Tag: Sarina Bowen

Books, excerpt, New Release, Sneak Peek

Excerpt – New Release – The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

Beth

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Two stories later, I hug Buzz good night. His hair tickles my face as I kiss his soft cheek. “Good night, baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” he says. But then he grins, because this is our little routine.

“But you’ll always be my baby,” I point out. That’s my punch line.

I shut out the light, and then I sit there on the edge of the bed for a lingering moment. I stroke Buzz’s hair and tell him that I’ll see him in the morning.

Sometimes he tries to prolong my stay by asking me questions that I’ll feel obligated to answer. Sometimes they’re doozies. “How did the dinosaurs end up underground when they died?” Or “Why doesn’t Grandma like corn on the cob?” Those are both stumpers. One because I never studied paleontology, and two because, seriously, it’s corn on the cob.

And once in a while he’ll ask, “Why don’t I have a daddy?”

That question is the worst. I always answer the same way—that he died. And that not everyone gets to have two parents in their lives, but Buzz has lots of people who love him.

Yada yada yada.

But I know it’s not enough. His friends all have daddies. And I can’t believe that after years of therapy during my early twenties, most of it dealing with what my therapist and I called my parental abandonment issues, that I am destined to pass on to my son—wait for it—parental abandonment issues.

Go me.

Buzz doesn’t hit me with any impossible questions tonight, though. He relaxes against the pillows as I kiss him one more time and then leave, closing his door almost all the way. He likes it to stay open a crack.

He’s cautious. Like his mama.

I head down to the kitchen and rinse our dinner plates in the sink. The sound of Buzz whistling to himself floats down the stairs. Before he could whistle, he used to buzz his lips, like a raspberry sound, but quieter. I thought it was a phase, but my mother pointed out to him that since “buzz” was his name, maybe that was his special sound.

He buzzed constantly for months after that, and my mother

was tickled.

I’ve never told anyone where his name came from, though. Not a soul. It’s an inside joke between me and the father he’ll never meet. The second night I spent with Drew was the night I noticed his tattoo. He’d left the lights on, and we were lying there, coming down from a sexual high. Drew’s gentle hands stroked my back, and a hum of joy rose inside my chest.

Even when we had our clothes on, I felt elated to be near him.

I tried to hide it, though. I was afraid what Drew would do if he knew how much I liked him. It’s like I already knew I’d scare him off eventually.

It was hard work holding that in and not blowing my cover. So instead of lying there in his bed gushing about this wild connection I felt whenever he smiled at me, I went with humor instead. “Do you really have a tattoo of Buzz Lightyear on your shoulder? What are you, twelve?”

He chuckled, and I felt the vibration against my fluttering chest. “That was my army nickname. Buzz.”

“Really? Why?”

“Well, I have this buddy named Woody.”

I laughed, letting some of the joy bubble out of me. “Was he a cowboy?”

“No.” Drew propped himself up on one elbow, and I was briefly distracted by how attractive he was. All warm skin and smooth muscle. He was smiling again, which made me almost dizzy. “Woody is a grumpy hick from the Midwest. But we had a lot in common. We’re both nerds. Both had a rough upbringing. So we spent a lot of time together.”

“And that’s why they called you Buzz?”

“That and we managed to get left behind once—like in the movie.”

I tugged the sheet up over my chest and turned to face him. “You fell out of a moving van?”

“Nah. It was a training mission, and we were fiddling with the radio. We missed our commanding officer’s signal.” Drew rolled his blue eyes at the memory. “It was mortifying to discover that the team moved out without us. They had to double back, because you never leave a man behind. Then our opponents won the mission, and Woody and I had to scrub toilets for weeks.”

His smile told me that was actually a good memory, though, not a disaster. So I asked another question, craving more of his history, more confidences. Just more of Drew. Maybe if I kept him talking, he’d never leave me. “Where is Woody now?”

“In one of the smallest towns in Michigan. There’s a hundred and forty-two people. He says I can make it a hundred and forty-three anytime I want.”

“Sounds kind of quiet,” I whispered, tracing his Buzz Lightyear tattoo with my fingertip, just to have a reason to touch him.

“Not as fun as this. That’s for damn sure.” He leaned in to kiss me again.

Memories are such strange things. After he left, I spent a lot of time cataloging everything he ever said to me. Every compliment, every joke, every evasive answer.

At the time I didn’t even notice how little I knew about his past. But now I keep sifting through these memories, searching for clues to who he was.

I put the last dish in the dishwasher and close the door.

When I was four months pregnant, the obstetrician told me I was having a boy. Right away I knew I’d call him Buzz. It was such an easy decision—my little boy and I were left behind, too. Just like the toys in the story.

– – – – –

Only a handful more days to go! Make sure you get your hands on a copy!

𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀

Bookshop: https://geni.us/5YearLie-bookshop

Amazon: https://geni.us/5YearLie-Amzn

Indigo: https://geni.us/5YearLie-Indigo

Target: https://geni.us/5YearLie-Target

𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

Amazon: https://geni.us/5YLKindle

Apple: https://geni.us/5YearLie-Apple

Kobo: https://geni.us/5YearLie-kobo

Nook: https://geni.us/5YLNook

Audible: https://geni.us/5YearLie-Audible

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 https://sarinabowen.com/the-five-year-lie-links

audiobook, Book Review, Books, New Release, Romance, series

New Release! Roommate, True North series, by Sarina Bowen

Beth

Brand new M/M release from Sarina Bowen!

Wanted: One roommate to share a 3-bedroom house, split the rent, and ideally not be the guy I can’t stop thinking about.  

I’m a man with too many secrets, so the last thing I need is a new roommate with a sexy smile and blue eyes that see right through me. Eight years ago, Roderick left town after high school. We’re not friends. I owe him nothing. But back then, I let one of my secrets slip, and he’s the only one who noticed. 

Part of me knows I should run far, far away. But the other part wants him to come upstairs and spend the night. But if I let him in, I could lose everything.

Seeking: a room to rent in town. I’m tidy, have no pets, and I will feed you homemade bread. 

I should probably add: Gay AF, and has no filter. It’s no wonder my new landlord is so wary of me. 

A smarter man would ignore those hot glances from Kieran Shipley. The broody lumberjack wants more from me than another fresh-baked pretzel. But if I push my luck, I’ll end up back on the street.

Too bad I’ve never been smart with my heart… 

My Review: I love Sarina Bowen’s books, especially the True North series, which was my introduction to this author. I’ve read all but one of the books in this series, and this is one of my favorites. Perhaps you might not pick this book up because you haven’t read a M/M story and you’re not sure you would like it. My advice is to go for it, give it a chance, ESPECIALLY if you listen to the audiobook instead of reading the ebook.

I love audiobooks, but I’m pretty particular about my female narrators. No need to worry about that here! This audiobook is read by two terrific narrators: Teddy Hamilton, who is in my top three narrators of all time, and Stephen Dexter, who I first heard as Dan the Security Man in Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series (so I kind of miss his Boston accent in this.) If you’re unsure about M/M, listen to the book. I think if the story doesn’t hook you right away, these guys will. One hot guy reading an audiobook is great, but two hot guys? It doesn’t get any better.

There is so much depth to this story. It hooked me right from the first chapter, because I love a couple with a complicated history. We’ve met Kieran Shipley in the other True North books, and learning his story made me want to go back and re-read the other books, which is always a sign of a good addition to a series. Roderick is a new character, and he is just delightful. They each have family issues, and job issues, and relationship issues. In essence, super relatable. It goes without saying that this book deals with LGBQT issues, but they are handled with great care and love.

I love love loved this couple, and this book, and I really wish they were going to get a sequel, because I would love to see Kieran and Roderick growing old together and living happily ever after.

Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Release week excerpt:

Back at home, I do all the chores and then some. 

First I put the cows in the north pasture. Moving cows is easy enough in good weather. It only requires me to move the portable fence and wave them through the opening. “Go on, enjoy,” I say as they file past me eagerly. Our herd is grass fed, and they don’t need to be asked twice. The long, seedy grass and corn stalks I’m offering are like a recently freshened, all-you-can-eat buffet.

Let’s face it—the cows are easier to handle than any of my family members. They go where they’re needed, no questions asked. But my dog—Rexie—gives the cows a nice loud woof just to pretend he’s working hard. 

After the cow parade, I close up the fence and turn the electricity on. After that, I spend forty-five minutes raking cow shit out of the lower farmyard in the dark. 

It’s boring drudge work, and my mind starts to wander. And, fuck, it wanders right to Roderick Waites—the guy who climbed out of a blue Volkswagen and right back into my brain.

I wish I could say I haven’t thought about him since high school, but that would be a lie. And if I were a more spiritual person, I’d probably interpret Roderick’s reappearance in town as a sign. A wakeup call.

Nobody knows all the tangled things in my brain, but for a split second when I was a teenager, Roderick came close to learning one of my biggest secrets. 

The first time I saw him on his knees in front of another guy, it was an accident. 

It was autumn then, too. I’d been at a high school football game. It was chilly that night and, last second before leaving for the game, I’d grabbed my dad’s jacket from the hook by the door. After shoving my hands into the pockets while standing on the windy sidelines, I’d found a flask of whiskey. My father must have last worn the jacket when he was sitting out in the deer blind with his pals. Bonus. 

But, of course, I’d had to sneak around to find a place to take a taste. 

Leaving the crowd and the game, I ducked inside the door to the school’s gym. Under the cover of the bleachers, I drew out my dad’s flask, and unscrewed the top. Just as I raised it to my lips, I froze at the sound of whispered voices. Whoever was speaking had entered the gym at the other end of the bleachers. 

Their shadowy figures weren’t easily visible. But I guessed it was a couple looking for a little privacy for a make-out session. And since a couple sneaking off together wasn’t a threat to me, I stood my ground. 

I took a swallow of my father’s hooch. My first sip wasn’t life-changing—it burned going down and made my eyes water—it’s what happened next that changed everything. 

After screwing the lid on the flask and pocketing it, I ducked out of the gym and into the hallway. Feeling nosy, I walked toward the gym’s other entrance, noiseless in my Nikes. When I reached the door, I eased into a position that allowed me to spy on the couple I’d heard whispering to each other. They were silent now, and I wanted to know why. 

When I saw who it was, I swear my heart almost stopped. A varsity soccer player—Jared Harvey—stood beneath the bleachers, bracing his hands on a tread overhead. Roderick Waites knelt in front of him, unzipping Jared’s jeans. 

You can bet I didn’t even blink for the next five minutes…

Find all the links to purchase here: https://shor.by/roommate

#roommate #sarinabowen #truenorthseries #gayromance #kieranandroderick #vermont #coffeeshop #fivestars #audiobook #audible #teddyhamilton #stephendexter

Books, New Release, Romance, series

New Release! Lies & Lullabies, Hush Note series #1, by Sarina Bowen

Beth

Summer nights and star-crossed lovers! From USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

Once upon a time, he gave me a summer of friendship, followed by one perfect night. We shared a lot during our short time together. But he skipped a few crucial details. 

I didn’t know he was a rock star.

I didn’t know his real name.

Neither of us knew I’d get pregnant.

And I sure never expected to see him again.

Five years later, his tour bus pulls up in Nest Lake, Maine. My little world is about to be shattered by loud music and the pounding of my own foolish heart.

All Purchase Links

SERIES PAGE https://www.subscribepage.com/hushnote

All links in one spot → https://shor.by/hush-note

🎵Audible →  https://geni.us/Audible-LandL 

🎵Paperback →  https://geni.us/Paperback-LandL

🎵Amazon →  https://geni.us/Amazon-LandL 

🎵Apple →  https://geni.us/apple-LandL 

🎵Kobo →  https://geni.us/kobo-LandL 

🎵Nook →  https://geni.us/Nook-LandL

🎵Google →  https://geni.us/Google-LandL   

Excerpt

I watched Kira ride off, wondering what the hell had just happened. Sure, she probably guessed that I wrote that song about her. But she’d only heard the first few bars before sprinting away like I was the devil himself.

Spinning around, I located the lodge’s bike shed. I rolled a bike out and hopped on. The seat was too low for me, so I had to stand up on the pedals. 

But no matter. I rode off after Kira, my first time on a real bike in years. 

The road curved around to the left, and Kira’s house soon came into view. She was sitting on the front steps. She didn’t look all that surprised to see me biking toward her, but the look of pain on her face was so vivid that I could feel it in my gut. Something was wrong, and I still didn’t know what.

“Feel any better?”

She shook her head, and I thought I saw fear in her eyes.

“Kira,” I said softly. “I know you want me to leave you alone right now, but I can’t—our conversation isn’t over. In twenty-four hours I’ll be back on that bus. Honestly, you’re scaring me. When I last saw you, things seemed like they were on the upswing for you. When I said I think about you all the time, I didn’t mean to be a creeper. I meant that I was picturing a happy ever after for you.”

“Mama!” a little voice called from beyond the screen door.

At the sound of it, Kira’s whole body went rigid. And then tears spilled down her cheeks.

I heard little footsteps pounding onto the screened porch. And then a small set of hands became visible against the door just behind Kira. Quick as a flash, Kira leapt to her feet and spun around, darting through the door. It closed with a bang behind her.

“Whoa,” a man’s voice said. “Deep breaths, Kiki. What did he say?”

The hair stood up on my neck. I dropped the bicycle and covered the distance to the stoop in three paces. Leaping up, I opened the screen door. A little girl stood there, with fair, curly hair and blue-green eyes. I was no good with kids’ ages. She wasn’t an infant, but she wasn’t school-aged either. There was a babyish fullness to her face. She was three? Four? Five? I looked up at Kira.

“I’m so sorry,” she squeaked.

That’s when I finally understood. And I almost couldn’t draw breath to speak again. “I… She… What the fuck, Kira?” 

“That’s a very bad word,” the little girl said, accusation in her voice.

“Sorry,” I said automatically. I raised my eyes to Kira’s. “You… She…” 

I couldn’t think. There was pressure in my ears, and my pulse was ragged. Dizzy, I thought, absently, putting one hand on the door jamb for support.

“Breathe, man,” the guy behind Kira said. He wore a bright pink polo shirt and an expression of concern. “Sit down. Seriously, before you crash.”

I bent over and grabbed my knees. “Oh my God.” The only thing I could hear was my own ragged breathing and Kira’s choked sobs.

“Mama!” a little voice said, full of alarm. “Don’t cry!”

The scary moment stretched on, until I heard yet another bicycle approaching outside. A moment later, another male voice called out, “Knock-knock!”

The pink-polo-shirt guy answered him, his voice full of false cheer. “Hi, Luke!” Under his breath he added, “Wow. It’s raining men.” Then he scooped the little girl up in his arms, stepped around me, and walked out the screen door. It closed behind him with a bang.

I just stood there, staring at my shoes, trying to catch my breath. Kira’s shoes moved into my visual field, but I wasn’t ready to talk to her yet. Not until my head could clear. Which would probably be sometime next week. 

We stood here, awkward and quiet for a couple of long minutes. There was some low-key chatter outside, and then I heard the sound of the bicycle departing. 

The guy in the polo shirt came back inside, alone. 

“You’re her brother.” I coughed, trying to reconstruct the world into a rational place.

“Yup,” the guy said. “Uncle Adam.”

“Where is Vivi?” Kira asked, her voice raw.

“Luke is taking her for a little bike ride. There may be ice cream involved.”

“Really, Adam?” Kira moved quickly to peer through the screen. “But that’s awkward.”

“Oh, honey. We have first class tickets on the HMS Awkward today. And the ship has sailed. Luke even had a pink helmet for her, Kiki. Just go with it, okay? I told him you were having a moment.”

I straightened up. “She’s having a moment,” I spat out. “Is that what this is?” My pulse was still pounding in my ears, but now from anger instead of shock.

Kira was as pale as a sheet. “I was going to tell you today.” She pulled a photo out of her pocket. “Here. I was trying to find a way.”

I snatched the picture from her hand. “She’s, what, four?” The photo shook as I tried to look at it. The little girl smiled up at the camera, a stuffed animal in her hands. It was purple. Somehow this detail made it all the more real. The little girl in the photo was clutching the purple cat I’d won at the fair all those years ago.

Book Review, Books, New Release, Romance, series, Uncategorized

New Release! Sure Shot, by Sarina Bowen, a standalone in the Brooklyn Bruisers series is LIVE

Beth

24

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, successful sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle a few goals in her personal life.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that five year plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…

6

REVIEW: I love a good hockey story, and Sarina Bowen writes the best ones. Sure Shot is about Bess, the sister of former Brooklyn Bruiser Dave Beringer. Dave’s story was told Bountiful, which is a crossover between Sarina’s hockey books and her True North series. It’s my favorite of that series, and the audiobook is excellent.

Bess is a sports agent, and she meets, or should I say becomes reacquainted with, Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz when he’s traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers, just as Bess herself comes back to New York for the start of a new Five-Year-Plan for her life. Of course, Tank doesn’t originally fit into that plan. But he and Bess have a history that can’t be ignored.

This was a good book. It was well-written, as all of Sarina’s are, and took some twists and turns that I didn’t expect. I like reading a book that is part of a bigger series, because all of the characters from the other stories show up, and we get to see how their lives have continued on since we last heard from them. It made me realize that I’ve missed a couple of books along the way, which is always a good thing to discover. Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3 (1)

RELEASE DAY EXCERPT

Tank: Did you SEE that beautiful goal???

Bess: Yes baby. That’s why I sent you a text last night that said NICE GOAL BABY in shouty caps. Didn’t it come through?

Tank: It came through. But I just wanted to talk about it some more. Because did you SEE that beautiful goal? When Castro accidentally passed to nowhere but I got my stick on it anyway? And before you could say TANK IS A STUD, I put it in?

Bess: Gorgeous goal, hot stuff! I may have spilled my beer I was so excited. 

Tank: Where did you spill it?

Bess: All over my naked breasts.

Tank: Really?

Bess: No. But the purpose of this conversation is stroking your ego, right? So I thought I’d just roll with it. 

Tank: LOL! I’ll take it. 

Bess: 🙂 

Tank: You were right, by the way. After the game, Castro told me I had to get the Brooklyn Bridge tattooed across my ass. 

Bess: Well that’s a good sign. If they’re pranking you it means they like you now.

Tank: I got a goal. They like that at least. 

Bess: What did you tell Castro about the tattoo?

Tank: I said, sure, buddy! 

Tank: And, get this, I told him that if we connect on ten goals this season—in either direction—not only will I put the bridge on one ass cheek, I’ll put his face on the other. 

Bess: OMG. What did he say to that?

Tank: “Let’s not get carried away.” Honestly he looked terrified, which was the point. I told him I was just crazy enough to do it. And then I wondered aloud what the blogs would write about that.

Bess: You are an evil man.

Tank: Never bullshit a bullshitter. But enough about me. Let’s talk about you. Specifically, I need to know if you’re naked right now. Please say yes.

Bess: I’m sitting in my office waiting for a conference call. So that would be no.

Tank: Lie to me, baby! I miss you.

Bess: There’s no need to lie. The next time we’re in the same zip code again, you can make your dreams come true.

Tank: Now there’s a plan I can get behind. Literally. 

Bess: Indeed. Got to go now! Call starts in two minutes.

Tank: One more thing, hot stuff. Have you seen Henry again? I keep leaving voicemails, asking when I can visit. He texts me back, but I can’t get a phone call. I just want to talk to the old codger.

Bess: Same. I sent him a present but when I asked to visit he shot me down. Now go beat Florida. 

Tank: Maybe you should send me a few motivational photographs to improve my game.

Bess: A good workout followed by a protein drink and then a nap would improve it more.

Tank: Says you.

Bess: I am a professional. I know things. Get some rest! I’ll be watching tonight.

1 (1)

Amazon https://geni.us/SureShotAmazon

Apple https://geni.us/SureShotApple

Kobo https://geni.us/SureShotKobo

Nook https://geni.us/SureShotNook

Audio https://geni.us/SureShotAudio

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Audio

CREDITS: Photo by Wander Aguiar, Design by Hang Le

sure+shot (1)

Books, cover reveal, New Release, Romance, series, Uncategorized

Cover Reveal: Lies & Lullabies, book 1 of the Hush Note series, by Sarina Bowen

Beth

HN+R2

Coming September 22, 2020

Summer nights and star-crossed lovers! From USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

Once upon a time, he gave me a summer of friendship, followed by one perfect night. We shared a lot during our short time together. But he skipped a few crucial details. 

I didn’t know he was a rock star.

I didn’t know his real name.

Neither of us knew I’d get pregnant.

And I sure never expected to see him again.

Five years later, his tour bus pulls up in Nest Lake, Maine. My little world is about to be shattered by loud music and the pounding of my own foolish heart.

Add to your Goodreads TBR → https://geni.us/LandLGoodreads  

 

HN+R3

GIVEAWAY!!

We are doing a $100 gift-card giveaway to celebrate the triple cover reveal.

You should feel free to enter this giveaway! After you submit your entry, share links appear on the screen. When someone uses your share link to enter, you will get extra entries in the giveaway! 

https://woorise.com/booklovers/hush-note-cover-reveal-giveaway

HN+IG2

SERIES PAGE 

https://www.subscribepage.com/hushnote  

Purchase Links

 

Lies and Lullabies by Sarina Bowen

🎵Amazon https://geni.us/Amazon-LandL  

🎵Apple https://geni.us/apple-LandL 

🎵Kobo https://geni.us/kobo-LandL  

🎵Nook https://geni.us/Nook-LandL  

Rifts and Refrains by Devney Perry

🎵Amazon https://geni.us/Amazon-RandR  

🎵Apple https://geni.us/Apple-RandR  

🎵Kobo https://geni.us/Kobo-RandR  

🎵Nook https://geni.us/Nook-RandR  

Muses & Melodies by Rebecca Yarros

🎵Amazon https://geni.us/MandM-amazon   

🎵Apple https://geni.us/MandM-apple   

🎵Kobo https://geni.us/MandM-kobo   

🎵Nook https://geni.us/w6Ze

Books, cover reveal, Romance, series, Uncategorized

Cover Reveal! Sure Shot, A Brooklyn Bruisers Novel by Sarina Bowen

Beth

unnamed (17)

A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, successful sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle a few goals in her personal life.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that five year plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…

Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen

1

A standalone in the Brooklyn Bruisers Series

Release Day: May 12, 2020

2

All in one link page
https://shor.by/SureShot 

Goodreads 

https://geni.us/SureShotGoodreads 

3

Amazon
https://geni.us/SureShotAmazon 

Apple
https://geni.us/SureShotApple 

Kobo
https://geni.us/SureShotKobo 

Nook 

https://geni.us/SureShotNook 

Audio
Coming Soon

Goodreads Giveaway (Live on April 2nd) 

https://geni.us/GoodreadsGiveawaySS

sure+shot

 

Book Review, Books, Romance, series, Uncategorized

Book Review – New Release – Heartland, Truth North series #7 by Sarina Bowen

Beth

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000031_00006]

5 of 5 emotional stars

I love Sarina Bowen’s books, especially the Truth North series. I’ve read all but book 6, even though I own it; I just haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet. I was selected to be a member of Sarina’s ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) team recently, and was given the opportunity to read and review this 7th book, and I jumped at the chance.

This book is interesting, because it has a connection not only to the Shipley family and the other Vermont folks we’ve met in the rest of the series, but our heroine has a deep personal history with the hero in book 3, Keepsake. Chastity and Zachariah were both raised on a polygamist ranch in Wyoming, but it would be a spoiler for me to say much more than that. One thing I will say is that they each had to overcome seriously messed up views of men and women and sex. It’s one of the things that made Keepsake such an interesting read, as well. Keepsake looks at it from a man’s point of view, and Heartland sees it from a woman’s.

If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you may know that I don’t read blurbs, especially when it’s an author I love.  I actually don’t want to know what is going to happen in a book (or movie or TV show) before I read or watch it. If I know something ahead of time, I’ll spend the whole time anticipating when that thing is going to happen, and I won’t be fully present. So I did not know anything about what Heartland was going to be about, except that the main character was Dylan Shipley.

The last book I read as part of an ARC team was Crush, by Mae Wood. I love her books, but I didn’t really like this one because the heroine was 22. It has been a long time since I was 22, and I couldn’t relate, plus I have a daughter who is 20, so I usually avoid books about kids in college. Dylan is 20, and the heroine, Chastity, is 21, and yet I didn’t have a problem with this story. I’m not really sure what the difference was, but I was hooked from the start of this book and I didn’t want to put it down!

audiobook, Books, Hot Sale, Romance, series, Uncategorized

HOT SALE! Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen

Beth

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LIMITED TIME ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Buy this book before the price goes up on March 14!

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Book 5 of the wonderful True North series by Sarina Bowen, Speakeasy, is on sale for 99 cents, and you can add the Whispersync audio from Audible for $1.99! I LOVE audiobooks, but I’m very particular about  my female narrators. Sometimes I’ll listen to the male-narrated audio sections, then read the ones that are narrated by the female. Weird, maybe, but it’s how I roll. It’s easy with whispersync! It keeps track of where you are in the audiobook and automatically switches to that spot in the kindle version, and vice versa. Pretty nifty trick.

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This is not my favorite book in the series (I think that belongs to book 4, Bountiful, which I’ve only listened to, not read) but for 99 cents, why not take the chance??

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Speakeasy Links
Amazon: http://geni.us/AmazonSpk
Apple: http://geni.us/iBooksSpk
Kobo: http://geni.us/KoboSpk
Nook: http://geni.us/SPKnook
Audio: https://geni.us/AudioSpk

Books, New Release, Romance, series

New Release – Heartland, True North series #7, by Sarina Bowen

Beth

CREDITS: Photo by David Vance, Design by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creative

HEARTLAND BY SARINA BOWEN

A standalone romance in the USA Today best-selling True North world.

January 28, 2020

Goodreads: https://geni.us/HeartlandGoodread

Expect: cute goats, college parties, caramels, a hot, broody farm boy and a broken girl who can’t stop loving him.

An emotional friends to lovers romance full of risky secrets and late-night lessons in seduction.

Dylan is my best friend, and the only person in my life who understands me. He doesn’t mind my social awkwardness or my weird history. The only glitch? He doesn’t know that I’ve been hopelessly, desperately in love with him since the first day we picked apples together in his family’s orchard.

But I know better than to confess.

Now that I’ve joined him at college, I’m seeing a new side of him. This Dylan drinks and has a lot of sex. None of it with me.

Until the moment I foolishly ask him to tutor me in more than algebra…and he actually says yes.

One crazy night sets our friendship on fire. But now my heart lies in ashes, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Heartland is a standalone college romance set in the True North world. Expect: a young, broody farmer, a giant crush, tasty caramels, cute goats and late night confessions.  

RELEASE DAY EXCERPT FROM HEARTLAND

“So why were you having a bad day, anyway?” Ellie asks. “Man trouble?”

“Not exactly. It’s more like a lack of man trouble. I kissed my hot algebra tutor. And I wasn’t supposed to.”

Her big eyes widen. “Which hot algebra tutor? You never said.”

“He doesn’t work at the lab,” I say hastily. “He’s a friend. And he wants to stay that way.”

“Oh.” She looks deflated. “That is a bummer.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.” She makes a face. “It would be nice, though. This year is kind of lonely. My roommate is a total bitch.”

“Oh, I have one of those, too.” 

“Yeah?” Ellie’s eyes brighten. “Does yours steal your clothes and then lie about it?”

“Um, no. She wouldn’t want any of my things. We have singles, anyway. Just a common bathroom.”

“Lucky! She must be easier to stand, then.”

“You’d think.” I take a gulp of mint tea. 

“My roommate took my brand-new scarf. With the tags still on! And when I called her out on it, she tried to gaslight me.”

“Gaslight?” I feel my cheeks flush like they sometimes do when I don’t understand the idioms that people use.

“You don’t know Gaslight? It’s a movie from the forties.”

“Ingrid Bergman,” says Dylan’s voice. “We haven’t got around to the classics yet.”

I startle, sloshing my tea over my hand. And when I look up, Dylan is right there. Clear brown eyes. Tousled hair. Tight, muscular body that’s clothed in a nice sweater and ripped jeans. A handsome face that I finally kissed.

Pain slices through me. Because I’m never going to get over him. There will never be a day when I look at Dylan and don’t wish for more.

“Can I talk to you for a quick second?” he asks, taking the mug and grabbing a napkin off the table. He wipes the tea off my hand.

“Now is not a good time,” I say quickly. Because I don’t want to cry in the coffee shop in front of my only new friend.

Dylan actually rolls his eyes. “Fifteen seconds, Chass. Give a man a break.”

“I’d talk to you.” Ellie raises her hand like a school girl. “Pick me.”

And that’s just what I need—another girl in my life who’s swooning for Dylan. Because that always turns out well. 

“Fine. Fifteen seconds.” I jump to my feet. Let’s get this over with.

Dylan takes my arm and tows me gently over toward the bulletin board, where nobody is currently reading the flyers for meditation circles and ski equipment sales. 

“Look, I’m sorry,” is his opener. “You’re avoiding me. Not that I blame you. I’m sorry things got so out of control.”

“Which things?” I ask warily. Because I don’t want an apology for fooling around with me.

“Pick one!” Dylan raises his hands. “All the things. I shouldn’t have been so inappropriate.”

“But…” I know Dylan was in a serious state of drunken depression when he kissed me. It’s not like I was expecting to hear those kisses made him as happy as they made me. But would it kill him to be a little less patronizing? “Dylan, I’m not twelve years old. It was just a kiss or two. I don’t think I’ll need a full course of therapy to recover.”

He blinks. “Okay. Good?”

“So did you really need to drag me over here to apologize a third time? Did you apologize to all the girls you kissed during Spin the Bottle in seventh grade?” 

I heard about Spin the Bottle and Seven Minutes in Heaven only last year, by eavesdropping on Debbie and her buddies at another bonfire. I’d been transfixed by their tales of who’d kissed whom over the years and how often. 

At thirteen, Spin the Bottle would have sounded like heaven to me. Seven minutes in a closet with a boy? I would have lobbied for eight. I was always the most inappropriate girl in the bunch. 

Yet somehow Dylan sees me as some kind of innocent child. 

“No. Good point.” He crosses his delicious arms and smiles at me. “You are in a feisty mood today.”

“Is that so wrong?”

“No.” He shakes his handsome head. “Not at all. Are we going to hug it out?” He opens his big arms wide.

Oh boy. I can’t resist stepping into them. And when he pulls me in, I experience the familiar hormone rush that always happens when I’m close to him. Rapid heartbeat? Check. Goosebumps? Check. My nose lands against his flannel shirt. 

My mouth is mere inches from his, of course. But this time he has no interest in kissing me. It takes all my willpower to give him a squeeze and then step back.

“Be well, Chass. I’ll leave you to your tutoring session, even if you’re basically cheating on me right now. But we’re still making caramels this weekend, right? I told Griffin we could use six gallons of goat’s milk. Don’t make a liar out of me.”

“I won’t,” I say quickly. I might be slightly irritated at him, but it will blow over. My capacity to forgive him for not loving me back is basically infinite. “We’ll leave right after Friday classes?”

“You got it. And this is for you. Share it with your friend.” He pulls something out of his pocket. “More market research.”

He puts a little box in my hand and then walks away.

As always, it takes me a second to get over my hormone rush. I stand there blinking for a long moment until I realize Ellie is grinning at me from the sofa. So I go back over to her and sit down.

“Wow…” she says, stealing a glance at Dylan’s retreating backside. “Is that hot hunk of Vermont male your algebra tutor?”

“Yes.” My voice is gravel.

“And your future ex-boyfriend?”

“Nope. I’ll never get that chance. He’s my best friend, but…” There’s no tidy explanation.

“But you want more. I would if it were me.”

I nod, miserable. 

VENDOR LINKS

Amazon https://geni.us/HeartlandAmazon 

Apple https://geni.us/HeartlandApple

Kobo https://geni.us/HeartlandKobo 

Nook https://geni.us/HeartlandNook 

Google https://geni.us/HeartlandGoogle

Books, cover reveal, Uncategorized

Cover Reveal! Heartland, True North #7, by Sarina Bowen

Beth

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An emotional friends to lovers romance full of risky secrets and late-night lessons in seduction.

Dylan is my best friend, and the only person in my life who understands me. He doesn’t mind my social awkwardness or my weird history. The only glitch? He doesn’t know that I’ve been hopelessly, desperately in love with him since the first day we picked apples together in his family’s orchard.

But I know better than to confess.

Now that we’re both in college together, I’m seeing a new side of him. College Dylan drinks and has a lot of sex. None of it with me. Until the night I foolishly ask him to tutor me in more than algebra…and he actually says yes.

But the cool morning light shows me how badly I’ve endangered our friendship. And I don’t know if anything will be the same again.

Heartland by Sarina Bowen

Book #7 in the True North Series

January 28, 2019

Goodreads Giveaway: https://geni.us/HeartlandGRGiveaway

Links:

Pretty Quicklinks page: https://shor.by/Heartland

Goodreads: https://geni.us/HeartlandGoodreads

Amazon https://geni.us/HeartlandAmazon

Apple https://geni.us/HeartlandApple

Kobo https://geni.us/HeartlandKobo

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