Thursday, April 18, 2024

Series Spotlight: JAGGED SHORES Series by Thom Collins

SERIES TOUR

for the

Jagged Shores Series

 by Thom Collins

Book 1: North Point

Book 2: Safe Harbour

Book 3: Deep Waters

Book 4: Cold Day Dawning

Book 5: Jagged Ends releases on April 30. 

Goodreads

Amazon US Series Link  |  Amazon UK Series Link

Pride Publishing

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance

Themes: Murder, Thriller, and Suspense, set in the UK

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Each book can be read as a standalone story.

*SPECIAL OFFER*

For the length of this tour the books will be priced as follows:

Deep Waters - 99c/99p

North Point, Safe Harbour, Cold Day Dawning - $2.99

THE JAGGED SHORES SERIES

Book 1: North Point

Will an idyllic summer holiday lead Arnie to the love of his life, or the end of it?

Blurb

It should be the start of a perfect vacation. After a period of stress, Arnie Walker takes his nine-year-old son AJ home for the holidays. Arnie grew up in Nyemouth, a picturesque fishing town on the North-East coast of England, and he wants AJ to experience the kind of carefree, endless summer he enjoyed as a boy. It’s a short-lived dream. While taking an evening walk along the North Point cliff, Arnie and AJ witness a murder attempt.

For the volunteer crew of Nyemouth Lifeboat Station, it’s a rescue mission like none before, Helmsman Dominic Melton is part of the team who rescue the victim from the deadly North Sea. When Arnie and Dominic come together in the aftermath of the attack, the attraction is instant. Arnie isn’t looking for a relationship. He’s committed to his son’s well-being and has no time for a distraction like Dominic, even though the handsome ex-naval officer is hard to dismiss. Is it possible for Arnie to fulfill his promises to AJ while falling for Dominic?

Despite the distraction, a fledgling killer remains at large. As feelings between Arnie and Dominic develop, so does the danger they are in. North Point may be a beautiful place to fall in love, but it could also be the most dangerous.

Book 2: Safe Harbour

https://books2read.com/u/mvoLJ2

Two lovers seek shelter in a storm of jealousy and passion

Blurb

Matt arrives in the seaside town of Nyemouth for a much-needed vacation. As a successful lawyer, Matt has a hectic career, and with an ex-husband still pestering him for money, he is long overdue a break. A holiday home perched above the town and its breath-taking harbour seems like the perfect place to unwind. Matt can’t wait to explore the beautiful, jagged shorelines and lose himself for a couple of weeks.

Jake has made a home in Nyemouth. After growing up in the city, living on the coast is everything to him. Running a business with his sister and volunteering on the crew of the local lifeboat, he is exactly where he wants to be. But Jake’s life is far from peaceful. Though he left his domineering husband Vince a year ago, Vince refuses to consent to a divorce or loosen his controlling hold on Jake.

On Matt’s first night in town, he encounters the couple having a blazing row. When Vince turns violent, Matt intervenes and takes Jake inside to escape his angry ex. Despite what happened, Matt feels a powerful attraction to the younger man. Jake is bright, endearing and unbelievably attractive, but the young man’s life is complicated. Matt already has enough problems of his own. He came away looking for an escape, not a starry-eyed distraction. As Matt and Jake get to know each other better, the gamble on a holiday romance becomes hard for either of them to resist. They have both been unlucky in love before. Maybe this time will be different.

Vince will not be shaken off so easily. He has no intention of letting Jake go…ever. As Matt’s and Jake’s emotions deepen, they do not understand how far Vince will take things to keep his husband. As far as Vince is concerned, they made a vow to each other… “till death do us part.”

Book 3: Deep Waters

https://books2read.com/u/38PP5d

In search of a story, he found murder and romance.

Blurb

Author Christian Costner is researching material for one of his dark thrillers and Nyemouth seems like the perfect setting for his next book. The small seaside town has witnessed plenty of trouble over the years, and Christian thinks it will provide him with the inspiration he needs.

He hires local tour guide and fisherman Harry Renner to help him explore the coastline for a couple of days. Harry is knowledgeable and mature beyond his twenty-eight years. Handsome too, though Christian thinks Harry is far too young for him..

As the weather worsens, Harry cuts short their first sight-seeing trip. Heading back to shore they spot a figure in distress in the water. A difficult rescue is made far worse when they discover the casualty has a knife wound to his abdomen and dies before they reach the safety of the harbour.

United by the trauma, Christian and Harry find comfort in each other, but when another murder comes to light, they find themselves at the heart of a dangerous mystery and the target of a killer more ruthless than they could ever imagine.

Book 4: Cold Day Dawning 

https://books2read.com/u/bWpoYq

Danger comes in the cold of morning

Blurb

It should be the perfect weekend away. Dalton Caine makes the long journey to Nyemouth to attend a party hosted by his sister. Catherine is estranged from most of the family, but Dalton feels the time has come to build bridges between them. Things don’t turn out how he wants, however, when Catherine gives him a cold reception at the party. But the evening is not a complete waste of time when he meets local photographer Antoni.

Following a near-fatal attack six months earlier, Antoni has struggled with his physical and mental recovery. Catherine’s party is the first time he has been out at night since then, and he’s ready for an early exit when he meets Dalton. The stranger is warm, friendly and incredibly handsome. When Antoni overcomes his reservations and accepts a drink at Dalton’s hotel, it could be the start of something new for them both.

Despite the joy of fresh romance, things soon take a darker turn. The morning after the party, Catherine’s boyfriend reports her missing. Dalton isn’t initially concerned. Catherine has disappeared of her own will before, and he’s more interested in getting to know Antoni, but the men soon find themselves at the centre of a twisted mystery, one that puts both of their lives at risk.

Reader advisory: This book contains violence, murder, PTSD, memories of a child in danger and mental illness. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is best read as part of a series.

Book 5: Jagged Ends releases on April 30. 

Available for Pre-Order

Amazon US Series Link  |  Amazon UK Series Link

Pride Publishing

About the Author 

Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, North Point and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook, The Night.

Other links

Twitter: @thomwolf  |  Instagram  |   Newsletter Sign-up

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Tuesday, April 16, 2024

New Release-Review & Excerpt: TIMELESS by Declan Rhodes - Includes Giveaway!

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Timeless
By Declan Rhodes

Timeless Cover Final

In 2024, Dylan Mercer is the rising star of professional hockey, adored by fans and unmatched on the ice. Yet beneath the glitz of his burgeoning career lies a truth Dylan fears could derail everything: he's gay in a world where he fears coming out could mean the end of his career. After a tough practice session, Dylan’s discovery of a pair of vintage skates in an old locker sends him spiraling back in time to 1980, just before the US Olympic hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice.”

Thrown into an era where the stakes for being himself are even higher, Dylan finds an unexpected ally and more in Nico Santoro, a fellow player with secrets of his own. In the shadow of history, Dylan and Nico forge a bond that defies time, facing down prejudice and fear with the strength found in each other.

As Dylan grapples with his return to the present, he faces an impossible choice: a past world that ultimately learns to love openly because of his and Nico’s courage, or the present where he’s one of the brightest future hockey stars.

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Excerpt

"Yeah, Nico. I wouldn’t lie to you. I accidentally came here when I put on a pair of glowing skates, and now I don’t know how to get back…or when. I suspect it will happen soon, but…”

I stared at him with a dubious gaze. What he’d described was impossible. Maybe Kowalski and the guys were behind it all. They could have found a hockey guy from the city and paid him to throw me off.

It was time to challenge Dylan. “Prove it. Show me something futuristic, something undeniable.”

He hesitated for a moment. “My clothes are from 2024.”

I shrugged. “There’s nothing original about them other than sort of whacked-out styles. Jeans are jeans, and the shirt is cotton.”

“Oh,” he whispered, and he shoved his hand into his pocket. I leaned forward, hoping for a surprise. He pulled out the device he’d been holding when he first appeared in the locker room.

“This is a smartphone from 2024,” Dylan announced, puffing his chest out. It’s not just a phone; it’s a little computer that fits in your pocket, and it’s practically a window to the future.”

“Computer? That size?” I scoffed. I couldn’t hide my disbelief, but I also looked closely, thinking about the stories I could tell if I saw something nobody else in my time had seen.

He held the device out toward me. “You don’t believe me? Just watch.”

Everything was silent around us. The earth stood still. Dylan awakened his device, and the screen came to life. I took a step back. In James Bond movies, little machines like that could shoot to kill.

The thing glowed and displayed a bunch of colorful shapes, unlike anything I’d ever seen. It practically screamed modern technology.

My breath caught in my throat as I took a cautious step forward. Could what Dylan called a phone really be a gateway into a new world?

I was about to concede a slight chance that Dylan was telling the truth when the screen flickered, and then it went black. My heart sank.

“What happened? I want to see it. Turn it back on.”

Dylan frowned. “Damn…of course, the battery goes dead right at this minute, and I don’t have my charger.”

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Carra's Review

The concept and blurb were enough to draw me to this story, after all it is a hockey romance that includes time travel to the era of the USA miracle Olympic hockey team.  How could I pass that up?  This was also a new author to me, so I was looking forward to checking them out.


Dylan is a young NHL star who is transported back in time from 2024 to 1980 thanks to a glowing pair of ice skates he comes across at the rink one day.  Nico is a player on a local team in 1980 and is the first person Dylan encounters in that time, and they wind up forming a bond and eventually much more than that.


To be honest, a lot of the events throughout the story were stretching my suspension of disbelief (I mean, you do have to suspend it a bit considering the premise hangs on time travel, but with this story even more so), and some things just felt too convenient and at times unlikely.  For me, some of this can be chalked up to the writing style as well as it really wasn’t my cup of tea. 


The overall story of how Dylan and Nico meet, develop a relationship, and what happens from there is interesting and you are rooting for them to be able to stay with each other in the end, just for me the execution wasn’t quite to my expectations.  If you’re an M/M hockey romance fan and also like time travel stories, you’ll likely want to check this one out though…and bonus points for the 1980 setting.


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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Timeless, Declan is giving away 2 e-copies & 2 Paperbacks of the upcoming release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author

Declan Rhodes is a gay hockey romance author who has written more than 40 novels. He also has published in the past as Grant C. Holland. He lives and works in the Upper Midwest where hockey is a birthright. Wisconsin is his home and the setting for many of his books. This is his fifth hockey romance novel and his first involving time travel.

Facebook Page - Facebook - Amazon - Instagram



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Friday, April 12, 2024

Recent Release-Excerpt: AN ODYSSEY OF SHADOWS by Dion Marc

An Odyssey of Shadows

Author, Cover Artist, and Publisher: Dion Marc

Release Date: April 1, 2024

Genre: 1940’s Period drama and Ancient Greek fantasy

Tropes/themes: Family Drama, Courage, Dealing with Loss, Hero’s Journey.

Length:  298 pages

Heat Rating: 0.5 out of 5

It is the first book in a new series. It ends on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

A Hero's Journey is a Tale of Tragedy

Blurb

A Hero's Journey Is a Tale of Tragedy.

In the wake of his brother's death, Theodore's world is irrevocably shattered. Now he stands alone against the shadows that dance at the whims of Gods. Clad in armour touched by magic and driven by a sharp mind, he faces a world of chaos and trials of unimaginable darkness all to save his brothers life. Each heartbeat of fear, each spark of hope, fuels his fight through a world where his bookish smarts may be his key to survival. Yet, Gods have never been known to play fair - especially the war god - Arēs

‘An Odyssey of Shadows' is the first instalment of a new fantasy series set in the year 1945, penned by Amazon bestselling author and artist Dion Marc. This saga weaves queer protagonists and intricate plot lines into an unputdownable read.


Excerpt

The air was dense, choking me with its acrid stench. I found myself in an unending void, where even my own body seemed to disappear into the oppressive blackness. But the silence was the worst of all—a soundless void that made my eardrums ache with its sheer weight.

Then, a light—faint at first—began to pulse in the distance. A scarlet bloom beckoning me closer. As I drew near, the light revealed itself to be a door, slightly ajar, emanating an even deeper blackness than the void around it. From within, whispers floated out, layered over each other until they became a cacophony of desperate cries and muffled screams.

"Join us. Save us. Take us."

Unable to resist its pull, I pushed the door wider. Inside was an endless expanse of contorted, writhing figures, locked in a dance of agony. Their skin seared, peeling away to reveal muscle and bone, yet they moved as if in rhythm to some ghastly melody.

And there, in the midst of the tormented crowd, was Thomas. His once bright brown eyes were now hollow, devoid of hope or recognition. Chains wrapped around his body, pulling him deeper into the throng. I tried to scream, to shout his name, to reach out, but my voice was stolen by the void, and my limbs were weighed down by invisible forces.

My own cries seemed to echo back to me from the abyss until a blinding surge of scarlet light consumed everything

About the Author 

Bestselling Scottish Australian author Dion Marc lives and breathes queer art. Whether he is painting, writing, sewing or dancing naked in the moonlight he does it with pride. He is a practising Hellenistic polytheist who believes in healing the world one hug at a time and that drinking tea without a biscuit is a horrendous crime. Dion has worked on Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton and so many more creative and flamboyant shows.

Link Tree   |    Facebook Group   |   Instagram

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Wednesday, April 3, 2024

New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: THE HOUSEHUSBAND'S GUIDE TO DOMESTIC BLISS by Lance Lansdale

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The Househusband's Guide to Domestic Bliss
By Lance Lansdale

HOUSEHUSBAND ebook1600x2560

Th​​​ere is a home in New Orleans where—for a price—even the unlovable can find a love story for the ages. Ms. Broussard's Home for Bountiful Beaus offers custom-made automatons, fully versed in the art of homemaking.

Arthur Price is not looking for love. The lonely librarian clings to work and routine to keep himself functioning. When his brother, Jared, arrives in the middle of the night with an i-Series automaton meant to lift his spirits, he realizes his routine life is about to be upended. Cheerful to a fault, Periwinkle is not someone Arthur would normally choose to befriend, much less enter into a romantic entanglement with, but he somehow programs himself perfectly into his life.

Miraculously, Arthur finds himself growing almost… fond of the robot.

Periwinkle may not possess much experience outside cleaning, but he can’t help noticing the loneliness in his librarian’s eyes. If it means giving Arthur Price a fresh start, Periwinkle is more than happy to stitch together all of Arthur’s broken pieces.​​

The Househusband's Guide to Domestic Bliss is a cozy, dual POV, slow-burn romance about a lonely librarian and his made-to-order boyfriend.

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Excerpt

Periwinkle couldn’t speak. He couldn’t do much else than stare into Arthur’s eyes. Did Arthur even have to ask? Of course, he’d missed him. Arthur was his home. Periwinkle knew he needed to answer, but it was like someone had shut off his voice function. Like they’d cracked his skull wide open and taken out his courage, piece-by-piece.

So, when Periwinkle couldn’t speak, he did the only thing he could think to of. He brought his index finger to his lip and pressed a kiss to the tip. When he was done, he held it against Arthur’s lips. And if a tear trickled down his cheek when Arthur kissed it back, that would just have to be their little secret.

Periwinkle spent the rest of the night watching Arthur rest. He couldn’t deny how nice Arthur’s arm felt wrapped around him. He wondered if it would be like this going forward. Would Arthur always share a bed with him? If he did, would Arthur expect the things Periwinkle saw in his magazine.

 Heat sizzled across his face. It was far too early in the morning for Periwinkle to worry about the men in the magazine.

Far too early, indeed.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of The Househusband's Guide to Domestic Bliss, Lance is giving away a paperback and an eBook of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

Like Kent Fox, I'm a thirty-something gay man with a flair for the dramatic and a passion for gay romance and LGBTQ+ fiction. I write stories focusing on queer joy and families found along the way. My debut novel, We Burn Beautiful was released last year.

Connect with Lance:
lancelansdale.com
instagram.com/lancetastik
Facebook: Lance Lansdale


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Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Audiobook Review & Excerpt: FALLING FOR RAINE by Lane Hayes - Narrated by Joel Leslie - Includes Giveaway!

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Falling For Raine
By Lane Hayes

Narrated by Joel Leslie

Falling For Raine Audio

The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventure…

Raine

Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this job–and a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldn’t be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistant’s assistant seems easy enough, and I’m a fast learner.

Hold up!

I’m already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as I’m mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I can’t refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, and…I like him far too much.

Graham

I’ve been bamboozled. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He can’t stay, but I don’t want him to go and that’s madness. The Horsham Group is closing one of our biggest deals ever and I won’t jeopardize it. This one is personal.

Yet so is Raine.

He’s a breath of fresh air—silly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, and…quite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit. For some reason, I can let my guard down with him. It’s unnerving and probably unprofessional.

But not to worry…I will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.

Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!

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Excerpt

What in the hell was going on? It was as though I’d entered an alternative universe. Everything looked the same, but it was different.

Of course it was Raine.

I studied him shaking hands with everyone in the shop as I shrugged on my jacket. He was…hypnotic, addicting—a cross between an inappropriate dinner party guest and a fistful of forbidden sweets when you were on a diet. He didn’t fit in this world I’d carefully constructed, yet I kept inviting him in and forgetting whatever reason I’d concocted for this to make sense.

Like now.

“Perhaps you’d like to try something on.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch him.

He widened his eyes and sidled close, whispering under his breath, “Are you nuts? One shirt here costs half my rent. Unless…oh, no. Oh, no, no, no!”

“What?” I demanded, pulling him with me outside.

“Are you going daddy on me?”

“Excuse me?” I furrowed my brow, stopping under the eaves where rain sluiced off the roof and fell like a curtain around us on two sides.

“Slow your roll, G, I’m not looking for a meal ticket, and I’m not taking hand-outs. I can be talked into bedroom daddy kink, but if you want me to call you Daddy—”

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake, you daft man. I do not want you to call me Daddy,” I growled just as a well-dressed man stepped onto the mat next to me, pausing for a moment to close his umbrella and dart a quick look between us.

Raine pursed his lips, then burst into laughter when the man entered the shop. “Ha! You should see your face. I was kidding.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I huffed, my lips twitching.

“I’ll be good, Daddy. Don’t spank me.”

“Don’t test me.” I pretended not to notice him fanning himself with a slack-jawed expression as I gestured toward the pub on the next block. “If we stay under the eaves, we’ll stay dry, but we’ll have to hurry.”

“No need. I bet they sell umbrellas in there.”

I squinted at the tourist shop at the corner on the opposite side of the street, its windows papered with Union Jack memorabilia. “That’s crap, Ray-n.”

“So what? It’s fun crap. My treat.”

He sprinted into the deluge, dashing into the tourist shop while I stared after him. What was he doing? Now he’d be wet and stuck with a tatty tourist umbrella that would undoubtedly flip inside out at the first gust of wind.

A crack of thunder spurred me into action. I borrowed a sturdy umbrella from Ives and Harris with the promise to return it as soon as possible, then walked down the street to find Raine.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d managed to make a friend in under five minutes. He stood in front of a wall stuffed with tartan throws, holding two compact umbrellas and chatting up a salesman. It took a bit of persuading to convince him he didn’t need the blanket—however, I couldn’t talk him out of purchasing two Union Jack umbrellas. I warned him that they were poorly made, but he didn’t care.

We squabbled all the way to the pub, argued over what to order, who was paying, and where to sit before finally settling into a table for two at the window. I frowned when he beamed a sunshine smile my way.

“Stop being so happy,” I teased, cradling my glass. “It’s miserable out there.”

“But it’s warm and yummy in here,” he countered, sliding his calf along mine under the table. “And you’re cute when you’re cranky.”

“I am neither cute nor cranky. I’m—okay, never mind, I am cranky. If we’d come straight here, we could have avoided the queue and had that corner booth.” I pointed at the booth currently inhabited by a gaggle of noisy businessmen. “Do you ever listen to reason?”

“Have you met me?”

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Carra's Review

I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s previous books, so when I saw this one and that it was set primarily in England (one of my favorite places), I knew I wanted to add it to my reading list.  Putting one very likable mess of a young man together with his suave, worldly, and wealthy British boss was a combination I couldn’t pass up.


Raine is one of those guys that everyone seems to like, someone who endears himself to even the most stern, no-nonsense people.  Graham is quite the opposite, serious and focused, never letting business and pleasure mix.  Put them together and they do complement each other—and of course the sparks between them physically are awesome.  


While you might think Raine is one of those party-type guys who is just looking to coast from one thing to another, he actually takes responsibility for the bit of a mess he’s gotten himself into and owns up to it.  Everyone loves him, it’s hard not to.


Graham is a tougher nut to crack, but Raine worms his way in anyway.  You know that will happen, and it’s just a matter of whether Graham will let himself be happy in the end.


Falling for Raine was a solid 4 star story for me, and I’d recommend it to any M/M romance fan, especially if you like the boss/employee trope.  The two of them are pretty hot together, so this book is meant for readers and listeners 18+ for adult language and sexual content.


The narration is absolutely excellent.  Joel Leslie does another incredible job voicing Raine and Graham, and even kicks it up a notch when Graham’s character starts slipping into his hometown accent.  The narration elevates the story, and gets 5 stars from me!


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Falling For Raine, Lane is giving away the Winner's choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and her fabulous pup, George.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers

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