Thrifty Thursday: Tress by Michele Shriver

Do you love gay romances? Are you looking for a book that costs less than $5.00? Then you might want to check out:

Title: Tress by Michele Shriver
Single Dads of Gaynor Beach
Publisher: SMC Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Romance
Length: 121 pages

Summary:

After losing his police officer husband in a line of duty shooting, Tress Covey-Fox fled the big city for a quieter life in the seaside community of Gaynor Beach. It’s the perfect place to raise their daughter and grow his real estate business… if only a certain sexy engineer would stop showing up at his job sites. As tempting as Logan’s blue eyes might be, Tress has no interest in ever risking his heart again. But when Delaney’s biological mother shows up in town threatening to shatter the life he’s built, Tress will do anything to keep his family together, no matter how ridiculous the idea sounds.

Civil engineer Logan Gentry always knew he wanted to settle in Gaynor Beach once he discharged from the Navy, and that was before he met the new developer in town. Although Tress insists he doesn’t do relationships anymore, when his attorney suggests a two-parent household would look better to the court, Logan is more than happy to play along, because he knows the spark between them is real even if the relationship isn’t.

Tress is a slow burn, fake it ‘til you make it MM romance with moderate angst and is part of the Single Dads of Gaynor Beach series.

Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

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eBook Contest 7/5

Here are the eBooks for this week’s Winning Wednesday contest:

Title: One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris
Publisher: Sourcebook Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Family Fiction
Length: 460 pages

Summary:

A compelling debut that glows with bittersweet heart and touching emotion, deeply interrogating questions of family, redemption, and unconditional love in the sweltering summer heat of Savannah, as two people discover what it means to truly forgive.

It’s been eight years since Sara Lancaster left her home in Savannah, Georgia. Eight years since her daughter, Alana, came into this world, following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds Sara would do anything to forget. But when Sara’s father falls ill, she’s forced to return home and face the ghosts of her past.

While caring for her father and running his bookstore, Sara is desperate to protect her curious, outgoing, genius daughter from the Wylers, the family of the man who assaulted her. Sara thinks she can succeed—her attacker is in prison, his identical twin brother, Jacob, left town years ago, and their mother are all unaware Alana exists. But she soon learns that Jacob has also just returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family. And when their two worlds collide—with the type of force Sara explores in her poetry and Jacob in his astrophysics—they are drawn together in unexpected ways.


Title: Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson
Love & Tacos Book Two
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 300 pages

Summary:

It turns out that a fake relationship is the perfect recipe for a love that sizzles hotter than Santa Barbara’s spiciest salsa—when it’s between enemies.…

Enrique Montez, smooth-talking heir to the Taco King empire, is man enough to admit that he made a critical error when he underestimated Carolina Flores. The agricultural hotshot should have been an easy conquest—who would turn down the chance to partner with California’s largest fast-food chain? But instead of signing her name on the dotted line, Carolina has Enrique eating out of the palm of her hand, and when fate steps in with an unexpected opportunity, Enrique is willing to do whatever it takes to capture her heart.

Growing up as the daughter of farmworkers, Carolina spent her youth picking strawberries in the fields of Santa Maria and vowing to improve the lives of people like her parents. Now, as one of only a few Latina farm owners, she has no time for romance and she’s certainly not about to let the notorious Montez brother anywhere near her business—even if just being near Enrique makes her skin tingle.

But she is willing to let him help get her overinvolved family off her back. When Carolina’s father and her lovelorn sisters mistake Enrique for her (nonexistent) boyfriend, she reluctantly agrees to a series of pretend dates to their town’s traditional Mexican-American holiday celebrations. Soon the fake feelings turn real and both Carolina and Enrique must convince each other to take a chance on love before their vacation romance is over.


Title: Deep Dish by L.A. Witt
A Gay Road Trip Romance
Publisher: L.A. Witt
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Romance
Length: 352 pages

Summary:

Riding the unexpected success of his video channel for as long as it holds out, reluctant influencer Marcus Holloway is on a road trip to find the best pizza in each state. It’s a solitary journey, but he has his dog and kitten for company. What more could he need?

When he interrupts another influencer trying to exploit a homeless person for clout, though, he finds himself on a most unexpected detour.

Blake Wyatt is already down on his luck, living out of his car a thousand miles from anything he might call home. And it only gets worse when someone steals the car. The obnoxious jerk with the camera is just more humiliation.

Then a softspoken savior intervenes… and turns Blake’s world on its head.

Now they’re riding together, and as the miles fly by, both men realize how badly they’ve longed for connection and companionship. Blake adores Marcus’s kindness and his laidback vibe. Marcus melts every time his kitten falls asleep on Blake. And that’s to say nothing of the chemistry steadily heating up between them.

But this isn’t forever. Blake has to get his life back in the rails. Marcus still has thousands of miles to travel. They can avoid it for a while, but sooner or later, their paths will diverge.

As goodbye looms, though, neither is ready to let go.

Maybe they don’t have to.

Deep Dish is a standalone slow burn road trip romance.

CW: moderate childhood trauma, past parentification, discussion of Covid-19/pandemic, homelessness, smear campaigns/accusations of abuse, brief mentions of a neglected animal, mild trauma responses in a rescued pet. If you have questions about this content warning or are concerned about specific content/triggers, please do not hesitate to email the author.


Wednesday is contest day on Book Talk and More with Kathy. Three lucky winners will win the eBook of their choice! Here’s how to enter:

You must Do TWO of the Following:

1. Sign up for e-mail updates (below). One email daily with the day’s posts.

Enter your Email:

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OR:

2. Be or become a fan of Book Talk & More with Kathy Facebook page

Make sure you have filled out the contest entry form:

4. To be eligible to enter contests on Book Talk and More with Kathy you MUST fill out the contest entry form (found HERE). This form only needs to be filled out ONCE. Your privacy is important to me, and I will not share your information.

And don't forget to:

5. Fill out the form below by 4 PM Mountain Time Friday afternoon:

CONTEST OVER

* I am the only person who will have access to info that is submitted to me UNLESS a publisher or author has donated an eBook for the giveaway. For a prize donated by an author or publisher, I will forward your e-mail and format selection to the person responsible for distributing the eBook. Please refer to the privacy page HERE if you have questions about how your information is used. In the event the contest form is not working, please leave your book selection in the comments below.*

It’s that easy! The winners will be selected using random.org. I will e-mail the winners the eBook of their choice in their preferred format. The winners will be posted HERE on Saturday.

***The eBooks in this giveaway have been purchased by Book Talk & More with Kathy.***

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Teen Tuesday: Catch a Falling Star by Eileen Merriman

Teenage or adult readers who like Young Adult novels might enjoy this week’s spotlight:

Title: Catch a Falling Star by Eileen Merriman
Publisher: Penguin eBooks (NZ Juvenile)
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Length: 240 pages

Summary:

A fifteen-year-old reaches for stardom as he slides into psychosis.

Francesca – known to everyone as Frankie – has scored the part of Princess Fiona in the forthcoming musical production. Even though Jamie Orange has missed out on the part of Shrek, he’s happy:

The day I found out I was a donkey was one of the best days of my life.

He may not be Frankie’s leading man on stage, but he can still try to win her heart. However, all is not well with Jamie. He can’t sleep, he can’t stop his thoughts:

My brain was still wired, racing around in circles or spirals or – gah, it was driving me crazy. If only there was a magic switch so I could turn it off.

Bouncing between exultant highs and terrible lows, what will happen when this rising star starts to fall?

The compelling prequel to the bestselling Catch Me When You Fall:
‘My best pick for 2018 for young adults, the standout for me was Catch Me When You Fall . . . it’s kind of heart-wrenching and really real and quirky and a great teen read.’ – James Russell, Radio NZ

Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Mystery Monday: Her, Too by Bonnie Kistler

If you love a good mystery then you should check out this week’s spotlight!

Title: Her, Too by Bonnie Kistler
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Length: 317 pages

Summary:

Defending an accused rapist, a high-powered lawyer learns firsthand the terrible truth about her client . . . a discovery that propels her on a quest for justice and revenge in this addictively readable thriller from the author of The Cage.

Kelly McCann is a fighter. She’s fought to build a successful legal career, fought for the special needs of her family, and tirelessly fought for her clients. Her specialty is defending men accused of sex crimes––falsely accused, she always maintains. Her detractors call her a traitor to her gender, but she doesn’t care. Badass and brilliant, Kelly simply loves to win, and as the story opens, she’s done it again, securing an acquittal for a renowned scientist accused of sexually assaulting his female employees.

But the thrill of her victory is short-lived. That very night she, too, falls victim of a brutal sexual assault. And almost as horrific as the attack is the fact that she can’t tell anyone it happened—not without destroying her career in the process.

Kelly has never backed down from a fight and she’s not about to start pulling her punches now. Joining forces with her rapist’s other victims, the shrewd lawyer plans to turn the tables on him. It’s not only about justice—these wronged women are out for revenge.

But someone, it seems, is out for them, and one by one, they find themselves facing even greater danger.

Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N

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Book Talk: What have you been reading lately?

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

My reading week was a bit of a mixed bag but overall enjoyable.

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick: 4.5 stars. Returning home might provide a new beginning for a goal-oriented book editor. The setting leaps off the pages throughout this heartwarming story. The characters are endearing and the storyline tugs at the heartstrings. The story within the story is incredibly captivating. The characters grow throughout this marvelous novel and the conclusion is truly delightful.

The Wife Before by Shanora Williams: 4 stars. A whirlwind romance culminates in a quick marriage and move to rural Colorado. Insatiable curiousity about her new husband’s former wife leads to startling mystery and unavoidable suspicions. The characters are three-dimensional but not all of them are easy to like. The setting adds plenty of chills to this clever mystery. The conclusion is shocking and well-executed.

Washed Up Former Child Star Ryan Lee by Lisa Henry & J.A.Rock: 3.5 stars. Ooof. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this novel’s release and reading it was a bit of a let-down. Unfolding from Ryan Lee’s first person perspective gives readers an up close and personal view of his addictions. Almost at rock bottom, he has NO incentive to give sobriety a try. That is until a reunion with his former castmates from their successful TV show brings him face to face with the first boy who kissed him. Not everyone in Ryan’s life is good for him but will he find reason to take the steps needed for sobriety? This angsty, slightly repetitive story comes to a happy for now conclusion that is uplifting.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay: 3.5 stars. A slow-burn mystery about a family left grappling for years after their mom/wife vanishes without a trace. Written from multiple points of view, this intriguing novel moves at a slow pace and delves into the unexplained disappearance of Jane Larkin. Despite the discovery of her skeletonized remains two decades later, will the family ever uncover the truth about what happened to her? A twist-filled conclusion might just provide an answer to this haunting question.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager: 4.5 stars. With a heavy gothic vibe and a cliffside mansion setting, this brilliant mystery keeps pages turning at a fast clip. The cast of characters is quite colorful and vibrantly developed. The storyline is engaging with plenty of suspense and tension. The conclusion is full of unexpected twists, turns and breathless excitement. Loved it!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

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The Week Ahead July 3-8

Here’s a look at what’s happening this week at Book Talk & More with Kathy:

Monday’s Book Talk: What have you been reading lately?

Spotlights

Mystery Monday
Teen Tuesday
Thrifty Thursday
Friday Feature

Winning Wednesday (7/5) eBooks up for grabs:

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris
Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson
Deep Dish by L.A. Witt

Click here for more info on entering the eBook contests.

This week’s Saturday Series Spotlight is A.M. Arthur’s Woods Ranch and contest for one of the books in the series (winner’s choice).

Have a great week!!

***All the eBooks in this week’s Winning Wednesday & Saturday Series Spotlight giveaways have been purchased by Book Talk & More with Kathy.***

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