COVER REVEAL: Novelista Girl by Meredith Schorr

SUMMARY
Readers first met sassy Kimberly Long in Blogger Girl, and now the feisty New Yorker is back in a sequel packed with quick wit, friendship, heartache, and, of course, romance.

Kim runs the most popular chick lit book blog on the web, loves playing house with her sexy lawyer boyfriend, Nicholas, and is finally pursuing her lifelong dream to become a published author. At first glance, her life is five-pink-champagne-flutes worthy.
But is there more to the story than meets the eye?
After hearing the phrase “chick lit is dead” more times than she’s read Bridget Jones's Diary, Kim is driven to desperate measures, seeking advice from up-and-coming chick lit author, Hannah Marshak, her high school nemesis and resident “mean girl.” As if Kim doesn't have enough on her plate balancing her secretarial duties with her blog Pastel Is the New Black, shrugging off the growing pile of agent rejections, and keeping her best friend from turning green over Kim’s budding friendship with Hannah, Nicholas is so blinded by his career ambitions, he doesn't see that their home sweet home could use more than a dash of sugar.
This is the year when all of Kim's dreams—professional and romantic—are supposed to come true, but will the story have a happily ever after, or will Kim end up unpublished and all alone?

This novel can be read as a sequel or as a standalone and is best accompanied by a cocktail, preferably a pink one.

AUTHOR BIO 
A born-and-bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related e-mails 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 chick lit and contemporary 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 also the co-founder of BookBuzz, a live author/reader event held annually. She is a loyal New York Yankees fan and an avid runner. Novelista Girl is Meredith’s fifth novel.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads 
Amazon Author Page  

Q & A Giveaway with Tegan Wren, author of Inconceivable

On this Chilly evening in Upstate NY, I had the pleasure to chat with Tegan Wren, author of the amazing book, Inconceivable!

Hello Tegan, and welcome to One Book at a time!  I am so excited to have you!

Let me begin by saying how much I LOVED your book, Inconceivable, where did you come up   with the concept for this book? Thank you, Bethany, for your kind words about INCONCEIVABLE. It was a project of passion and love for me because, like Hatty, I experienced infertility. It interrupted my happily ever after and forever changed me. My husband and I tried to conceive for about five years. We went through many of the same medical procedures the characters face in the book. Eventually, we became parents through adoption. Having worked as a journalist for many years, I thought about writing my story as a memoir. But there was one problem: journalists learn to avoid putting themselves in their stories, so the idea of writing about myself was a stretch for my reporter's brain. I actually tried it a couple of times and it was disastrous. Around the time Prince William married Kate Middleton, I wondered what it would be like for them to experience infertility. And from that thought, the storyline for INCONCEIVABLE was born.

If there was a movie adaptation in the works, what actors/actresses do you see filling the roles? 
I love this question because I'm a HUGE movie buff and it would be a dream come true to see my book adapted for the big screen. I think Alison Brie would make a great Hatty. She played Trudy, Pete Campbell's wife, on Mad Men, one of my favorite TV shows. For Prince John, I'm torn between the very British Matt Barber (Atticus from Downton Abbey) and Liam Hemsworth. Matthew Lewis (remember Neville Longbottom?) would be great for Henri and Sasheer Zamata (current SNL cast member) would be fabulous as Tilda.

When not writing or plotting out your next book, what do you like to do for fun? 
I have three young children, so I love to do things with them--go see a movie, do a craft, or have them help me in the kitchen. I really love to travel, and I've been very fortunate to get to go all over the world. Meeting new people and places really is exciting for me. I also enjoy watching movies or TV with my husband. Because we don't have a ton of time, we're very selective in choosing the shows we watch. Some of our favorites include Downton Abbey, Mad Men, Survivor, Modern Family, and House of Cards.

When you get a chance to read, what is your favorite genre?  
I've thought about this because people often ask me which genre I prefer, and I don't think I can give a solid answer. I read across many genres including romance/women's fiction, chick lit, historical, speculative, contemporary, young adult, a mystery/suspense once in a while, and an occasional horror/paranormal novel (mostly Stephen King).

What is your favorite book this year?

Eek! Another very difficult question. I've read some really great books this year. Because it's going to be impossible to pick just one, here are four of my favorites: Gifts of the Blood by Vicki Keire, Missing Pieces by Meredith Tate, The Deathsniffer's Assistant by Kate McIntyre, and Going Through the Change by Samantha Bryant. I'm happy to say that these are all indie authors, and I've really loved supporting and reading these and other fantastic indie authors this year.

I hate that our interview has come to an end, lastly, Other than writing and books, what other PASSIONS do you have? 
I'm really a passionate foodie. It took me a long time to develop my palate, but once I did, I've really enjoyed sampling so many foods, especially ethnic cuisines. I'm a HUGE fan of Ethiopian and Thai food. Adoption is another passion for me. While adoption provided a happy ending for my family, I never lose sight of the fact that it came from a place of loss: our loss of having biological children, our kids' loss of their birth families and birth cultures, and the birth families' loss of these precious little lives. It's amazing to me that out of such chaos and sadness, love can bloom. I don't think adoption is the right "happy ending" for all infertile couples, but I'm always ready and eager to talk to anyone who's considering adoption, especially after going through infertility.

Links to purchase Tegan's Book TODAY:

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL ONLY: 99 cents!!!!

Amazon

Tegan will donate half my royalties from this book to Baby Quest Foundation, which gives grants for fertility treatments to people all over the U.S.

Thank you so much for joining us today!  I can't wait to have you back again!

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

Bethany



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review - All I Want For Christmas by Samantha March, Laura Chapman and Cat Lavoie

SUMMARY
Making Christmas by Laura Chapman
While settling into a new career in a new community, Ivy is determined not to let the holiday season pass her by. Enter the grownup advent calendar: twenty-four days of festivities to celebrate Christmas. What begins as a bit of fun turns into a mission to spread cheer when she meets Everett. After learning about his bad Christmas attitude, she invites him to join her quest. Despite his initial reservations, Everett quickly gets caught up in the spirit of the calendar. But when new feelings surface and are impossible to ignore, Everett’s inner curmudgeon threatens to put a damper on the whole experience.
Nine Ladies Dancing by Cat Lavoie
Casey Ellis is the last person who should be planning her office’s holiday party. Convinced she’s plagued with chronic Christmas bad luck, Casey isn’t interested in tempting fate. But when putting on a party planner hat seems like a good way to get closer to her longtime crush, Casey takes charge—and braces for impact.
When things start to fall apart—just like Casey knew they would—will she run and hide, or will she learn that bad luck can sometimes turn out to be Christmas magic in disguise?

The Christmas Surprise by Samantha March
Juliette Mabry is a happily married stay-at-home wife and mother...until there appears to be trouble brewing in her nearly ten-year marriage. Juliette takes it upon herself to find out if her husband is up to no good, but does she want to know the truth? Everything is revealed on Christmas, and Juliette is in for her biggest Christmas surprise.

What Happens at Midnight by Laura Chapman
Romantic comedy junkie Natalie lives out those fantasies in real life three New Year's Eves in a row when fate throws her together with the same handsome stranger. A heartbreaking turn of events leaves her swearing off of love, forevers, and the holidays (bah humbug). That is until the mystery man from her past reappears years later. Over a holiday season, Natalie struggles to reconcile the whimsical notions of her past with the practical sensibilities she has worked so hard to develop. With the countdown to a new year looming, she must decide whether or not she is willing to give happily ever after another shot.

MY REVIEW
Making Christmas by Laura Chapman
I enjoyed this story of Ivy and Everett from beginning to end.  The concept of celebrating the Christmas spirit every day from December 1st through December 25th sounds truly magical!
I may actually institute something like this with my kids this year!
They had the almost fairy tale romance - set-up from from meeting in a coffee shop one random day and starting this adventure together.  Little by little letting guards down and each feeling a spark.  Little does Ivy know, Everett has not had the easiest love life in the past and this could hinder her thoughts of maybe dating happily ever after with him? I will not give away each and every detail (not that wouldn't be fun would it?) but I will say that Laura does not disappoint.
Grab a glass of wine, sit by the fire and read and fall in love with Ivy and Everett.

Nine Ladies Dancing by Cat Lavoie
Will this be the office party to remember or will it be the office party from hell?
Well Casey took this job on to impress Quinn and I believe she is regretting it from the day she said yes.
She thought putting this party would be easy, well think again.  Now mind you this is an ALL DAY party, that's a lot of pressure for one person!
What will they eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?  Where will the food come from?  Who will be the DJ (no one is a fan of Tyler :( )  This party is a lot of pressure for one person!
Jane is trying to be the merry match making elf of the season (my name for her) and she pushes Casey to actually talk to Quinn...great in one way and not so great in another...I won't ruin the details for ya, def. must read to believe!
The ending truly is the best and I couldn't have been smiling more if I tried!  A must read for the holidays!

The Christmas Surprise by Samantha March 
What a story!  I couldn't put it down.  Right when I thought I knew what was going to happen things change and that happened over and over.
I was working and reading this, thank goodness it was a slow day because I kept going back to it.
Juliette is your typical stay at home mom and her husband supports the family with his amazing job.
One day she over hears some lady's gossiping about someone...a woman who is being cheated on by her husband...and her mind starts to go in 100 different directions!
Is it her husband?  Was he telling the truth about having to work late?  Was his business trip for real?
She can't catch a break, just when she gets one rumor under control she heats another and the process starts all over again!
She can't lose her family, and to make it worse it's the holiday season!  She decides to not confront her husband till after the holidays...Could you hold it together for that long? 
A definite page turner for the holiday season!

What Happens At Midnight by Laura Chapman 
My heart almost stopped...I wasn't sure I could make it to the end but I survived.  
LOVED this story!  It had the right amount of romance, suspense, sadness and holiday cheer all rolled into an amazing short story.
Natalie loves romance and all things romance especially romantic comedies!  Then on New Year's she stumbles into a ROM COM of her own.  She meets Rob and she is smitten to say the least.  But...neither is ready to commit and date but they plan to meet again one day...
Then one day something happens and that all changes...I wish I could say but I do not want to ruin integral parts of this amazing story.
Life happens for both Natalie and Rob, some good things and lots of not so good things.
Can the magic of the Holiday and New Year help them connect or will that connection be lost forever?
You will not be disappointed!

DRINK SELECTION 
We are going to go with one of Natalie's favorite drinks, a Gin and Tonic!  Enjoy!

MY RATING 
I will rate this set of amazing Holiday Short stories 5 wine glasses, I LOVED every single story!  Cheers!

 
 

Friday Finds - For Free!!

Hello Everyone!  I have another exciting edition of Friday Finds!  I hope you have a great weekend and take advantage of these great steals!  xx  (Free at the time of publication)

SUMMARY
Carol Gabriel hates Christmas. Not just a little bit, but quite a damn lot.

She can’t even stand having a boyfriend over the Christmas period and habitually dumps them just before the season begins.

Even the restaurant she co-owns, a French bistro called Carol’s, doesn’t do a Christmas menu and it doesn’t do Christmas decoration, either.

But then she gets some bad news; the bistro is failing.

There’s too much local competition, they don’t have enough customers and there’s a risk that the business may have to sold.

For the sake of the restaurant, her glamorous business partner Roksana and all its much-loved employees, Carol takes on her mother’s advice and creates a Christmas menu for the first time.

She may even tart the place up with some decorations.

But it’s an uphill struggle. There’s a reason Carol doesn’t like Christmas and it’s one that she keeps to herself…

As time is running out Carol wonders if she’s left it too late.

Will her fabulous and charming employees be able to boost the restaurant's popularity?

Will there be Christmas at Carol’s?

Link To Download:
Amazon 

SUMMARY

30-something Sarah has finally decided to start her own business.

After years of 5 a.m starts, running around a busy television studio, she has decided to hand in her resignation, and begin her dream of running her own cake making business.

Swapping her stylish clothes for tracksuits and an apron she gets to work, and is thrilled when the local café agrees to start selling her treats.

And – even better – she starts to get to know the handsome and single owner, David.

Working from home also means she can finally do one other thing she couldn’t do with her hectic job – get a puppy.

Deciding she wants a rescue dog, Sarah heads off to the local dog’s centre, and tries not to say yes to adopting the whole lot.

One beautiful little Dachshund with adorable amber eyes immediately takes a liking to her.

And Sarah knows there is no turning back.

She bundles Malteaser up and takes him home, and before long he is helping her to meet new people in her local park.

But Malteaser can be more than a bit of a handful. And Sarah knows she is no good at disciplining him...

So when fellow dog-walker Nick steps in to give her hand she knows she should take his advice. But does he just want to help her out, or is he interested in something else?

With an excitable puppy, and lots of orders to bake for the café, could Sarah be taking on too much?

And could there be something there with David – or Nick?

With Christmas on the way, and the café suddenly coming under threat, things get even crazier.

And Sarah has to find a way to create a magical Christmas in the Park...


Link To Download:
Amazon

SUMMARY
Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business--a popular fashion-snark website--up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster--personally and professionally. To save the website and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.

Link To Download: 
Amazon 

SUMMARY
Ginny McKensie's life is spiraling out of control.

Finished with college, she should have been planning her wedding. After all, Ginny and Josh were made for each other—everyone said so. Except the love of her life didn't agree.

Now Ginny is back in her hometown, unwillingly single, and stuck in a dead-end job. When she discovers she's pregnant, Ginny is convinced her life is ending. Instead of planning a future with Josh, she's learning the truth about morning sickness, juggling bills, and seeing just how far designer jeans can stretch.

Her life-plan never included dating again (not even with her too-hot new boss), or being a single mother at 23. Now, with the help of her best friends, Annie and Jen, Ginny must try to re-imagine—and rebuild—a life she never wanted. 

Link To Download:
Amazon

SUMMARY
Your book club reads books? That's adorable, Gwyn's book club drinks wine and rates the hunks from classic literature. Sure they were once a regular book club, full of feisty discussions about Proust, but that all changes after the most awkward book club meeting of their lives. When schoolteacher Gwyn's generally conservative book club covers a popular novel of a more suggestive nature, Gwyn can't help but think of all the literary hunks in a suggestive fashion. 

Link To Download:
Amazon

Happy Reading!  xx

Bethany

BLOG TOUR TIME! My Review - Nicknames: Tales from the shallow end of the Manhattan dating pool by Mary Geneva

SUMMARY
There are a million bad dates in the city that never sleeps.
Mary Geneva has been on 999,999 of them.

When she moved to Manhattan in her mid-20s, Mary imagined being single in New York City would be like something out of a Hollywood movie. And it was—a horror movie.
Nicknames is a look at some of the most hopeless, horrendous, and frequently hilarious dates you can imagine. Mary shares her true-life adventures looking for Mr. Right in the treacherous New York dating scene. You’ll meet men so bizarre, their names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Our cast of characters includes:
• Crazy Eyes, who didn’t just resemble an escapee from the local mental hospital, but proved he probably belonged there
• James Bond, the mysterious South African with the secret life
• Germ Sperm, a guy so classy, he actually named himself Germ Sperm!
• And many, many, many more.

Part memoir, part self-help book, Nicknames will have you laughing out loud…and possibly abstaining from dating forever.

MY REVIEW
I could not put this story down!  It will suck you in, I hope that you don't have anything else to do at the time!  Forget about laundry, errands, TV, this book will be your life!  I read it in 1 day!

I was laughing so much with this book, I could only imagine some of these dates!  I was totally speechless!
One thing is for sure, I would NEVER want to be dating in Manhattan!  I couldn't take all this rejection, the drama, the lying, and the all out craziness of some of these men!  WOW!  My hat goes off to you Mary!  I would need several bottles of wine after all that mess!

With her life of travel and a full-time job, I don't know how she had time to go on so many dates!  I am beat at the end of the day and I want to do is relax, although I also have three children and a kitten...that may have something to do with it as well!

It is one adventure, to say the least, after another for Mary!  She has given each one of the them a nickname to try to save them a little face, but I think the guilty know who they are!  Word to the wise men of Manhattan, be on your best behavior (not that you shouldn't anyway, geesh) you never know who you are truly dating and you may end up in an amazing tell all dating in Manhattan story!  HAHA

I would honestly say that James Bond was my favorite stories, but there were so many it's hard to choose!  

Aside from all the dating escapades, you will also take away some great dating advice!  She has tips that you may never have thought of, and others that you will truly find to be laugh out load funny!  

DRINK SELECTION 
I am going to go in a different direction that my usual wine choice and I am going with a Dirty Martini!  Ya know what it just seems to fit the occasion!  

MY RATING
I can't give this book anything less than 5 wine classes!  I was pulled in from beginning to end and I recommend it to everyone! 

 

Friday Finds - For FREE!!!

Hello Everyone!  I have another exciting edition of Friday Finds!  I hope you have a great weekend and take advantage of these great steals!  xx  (Free at the time of publication)

SUMMARY
What's new? Me, for starters... It all began when my job offered me a buyout package. That's when the realization hit: I'm young, I'm rich (thanks to a hefty inheritance), and I'm boring. Things are gonna change-starting now... Building a better man trap... First things first: Exercise. Carrot juice. Straight hair. Whiter teeth. Clothes that fit. But wait-there's more. I'm finally ready to take a chance on love with the perfect guy. He's handsome. He's smart. He's reliable. He's my CPA. Problem is, I'm clueless about winning him over. It's time to call in an expert. It's time to call in The Dog. Down, boy. Mike "The Dog" Dougherty is a man's man. A guy's guy. Okay, he's a chauvinist pig, and his sty is "The Dog House," a testosterone-charged column in Maximum for Him magazine. On one hand, I abhor all he stands for. On the other hand, who better to coach me? So here I am. Learning the complex unspoken language of the American male (Talk, bad. Sex, good.); trying exciting new things (Stripping lessons are empowering. Really.); falling for Mike. Uh oh. But the Mike I'm getting to know is different from The Dog. And the Mona I'm becoming isn't quite who I expected, either. This whole makeover scheme is getting crazier by the minute. But "crazy" beats "boring"...right?

Amazon

SUMMARY
Last Christmas Ella’s heart was broken.

She had been with sophisticated banker Robbie Newton for six years when they suddenly broke up on New Year’s Eve.

Robbie had left her heartbroken and hurt with nothing but a note explaining he had taken a job in Chicago.

This Christmas Ella is determined to bury her past and start afresh.

She focuses on her career as an artist and organises her debut exhibition in a swanky London gallery.

While shopping for her best friend, Libby Crosley, who is hosting her infamous Christmas party that evening, Ella bumps into a mysterious man in the supermarket.

After a series of awkward run-ins and chance meetings with this stranger, Fergus Lamb, Ella feels the pangs of love again.

Fergus is nothing like any man Ella’s ever dated.

He’s a quirky, smart, bold, and spontaneous war photographer who looks like James Dean.

Just as Ella’s luck is changing, Robbie shows up unannounced at the opening night of her exhibition.

Ella is faced with a choice when Robbie finally offers her what she always wanted…

Who will Ella choose? Her suave and successful ex-boyfriend who she finds so irresistible? Or the exciting new stranger who has just waltzed into her life?

Will this Christmas be a fresh start? Or will she be dragged back to the memories of Last Christmas?

‘Last Christmas’ is a heart-warming, witty and modern take on the classic love triangle story – the perfect romance to curl up to the fire with.

Amazon

SUMMARY

One office party, three couples, lots of secrets. What could possibly go wrong?

Harry Augustus, the third generation boss of Augustus Estate Agents, is hosting the biggest and best Christmas party yet.

He is pulling out all the stops and has a big announcement to make.

Gabby, the glamorous office manager, is in charge of the festive bash.

But she’s also sleeping with the boss.

Their office romance has been anything but subtle and is made more scandalous by the fact that Harry is married with two kids.

But theirs is not the only secret relationship in the office…

Caroline, Harry’s dutiful PA, is dating her irresistible colleague, Rob Sharp, who wants to keep their relationship private so it won’t affect his chances of an upcoming promotion.

But Caroline is at her wits end; she’d rather face the inevitable gossip than the icy front Rob puts on in the office.

Why does she feel like she’s the one having the affair?

Gabby takes Caroline for a drink at the ‘Olive’ to plan the party and tells her she thinks Harry is going to leave his wife for her.

That’s what the announcement is going to be about.

While leaving the bar, Gabby sees Evie and Joseph, two juniors at the company, sharing a tender moment.

She thinks they’d make a cute couple but Evie has set her sights on Rob…

As Gabby, Caroline and Evie grow closer, their secret relationships threaten to catch up with them.

Trouble is brewing…

What is Harry’s speech going to be about? How will the couples cope when the truth is revealed during a not so secret ‘Secret Santa’ present swap?

Can mistletoe and wine save the day?

Amazon

SUMMARY
When fifteen minutes of fame goes horribly wrong…

Charlotte Young and her five closest friends ring in the New Year on a ski vacation in the swanky, celebrity-packed French Alps, where her world collides with long-time celeb crush, Des Bannerman—aka “The King of Rom-Com.” Unexpectedly, Charlotte finds herself happily reconciled to an innocent evening of drinking champagne, gambling, and chatting to the celebrity of her dreams.

Charlotte’s friends join forces to help her realize her lifelong fantasy, yet his girlfriend, the latest Bond Girl, proves an insurmountable obstacle. Lighthearted banter turns into tabloid fodder and leaves Charlotte saddled with a restraining order.

With the help of her friends, Charlotte finds the answers to life’s biggest questions while trying to deal with the fallout of her fifteen minutes of fame. 

Amazon

SUMMARY
Love. Death. Food. Paris. Betrayal. Adventure. Escape.

Nothing is what it seems in this highly praised debut novel about a young woman who sneaks away to Paris without telling anyone. Not even her husband. Once there she's robbed, stalked, arrested, kidnapped (almost) and--worse--finds that her numerous problems have come right along with her. Grab a croissant and settle in for a decidedly non-touristy trip to the City of Light. 

Amazon

SUMMARY
Four friends. Twenty-two bridesmaids' dresses.
One random act of kindness that will change their lives forever.

Tess has given up looking for Mr. Right, but that doesn’t mean she’s given up on love. When she reads a newspaper article about a young couple who've had everything stolen from their home, including four bridesmaids dresses, she knows she has to help.

But by helping the bride, Tess risks exposing a past she doesn't want anyone to know about. She does everything she can to minimize the danger she's in, but she does the one thing guaranteed to destroy everything - she falls in love with the wrong man.

Logan Allen has spent most of his career reporting on the news from around the world. When a letter arrives from Afghanistan, the trauma he's been living with is about to explode back into his life. He betrayed a small Afghan village and Tess thinks he’s betrayed her.

From their first random act of kindness comes an experience Logan and Tess will never forget. And maybe, if they work together, they can create a future that’s better than anything they've left behind.

Amazon

SUMMARY

A short Christmas story of three courses.
Love is in the air in Tippermere as Lottie dreams of a white Christmas with no trimmings – other than her hot and hunky eventer, Rory. But things are never quite that simple on the Tipping House Estate.
Festive fervour takes over and it isn’t all seasonal peace and goodwill as expectations rise and it soon escalates from cosy dinner for two, to all the trimmings for ten!
With missing turkeys, loose horses, troublesome terriers and randy huntsmen, Lottie is hard pushed to find time for a kiss under the mistletoe, let alone find the opportunity to woo Rory with her sexy Santa costume.
But there is only one thing Lottie really wants for Christmas, and only one man can deliver it…

Amazon

SUMMARY
Ruth usually spends Christmas curled up on her parents’ sofa, watching feel-good movies whilst being fed festive food and drink until she can no longer move. But Ruth’s perfect Christmas is shattered when her mum receives a DIY-induced injury and Ruth is forced to take over the preparations.

Shopping. Cooking. A house full of hyped-up kids.

Christmas may no longer be the most wonderful time of the year.

Amazon

Happy Reading!  xx

Bethany 




 

BLOG TOUR TIME! Q&A with Hilary Grossman, author of Plan Bea

On this chilly morning in Western NY, I had the opportunity to sit down with my dear friend Hilary Grossman.  Hilary thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me this morning on One Book at a time!

Hilary, let me begin by telling you, I can’t say enough amazing things about Plan Bea - AMAZING! - where did you come up with the story line for this book? WOW!  Thanks so much Bethany! You have no idea how much that means to me!

My good friend and neighbor lost his wife to Cancer a few years ago.  About a year after she passed away he met and fell in love with another woman. At first, it was difficult for me to see him with her.  But as their relationship developed I witnessed changes in him. He took up new hobbies and seemed happier than I ever saw him. Their relationship got me thinking about the power of second chance romance.  Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish women open her heart back up to her family?

Plan Bea is about a mother and daughter whose relationship was destroyed by secrets, lies, and misplaced blame.  When the mother, Bea, falls in love again, she enlists her daughter, Annabel, to help plan her wedding.  As the two women work together to plan the perfect affair, their relationship is tested further in this emotional and authentic story of redemption.

A fun fact is I came up with the idea for the book while working out :)

If a film studio decided to pick it up, what actors and actresses would you like to see cast in each role?  (Lila is totally available for her cameo appearances, just putting it out there <3)
This is hard, because I am so bad at remembering actor’s names, but here goes….

Bea would be Diane Keaton
Walter would be Harrison Ford (I am shocked he is 73 – thank you google)
Cole would be Bradley Cooper
Annabel’s would be played by Megan Fox

WHAT A GREAT CAST! 
 
Each of your books have been so different, is there a third book in the mix and what is it about?  Any juicy details you can share with me (and your fans of course)?
There is a third book in the works, Plan Cee, which is the sequel to Plan Bea.  Cecelia Reynolds is Annabel’s best friend.  Twenty years have passed since she last saw Keith, the man of her dreams. When he appears at the wedding she is left wondering if she abandon her present for her past… All the characters from Plan Bea will return plus some new ones…
 
I can't wait to read it!  So exciting!

If you and I were hanging out for a fun day on the island, Long Island that is, what would you recommend doing? (BTW I will say I love the Hamptons, that may have to fit into the mix)
Well…. I have a strange feeling if you and I were hanging out together on Long Island, or anywhere, we’d probably forget our surroundings and talk non-stop the entire time.  But if I had to pick a place I would take you out east to tour the wineries.  Of course we’d have to stop off at the outlets for some retail therapy on our way.

And yes, the Hamptons are great, but I would want to show you the beach community I call home.  It is just as beautiful, but much smaller and very low key. It is the kind of town where you can walk around in pajama bottoms and no makeup.  And it is less then an hour away from NYC.

Time to start looking at plane tickets for the summer!  HAHA

And last but certainly not least,  what do you do after a long, stressful day at work and writing, to just sit back and unwind? 
My days are pretty long. I wake up at 5:30 so I have time to catch up on social media and blogs before work. My office is over an hour away from my home, and I usually am at my desk for at least nine hours (I am a CFO of a beverage alcohol company by day).  By the time I get home, I can’t look at a computer.  To relax first I take a shower to wash the day off of me.  Then I usually have a glass of wine with my husband while we chat and listen to music.  Then we make dinner together.  I love to cook. I do all my writing on the weekend, and believe it or not, writing is a HUGE stress reliever for me.

Links to purchase Plan Bea:
Amazon US  
Amazon UK 
Barnes and Noble  

Social Media Links for Hilary:
Facebook 
Website 
Amazon Author Page  
Pinterest 
Twitter 

Another book by Hilary:

 

Hilary I want to thank you again for taking time out to chat with me today!  I am a bit under the weather, so this really helped brighten up my morning!
I can't wait for you to stop by again with Plan Cee!  

Have a great week everyone!  

Bethany 

 




 




 

Friday Finds - For Free!

Hello everyone!  I have started a fun new Friday page for my blog - (Thanks to my AMAZING friend at @ThisChickReads )  awesome Free Kindle Books for you to enjoy!

SUMMARY 
Bestselling and award-winning author of romantic comedy Geralyn Corcillo has just released this collection of 4 RomCom short stories. Dates, dogs, football, monsters in the attic, misunderstandings, and unexpected discoveries abound in these tales of modern love.

***All Summer on a Date: The gorgeous Kyle Hunter is taking reformed iconoclast Summer to the party of the year. But when an unexpected dilemma slams into their exquisite evening, will Summer follow her date...or follow her heart?
****Random Acts of Violet: Cautious loner Violet Parker needs a new playbook when her quiet summer on campus collides with an unexpected eight year-old, a monster in the attic, and Noah...
***Miss Understanding in the Ballroom with the Wrench: Jesse and Peter meet at a party, but each is hiding the one thing that they think makes them un-dateable. Will their subterfuge and all the ensuing misunderstandings wreck everything? Just as the spark between them is about to ignite?
***Jane Austen Meets the New York Giants: The NYT Bestselling true story of true love that kicked off Geralyn Corcillo's writing career.

Amazon US

SUMMARY
Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business--a popular fashion-snark website--up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster--personally and professionally. To save the website and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.

Amazon US

SUMMARY
Coco Pinchard never experienced life as a single thirty-something. She married young, had a son, and put her dream to be a writer on hold. But now her first novel is published, husband Daniel has greyed nicely into a silver fox, and son Rosencrantz is all grown up. Shouldn't it be time to enjoy life?


That is, until the annual family Christmas when her hideous mother-in-law Ethel comes to stay, and Coco opens her gift from Daniel. It's not the jewellery she chose, but an iPhone. This marks the start of Daniel's mid-life crisis and Coco catches him in bed with a younger woman.


The iPhone becomes a confessional of sorts, through emails to her friends Chris, an ageing trustafarian and Marika a slightly alcoholic schoolteacher. And as Coco's life unravels, she documents her seemingly endless (and often entertaining!) run of bad luck.


Then she meets the hunky Adam and she's back in the world of dating as a single forty-something! Read the emails that tell the hilarious tale of Coco picking up the pieces, in this fun, feel good Romantic Comedy. The first book in the bestselling Coco Pinchard series!

Amazon US

SUMMARY
Christmas is not Lulu’s favourite time of year.

And she can’t yet face the idea of her gorgeous boyfriend Ravi meeting her family.

So this year she wants to plan an alternative Christmas.

When Ravi suggests they invite Lulu’s best friends - Susannah and Jo - to join them she is unsure at first.

But when Lulu suggests that they all spend the Christmas break in a secluded coastal cottage together, with their partners in tow, they both jump at the chance.

Susannah is back in a relationship with her teenage sweetheart, Grant. And Jo is living with Troy Cooper AKA TC, the soap opera star.

And, as of yet, none of the girls have met their best friend’s partners.

With the cottage booked, Lulu can’t wait for their festive getaway.

But then disaster strikes.

Ravi is mugged on his morning run and ends in hospital the day before their holiday.

Will Lulu still manage to get her perfect Christmas holiday?

Will all the couples get along?

Or will everything come to a head during their Christmas getaway?

Amazon US

SUMMARY
It’s the run up to Christmas, and almost the end of another year.

Michael and Davina Philips have hit a crossroads in their relationship.

Having spent seven years trying for a baby, they hoped, as they do every year, that there might be a new addition to the family to celebrate the festive season with them.

But the pressure of trying to conceive means that lovemaking in the Philips household must be planned to the tee.

The spontaneity and romance has gone.

At a colleague’s hen party in Leeds, the new male nurse, Stewart, catches Davina’s eye. Flirty, popular and attractive, things heat up between the pair and they find themselves in bed together the next morning.

This one indiscretion puts her whole marriage at stake when she finds out she’s pregnant…

But, who is the father?

Will Davina’s Christmas Delivery be all that she and Michael ever dreamed of?

Or is it time for her to move on with someone new?

Amazon US

SUMMARYHolly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn't be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead.
A young adult romantic comedy, from Stella Wilkinson, acclaimed author of The Flirting Games Series.

Amazon US

SUMMARY
Book 1: Midnight in Montmartre, Luc and Mia's story
Book 2: Violette Nights in Paris, Mathieu and Violette's story
Book 3: Bon Appétit, Chérie, Philippe and Gianna's story

The clock struck midnight and Luc met Mia at the top of Montmartre.
Luc Deneuve thinks he is in love with Beth, the perfect woman. Until he meets Mia. What is he doing falling for an American who laughs too loud, speaks bad French, and has the wildest hair he's ever seen?

Adopted at birth, Mia Golden just wants to find her long-lost sister in Paris. She comes all the way from Seattle in search of someone who shares her DNA, but instead she finds love in the form of a handsome Frenchman.

But Luc loves Beth, the most desired woman in Paris...so why can’t he stop thinking about Mia?

Amazon US
 

 Enjoy these fun FREE reads this weekend!

BETHANY




 

My Holiday Review: Completions and Connections by Kathryn Biel

SUMMARY 
Christine's list of resolutions contains many clichés. Try something new. Buy a pair of heels. Get a promotion. Fall in love.
Seems simple, especially when Christine meets Patrick, the man who could be Mr. Right. He's got the right credentials: a job, a sense of humor, a love of all things Indiana Jones, and best of all, he's actually taller than Christine. But busy schedules take over and get in the way of Patrick and Christine's budding romance.
Life interferes, as it has a way of doing, and Christine wants to throw in the towel. Is the magic of the Christmas season enough to renew Christine's faith in love?

MY REVIEW
A quick, fun holiday read!
Christine and I are so much alike!  We are lists girls!  I love lists!  Completing them truly gives me so much joy!  I know, so weird!

I know how a crazy busy life can sneak up on you and spiral out of control.  One day you find the man you believe to be your prince charming, the next minute you find yourself busy for months on end and he as well with his conflicting schedule!  Will they ever get to date and truly fall in love?  Is it in the cards?

I will say Christine better make some time for Patrick, he's a total catch!  He is employed (that's bigger than you know these days!), he's sweet, and even east on the eyes!  If she blinks, he cold be gone and she will be lonely forever!

Grab a glass of wine and sit back and enjoy this adorable budding romance!

WINE SELECTION 
I am going with a yummy red wine, with berries and chocolate from the Gallo Family!  Cheers!

MY RATING 
I give this fun holiday read 5 glasses of wine,  it was truly enjoyable from beginning to end!

BLOG TOUR TIME! - Excerpt from Completions and Connections by Kathryn R. Biel and a GIVEAWAY!

EXCERPT  

Me and four kids under four feet tall. I feel even more like a giant than I normally do.

And sadly, most of them are better skiers than I am.

After ninety minutes, I've learned to pizza and french fry enough to stop and start. The most challenging thing for me is to stand up once I've fallen down.

Wait, check that. The most challenging thing is the damn J-hook bar contraption that drags me up the bunny hill. You can't sit. You can't stand. You hang in a weird crouch, praying your skis don't hit a rut knocking your ass over tea kettle into the other tow-ees, toppling them like bowling pins. Not that this happens. Okay, yes, it totally happens.

In a heap, one ski pointing one way, one ski lost, I'm pretty sure this skiing thing is not for me. And if I can figure out how to stand up, I'm going to go in the lodge and have a hot toddy. Or ten. And hope that this day passes quickly.

It's just I don't have a lot of free time. I work crazy hours. Free weekends are a rarity and to waste one on something I hate seems frivolous.

Maybe I'll read while I'm in the lodge. That's something on my list. To read three books this year. I've been trying to read the same book for about two years now. I never get through more than a page or two at a time, and anytime I get a large chunk of time to read, I have to start again because I can't remember what I've read.

This is what I'm thinking about, lying in a heap, snow creeping down into my snow pants.

"You need a hand?"

I look up through my goggles to see another begoggled face leaning down over me. The face emits a voice with a deep timbre, which makes my belly twist a little bit. A thick-gloved hand extends and I grasp it. With apparent ease, he hauls me up to a standing position. I still only have one ski on. Not saying a word, he retrieves my ski and guides my boot back into the binding.

"Better?" His smile shows a row of white teeth. Just one looks crooked. It's probably a good thing, though. Otherwise, I have a feeling he'd be too perfect. The best part—he's looking down on me. Do you know how often the guys I meet are my height or shorter? I swear there's a shortage of tall men out there.

"No. I'm still out here, making a fool out of myself."

"I take it this is your first time."

"Is it that obvious I'm a virgin?"

He lifts his goggles up, eyebrows raised. The bemused expression in his light green eyes highlights my faux pas. "Oh really? I didn't know we were getting this personal."

"Oh my God!" My mitten-covered hand, white with snow, flies to my mouth. Which, of course, results in me getting a face full of snow. "That's um, not, crap. I'm not a virgin-virgin. I meant a skiing virgin. I have lots of experience with the other. Well, not lots. I mean, I'm not loose or anything. Oh crap, I should just stop talking."

"No, keep talking. It's quite amusing."

"I'm going to go bury myself in a snow bank right now. Thanks for the help. It's been nice knowing you."

FYI, it's impossible to storm off in a dignified manner when you're wearing skis.

AUTHOR BIO 

Kathryn Biel hails from Upstate New York, and is a spouse and mother of two wonderful, but exhausting kids. In between being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage the government and insurance companies to fund her client's needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of novel that she likes to read. She is the author of Good Intentions (2013), Hold Her Down (2014), I'm Still Here (2014), and Jump, Jive, and Wail (2015). Her musings and rants can also be found on her personal blog, Biel Blather. 

BOOK LINKS: 
AMAZON  
Barnes and Noble  

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule:

November 2- A Southern Girls Bookshelf – Excerpt

November 2 – Love Chick Lit – Review & Excerpt

November 3 – Hey Said Renee – Review & Excerpt

November 4 – Change the Word – Q&A

November 5 – Living Life With Joy – Q&A & Excerpt

November 6 – Chick Lit Goddess – Q&A & Excerpt

November 6 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

November 6 – Books and Wine – Q&A & Excerpt

November 6 – Basically Books – Excerpt

November 6 – Granny Loves to Read – Review & Excerpt

November 6 – The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

November 6 – A British Bookworm – Excerpt

November 6 – CDYess Writes – Excerpt

November 6 – Caroline Fardig – Excerpt