy club.

    Luckily for me it went well and the organisers asked me back and I stayed on the professional stand-up circuit for three years. It could be either an amazing or a gut-churning experience, without a lot of middle ground, and it didn’t get any easier. Eventually, I made the decision to concentrate on the writing as it was this I’d always enjoyed most. Fast forward to me taking a lot of writing courses leading to a finished manuscript and the rest, as they say, is history.

    3. How important is setting/place in your writing?
    It’s important but I certainly don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all. I like to put enough in there that my readers can picture the setting, but I’m not a fan of there being so much about the setting that the book reads more like a travel or real estate brochure. To me, this distracts from the main story and can slow the pace. Unless it’s vitally important to the plot, I tend to leave it out.

    4. Do you have a favourite character (s) in your current novel?
    Yes, I’ve actually got three. Flo an 80+ plus cleaning lady whose energy levels are such that she could “Clean for England”, Eady, who’s the wrong side of 70 and an ex-dominatrix to boot and Brenda, my protagonist. She’s rough around the edges, but buried deep beneath that hard exterior is a heart of gold.

    5. What’s the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?
    Without a first draft, you have nothing to edit.

    It seems obvious, but when I was first starting out, I’d keep on going back and editing and re-editing and editing some more, making sure that what I’d written up to that point was 100% perfect. It’s called a ‘draft’ for a reason and so now I go for it and keep moving forward, no matter how rough the draft is. If I think of something that needs to be fixed, I make a note of it, knowing I can do this when I complete the first full edit. This approach has saved me months of work.

    6. Do you have a schedule for writing?
    I like to write first thing in the morning and I’m lucky I don’t need to be at my day job until 10:30am giving me a good chunk of time to get stuck in. Afternoons are for editing and plotting.

    7. Are you a plotter or someone who tends to wing it?
    I do plot but not to the inth degree. I prefer to call myself a plantser. I plan out quite a lot as regards what happens in each chapter and overall and after that, I fly by the seat of my pants. I’ve also learned to give my characters free reign because they often have a better idea of what they’re up to than I do. I used to try to corral them into shape, now I give them their head and hold on tight. They don’t often let me down and often the story is stronger for me leaving them to it.

    8. Can you name three or four of your current favourite books or recent reads?
    Yes, and they all belong to a series I’ve been following. The Blackwood Security series by Elise Nobel are a wonderful read. Emmy Blackwood is a bit like a female James Bond, and the books are full-on action with the bad guys getting a good dealing to. They’re also very funny in places (in a dark sort of way), and with lots of hot men in the offing, what’s not to love?

    9. Can you tell me a little bit about what you are working on now?
    I’m currently working on DietVale, a comic horror set on a fat farm in a remote corner of New Zealand. The inspiration behind the novel was watching the likes of Survivor and the Biggest Loser and wondering what would happen if those two worlds collided? Both shows put their contestants through hell, so why not ramp it up and have a few laughs along the way. It’s amazing the ‘gallows’ humour that comes out when people are truly facing adversity.

    I’m up to the editing stage, adding more tension and fixing any plot issues. So far, it’s reading well and I hope to have it out to my horror beta readers in the next week or two.

    In the background I’ve been working on my next adventure, which will be a seven book series, but it’s too early to talk about that yet, with far too much research still required.

    10. What advice would you give to a fledgling writer to assist them on their journey?
    While I believe there are those who can sit down and write a cracking book, these individuals are incredibly rare. Even if able to tell an amazing story to friends and family, I believe every budding writer needs to take a course or two, especially when it comes to the fundamentals like structure, plot, characterisation, etc.

    Having said that, there also comes a time when you have to put pen to paper, or fingers on the keyboard. Don’t become a course junkie, simply take one or two to get you going, confident you’re not going to have to rewrite everything when you realise the rookie mistakes you’ve made.

    Strapped for Cash
    Strapped for Cash - Cover
    Historic art thefts and forgeries. Blackmail capable of bringing down a government. Slap and tickle that could prove fatal. Will Brenda ever make a living that doesn’t involve crusty old men? Since puberty, Brenda has never had any issues with money. She’s always been more than well cared for by the old guys she’s latched onto. She drapes herself over them in public, providing company and kudos; they pay for everything.

    Set in London at the end of the seventies, when the country was grappling with the iron rule of Margaret Thatcher, and the economy was in serious need of some CPR, we see Brenda struggling to sort out her own finances, with the irony she’s being screwed out of her own nest egg by a bloke not lost on her.

    But, never keen on the nine-to-five and much preferring ninety-five-and-loaded, Brenda opens a school for girls, teaching the art of opening the wallets of old chaps who can afford it. She hopes it pans out, because apart from the financial implications, she doesn’t fancy a love life that’s destined to be littered with dodgy prostates and emergency CPR. Perhaps the most valuable thing she learns through her school is there’s a lot more to family than the blood relations you’ve been lumbered with.

    Strapped for Cash is the third in Andrene Low’s Sexy Seventies Series with humour that takes no prisoners—unless that’s what they’re paying for.

    ​Originally published as “Screwed for Money” so check out all the lovely 4 and 5 star reviews over there

     

    Excerpt of Strapped for Cash
    CHAPTER 1

    ALL THIS EFFING WHITE! Jeez, Martin might just as well have popped his clogs already. Cue the sodding harp music.
    Brenda hates hospitals with a passion and adding to this misery, her arse hurts, thanks to a chair designed to ensure any visit is brief. It hasn’t been upholstered: the bloody thing’s been panel-beaten.
    Holding the clammy hand of her elderly lover, Martin McGowan, she can’t help but feel responsible for his current condition. It had been her idea to try that particular position and it was only due to her rough and ready mouth-to-mouth that he hadn’t snuffed it on the spot. Although, he’d assured her while they were waiting for the ambulance that he wouldn’t have minded kicking the bucket in such a spectacular fashion.
    A vision in white pops her head inside the door of Martin’s private room. “She’s on her way.”
    “Bloody hell, I’d better go.” Brenda disengages her hand and is unable to stop herself from wiping it on her jeans. A quick kiss to Martin’s forehead confirms this is also covered in a fine sheen of cold sweat, though how anyone could feel chilly in Melbourne in the middle of a stinking hot February is beyond her. If anything, it feels even hotter inside the air-conditioned hospital than it had outside where there had at least been a lacklustre breeze.
    Thoughts of longer goodbyes are forestalled when they both hear Mrs McGowan’s strident tones at the other end of the ward, already ordering people about.
    “You’d better go or we might have another heart attack on our hands,” says Martin, grimacing.
    Brenda isn’t sure if he’s referring to his harridan of a missus or if he’s experiencing more chest pains. Either way, she punches the call button before hightailing it out of the room, managing to disappear into the patient lounge just along from his room without being spotted.
    Waiting in hopes that Mrs McGowan’s visit will be of the brief variety, Brenda stares out the large window that allows unforgiving light to flood the room. If it hadn’t been an emergency, Brenda doubts Martin would be in a public hospital but the ambulance had come here and so here he stays. His bitch of a wife hasn’t stopped living up to her reputation since the first hospital corner had been tucked in using a T-square and protractor.
    She’s flipped through all the women’s magazines and is down to reading pamphlets on prostate health before she decides to bail. Bloody woman’s arse cheeks must be iron.
    After a steadying breath, she readies to make good on her escape, releasing her long, dark hair from the ponytail high up on the back of her head and draping it artfully around her face. Pulling her jacket on to cover her skimpy red boob tube, with head down, she hurries past Martin’s glass-windowed room as fast as her platform shoes and ankle-trapping flares will allow. It’s not that she’s worried about having a showdown with Mrs McGowan but she’d prefer to avoid anything that might upset Martin.
    She’d take that cow on in a heartbeat.
    Brenda’s surprised at how upset she is over Martin’s ill-health. Sure, he’d started out as a meal ticket, but she’s come to care for the old codger. Even the sex hadn’t been too bad, although she’ll be cautious about that in the future. It wasn’t as if either of them wanted to risk necrophilia.
    Near the double doors fronting the ward, she hears Mrs McGowan’s cut-glass tones. “For goodness sake, if you haven’t managed to find a pulse by now, he doesn’t have one.”
    Freezing, Brenda listens hard. Unable to hear the nurse’s response, she retraces her footsteps to one side of the door to Martin’s room. On hearing him trying to placate his wife, she slumps back against the wall.
    “How much longer must I suffer visiting my husband in this, this …?”
    Brenda can clearly envisage the expression that must be pasted on the woman’s face. It’s the ‘poo under the nose’ look she uses at the least provocation and Brenda’s borne the brunt of it in the past. So what if she was caught swimming in the McGowan’s pool in her undies? Martin hadn’t given a hoot.
    The distinctive rattle of the clipboard being unhooked from the end of Martin’s bed follows, then the sound of charts being flipped.
    “It looks as though it’ll be another week,” says the nurse, her voice firm. She adds “Maybe even longer,” and Brenda hears a touch of glee.
    “For goodness sake, this simply won’t do! I’m going to arrange a transfer right now.”
    The visitor’s chair screeches in relief and Brenda knows she’ll never make it out of the ward in time. Luckily there’s a door right behind her and, without hesitation, she opens it, walks in and closes it quietly before sliding to the side so she’s not visible through the tall skinny viewing pane. Her hopes that the room is vacant are dashed when a creaky and rather hopeful voice says, “Are you here to give me my enema?

    Where to Buy Strapped for Cash
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