Guest Author Day with V.H. Luis/Enter the Giveaway

Please give a warm welcome to author V.H. Luis as they drop by to celebrate their latest book, Waking to Black, with us. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win from the author a $25 amazon or BN gift Card. The book tour is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions and you can find all the tour stops HERE.

Let's chat with the author, V.H.Luis

 Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin writing and why?

Ever since I could remember I was constantly scribbling poems on paper. However, it wasn’t until I was fifteen and my boyfriend at the time introduced me to an online roleplaying community that I truly started to take writing seriously. Simply by being forced to communicate in a text-based setting my ability to write improved. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for that community and the wonderful people there, who to this day are still friends of mine.

Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write?

I love to read and write romance. While most of my younger years were focused on reading fantasy-based stories, I have always wanted romance to be at the root of anything I read. In fact, many of my favorite fantasy books are heavily infused with romance. A good example would be the first six books in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake Series. I adored those vampire-romance books when I first read them. I also really liked the first few books in her Merry Gentry Series.

 Do certain themes and ideas tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you?

The concept of a flawed individual coming to terms with their past tragedies/mistakes and ultimately finding peace and happiness, is very appealing to me. In life, for whatever reason, the opportunity for redemption is often elusive. I guess in my writing that is something I tend to explore. Wouldn’t life be better if those deserving did get second chances and could in fact redeem themselves?

How do you balance long-term thinking vs. being nimble in today's market?

I don’t think I necessarily do this and perhaps that is to my detriment. Honestly, I write the stories that pull emotions out of me. I write what I would like to read about. While I imagine since I’m such an avid reader, my own likes are similar to that of the majority in terms of romance readers, I recognize that trends in the market are fluid and they can change rapidly. My goal is to create something I’m proud of, a story that is evocative and full of emotion. I believe I’ve done that with Waking to Black (Uninhibited #1).

How do you find readers in today's market?

I’m relatively new to this all though I love to read and when I decided to self-publish I did a lot of reading. I researched pretty much everything. Before publishing I got my book setup in Netgalley. It’s a platform in which you offer your book for free to people interested in reading Advance Reader Copies (ARC’s). I read that people on Netgalley tend to be harsh reviewers but I’ve found them to be very fair. I also set up a Goodreads giveaway and I contacted Goddess Fish Promotions about a book-blog tour. I think all of this has help me reach an audience I otherwise would not have been able to reach. So far, I’ve loved the ride!

 Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook?

I create the hook first. I think the start of a story is the most important part and I endeavor to start with a bang. Though I have a good idea about who my characters are—what motivates and drives them—they tend to hijack my story. I can at the very least control the beginning/hook!

How do you create your characters?

As I mentioned above, I of course have an idea of who they are as individuals though honestly, they often take-up a life of their own. For the Uninhibited Series, I’ve utilized past experiences with my father to really channel Evelyn. As for Adam, I think feeling betrayed by someone is a very relatable feeling. I’ve certainly been betrayed by a loved one and I think so have many other people.

What's on the top of your TBR pile right now?

Shadow Music (Highland Laird #3), by Julie Garwood. I really liked book one of that series and I ADORED book two. I know the reviews for this particular Julie Garwood book have not been as strong as many of her other historical, but I’m a devote fan and I can’t wait to read that book. It’s definitely at the top of my TBR pile.

 Tell me a little about the characters in Waking to Black (Uninhibited #1).

Both Evelyn Snowe and Adam Black are emotionally scared due to past tragedies/events. While Evelyn by far is more visibly hindered by her issues, Adam is as damaged as she is by his own past. Both these characters are inhibited and being together completely shatters the status quo—this is a good thing considering they both feel unfulfilled.

            The most basic of answers is that Evelyn Snowe is an art teacher with a dark past, and Adam Black is a real-estate mogul who seemingly has it all.

 Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of the story?

I’m from Miami, FL, and the story is set in Miami. As a native Floridian I love the cosmopolitan feel of Miami, as well as the fact that the beach is literally only minutes away. Many of the locations in the book are inspired by real locations in Miami. For example, Adam and Evelyn have their first date at a restaurant inspired by a restaurant called Casa Tua in Miami Beach (look it up the ambiance is gorgeous). I also incorporated other locations/events, such as Art Basel Miami into the story. I love Art Basel Miami.

As for the characters, I’ve been told by friends who have read the book that Adam Black is very Miami. I’m not sure I can explain that, he’s very put-together and gorgeous, but also reserved and unapologetic. While Miami has variety in terms of men, they can be a tad arrogant… But again, that might not necessarily be a Miami thing.

If you had to write your memoir in five words, what would you write?

Nurturing mother, daughter, wife, dreamer.

How often does your muse distract you from day to day minutiae?

I’m not sure about how often but when an incredible idea hits me its all-consuming. I’ll immediately start scribbling down notes. For example, if it’s dialogue I’ll write it out quickly, in hopes of not forgetting anything. It may be hard to capture my attention when I’m in that sort of mood.

What do readers have to look forward to in the future from you?

I’m currently finalizing Fading to Black (Uninhibited #2). After releasing book two of the series I’ll be moving along to book three. 

GENRE:   Erotic Romance

He shattered my defenses, and I was fragile to begin with…

The first time I saw Adam Black, I was between the arms of a criminal, a gun to my throat and even then, I knew I was staring at the most dangerous man in the room.

Maybe it was his confident, cerulean eyes, or the sex appeal radiating from his pores like heat waves on a scorching day, but by proximity alone he made my vision blur and my heart stammer.

The day I was nearly killed in a bank hold-up, I began to live—because of him.

Now, I’m praying for the first time in years, hoping the scars of my past, the secrets I keep, don’t interfere with my future…

Excerpt Three:

“You’re too young and beautiful to be so jaded.”

The confidence he exudes is threatening. It makes me question my opinions and beliefs. My legs tremble as I take a step back.

“Giving me a compliment directly followed by an insult won’t make me agree with you.”

He closes the gap between us. The smell of his aftershave and skin surrounds me and without thinking I take a deep breath.

“Why are you under the impression I want you to agree with me?”

My eyes widen under his scrutiny. The air around us is charged and it’s hard to breathe.

“In fact, I would much rather you disagree.”

“Why?” I can’t help the genuine confusion resonating in my voice.

“I find you intriguing when you disagree with me. Not to mention, you’re incredibly attractive when you’re flustered. Your heart starts to beat faster and your breathing quickens.”

He raises his hand and presses his index finger along the curve of my neck. His words come true as my lungs struggle to keep up with the demands of my body. Adam’s lips curve into a soft smile as he trails his finger down my neck, resting it against my carotid.

My heart begins to race as a chill ripples down my body.

This man knows how his touch affects me, and he revels in the conquest. Part of me wants to deny him the satisfaction, a very small part of me.

“Do I make you nervous?” He places emphasis on the word I, his fingertips still pressed against my neck, against my pulse.

“Yes,” I whisper plainly, because I can’t manage anything else.

My book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Black-Uninhibited-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07C9CBV67/

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

V.H. Luis is the author of the Black Series, an erotic romance trilogy that follows the love affair of Evelyn Snowe and Adam Black. Her debut book WAKING to Black, will be released in 2018, and the subsequent sequels FADING to Black, and SURRENDERING to Black, will follow shortly thereafter.

Welcome to my internet haven!

I’m a born and bred Miami Girl—and proud of it! I would wear shorts and flip-flops everyday of the week if I could. Growing up in Miami, surrounded by my parent’s heritage has made me proud of my Cuban ancestry. Cafecito and a guava pastry for breakfast? Yes, please! Salsa music while I tidy the house? Of course.

If I’m not busy scribbling notes about the story pounding out of my head, I’m painting, listening to music, or spending time with the love of my life—my son. If I decide to travel, I bring the whole family (in-laws included), or at least I try to, because life is too short not to spend it with family; one of the many lessons my father taught me.

My website:  https://vhluis.com/

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/VH_Luis_

GIVEAWAY

V.H. Luis will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Book Blitz/Giveaway- The Last Prejudice

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bill will be awarding a digital copy of Unrequited to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When Ed Connor slips into a coma his wife, children and their families arrive at the hospital to await his recovery. They gather around his bedside and begin reminiscing about the good old days but as the hours pass stress begins to take its toll causing long held family secrets and unresolved issues to surface. A disagreement over a DNR order put Ed’s sons, Steve and Peter, at odds and the family speculates that their anger is really about an event that led to their falling out when they were teens. While in his coma, Ed exists somewhere between life and death and wonders what he could have done differently when Steve tried to tell him that he was gay. The family is drawn into the bitter battle between Peter and Steve, and they fear things will never be right between them again. It’s now up to the family to devise an intervention as a last ditch effort to bring these two battling brothers back into the family.

Read an Excerpt:

The coffee cup shattered when it hit the white porcelain kitchen sink. She had just poured it and added a splash of half and half before she looked out the kitchen window to check on him. Oh well, if it makes him happy. Some things I just can’t change, she thought. Then he slumped over the steering wheel of the lawn mower. Fortunately the mower’s safety mechanism shut the mower down when he fell to the side and onto the newly mowed lawn.

The shattering of the cup had barely quieted before she was through the screen door and at his side. She pulled him the rest of the way off the mower and felt for a pulse. She found it. Thank God.

“Ed! Ed, can you hear me? Don’t do this to me, you stubborn old fart. I told you not to be mowing this damn lawn.”

His eyes opened when she cradled his head in her lap, and he mumbled something. She leaned closer. “… broken…” was all she heard.

“Broken? Ed, what’s broken?”

When he didn’t respond, she pulled back to look at him. His eyes went vacant and then slowly rolled back and closed.

“Help me, please… Anyone, please help me!”

She shrieked until someone heard her. Within minutes Beth, her neighbor, was at her side. “Jan, my God, what’s happened?”

“Call 911.”

About the Author:

Bill still lives in the community where he met and married his lovely wife, Janice. Actually, she lived around the corner from him and they both ignored each other until their teen years when the hormone thing kicked in and they suddenly realized that the cute little girl skipping rope and that goofy boy riding a bike had both grown up.

They are the proud parents of April and Lindsay; both of whom are now married. April married Darren and they have two beautiful boys, Brian and Owen. Lindsay married Tim and they have a beautiful little girl, Kailyn.

Bill enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping with his family, golfing, making candles, and restoring his antique European sports car, a 1972 MGB.

They say to write from what you know, so he does. He writes of love, life and relationships.

http://www.billblodgett.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorbillblodgett
Barnes and Noble Paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-prejudice-bill-blodgett/1127942818?ean=9781538069646
Ebook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-prejudice-bill-blodgett/1127942818?ean=2940158899805
Amazon: Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Last-Prejudice-difficult-brothers-suffers/dp/1979283397/ref=sr_1_3
Ebook https://www.amazon.com/Last-Prejudice-Family-Drama-ebook/dp/B079LFKP75/ref=sr_1_2
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Book Spotlight & Giveaway- The Boyfriend Swap

Discover the world of Meredith Schorr in her new book, The Boyfriend Swap. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win an amazon or barnes and noble gift card from the author. The book blast is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions. Find all the tour stops HERE

GENRE: Romantic Comedy

Is Christmas really the most wonderful time of the year? New Yorkers Robyn Lane and Sidney Bellows aren’t so sure. Robyn has always dated struggling creative types. For once, her parents would love her to bring someone with health insurance and a 401(k) to their Chrismukkah celebration. Her actor boyfriend doesn’t qualify. While across town, Sidney’s professional life already belongs to her parents. She’s an attorney at her father’s law firm and she works tirelessly to keep her love life private. If she brings her lawyer boyfriend to their annual Christmas extravaganza, her parents will have the wedding planned by New Year’s Eve.

A mutual friend playfully suggests they trade boyfriends for the holidays. The women share a laugh, but after copious amounts of wine, decide The Boyfriend Swap could be the perfect solution. This way, Robyn can show off her stable attorney boyfriend and Sidney’s high-society family will take no interest in her flaky actor beau.

It’s a brilliant plan—in theory. In practice—not so much. When Will turns out to be the boy-next-door Robyn crushed on hard throughout her teenage years, and Sidney’s family fawns all over Perry like he’s an Oscar-winner rather than a D-list wannabe, one thing is certain: The Boyfriend Swap might just change their lives forever.

Excerpt One:

“Give the idea a minute to percolate,” Sidney said calmly. Her mouth remained in a straight line, indicating she wasn’t joking.

My stomach quivered with unease, but I took calming breaths to settle down. According to Anne Marie, Sidney was very opinionated and sometimes wouldn’t shut up until she got her way. I’d just let her keep at it until her throat hurt or she passed out from too much wine.

Sidney continued, “If left to our own devices, the holidays are going to blow chunks, but if we pool together, we’ll all be better off. And it’s only for a few days. It’s the perfect solution to our mutual problem.”

I stood from the table and removed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. I poured a glass and placed it in front of her. Hopefully she’d take the hint. The wine was clearly going to her head.

“What do you say?” she asked the minute I sat back down.

The girl had to be on more than fermented grape juice. Hallucinogenics maybe? Whatever influence she was under, she clearly believed her ludicrous plan had merit and I was going to have to put my foot down. “I say that I’m a grown woman and shouldn’t need to lie to my parents about who I’m dating.”

Sidney nodded. “I agree. You shouldn’t.”

A breeze of relief zipped through my core. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

“You shouldn’t have to lie, but in our case, we sort of do. If we want to make it to the New Year without requiring a straitjacket, that is.” She smiled, a slick grin I was certain both assured her clients and put the fear of the devil in her adversaries in equal measure.

 AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A born-and-bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related emails way more than she was probably supposed to. After trying her hand penning children’s stories and blogging her personal experiences, Meredith found her calling writing romantic comedy and humorous women’s fiction. She secures much inspiration from her day job as a hardworking trademark paralegal and her still-single (but looking) status. Meredith is a loyal New York Yankees fan, an avid runner, and an unashamed television addict. To learn more, visit her at www.meredithschorr.com.

Social media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MeredithSchorrAuthor/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MeredithSchorr

Website: www.meredithschorr.com

Instagram: meredithschorr

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Guest Author day with Farzana Doctor

Welcome author Frazana Doctor today to the Reading Nook. Please remember that there is a giveaway at the end of the post. Farzana Doctor will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner and a print copy of the book to 10 randomly drawn winners (US Only) via rafflecopter during the tour. The tour is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Now let's chat with the author...

How did you start writing literary fiction?

When I began writing my first novel, I didn’t have any knowledge about genres. I just wrote in the style of the books I read. I admire the ways in which literary fiction’s prose can be beautiful and evocative. I also enjoy feeling deeply with characters, sometimes crying and laughing on the same page.

Plotter or pantster?

A combination. I like to know the story’s arc and the characters’ main obstacles and desires before I begin writing. I’ll sometimes brainstorm a list of scenes to help me for when I get stuck later. And then the rest of it is pantsing, I guess, where I listen deeply to my creative unconscious and the spirits voices that come to me.

What are three things you have on your writing desk?

Can you believe that I don’t have a writing desk? I write in bed, at the kitchen table, on trains, in coffee shops. I guess I like to move around! There is usually a hot beverage nearby, and often a pen and paper.

Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?

One of my characters, Azeez, is a spirit. He “came” to me late in the process of writing the book, and it felt a spirit was feeding me his scenes and dialogue. I enjoy his way of looking at the world from a wise and distant perspective.

Finish this sentence: I write because ____...

If I didn’t I’d feel really uncomfortable, kind of like if I hadn’t exercised today. I think it might be an addiction. I feel withdrawal when I haven’t written for a few days.

What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?

All Inclusive has been described by the Toronto Star as a book that will raise eyebrows. I’m guessing that they might be referring to a group sex scene in which m my protagonist, Ameera, participates.

What is next on your writerly horizon?

I’ve just completed my 4^th novel, Unfamiliar Skin, which shines a spotlight on the Dawoodi Bohra community, which I’m from.

GENRE:   Literary Fiction, LGBT, magical realism, multicultural

A story about an all-inclusive resort, the ghost of an unknown father, and the tragedies we can’t forget.

What’s it like when everyone’s dream vacation is your job? Ameera works at a Mexican all-inclusive resort, where every day is paradise — if “paradise” means endless paperwork, quotas to meet, and entitled tourists. But it’s not all bad: Ameera’s pastime of choice is the swingers scene, and the resort is the perfect place to hook up with like-minded couples without all the hassle of having to see them again.

Despite Ameera’s best efforts to keep her sideline a secret, someone is spreading scandalous rumours about her around the resort, and her job might be at stake. Meanwhile, she’s being plagued by her other secret, the big unknown of her existence: the identity of her father and why he disappeared. Unbeknownst to Ameera, her father, Azeez, is looking for her, and they both must come to terms with the reason why he abandoned her.

A moving new work from award-winning author Farzana Doctor, All Inclusive blurs the lines between the real world and paradise, and life and death, and reminds us that love is neither easily lost nor found.

Excerpt:

March 27, 2015, Huatulco, Mexico

A DC8 droned above.

“Here they come,” I announced. Friday was our departure-arrival day. One sunburned and

grouchy group left for their northern homes, and another cohort, ecstatic and pale, touched down and took their place.

Roberto grabbed a plastic file-box and gestured for me to sit beside him. I lowered myself

onto the makeshift seat and wiped away a slick of perspiration from the creases behind my

knees.

“Ameera, you hear about that tour rep getting fired over at Waves?” Roberto stroked his

thin moustache.

“Nancy? Yeah, I’m still in shock.” I hadn’t known her well, but I’d gone clubbing with her

and the other tour reps from our sister resorts a few times. She’d seemed all right to me.

The airplane circled closer, and, in unison, we clapped our hands over our ears and tilted

our chins to the sky. After it had rolled across the tarmac and quieted its engines, we resumed our gossip.

“What I don’t get is why someone in their late twenties would want to have sex with a fifteen-year-old.” Roberto shook his head, as though trying to dislodge the idea.

“But didn’t the kid lie about his age? He told her he was eighteen, right?” While I’d never

in a million years sleep with a teenager, I could imagine how booze and loneliness could have led Nancy to her mistake.

Buy links:

Indie bookstore: http://www.charisbooksandmore.com/book/9781459731813

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/All-Inclusive-Farzana-Doctor/dp/1459731816/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1503271113&sr=8-6&keywords=all+inclusive

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqTStZedIao

Book club guide: https://www.dundurn.com/sites/default/files/supplementary/AllInclusive-BookClubResource.pdf

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Farzana Doctor is the author of three novels: Stealing Nasreen, Six Metres of Pavement (which was a 2012 Lambda Literary Award and the 2017 One Book One Brampton winner) and the recently released All Inclusive which was a Kobo and National Post Best Book of the Year. Farzana was named one of CBC Books’ “Ten Canadian Women Writers You Need to Read Now”. She is also a Registered Social Worker with a part-time psychotherapy practice. She curates the Brockton Writers Series.

Website: www.farzanadoctor.com 

Twitter: @farzanadoctor

Instagram: @farzanadoctor

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

GIVEAWAY

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Book Blast & Giveaway~ Claiming the Maverick's Heart

Welcome Debra Holt and get to sneak peek into her new release, Claiming the Maverick's Heart. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win from the author an amazon gift card. The book blast tour is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions.

GENRE: Romance

“He’s back.”

Words Macy Donovan hoped to never hear.

Trace Cartwright was the maverick rodeo cowboy who broke her heart, leaving her on the steps of the church on the eve of their wedding. Now he's returned to build his home and to lay claim to her heart ... again. Macy barely survived the broken heart the first time. Does he think he can walk back into her life and take up where he left off?

Excerpt:

All that from just a glance? It was only a swift glimpse, but Macy didn’t need more. The broad shoulders and lean hips hadn’t changed…and neither had the cocky set of the black Stetson. The man was more than a head taller than anyone around him; his straight-backed stature was a distinctive Cartwright trait, as were the green eyes inherited from his Irish mother. Macy couldn’t see his eyes from that distance, but she didn’t need to. They were forever etched in her memory. Wiping first one sweaty palm and then the other on the legs of her jeans, she increased her grip on the steering wheel while her insides continued their gymnastics.

Buy at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers.  Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most.  She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

    

When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure.  She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs...to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s. 

     

Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com.  She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.  Twitter is https://twitter.com/DebraHoltBooks and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebraHoltBooks. 

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ From Fake to Forever

Discover the world of Jennifer Shirk in their new release, From Fake to Forever and remember to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win an Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card from the author. The tour is sponsored by Goddess Fish and you can find all the stops HERE

GENRE:  Contemporary  Romance

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Sandra Moyer’s preschool is struggling, so she reluctantly agrees to let super-famous actor Ben Capshaw research a role there. Ben’s always joking around, never serious, but there’s something about the buttoned-up, beautiful Sandra and her young daughter that makes him want to take life more seriously. But Sandra won’t trust him—what if it’s all an act, research for the role? As the lines between make-believe and reality blur, Ben will have to decide if love is worth casting aside the role of his life for a new role…that could last a lifetime.

Excerpt:

From the corner of her eye, Sandra Moyer noticed a tall, bearded man leaning against the playground fence and automatically tensed. Because she was a single mom and alone, her paranoid nature already labeled him a felon, although technically he was doing nothing wrong. In fact, come to think of it, he had a pretty nice body with those real-life Hulk arms and broad chest. She didn’t know what that made her for noticing something like that about a man she assumed was on some Family Watchdog list, but the phrase “cheap and desperate” came to mind.

Since when did I start ogling the physiques of strange men?

Her shoulders wilted as she brooded over that question. She obviously needed to get out more. She needed to just get out. The problem was she didn’t see herself doing that any time soon. Her self-esteem had hit rock bottom and hadn’t been able to locate its way back up since the day she’d found Steve cheating on her with one of his costars.

An unpleasant picture of her ex-husband lip-locked with a Julianne Moore–type redhead popped into her mind, and she shuddered.

Actors. Did their profession ever mesh with reality?

The answer to that was a resounding no. Unfortunately, she’d learned that one the hard way. Steve had even thought she’d understand the main reason he had the affair was for the publicity and what it could do for his career and income. Like that was supposed to make her feel so much better about it.

“Mommy, I want to play in the sandbox.”

Her daughter’s voice pulled her from those depressing thoughts, and she gratefully looked down. “Okay, honey. Just five more minutes, though.”

Hannah squealed and dashed through the playground as fast as her little legs could run. Sandra couldn’t help but smile. Life was so simple when you were four. The little things kept you happy. And why not? Four-year-olds didn’t think about paying the rent or overdue bills. Things that were constantly on her mind ever since she’d opened the preschool with her sister. No, the only thing you worried about at that age was whether Mommy would give you ice cream if you didn’t eat your string beans.

She’d kill for that kind of stress again.

Unfortunately, the thought of homicide had her eyes traveling back to the well-built man she’d been ogling earlier. He was tossing around a football with a young boy now. Nothing illegal, but something was off. She had a sixth sense when it came to protecting her daughter, and right now it was telling her something big. Like he’d just gotten out of prison. It must have been a whopper of a sentence, too, judging from the long, scraggly hair and the kind of beard and mustache Santa Claus would envy. She never made a habit of associating with men who looked liked convicts, but there was something familiar about him…

She doubted he had a child enrolled in her preschool. Story time at the public library? She highly doubted that, too. He didn’t exactly look like the loving Father Knows Best type, considering that fire-breathing skull on his calf wasn’t designed to instill tenderness. At least he was out spending time with his son, which was a lot more than what her daughter was getting from her own father.

As if her thoughts had been telepathically sent out, the man in question cast a lingering gaze over in her direction. And he smiled.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Oh, no, don’t even think about it. Don’t you dare come over here. She fumbled to put her sunglasses back on and almost punched out a lens. Please stay where you are. He’d better be a jolly person being his usual overly friendly self and not just leering at her. But she laid odds on the latter.

What was it with her? She could attract a creep from the next state over without even trying. A talent she’d gladly relinquish.

She flopped down on a bench. Opening her purse, she yanked out a book and hid her face behind it. If she pretended to be engrossed in reading, maybe the man would reconsider trying to strike up a conversation. Yeah, that’s all she needed—some ex-con cozying up to her.

Confident her glasses hid her eyes, she lowered the book a half inch and sneaked another peek. Tall, Dark, and Scraggly had his back to her now. Relief enveloped her. Thank goodness, she thought, slowly letting out a breath.

One deadbeat per lifetime was enough.

Buy at:

https://www.amazon.com/Fake-Forever-Jennifer-Shirk-ebook/dp/B01F1YMJNK/

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy-which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME. Recently, her novel SUNNY DAYS FOR SAM won the 2013 Golden Quill Published Authors Contest for Best Traditional Romance.

Lately she's been on a serious exercise kick. But don't hold that against her.

Author Website: www.jennifershirk.com

Author Blog: http://jennifershirk.blogspot.com/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferShirk

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifershirk

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jennifershirk

Newsletter: eepurl.com/Q6TH1 

GIVEAWAY: Jennifer will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway