Tag: #romance

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Lead Me Home by Catherine Bybee

Book Description

Luna Canning trusts numbers more than people—and for good reason. As a forensic accountant who specializes in exposing fraud, she knows numbers never deceive, unlike the toxic family she’s spent a lifetime trying to escape. Now living in her grandmother’s Victorian home, Luna has built a carefully ordered life behind walls she thought were unbreakable.

When her car is stolen from an airport parking lot, former FBI agent turned PI Nate Warren steps in to help—and proves more dangerous to her defenses than any thief. Despite Luna’s ironclad rules about mixing business with pleasure, their chemistry ignites, and for the first time, she considers letting someone past her guard. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Luna’s manipulative mother arrives unannounced, dragging with her a dangerous man and decades of unresolved trauma that threaten everything Luna has built.

Now Luna must confront the ghosts of her past—both metaphorical and possibly literal, as strange occurrences in her historic home suggest she’s not alone. With a violent threat looming and her heart on the line, Luna discovers that sometimes the hardest person to trust is yourself.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Lead Me Home by Catherine Bybee is the first book in her newest series.  The plot delves into how someone can find a love founded on mutual respect and kindness while struggling with toxic family situations. Unfortunately, Bybee experienced something very similar and drew from her own family experiences.  

The main female lead is Luna Canning, the youngest of three siblings. She inherited the family home from her grandmother and shares it with a good friend, Miley, and a ghost. Luna is a forensic accountant who trusts numbers more than people. She steeks control and certainty in her life because her past was so unstable.  

She is very guarded about her life until one day she meets PI Nate Warren after a coffee spill. They realize they both have been hired to investigate a corporate fraud.  At first, they have an uneasy alliance, but both realize they enjoy each other’s company and that there is chemistry between them. 

This story intertwines heartbreak, suspense, and healing. But it also highlights sensitive topics of child abuse, neglect, emotional manipulation, and narcissism. 

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Is Luna based on yourself? 

Catherine Bybee: Luna is very personal to me. If you’ve read the author’s note for the book, I make no secret that my childhood left some scars. And if you’ve met me, you know that snark and independence is part of who I am. So, yes. I drew on my own experiences for Luna, as I do for most of my main characters. 

EC: Idea for the story? 

CB: I wanted to write a romance that could help women reclaim their agency and set emotional boundaries. We can’t stay silent. That lets our abusers win. 

EC: Do you write a certain type of heroine? 

CB: One of the things you’ll notice about all my books is that my heroines aren’t victims. They may have suffered trauma, they may struggle with self-doubt, they may have been told they’re worthless. But they will figure out how to move beyond that and claim their power, gain their voice. My heroines learn that the biggest obstacle in your life that is keeping you from whatever it is you want is your own fear. There is no reward without risk. 

EC: How would you describe Luna? 

CB: Luna is at the stage where she’d jumped off the wheel, but because of what she left, she doesn’t believe the right guy can be out there. And she certainly doesn’t trust herself to make the right decisions when it comes to men. Her walls are high because they have kept her safe.  

EC: How would you describe Nate? 

CB: Nate is literally able to protect her. He makes it clear that he will do whatever he can to earn her trust. He is willing to show up consistently and does not look for rewards, hoping to get past the walls Luna has built.  

EC: Was the house a character in the story? 

CB: When I was a child, I lived in an old Victorian home in Queen Anne Hill for a very short time. That house was haunted. Like seriously. It was haunted. I have some theories about why, but that’s a whole different conversation. Honestly, an eerie house where strange things happen? That’s definitely a Catherine Bybee setting. And yes, there are several things in the book that happened to me and my brother and sister when we were living there. It’s been a lot of fun writing a book where the house is as much as a key player in the story as the people who live there. 

EC: There are ghosts in the story, literally and figuratively? 

CB: As a child, I briefly lived in a haunted house, so that’s always been a real thing for me. Luna’s story, and her siblings and friends, fit naturally into that. They’re haunted by their toxic childhood, the traumas that they had to normalize, and now they’re trying to move past it. I think my readers will be able to resonate with that. Early in my career I wrote a time travel series that had a LOT of magic in it, and readers are still asking for the sixth book. I miss writing paranormal. I like the idea that deceased loving family members are around in spirit looking out for us. 

EC: What about the next book? 

CB: The second book is about Luna’s brother, Ash, and her best friend, Miley. And we’re going to learn more about her sister Harper’s marriage. Things aren’t looking good there. We’ll find out more about that later in the series. With the house as a central character, there are bound to be more members of this found family moving in. 

THANK YOU!! 

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Description

Early retirement never sounded so good to Mervin and Ruthie Miller. After a lifetime in Millersburg, where Mervin worked at a furniture and shed factory and Ruthie helped out at a fabric store, they have exciting plans: They’re going to become “Amish Gentlemen Farmers.” That means buying a 30-acre, ramshackle farm, and all that comes with it—no matter what their grown children, friends, and aching muscles think . . .

Aaron Miller is worried about his parents, but there’s little he can do now that he lives in Kentucky and has a baby on the way. Then his childhood best friend, Kyle Burkholder, makes a heaven-sent offer: he’ll move in with Aaron’s parents to teach them about raising cows and chickens, and even give weekly reports to Aaron.

The arrangement is going well—until Kyle stumbles upon Daisy Lapp who’s just been in a bicycle accident. When he visits her in the hospital, he knows there’s something special between them. So does Daisy. But her something special is the fact that Kyle lives on the farm she’d always dreamed of buying one day. She knows it’s wrong, but she’s jealous. She wants nothing to do with Kyle and politely tells him so.

Still, like the Millers, Kyle’s not one to give up easily. Not on himself, not on the farm, and certainly not on Daisy. With dedication and a leap of faith, the lives they envisioned just might come true.

***

Elise’s Thoughts

D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray is once again a book that will put a smile on readers’ faces and make them feel good. There has never been a book she has written that is not engrossing, captivating, and heartwarming.

The story takes place in the rural Amish community of Walden, Ohio. Mervin and Ruthie Miller decide to buy a farm instead of working in a furniture factory and fabric store. The problem is neither know anything about farming. Their son’s childhood best friend, Kyle Hostetler, agrees to help them out and moves in as their hired hand.

While working, he sees a girl crash her electric bike resulting in her broken leg. When he comes to visit her in the hospital, she shows her resentment by being rude. Kyle finds out that that he lives on the farm she’d always dreamed of buying one day. Daisy Lapp feels the farm next to her parent’s farm had been sold out from under her. Now she is reassessing her life, realizing she
has no boyfriend and no job. She was fired because she is unable to work due to the accident.

Ruthie acts as a matchmaker, having Kyle deliver baked goods to Daisy as she recuperates. Slowly they become friends and Daisy realizes she is attracted to him. But he likes her arch enemy, Winter Walker, a selfish girl who enjoys putting Daisy down. Can Kyle realize the true nature of Winter and decide to court Daisy instead?

Like all her other books this story will warm readers’ hearts. It has appealing characters that are realistic, including Velvet the cow. It is a feel-good book.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Is this a new series of sorts or is it a continuation of your ABC series?

Shelley Shepard Gray: When I first thought of doing ABCs, I really did want to do all 26 letters, which would be the dream. I don’t know if that’ll happen. I ended up with a fictional town named Walden in Ohio because I thought, well, I’m just going to have to keep adding things. I came up with the original idea for books, A, B, and C and had that played out. I decided I’m just going to do the different series and trilogies. C ended the first trilogy with the Schrock family. F concludes this trilogy, and I’m contracted for G, with G, H and I, starting a whole a new series. We’ll see, how many letters I end up getting to do. It may just be D through G. Right now, I’ve written 6 of them. I’m contracted for the 7th letter of the alphabet.

EC: Why did you have the setting of the farm?

SSG: A little bit of this series is kind of a tongue in cheek for my husband. He’s a salesman. We’ve lived all over the country. We’ve always lived in the suburbs, but he had a secret dream of living on a farm. This is a little bit of making fun of myself and my husband. Sometimes, maybe achieving your dream is not all a bed of roses, and there is a lot of hard work. Unlike the song, every dream doesn’t always come true the way you hope it will.

EC: Did you ever hear of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone Mystery books that has in the title the alphabet?

SSG: I’ve read a bunch of her books, and my original editor over at Kensington, she’s retired now, but when we were first talking about this, she noted, Shelly, you could be our Amish Sue Grafton. I was like, well, I couldn’t imagine a better role model. It is an ode to her.

EC: How would you describe Daisy?

SSG: She’s a dreamer, but her dreams go up in smoke. She’s a tomboy and feels different than other Amish girls, thinks she’s a misfit. She is frustrated because she feels she needs to re-examine her life and to be useful. Daisy is determined, stubborn, and can be tight lipped, strong, hopeful, modest, somewhat innovative, and insecure. She doesn’t feel tough and independent like others think of her.

EC: Is she a little different than the other female leads you write?

SSG: I love to write a heroine that readers are rooting for. At first, she kind of drove me crazy, because I kept thinking she’s the type of character or person that just kind of wants to yell to everyone: if you just give me a chance, you’re going to like me. I’m worth the struggle to be a friend, because I do know what I’m doing, and I am a hard worker. She’s just begging for people to believe in her, and, but she needs to believe in herself too.

EC: What role does Ruthie and Mervin play in this new series?

SSG: When I first pitched it to my editor, I called it the “Amish Green Acres,” referring to the TV show. So many people seem to think that all Amish are great at sewing. All Amish are great at farming. It was like somebody who thinks, oh, well, when you’re born to an Amish family they just automatically know how to do everything. But I wanted to have an older couple who lived in an Amish city but they always had a dream of having this big farm. They finally get their dream by buying this farm, and they have no idea what they’re doing. That was the inspiration for the books D, E, and F. Different people come into the Miller’s lives to try to help them out in different ways. They are very caring and have a lot of common sense, except when they bought this farm. And there’s always an animal to deal with.

EC: How would you describe Kyle?

SSG: He is a good older brother, protective, friendly, impulsive, and kind.

EC: His sister, Sarah, is hard of hearing?

SSG: She was not based on anyone specific. I was a 6th grade teacher for a long time and I had students with a lot of different learning disabilities in my classrooms. I always tried to make accommodations. Sarah has a caption phone. Her teacher doesn’t really seem to understand how to deal with her. She is teased a lot and because of that is not confident. Kyle is like a lot of older brothers, sisters, parents, who wants to make things right, to fix things. To put Sarah in a bubble, every time things go wrong or things happen, but sometimes it’s out of our control.

EC: What about the relationship between Kyle and Daisy?

SSG: I thought he was a good counterpart for Daisy. He was kind of the opposite of her. She’s a little awkward, a little tomboyish, kind of a wallflower. She just doesn’t quite fit in and never really has. While Kyle on the other side is kind of a catch. People want to be his friend and they look out for him. He’s good at a lot of things. And so, I thought he would be a fun counterpart to her. When they first met, Daisy was kind of rude to him and was confused and irritated by him. He helps her after she gets in this bike accident. Part of the reason she is so difficult with Kyle is she’s just embarrassed. But then they turned into friends because they had reading and farming in common. He believed in her, and thought of her as special and unique. They eventually fell in love with each other.

EC: There is this quote you wrote about a river that very much describes their relationship. Do you agree?

SSG: You are referring to “A river can be shallow or calm, but oftentimes perilous, deep, a strong current”. Daisy, in a sense, felt that her life was filled with disappointments, including at some point her relationship with Kyle because of his infatuation with another Amish girl, Winter. But she is the one who ends up with Kyle and realizes their strengths. She feels successful, she feels good about herself, and feels good about her relationship with Kyle. He always encouraged her to keep trying, to keep looking, and to not give up.

EC: How would you describe Winter?

SSG: I usually don’t like love triangles one bit. I don’t like reading about them. I don’t like writing about them, but for this book, I used it to have Kyle make a mistake. So, he totally gets sucked in by Winter, who is not a nice girl. She was never nice to Daisy. When Kyle found out about that, it just made her in his mind not to be a very nice person. She twists people’s words, is a liar, pretends to be nice, but is aggressive and dramatic. Winter is someone who seeks attention, spoiled, and I would call her a mean Amish girl.

EC: Do you think the names Daisy and Winter really represent the characters well?

SSG: Winter is very cold so I thought it was fitting. She has a cold personality, for sure. And Winter’s almost so stormy, and so was she. Regarding Daisy, I thought of the actual flower, delicate, warm, and sunny.

EC: What role did Velvet the cow play?

SSG: I had Ruthie in the barn doing some farm work. I wanted her to have a safe person, originally, to kind of talk things over with, and then the next thing I know, I wrote a scene in there, and there was the cow, the bovine therapist, a therapy animal. I had written another book for Kensington, titled, Happily Ever Amish, and there was a donkey, and I wrote it in because the heroine didn’t have a lot of friends, and she had to have a way for her to talk to somebody that wasn’t all internal dialogue. I had her talk to this donkey, and it went over well. I think that’s how I came up with, oh, I’ll just have a cow this time. I was able to get out the people’s feelings and thoughts without it being just inside their head. It’s a slow book if it’s just pages and pages of backstory and description.

EC: Next books?

SSG: E is for Englisher. The heroine’s name is Ella, and she’s lost everybody in her family. She is English, her parents had died in a car accident. Ruthie and Mervin turned into her reluctant parents in a way. She goes to their house to kind of be a caretaker, but really, they are taking care of her. It comes out in November, and it’s a Christmas book.

Another series I am writing, the first book in the “Amish Widow’s Club Series,” The Unexpected Caller comes out July 7th. And then the second book in the Widows Club, The Forbidden Caller comes out in September. The premise for this series is a secret Amish widow’s club in Holmes County. Widowed women after a year or so are offered an invitation to join this club. It’s like a support group. They meet, they get together once a month or every couple of weeks and do stuff together. It’s for women who don’t want to get married again. But of course, my heroines get married again.

THANK YOU!!

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Book Blast/Feature Post and Book Review: Shadow of Betrayal by Blaire Morgan

SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

by Blaire Morgan

June 8-12, 2026 Book Blast

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for SHADOW OF BETRAYAL (Kyndall Family Suspense Series Book #2) by Blaire Morgan on this Partners In Crime Virtual Book Blast.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an excerpt from the book, the author’s bio and social media links, and a PICT giveaway. Enjoy!

***

Book Description

In this chilling romantic suspense, U.S. Marshals investigator Heather York stumbles into danger at a Maine lakeside lodge, with Jordan Kyndall’s protective instincts as her only hope.

A woman hunted by corruption.

Heather York thought her life was ordinary—until a sudden threat pulls her into a deadly game. In Shadow of Betrayal, she’s forced to question whether she’s a target—or collateral damage.

A man who won’t walk away.

Jordan Kyndall planned a weekend celebrating his college roommate’s wedding. Instead, he finds a grisly scene in the woods—a woman’s lifeless body—and a surge of protective instinct binds him to Heather in ways he never expected.

A danger that could destroy them both.

As threats multiply and secrets surface, Heather and Jordan must navigate corruption, desire, and deadly stakes—trusting each other may be the only way to survive.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249740217-shadow-of-betrayal?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=j2oSDInlix&rank=1

Shadow of Betrayal

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Blaire Morgan Books
Publication Date: June 8, 2026
Series: Kyndall Family Suspense Series, Book 2

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SHADOW OF BETRAYAL (Kyndall Family Suspense Series Book #2) by Blaire Morgan is an exciting second romantic suspense in the Kyndall Family Suspense series. I would suggest reading book one, Witness in the Shadows, first because while the romance plot and suspense plot are complete in each book, there are a lot of family character crossover and history from the first book in this second book.

U.S. Marshal investigator Heather York is to be the maid-of-honor in her best friend’s wedding in a beautiful Maine lodge in the woods. When she and another friend at the wedding go in search of their other friend who is going to miss the rehearsal, they are attacked.

Jordan Kyndall is in Maine for the wedding of his college roommate. He is instantly taken with the red-headed maid-of-honor and hopes to get to know her better. When he goes in search of the missing women, he discovers a horrific scene. One woman is near death and Heather is unconscious. Jordan’s protective instincts are awakened, and he refuses to leave her side until the danger is identified.

Jordan and Heather work together to discover if Heather is the target or just a part of a random crime. The threats multiply and they are being chased and attempting to stay ahead of the danger until they discover why Heather is being targeted. They need to learn to trust and rely on each other if they are going to survive.

This is a romantic suspense plot with plenty of action and many plot twists that leave you guessing throughout. Jordan is a great hero that you would want as your protector. His previous military service and wilderness training made him perfect for the job. I also love his love and connection to his family. I had a few problems though with Heather as the heroine. She is a U.S. Marshal investigator and she is intelligent, and while she works in the office only on warrants, she uses that as an excuse for no type of physical or police training. I believe she should have had more training to even have that job and make her character realistic.  I also did not like how she continued to go back and forth on trying to get rid of Jordan through almost the entire story, while she had no physical skills of her own, whether she was worried for his safety of not. Even with these small points, they work well together as a couple.

Overall, it is an enjoyable, action-packed addition to this series, and I look forward to hopefully reading the other brothers’ stories.

***

Excerpt

Prologue

The drive to the dingy bar outside of the city had been rough when the directions led him down a series of dirt roads before reaching what managed to loosely be called civilization. The bell above the door chimed a dull sound, barely registering his presence. He shook his rain-soaked umbrella, drawing a few curious glances his way before the three men at the bar decided their cold beer and stale peanuts were more interesting than him. 

The bartender, a man in his late fifties with a marine tattoo on a bicep, asked him if he wanted anything. Though kind, if the bartender had offered him a bottle of the Alps’ finest water, he wouldn’t accept—not in a place like this—but he was trying to blend in. 

“Whatever is on tap,” he said, and found a table in a back corner. 

Although he had no intention of staying longer than necessary, the location offered him anonymity. The front door, with its surprisingly clean window, opened and brought with it a strong wind and his associate. The new arrival scanned the room, nodded at the others, and crossed the dark bar. 

“You’re late.” 

“I’m here now. You have something for me, Hewitt?” 

He’d made a mistake giving the man a name, even if it wouldn’t lead back to him. They’d agreed not to use names, not here, not ever. He removed a black, zippered deposit bag from the inside pocket of his rain slicker and slid it across the table. 

The man across from him chuckled and unzipped the bag. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” Hewitt asked, his whisper a low hiss. He quieted when the bartender set a beer in front of him. 

His associate raised an eyebrow and continued to wear his smile. “You’ve seen too many movies.” He closed the bag and leaned forward. “Do you honestly think anyone here cares who you are or what you’re doing? At least you dressed for the occasion—kind of.” 

Hewitt stared at the man across from him, confident that despite his off-balanced behavior at times, he’d get the job done. History had proven he was capable, if not entirely trustworthy, and willing to do anything—for a price. 

“You’re forgetting something,” he said. 

Hewitt hated this man. “It’s in the bag.” 

Another chuckle. “In the bag, I like that.” He pulled the colored photograph from the deposit bag and studied the image. “How’d you find me?” 

“Does it matter?” 

“I like to know what I’m getting into.” 

Hewitt studied him, unsure now of his idea but knowing he had to move forward. “All you need to know is I can make your other . . . inconvenience go away.” 

“And what might that be?” 

Hewitt pulled a folded sheet of paper from his inside breast pocket and slid it across the table. 

“I’m not sure I believe you.” 

“You know who I work for?” Hewitt asked.

“I checked it out.”

“Then you know I can do what I say,” Hewitt said, growing impatient. “Will it be a problem?”  

“No, no problem.” Instead of returning the picture to the bag, he slipped it into the pocket of his dark, denim shirt. “You going to drink this?” he asked before he lifted Hewitt’s beer and drank deeply. 

From Chapter One

Jordan eased the rented SUV into the graveled parking lot of the lakeside lodge. Nestled in the thick pine forest surrounding Moosehead Lake, the Highlands Lodge reminded him of the fishing camp his family frequented in Alaska. 

He stepped out and walked around to the back of the vehicle, breathing in the fresh northern air. Though nothing like his hometown of Stewart Crossing, which was tucked away on a remote Alaskan bay, Moose Creek, Maine, was a pleasant escape from the spring heat of North Carolina, where he operated the main branch of Eagle Wilderness Journeys. 

The parking lot was empty, but he heard voices coming from the back of the lodge, laughter carrying through the trees and echoing over the water. Adam, his college roommate and the reason Jordan trekked up north, ambled across the gravel and pulled Jordan into a big hug. Considering Adam stood four inches shorter than Jordan and weighed thirty pounds less, it wasn’t easy. 

“Dang, it’s good to see you.” 

Jordan returned the amiable smile. “You look happy.” 

“Wait till you meet her.” Adam opened the back of the SUV and lifted the duffel out before Jordan objected. “You’re going to love her. I mean, whoever thought I’d ever be monogamous.” 

Jordan laughed, closed the back door, and followed Adam to the lodge. “If I recall, you didn’t know the meaning of the word throughout our senior year.” 

“Well, yeah, but could you blame me?” Adam led him around the corner of the lodge and stopped. “Wait, there she is.” 

Adam had described her perfectly. Girl-next-door pretty and fresh off the cheerleading squad, Grace was only a year younger than his friend. Her pale, blond curls bounced as she walked on long legs across the lawn. “She’s something all right. I wouldn’t have expected—”

It wasn’t often when life’s unexpected moments stunned Jordan into silence or immobilized him, but none stopped his breath quite like his first glimpse of the woman standing next to Adam’s fiancée. 

“Who is she?” 

“It’s Grace, man, who do you think . . . Ah.” Adam nudged Jordan’s ribs with his elbow and laughed. “That’s Heather, Grace’s maid of honor.” 

Jordan didn’t want to use the word “dumbstruck,” but at the moment, he couldn’t formulate another. His sister would have called him “twitterpated” and normally he would put her in a headlock until she cried “mercy” and take it back, but it had been a long time since she’d had cause to tease him about a girl. 

“Hey, buddy, close your mouth before you drool.” 

Jordan wiped his mouth before he realized Adam was messing with him. “Don’t forget, I can still kick your golf-playing butt from here to next Tuesday.” 

“Why don’t I introduce you instead, and then you can owe me one.”

***

Social Media Links

www.blairemorgan.com
Amazon Author Profile
BookBub – @blairemorganbooks1
YouTube – @blairemorganbooks

Purchase Links

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PICT GIVEAWAY

https://pictbooks.tours/1TaaAePK

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Love Comes in Small Packages by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates

Book Description

THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE * LORI FOSTER
Compared to her smart, responsible twin, Laylee has always been labeled the party girl sister. Now she’s really screwed up by finding herself possibly accidentally pregnant, and definitely not in love. With her sister away on her honeymoon, Laylee’s only confidant is her guy friend Knox. There’s mutual attraction there, yet they’ve been tiptoeing around it. But telling Knox everything may change . . . well, everything. Especially amid a comedy of pregnancy test errors, a robbery, a cat rescue mission—and the realization that Knox sees her as so much more than a pretty face . . . .

THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY * MAISEY YATES
Ellie Parks helplessly watched her beloved sister, Melanie, spiral into addiction in high school, thanks to her toxic relationship with Ty Porter. Ellie, now a teacher, hasn’t seen Melanie in over a year when she gets a call from Child Protective Services that Melanie has a baby—and she’s surrendered her parental rights. Ellie races to the hospital, but someone’s beat her to it: rodeo champion Clark Porter, the baby’s uncle. Clark’s a good man and he’ll be damned if his niece grows up without him. Until they find a custody solution, Ellie will just have to move into his ranch house. Temporarily. Obviously. Except that they’re attracted to each other. Risking the unconventional family they’re creating is the last thing they need. Then again, if what they feel is deeper than attraction, it may be what they need most . . .

***

Elise’s Thoughts

Love Comes in Small Packages is book 2 of the novella anthology by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates. These two short stories, one written by Lori and one written by Maisey, are wonderful reads by two very talented authors. That Special Someone by Lori Foster features characters readers first meet in “The Odd Couple” of the book The Two of Us.

Laylee and Knox are pet-sitting for his brother and her sister. Compared to her smart, responsible twin, Laylee has always been labeled the party girl sister. Now she’s a wreck believing that she is possibly accidentally pregnant, and not in love. With her sister away on her honeymoon, Laylee’s only confidant is her guy friend Knox. There’s mutual attraction there, yet they’ve been tiptoeing around it. Readers are once again delighted to have animals in the story
and to find intriguing characters.

A bonus is that this is one of Lori’s benefit books where all of Lori’s advance & royalties will go to the Animal Adoption Foundation, a no-kill animal shelter.

***

Author Interview with Lori Foster

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Lori Foster: My idea for the story was just to show the topsy-turvy trip a romance can take before it lands where it’s meant to be. Rarely is it smooth. Also, we can fall in love with someone because of things they’ve done for others. We see their heart in how they give to someone, the care they take with different relationships. 

EC: What is the theme of the book/story?

LF: “Love Comes in Small Packages,” meaning love isn’t always a tidal wave that knocks you over. Often, it’s finding common ground over things we love – like children, animals, and good friends.

EC: Did you write the story independently or consult Maisey?

LF: I write every story 100% independently. I’d be a terrible collaborator because I’d want everything my way. Plus, Maisey has her own unique, wonderful voice, and it’s different from mine. (That’s probably true for most authors!)

EC: How would you describe Laylee?

LF: Overall, Laylee uses bravado and a party-vibe to hide her insecurity. Her family often compared her to her studious, very serious twin sister, and she felt she had to live up to the role assigned to her. Yet, she’s also smart, just as her twin is also pretty and lively. Too often parents innocently say things without realizing how it might impact their children later in life.

EC: How would you describe Knox?

LF: Knox is a hard worker, a loyal friend, a family guy – he has a great family – and he wants to settle down. He wants home and hearth, with that one special woman. Finding her was the issue – until he met Laylee. Unfortunately, Laylee didn’t realize that, so she stuck him in the friend zone. Once he was there, she feared losing his friendship if she pushed for more.

EC: How is Laylee different from her twin sister Skye?

LF: She’s far more of a fashion icon, comfortable in crowds, and always ready to have a good time. She’s also a local model, doing well enough to live independently. 

EC: What role did Laylee being possibly pregnant play in the story?

LF: The pregnancy scare was the catalyst to their romance. Knowing a guy would stick with you, even if you were pregnant with someone else’s child, showed Laylee just how much he cared, and how reliable he was for the long term. It also drove home to Knox how important she is to him, no matter what. 

EC: What role did the dogs and cat play in the story?

LF: Pets are a great unifier! If you’re sharing responsibility as “pet sitters,” you’re naturally brought closer together. It also gives insight on how someone nurtures, and the level of their responsibility and reliability. 

EC: How would you describe Laylee and Knox’s relationship?

LF: They were very good friends – biding their time until they could declare their true feelings. The friendship was important to them both, and that alone is a great basis for a relationship. Of course, friendship will only do for so long when you’re in love with someone, and fortunately, they get to work that out in the book. 

EC: How about your next book(s)?

LF: THE LAKE HOUSE was just released May 26th.
It’s the 2nd book in the Firefly Summer series, though each book stands alone. Both Pixie and Brogan have wounds to heal; Pixie is already well on her way, thanks to a big-hearted but tiny town and the wonderful, quirky people who live there. She’s part of a “found family” now, and wants to concentrate on raising her toddler son. Brogan never had much family, until he joined the service, but then he loses his team, his brothers, and finds himself gravely wounded in a hospital. He had little reason to live – until an estranged sister made him guardian of her infant daughter. From the moment he meets Pixie, the young single mother gets a grasp on his heart. Now together, they deal with threats from his past, and the secrets he reveals. I recently finished writing book 3, THE RAINBOW CONNECTION, which will be out next year.

WHEN I FIRST MET YOU will be released July 14th.
It’s the 2nd book in the Family Ties series, and again, each book stands alone.
It shows how first impressions aren’t always accurate, something Kam figures out when Glory has a stalker threatening her life. He steps up to protect her, and as they grow closer, he realizes there are layers to Glory he never expected.
Also, he had a truly awful, abusive childhood before being adopted into a great family. In many ways, Glory helps him to really deal with his past, something he hadn’t yet been able to do.

THANK YOU!!

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Release Blitz/Feature Post and Book Review: Cold Silence by Freya Barker

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for COLD SILENCE (Silence Series Book #4) by Freya Barker on this Buoni Amici Press Release Blitz.

Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

Book Blurb

Single motherhood to two teenage boys turns out to be far more challenging for Tessa Androtti than her brand-new job as detective for the Edwards County Sheriff’s Department. Especially, when the younger of her sons is keeping her up at night. Not only was the move from the big city supposed to give her a chance to build a new life away from lingering memories, but she had hoped it would be a positive change for her youngest, Remi.

However, just when she’s up to her eyeballs working on a recent violent murder, Remi gets himself into trouble again.

Trouble that appears to be connected to her investigation.

Lifetime resident of Silence, Clem Tanek, couldn’t be more surprised to find one of the new, pretty detective’s sons trespassing and stealing property from behind his auto repair shop. Despite his social awkwardness when interacting with the boy’s mother a few months ago, Clem can handle her kid just fine. Remi’s skills and interest in vehicles provide an opportunity to try and get the kid back onto the right track, without involving law enforcement. It also offers Clem a second chance with the new detective, hoping to make up for that disastrous first encounter.

But their path isn’t an easy one. Both have significant baggage, as one would expect from lives already half lived, and adapting to change can be a challenge. Particularly, when dealing with teenagers which, in this case, means wading into dangerous waters for both Tessa and Clem.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246846068-cold-silence?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=PtWPeIRmyA&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

COLD SILENCE (Silence Book #4) by Freya Barker is another wonderful addition to the small-town romantic suspense Silence book series. While there is some character crossover between the small-town characters, each book has a complete romance HEA and self-contained suspense/crime plot so they can be read as standalones. The entire series is excellent, and I enjoyed reading them in order of publication.

Tessa Androtti is the newest detective in Silence working for the county Sheriff Department. After a bad divorce, she is hoping to create a new and happier life for her two teenage boys. Her eldest, Linc, is heavily into sports and easy-going and adapts easily from large town to small town life. Remi is two years younger, moody, not happy about the move, and he is making sure his mother knows how he feels. When Tessa is drawn into a teen’s murder investigation, she does not realize how close to home the danger is lurking.

Clem Tanek owns the only car repair business in Silence. He has been into cars since working with his father and wants to do nothing else. He has both his repair shop and home in the old fire department building and is happy with his friends and uncomplicated life believing having a family has passed him by. When he hears a noise coming from behind his shop at night, he investigates and discovers Remi stealing catalytic converters from cars in the lot. Clem discovers Remi has a love of cars, too, and he reminds him of himself at that age, so he makes a deal to have him work part-time at the garage in exchange for not turning him in, but he knows Remi is keeping secrets. Clem knows he will have to deal with Tessa, but he does not consider that a hardship.

As the chemistry between Clem and Tessa heats up, so does the danger from the people Remi has gotten himself entangled with.

This is an endearing romance with two mature people; one who has endured an abusive relationship and one who believes that finding a partner has passed him by. They come together to form a great couple. The romance plot progresses at a believable rate while both also think of how it will affect the boys.  Tessa’s sons are fully developed in their differences, and I loved that even when Remi was being his moody self, he was still protective of his mother. The sex scenes are explicit and hot but also have the emotions that go with them. The suspense/crime plot felt realistic and builds with an ever-increasing sense of jeopardy to a conclusion with an unexpected twist.

I highly recommend this romantic suspense and all the books in this series.

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About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills, and chills in their lives.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

For the latest news and updates on books and upcoming releases, you can subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Freya_Newsletter

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.freyabarker.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreyaBarkerWriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyabarker.writes/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/cold-silence-by-freya-barker

Feature Post and Book Review: Not Actually Yours by Sophie L. Henderson

Book Description

Nix’s heart is on permanent lockdown after her mom walked out on her, but she needs a date to her cousin’s engagement party. Anything to put an end to the relentless single-shaming. Can she find someone—preferably smokin’—willing to spend Thanksgiving weekend with her meddling family in a tiny seaside town in the middle of nowhere?

Brock got burned falling for the wrong girl. But his potential promotion to captain hinges on him having a date for the annual firefighters’ gala. Can he convince the entire community that his short fuse is a thing of the past, that he’s ready for a serious new role as a fire hall leader?

They’ve agreed: falling in love is not an option. And soon, they’re fooling everyone. Even themselves. When Brock utterly charms Nix’s hard-to-impress aunt over a cozy breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup, and sparks fly at the fire department dance, the alarm bells start to ring…

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248216922-not-actually-yours?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VVX0fsQhGj&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

NOT ACTUALLY YOURS by Sophie L. Henderson is a contemporary romance with explosive sexual chemistry that returns the reader to Fire House 8 in Van City and this time it is elder Holt brother, Brock’s turn to fall, but it won’t be easy with the ever-evasive Nix. Each book in this connected series features one of three brothers and there is some overlapping of characters, but they are still easily read as standalone romances.

Elementary teacher Nix refuses to involve her heart in any relationship after being deserted by her mother as a small child. When her aunt, who helped raise her, tells her she needs to attend her cousin’s weekend long engagement party, she tells her she has a boyfriend to bring otherwise her aunt threatens to set her up. Now she must ask a favor of the man she is trying to be friends with since he is the brother of her best friend’s boyfriend. But after having had a hot sexual encounter with him three months ago and then ghosting him, she knows it is a big ask.

Firefighter Brock has had terrible luck in the romance department. He would like more than friendship with the hot Nix who he cannot seem to forget, even though she ghosted him. When she needs a date for an engagement party it coincides with his need for a date for an annual firefighters’ gala. They can fake this without involving their hearts, can’t they?

I enjoyed the first Van City book, Play with Fire, but I enjoyed this romance even more. Both Nix and Brock have emotional difficulties from their childhoods to deal with as they are trying to form a healthy relationship between them. Usually, I dislike romances with plots based on non-communication, but Ms. Henderson does a wonderful job of portraying both Nix and Brock as they get things wrong from fear or misunderstanding, have short intervals of running, but also how they decide it is better to talk and they have friends and family who also help. They both delve into their emotions honestly and have character growth throughout the story. This is a contemporary romance with several steamy and explicit sex scenes that I feel fit well with the characters’ personalities.

I highly recommend this steamy contemporary romance that pulled me right in and left me with a smile on my face and a satisfied romantic heart.

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About the Author

Author Sophie L. Henderson writes heartfelt small-town romance for readers who love slow-burn butterflies, blush-worthy heat, and characters you’ll fall for just as hard as they fall for each other. Her debut PLAY WITH FIRE is out now. NOT ACTUALLY YOURS is coming in May.

Originally from a tiny village in England, Sophie spent seventeen years wrangling jazz hands as a drama teacher before finally listening to the voice in her head (the one telling her to write, not the one asking for another snack). She now lives in Vancouver with her husband, where she’s embraced views of snowcapped mountains, has caught feelings for hockey, and talks to hummingbirds like they’re her best friends.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.sophielouisehenderson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577919920777

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