The Road to Gretna by Suleena Bibra (Road to Romance, #1) ~ Contemporary Romance @SuleenaBibra @XpressoTours

The Road to Gretna
Suleena Bibra
(Road to Romance, #1)
Publication Date: June 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance

What better way to escape reality than going on a reality show that combines The Amazing Race, Love Island, and Pride and Prejudice?

Naomi Richmond is hoping an ocean is far enough away from her overbearing father. She’s chosen London and built a life there with a job she only dislikes about a quarter of the time.

Nate Williams is perfectly happy where he is, and his dissatisfaction with his job is so low it can’t be quantified numerically. Unfortunately, his boss (and Naomi’s father) is asking him to do something that might make him start to hate Mondays: convince Naomi to come home.

Nate arrives in London at the same time Naomi receives an offer that intrigues her as much as Nate does: be on a reality dating show, where the contestants will pretend to be Regency aristocrats eloping to the famed Gretna Green. Nate is sure it’s his job to stop this, but instead, he ends up on the show with her. Now Naomi is trying to make a name for herself while Nate is trying to make sure she doesn’t do anything to embarrass her father, and they’re both trying to fight the attraction they feel for each other. On camera.

Tune in whenever you find this book and watch Nate and Naomi find themselves and each other, on The Road to Gretna!

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Read an Excerpt:

“You’re ruined now!” a voice screeches.

I lift my head at the inane comment. “What?” My lips are still wet from the kiss, and I still have a painful erection. I don’t appreciate the interruption.

I see Diane, the chaperone, looking incensed in front of us, with a cameraperson and producer standing behind her.

“Right, we’re on a reality show,” I whisper to Naomi.

“Ruined! After all my hard work keeping you virtuous, now you’re ruined!” Diane carries on, adding some dramatic hand gestures and maybe some tears.

Naomi starts giggling next to me, first demurely behind her hand, but then louder as Diane keeps ranting. She sets me off and now we’re both laughing in the face of…whatever this is.

“Why is no one concerned about my virtue, though?” I ask Naomi, sending her into more fits of laughter.

“You’re a man.” Diane pauses the rant to educate me. “And you’ve ruined Naomi!”

I try to defend the lady next to me. And myself. “Ruined seems like a bit of an overreaction for a kiss.”

“A kiss.” Diane sounds as scandalized as if I told her I was getting a hummer on this bench instead of a hot, but still tame, kiss. “Ruined!”

These might be the only words Diane knows now, too shocked at the (fully clothed) debauchery that allegedly happened here.

“All right then. Maybe we should go back to the ball?” I have no idea what it supposed to happen now that I’ve “ruined” a woman, never having done it before. I look at Naomi, hoping she has any idea what we’re supposed to do, but she’s still laughing too hard at the situation to be any help.

I stand up, not worried about my penis, which started softening at the first screech of “ruin.” I extend my arm out to Naomi, who manages to stop laughing enough to take it.

The producer standing next to the camerawoman gives us a thumbs-up and Diane immediately stops crying. Terrifying.

“Great. We’ve got that. We can go back inside, but we’re going to put you two in a sitting room for a few hours. Part of the ruin consequences. We’ll bring you out when it’s time to get in a couple.” The producer indicates we should follow her. “I’m Aiko, by the way. I’ll be producing the both of you.”

“Hi. Nice to meet you,” I say to the East Asian-British woman in front of me. “I don’t usually ruin women in gardens.”

That sets Naomi off again, and I have to half drag her laughing body back inside the house.

Meet the Author:

Suleena Bibra has read romance in one form or another since she could pick her own books. She occasionally branches out to other genres, but really, what’s the point if there’s no kissing? She also loves to laugh, which probably has to do with her dad putting Monty Python on whenever her mom wasn’t looking.

Suleena studied art history in college and loves to travel every opportunity she gets. A bit indecisive, she has worked as a museum intern, lawyer, workers’ compensation adjuster, and private investigator. Author is best, though, so she can continue living out a bunch of other careers without changing out of her pajamas.

Suleena writes RomComs heavy on banter, shenanigans, and aggressive whimsy. She spends the rest of her time annoying her stubborn, but adorable, bulldog (who also doubles as her particularly lazy writing assistant) with her love.

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Book Blast ~ The Grateful Green Dinosaur by Larissa Pemberton ~ #ChildrensBook #PictureBook @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Larissa Pemberton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Percy the green dinosaur explores practicing gratitude with the help of his friend Custard the unicorn, to turn his bad day around by turning his negative thoughts into positive ones. As a society, we often tend to focus on the negative. Teaching children to practice gratitude and shift their mindset toward the positive can lay the foundation for a happier, more fulfilling life.

Read an Excerpt:

“Yes, our minds are so much more powerful than you could ever imagine! How about we try and shift your mindset from focusing on the negative things to being grateful for the good things?” suggests Custard.

“We can try that. I don’t like feeling sad,” says Percy.

“What are some things that you love and are grateful for?” asks Custard. “Think of as many things as you can!” they encourage. “When I’m feeling sad, I try and think of all the things that I’m grateful for and what makes me happy, and soon I don’t feel sad anymore! I’m grateful for my pet dog Buddy and that it is summertime. I love summer!”

“Oh, I’m grateful for my mummy and daddy. I’m grateful for the cosy cave that we live in. I’m grateful for my toys, I’m grateful that I’m healthy, and I’m grateful for you!” exclaims Percy excitedly.

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About the Author:

Larissa is a devoted mother to three young boys. Her path of self-discovery, shaped by the challenges and joys of motherhood—led her to discovering and embracing the life changing practice of gratitude. By incorporating it into her daily routine, she experienced a profound shift in her mental health and overall happiness. Now, Larissa is passionate in sharing this practice with her sons and other children, believing that learning gratitude at a young age can set the foundation for a life guided by joy and emotional resilience.

Website: https://thegratefulgreendinosaur.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thegratefulgreendinosaur
Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/0228829798

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Blurb Blitz ~ Mad Season: Elles Garity's Story, Book 1 by Gregory Armstrong #LiteraryFiction @GoddessFish

Mad Season: Elles Garity's Story, Book 1

Gregory Armstrong

Genre:

Literary Fiction

BLURB:

Fifteen years ago, Elles Garity’s world came crashing down, in more ways than one. Now in her mid-twenties, long since removed from the small island town that she grew up in and never dealing with the pain of her loss, life is calling her back home. In the affirmant of recent unfortunate events Elles finds herself at a turning point once more. This time though, she’ll be forced to confront both her unresolved grief and the people and places she left behind. It won’t be easy. Along the way Elles will learn the truth behind a new friend’s dark connection to her tragic past and be the last to uncover unthinkable family secrets that will unravel everything she ever knew about the family she thought she lost.

Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

Now, I was questioning all of it. I didn’t deal with things well. I didn’t allow anyone to help me deal with things. My life, the road I was on, the lane I had shifted into when I took the wheel, to put it quite figuratively, looked dark and dismal. I was solely responsible for switching my life into cruise control before ever giving myself a chance to learn to drive the damn car.

All these things ran through my head. I didn’t speak to Loyal about any of it. Where would I start? How could she possibly understand my position? Not that I gave her a fighting chance. Time sort of stood still as I sat there frozen, empty. I started this. I made this mess. I had no fucking clue how to fix it. I closed my eyes for a while, and when I opened them, it hit me like a slap to the head. The answer was staring me in the face. Where it all went wrong is where it needed to begin again.

“Grace, I’m worried about you.”

She had never said those words to me before. Ironic, though, how it came across, how I took it—her spotting the wreckage and expressing concern to the very person who was entangled in the heap. Out of upheaval, I took solace in a clouded idea to uproot myself once more. I emerged partially from my funk, oddly enough, with a wayward smile and slightly brighter outlook. I turned to Loyal, sincere. “Everyone must think I’m horrible.”

Meet the Author:

Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, and a Connecticut native all my life, my family eventually moved to Norwich in 1977, where I grew up. I attended and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1991. It was there, in my final two years, where I acquired a passion for writing. At the time, the school provided a writing center, a classroom filled with computers, designated as a creative writing outlet for the students, and overseen by the now accomplished author Wally Lamb. Here, we were free to use our time working on our own projects, developing, learning, and sharpening our writing skills. Each class, we would gather in a circle to show and share our work with Mr. Lamb and the rest of the class by either reading or having our material read aloud, and hearing feedback from our peers.

Mr. Lamb’s writing center instilled a desire in me to one day write a book and become an author, just as he was doing, putting the final touches on his debut novel, She’s Come Undone. Unfortunately, for me, that is when that dream of mine became a struggle that would last decades. At the age of three, I contracted meningitis, which caused me to go completely blind and left me hospitalized for several weeks. Despite doctors believing my vision would never return, it did, slowly and to a certain degree, although my optic nerve had sustained too much damage and I was declared legally blind.

Growing up was a struggle. Socially, I was quiet, shy, uncomfortable knowing I was different from all of the other kids, because of my physical limitations and lack in self-confidence. Reading was also a challenge. Even though I soon got my first pair of glasses, which made my vision clearer, being able to see the print on a page was still a major issue. For those reasons, I have never been much of a reader, and how does someone who doesn’t read, who doesn’t study the art of literature through books, because it was a strenuous activity on my eyes, learn how to write?

The fact that I found myself stuck, without the necessary tools and unsure of my own talents and abilities to be a quality writer, all the other insecurities of my childhood at play, I gave it up for a time. My active imagination for storytelling did not. As I got older, and into my teenage years I started listening to more music to fill a void. The more I listened, the more I began to broaden my tastes in artists, groups and genres, and the more I heard stories in the songs. Music, along with television and movies, were combining to strengthen my inspiration to be an aspiring author.

One such movie, which mirrored many of my own self-imposed hurdles, was Eddie and the Cruisers. The character of Eddie Wilson, lead singer of a fictional rock and roll band, was consumed by the notion that his music was never good enough, that if they were going to be a band, they had to be great, if they were going to release an album, it had to be great as well. I had obviously grown-up learning and hearing about the great authors and novelists of all time, the great classic books. I had always put that pressure on myself, the same way Eddie Wilson did. I was convinced that I didn’t know how to write, and even if I did, would it be good enough? I had been told, taught by teachers and others, that there were rules to the writing game, including creating a story outline, character development, a whole assortment of proper steps to follow and processes before the writing even began.

Over the years, I started a novel a time or two, hating it, and giving up again. I met my future wife, got married, started a family, and quit my average job to become a stay-at-home dad. Through all of it, thirty-plus years, that ever-present need to write gnawing at me, the urge still there, my vivid imagination still running wild—I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I had to let that creativity out and give it a real and focused purpose. With the rough idea of a plot in mind, I sat down at the computer and finally let all of those insecurities go. With a shot of determination and a relaxed mind, I slowly but surely discovered my own writing style, and found my storytelling voice. To hell with all the rules, the unrealistic expectations I placed upon myself, the result—a deeply, emotionally charged story of tragedy, personal reflection, and redemption, that is Mad Season.

https://gregoryarmstrongbooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561749654997

Enter the Giveaway:

Gregory Armstrong will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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#BookReview ~ The Cardinal Code by Avery Sterling ~ Paranormal Romance #PNR #Vampires @GoddessFish

The Cardinal Code 

by Avery Sterling

Genre: 

 Paranormal Romance

About the Book:

Vampires are real. Powerful, organized, and nearly untouchable, they move through society under the governance of the Cardinalis Order—an ancient system built to protect their kind and punish those who defy its laws.

Michael Chamberlain is one of them. A successful entrepreneur with a carefully buried past, he returns to The Hamptons to take over his father’s elite nightclub—and to secure a contracted blood source. Cold, controlled, and emotionally detached, Michael has long accepted the rules of his world. That is, until he meets Paislee Sullivan.

A determined college student working nights to fund her future, Paislee doesn’t know the truth about the Order—or that her presence at the nightclub is more dangerous than she realizes. When her path collides with Michael’s, she’s pulled into the shadows of a world built on power, secrecy, and blood.

As their connection deepens, Paislee must navigate a society where consent is contractual, love is forbidden, and ignorance offers the only safety. But some connections can’t be denied—and breaking the rules could mean losing everything.

The Cardinal Code is a seductive and high-stakes romance set in a world where the elite don’t just run society—they feed on it.

My Review:

The Cardinal Code is a fantastic paranormal romance. Vampires have always been a favorite paranormal entity of mine and I've read so many books featuring them. Don't think The Cardinal Code just recycles the familiar trope. This story isn't your run of the mill vampire story. The author created unique aspects, wonderful characters, and a story filled with twists and turns you'll never see coming. 

I enjoyed the story. The synopsis caught my attention but the author's creativity, writing style, and characters pulled me in and kept me engaged. I loved the romantic elements and the path the author took Paislee and Michael down. I look forward to the next installment.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

Read Excerpt Three:

Michael leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. His chest felt tight, and his breaths were shallow and uneven.

He’d destroyed everything. The thought hit him like a blow to the chest, stealing what little air he had left.

He couldn’t even bring himself to try and explain.

What would he say?

What could he possibly say to undo what he’d done?

Nothing.

He clenched his jaw, his mind racing but landing nowhere. There were no answers tonight. Just silence. Just regret. Just the faint sound of her heartbeat, muffled by the walls but steady enough to remind him that she was still there. For now.

And for the first time in his long life, Michael was truly afraid. Not of losing control. Not of the monster within him. But of losing her—and knowing he had no one to blame but himself.

Amazon  

Meet the Author:

Avery Sterling fell in love with romance novels as a teenager, drawn to the raw emotion and sweeping adventures they offered. She wrote her first novel at sixteen, chasing the thrill of crafting love stories that feel both authentic and unforgettable.

Having spent much of her youth traveling, Avery discovered that love is universal, found in both the grand and quiet moments. Her stories aim to reflect that truth, blending emotional depth with all the steamy romance readers crave.

https://www.avery-sterling.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19674760.Avery_Sterling?ref=nav_profile_l

https://www.facebook.com/avery.sterling.125

https://www.instagram.com/avery.sterling17/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/avery-sterling


Enter the Giveaway::

Avery Sterling will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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#BookReview ~ Crimson Oath by Elizabeth Hunter ~ Paranormal Romance #Vampires #PNR

 

Crimson Oath by Elizabeth Hunter

A brand new vampire. The lover who got her killed. And a desire neither can deny.

Tatyana Vorona used to be human... until she met the dark and mysterious Oleg Sokolov. He lives in a world of power, blood, and betrayal. And now so does she.

By helping him, Tatyana helped herself to an early grave. Then she rose again as a vampire with the ability to manipulate water. Tatyana is in hiding, trying to master her magic, blood lust, and the terrifying draw she still feels toward the man who set all this in motion.

He might control fire, but flames of desire have a will of their own.

Oleg's empire was shaken by his daughter's betrayal and the bloodshed that followed. Now someone else is trying to take advantage of the chaos to destabilize his rule further. He should be hunting them down, making an example of anyone who dares to challenge him.

Instead, he's searching for her. No matter how far Tatyana runs, he's determined to return her to his side. And when it turns out she's hiding right underneath his nose, he'll do whatever it takes to make Tatyana his. Permanently.

Fire and water collide in this steamy romantic fantasy about a new vampire that won't submit and her powerful lover who must learn to bend in order to keep her. CRIMSON OATH is the sequel to BLOOD MOSAIC, and takes place in the same expansive world as Hunter's popular Elemental Series.

My Review:

Crimson Oath is the exciting second book in the Firebird and the Wolf series. The book continues Tatyana and Oleg’s story. Tatyana has been coming to terms with the death of not only someone she knows but her human death as well. Now a water vampire, Tatyana is hiding from Oleg and learning about the magic she now wields, all while traversing this new landscape.

Crimson Oath was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. This novel was extremely well-crafted. The novel is exciting, full of action and adventure, and draws the reader in from the start. The writing is fluid and cohesive, never becoming wordy or confusing. The pacing of the story is excellent and isn't too fast, slow, or boring.

The main and supporting characters are well written, developed at the proper speeds, and likable. This is an excellent work of fiction. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read, indulge, and completely get lost in Crimson Oath.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:

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Universal link: https://mybook.to/LVnM

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The Apache Kid by W. Michael Farmer ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheApacheKid #WMichaelFarmer #Historical

The Apache Kid by W. Michael Farmer 

ARMY APACHE SCOUT (The Apache Kid Chronicles-Volume 1)

 

Fiction / Indigenous / Historical Fiction / Native American

Date Published: 06-03-2015

Publisher: Hat Creek

 

From Army Scout to Outlaw, from Hero to Legend.

He survived the embers of the fires and murders at the Camp Grant Massacre of the Apache. Young Has-kay-bay-nay-ntayl ("brave and tall and will come to a mysterious end"), a child known by many names but later feared and revered as the Apache Kid-grows up in two cultures where survival means choosing between loyalty and betrayal, his people and their overseers. Trained by the legendary Al Sieber and other former military officers, the Kid makes a meteoric rise to prominence as a First Sergeant of scouts, a warrior whose skill and leadership helps win the U.S. Army's fight against renegades and maintain peace between Apache bands at San Carlos Reservation.

But neither war nor peace are ever simple. When forced to make an impossible choice between his own People or the Army, he chooses his People. His choice leads the Army to imprison him at Alcatraz. Released early by the Army, Arizona Territory tries to imprison him again but he, with seven other Apache on the way to Yuma Penitentiary, escape and become the object of the greatest manhunt in Arizona history. The only one to survive the manhunt, Kid becomes both a ghost and a legend, the most feared border outlaw for the next ten years before vanishing into Mexico.

Seen through Kid's eyes, The Apache Kid: Army Apache Scout brings to life the thrilling and tragic journey of Apache Kid as a young man and the best of the Army's Apache scouts.

 

About the Author:

W. MICHAEL FARMER blends over fifteen years of research into 19th-century Apache history and Southwest living to create richly authentic stories. A retired PhD physicist, his scientific work included laser-based measurements of atmospheric aerosols, and he authored a two-volume reference on atmospheric effects.

His fiction and essays have earned numerous honors, including three Will Rogers Gold and six Silver Medallions, multiple New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, and a Spur Finalist Award. His novels include The Life and Times of Yellow Boy, Legends of the Desert, and the award-winning Geronimo duology. His latest novels include Trini! Come! and the Chato Duology, featuring Desperate Warrior and Proud Outcast.

 

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links:

https://mybook.to/TheApacheKid

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Puzzles and Premieres: Magical Mystery Book Club ) by Elizabeth Pantley ~ Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Puzzles and Premieres: Magical Mystery Book Club ) by Elizabeth Pantley

About Puzzles and Premieres:

 

Puzzles and Premieres: Magical Mystery Book Club

Paranormal Cozy Mystery 

10th in Series

Setting: In a ski town at a film festival 

Publisher: Better Beginnings, Inc. (July 15, 2025)

Number of Pages: 290

Paperback ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8287878528

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0DZFCSX39

Audiobook ASIN: B0CY8K98SF

When this club selects a book, magic happens!

This book club does more than read their books – they are absorbed right into the story to become the amateur sleuths! To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

In this journey, they travel to a mountaintop ski town to experience the enchanting setting of a famous film festival. They’ll meet movie stars, producers, and directors. They’ll watch a film premiere, go skiing, and eat at fancy restaurants. It’s all very glamorous and exciting – until a famous actress disappears.

The book club is on the case! They discover clues in the most unusual way - by putting together enchanted jigsaw puzzles.

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they put together the mystery – one puzzle piece at a time.

About Elizabeth Pantley:

 

Elizabeth writes well-loved cozy mysteries in two series: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series. Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona, two very different places. Both are rich, gorgeous, natural places, and inspire the settings in many of her books. 

Author Links:

Website: https://elizabethpantleyauthor.com/

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/345907-magical-mystery-book-club

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-pantley

Purchase Link: 

Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

July 15 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 16 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 16 – Baroness' Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 17 – Christy's Cozy Corners - REVIEW

July 17 –Sarandipity's– AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 18 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW

July 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW

July 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 23 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A Wicket of Lies: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait ~ Cozy Mystery

 

A Wicket of Lies: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery) 

by Victoria Tait

About A Wicket of Lies:

 

A Wicket of Lies: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

2nd in the Series

Setting: Cotswold, England

Publisher: ‎ Kanga Press

Publication date: ‎ July 11, 2025

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0DNKN1W7P

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1917168328

Summer is in full swing in the Cotswolds… but not everyone is playing fair. Dotty Sayers, antiques expert and amateur sleuth, is looking forward to an idyllic afternoon of sunshine, cream teas, and village rivalry at the final of a local ladies’ cricket festival. Keya Varma, café owner and part-time crime scene expert, is delighted to be on the pitch with family and friends. The stakes are high but it’s all in good spirit… until a teammate is found dead. At first, the death seems like a tragic accident, but when Keya is appointed crime scene manager and evidence starts turning up outside the boundary, suspicion begins to spread. With lies spinning like a tricky googly and secrets lurking in the outfield, Dotty and Keya must team up with the local police to cut through a pitch of grudges, hidden motives, and long-buried betrayals. Off the pitch, Dotty is facing doubts of her own. Can she let go of her fears and commit to a future with Zach? With a murder to solve and the game underway, can Dotty, Keya, and their unlikely team of village cricketers spot the real villain before someone else gets bowled out? A Wicket of Lies is the second book in Victoria Tait’s Cotswold Antique Mystery series, a feel-good whodunnit brimming with village life, vintage treasures, and cricketing rivalries. With determined sleuths, loyal friendships, and a community bound by justice, it’s a wonderfully English mystery with heart. Keep your eye on the ball and uncover the truth in A Wicket of Lies today!

About Victoria Tait:

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she developed a lifelong love of tea and British traditions. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder, She Wrote, she writes cozy mysteries infused with her signature British charm.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. With intrigue, surprises, and gentle humour, Victoria’s page-turning stories are the perfect blend of mystery and charm, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Victoria has recently been exploring the world, drawing inspiration for her books from remarkable places including the Azores, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Morocco, and Malta.

You can find Victoria at VictoriaTait.com 

Author Links:

Website: https://victoriatait.com/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait

Purchase Links:

Books2Read - Amazon 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

July 19 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – Storybook Lady - REVIEW

July 20 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 22 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

July 23 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 23 – FUONLYKNEW – RECIPE

July 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 25 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

July 26 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 27 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW

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Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press ~ Be One of the First 7,500 to sign up! @GoddessFish

Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It's easy... just complete the Rafflecopter below and you'll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

So, what's the book about? Here's the info:

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?

Genre:

Romance

Reviews:

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review

“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

About the Author:

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Amazon

Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Audiobook Tour ~ Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #MagdaRevealed #UrsulaWerner #HistoricalFiction

Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 04-08-2025

Publisher: She Writes Press

What would Jesus do? This wry, irreverent, fictionalized account of his life and ministry—told from the perspective of disciple Mary Magdalene—will implode everything you thought you knew.

Jesus Christ—Yeshua, to his friends—is not happy. Two thousand years after his death, he sees Earth heading toward oblivion. Ever eager to save humanity, he asks Mary Magdalene (Magda) for help. It’s time to tell the real story of our time together, he says. Time to correct all the misinformation, misogyny, and lies spread by Peter, Paul, and the Roman Catholic Church. Still pissed that she’s been called a whore for almost two millennia, Magda resists—but ultimately, out of love for Yeshua, reluctantly agrees.

Through Magda’s words, Yeshua—to most today a symbolic, practically mythological Biblical figure—comes back to life as a man of flesh and blood, one wholly devoted to spreading his message of radical equality. Magda tells of her travels with Yeshua and his followers around Galilee, where they are menaced at every turn by Roman rulers. She relates tales of miracles and murder, jealousy and acceptance, misogyny and female empowerment. She describes her relationship with Yeshua, clarifying centuries of speculation about whether or not they were in love. And, painfully, she reveals the truth about who orchestrated his death.

But Magda’s narrative does not end there. Her life with Yeshua has taught her that she has more strength than she ever imagined, and she begins to tap into a spiritual power that is uniquely her own—the power to connect people. Magda’s true role in the history of humanity, it turns out, is just beginning to unfold.

 

About the Author:

 

Ursula Werner has been writing for over twenty-five years. She has published one novel, The Good at Heart (2017), and two chapbooks of poetry, The Silence of the Woodruff (2006) and Rapunzel Revisited (2010). She holds graduate degrees in English literature and law, and works part time as an attorney. She and her husband live in Washington, DC, and are always trying to entice their three daughters to live nearby.

Contact Link:

Website

Purchase Link:

Amazon

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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

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Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery) by Valerie Burns ~ #CozyMystery

 

Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery) by Valerie Burns

About Icing on the Murder:

 

Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

4th in Series

Setting: Michigan

Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies Publication

 Date: ‎ July 29, 2025

Print length: ‎ 272 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496753402

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496753403

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0DLQY8DSF

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496753410

Audiobook ASIN B0F2WJLDVZ

Influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder . . .

Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.

Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.

While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.

About Valerie Burns:

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha and Edgar Award-nominated author. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. As Kallie E. Benjamin, Valerie writes the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series. She is an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, and a mentor in the Pocket MFA program. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles. Connect with Valerie at vmburns.com.

Author Links:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16534140.V_M_Burns

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

Website: vmburns.com

Purchase Links:

Amazon - Apple - Books A Million - Barnes & Noble - Bookshop. Org - Google Play - Hudson Booksellers - KOBO - Target - Walmart 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

July 18 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower - REVIEW

July 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

July 22 – Christy's Cozy Corners – RECIPE

July 22 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 24 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

July 25 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – Sarandipity's – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 26 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.