Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter GIVEAWAY!

 

Lifelong best friends say 'I do' to a marriage of convenience, trading vows for a financial safety net and benefits. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Katherine Center.

Evie Bloom pays attention to the details. Her very job depends on it―as an aspiring Foley artist, she’s responsible for every crisp footstep, smacking kiss, and distinct sound in film and television. So when she’s selected for a fellowship opportunity that would make all her career dreams come true, she’s quick to spot the catch: there are no health benefits, and for someone with a chronic illness, that’s a non-starter.

Theo Cohen is an elementary school teacher who can't afford to live on his own in LA, and is facing eviction after his roommates couple up and move out of their rent-controlled apartment. But there is one loophole in his lease: each tenant must meet an income threshold, unless the tenants are married.

For Theo, the answer is obvious. Marry Evie, his best friend since forever. It’s not as if they don’t spend all their free time together anyways. Not only will Theo be able to keep his apartment, but Evie can be added to his insurance plan so she can accept her dream fellowship. It’s such a logical, practical solution. Never mind that Evie doesn’t really want to be married―not to Theo, not to anyone―ever. Or the small, complicating fact that Theo has always been a little bit in love with Evie.

But it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Marriage. It will just give them space to breathe, and much-needed relief from the daily financial stress. It won’t change anything.

It’s . . . going to change everything.

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Friends with Benefits: Limited Sprayed Edge Edition: Kanter, Marisa: 9781250358899: Amazon.com: Books

Marisa Kanter is the author of modern love stories for both teens and adults. Born and raised in the suburbs of Boston, her obsession with books led her to New York City, where she worked in publishing for a number of years. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, where she writes by day and crochets her wardrobe by night.

Heart Aweigh by Shannon Dunlap GIVEAWAY!

 Cheeky septuagenarian matchmakers, the "Shippers" are on a mission to secure a dreamy Mr. Right for Abby O'Brien, a sunny, optimistic childcare worker for Monarch Cruises. She loves her job looking after the children of vacationing parents, but harbors one unfulfilled desire: to be a wife and a mother.

With his shy five-year-old daughter in tow, divorced elitist lawyer Spencer Randolph Masterson has anything but romance in mind. His goal on the MS Buckingham is to persuade his mother, Daisy, to leave her ridiculous cruise ship lifestyle and return to New Orleans. But Daisy isn't interested in life on land. Besides, she and her matchmaking posse have a marriage to arrange.

When a secret from Daisy's past surfaces and threats of blackmail start flying, the Shippers must protect their own while attempting to convince Spencer's scarred heart to weigh anchor and boldly set sail for a future with Abby.

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Hearts Aweigh: A Novel: Dunlap, Shannon Sue: 9780825448706: Amazon.com: Books

Shannon Sue Dunlap lives in hot and humid Houston, Texas where she writes stories with a dose of laughter and a spoonful of love. Shannon loves traveling, chocolate, Jane Austen, and Jesus. She's a big fan of happy endings and believes the heavenly Father has tailor-made one for each of us. You can find out more at www.shannonsuedunlap.com.

The Conductor by Eva Shaw GIVEAWAY!

 

Strikes, blackmail, and murder plague Beatrix amid growing unrest following the supremacist ideologies of World War II.

Beatrix Patterson has faced monsters before, but in a world teetering on the edge of social change, she comes up against her most complicated case yet. In one chaotic morning, her friend has been arrested following a fight during a strike at the railroad, the railroad owner was found murdered, and another close friend admits to being blackmailed.

Amid growing tensions between the Union Pacific Railroad and workers' strikes, Beatrix must go undercover before more people are killed or injured. But as she dives into this investigation, she finds one consistent group at the center.

In order to bring down the racial supremacist group digging its claws into Santa Barbara, California, she must put her intense loathing aside to stop the threat before it can reach Thomas, their baby girl Birdy, and the life they're building. With secrets everywhere she turns, Beatrix must keep her cards close to her chest if she hopes to escape this case unscathed.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Conductor (a Beatrix Patterson mystery) eBook : Shaw, Eva: Kindle Store

Fun facts...or personal quirkiness???

• Eva admits to being a “terrier person,” and previously adopted senior Welsh terriers. The latest family member is two-year-old Coco Rose and admits, “Coco is a dream now, but she was the most challenging puppy I’ve ever met.”

• Eva supports Days for Girls International and 50 percent of the profits from “The Seer” goes straight to helping girls throughout the world have menstrual dignity. Why? Proper menstrual health management is a universal human right, a critical component of gender equity and vital to women and girls reaching their full potential. Please visit daysforgirls.org.

• One of the world’s pickiest eaters, Eva loves delicious food. Being choosy, she says, “Means I learned to cook well because I like to eat well.”

• Eva has traveled to more than 35 foreign countries and 48 states. She smiles just thinking of packing a bag, standing in line for TSA or pulling out her passport.

• An avid gardener, she obsessed with growing flowers and in the spring her garden explodes in a kaleidoscope of colors.

• Little-known fact: Eva plays the banjolele. “Not well, mind you, but I love it. I’ve even started playing in my church’s ukulele/banjolele band.

My Thoughts... Murder, mystery, blackmail, that's all you had to say, and I was on this book. Shaw has written a good mystery series. Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri Giveaway

 Leah O'Connor is torn between her current existence and the allure of a phantom life that can no longer be hers.

Swept off her feet by the gentle charm of Lucas O'Connor, Leah's unexpected pregnancy changes the course of her carefree and nomadic existence. Over a decade and three children later, Leah is unraveling. She resents the world in which her artistic aspirations have been sidelined by the overwhelming demands of motherhood, and the ever-present rift between herself and her mother-in-law, Christine, is best dulled by increasingly fuller glasses of wine.

Christine represents a model of selfless motherhood that Leah can neither achieve nor accept. To heighten the strain, Lucas's business venture, a trendy restaurant that honors his mother, has taken all his attention, which places the domestic demands squarely on Leah's shoulders. Seeking an ally in her sweet sister-in-law Amy, Leah shares a secret that, if made known to the wider family, could disrupt the curated ecosystems that keep the O'Connors connected.

As Leah dances with the devil while descending further into darkness, her behavior becomes more erratic and further alienates her from both Lucas and the wider family. Leah's drinking threatens the welfare of her family, prompting Amy to turn to Christine for support. A duel for loyalty ensues. When the inevitable waves come crashing down, it's the O'Connor women who give Leah a lifeline: the truth of what they've all endured. But Leah alone must uncover the villain of her own story, learn how to ask for help, and decide if the family she has rejected will be her salvation or ultimate undoing.

Pick up your copy here...

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: A Novel: Guerrieri, Jessica: 9781400345953: Amazon.com: Books

Jessica Guerrieri (grr-AIR-ee) is a writer and novelist who lives in Northern California with her husband and three daughters. With a background in special education, Jessica left the field to pursue a career in writing and raise her children. With over a decade of sobriety, she is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery.

My Thoughts...

Motherhood, loss, addiction this debut had it all and all the feels to go with it. I can't wait to see what Guerrieri writes next. Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Anxiety Algorithm by James and Ronnie Kent GIVEAWAY!

 Imagine a Life Where Anxiety and Stress No Longer Control You

Experiencing a recurring pattern of anxious thoughts or becoming gripped by worry over a sudden difficult situation can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to stay under the control of your anxiety. You can create a specific plan to relieve your anxiety and stress—one that is just right for you. It’s what father-and-son authors Ronnie Kent (a medical doctor and behavioral specialist) and James Kent (a therapist) call The Anxiety Algorithm. It is based on Philippians 4:8 in the Bible and is supported by other passages of Scripture and trusted counseling techniques.

An algorithm is “a step by step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end.” Once you understand the foundational principles of The Anxiety Algorithm, you can tailor it to fit your special needs and your particular worry triggers. This book will help you to:

• Use simple exercises to immediately begin to alleviate anxiety
• Discover the “Two Steps Back” method to reorient your focus
• Reshape the way you see and interact with the world
• Make constructive thoughts your go-to way of thinking
• Invite the God of peace into your life

The Anxiety Algorithm provides a clear, effective plan you can turn to whenever you need a mindset of peace or as you seek to address long-standing anxiety and worry. Even in the midst of life’s hurts, setbacks, and challenges, you can experience true fulfillment and joy. 

Pick up your copy here...

Anxiety Algorithm: Turning Your Pattern of Worry and Stress into a Pattern of Peace and Joy: Kent PsyD, James, Kent MD, Ronnie: 9798887693286: Amazon.com: Books

No author photos

James Kent, PsyD, has over ten years of clinical experience. He is Executive Vice President of Faith and Wellness with the Moore-West Center for Applied Theology. James has worked in healthcare as a psychotherapist and with patients to treat a variety of mental illnesses. He has experience in treating individuals, couples, and families, and as a consultant. He has a special interest in working with faith-based organizations and communities to further equip the church to help individuals and families with mental health challenges and well being. James and his wife, Jessica, have four children and live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Ronnie Kent, M.D., recently retired after a forty-one-year practice as a board-certified pediatrician and behavioral health specialist in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He spent twenty-five years focused on treating children and adolescents with problems at school and related disorders, primarily ADHD, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, anxiety, and depression. He currently leads the ministry Faith & Wellness. Ronnie is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the UM School of Medicine, has been teaching Bible classes in churches for decades, and is the father of three and grandfather of ten. He and his wife, Anne, have been married for forty-five years. 

The Summer of Staring Over by Savannah Carlisle GIVEAWAY!

 

When Callie Jackson left her island hometown years ago with big dreams, she knew precisely the star she wanted to be, and she achieved it. At least for a little while.

Jesse Thomas had always planned to move to Nashville with Callie, but he was supposed to get there before her, knocking out his first year at Vanderbilt while she finished high school.

Neither of them imagined she'd get discovered so early or that family turmoil would put Jesse's family on the brink of financial collapse. He needed to be on Big Dune Island, and she needed to leave. So, Callie did the only thing she could think of that would make him stay: she cut all ties.

Then, all her dreams came crashing down. As she sorts through the wreckage of her career, her Uncle Lonnie forces her to return to Big Dune Island to clean out the family home he's recently sold. And she knows she'll have to face Jesse.

A touching beach read getaway that will have you wishing for long strolls along the waterfront town of Big Dune Island. If you're searching for a beachy, feel-good, small-town romance, look no further!

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The Summer of Starting Over: A Wonderfully Romantic Beach Read: Carlisle, Savannah: 9781963483215: Amazon.com: Books

Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels with idyllic beach settings. Her stories transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where friends feel like family. So, if you’re ready for a mental vacation, you’ve come to the right place!⁠

Savannah jokes that she's living her own Hallmark movie because she's a former big city corporate attorney who now lives in the small beach town of Fernandina Beach writing romance novels.

When she isn't busy at her laptop writing her next book, Savannah enjoys putting her feet in the sand with a good book in hand. She lives on Amelia Island in Florida with her husband, German Shepherd, and three cats.

I love my trip to small town Big Dune Island. Carlisle has given us a sweet romance, and I again have devoured this fun summer beach read. I can't wait to go back to Big Dune Island again soon. I recommend this one.
The perfect characters very well developed, and the setting could not be more perfect.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Nellie's Big Splash by Cori Doerrfeld

 When Nellie the sea turtle hatched, she was on a beach surrounded by lots of her brothers and sisters. Soon all the other turtles joyfully ran into the ocean and swam away, but Nellie? She was too scared. The ocean was loud, it was deep, and it was unknown. She stayed on the safe, dry sand instead.

But when night starts to fall and it gets too dark and cold for a tiny little sea turtle on land, Nellie realizes that if she looked past the scary crashing waves, there's actually a whole world out there, just waiting for her to jump in.

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Nellie's Big Splash: Doerrfeld, Cori: 9780593856291: Amazon.com: Books

Cori received a B.A. in studio art from St. Olaf College, as well as her Post Baccalaureate in illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. To date, she has illustrated numerous titles including several self-authored titles. Cori lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is married to comic book artist Tyler Page. Together they have two storytellers in the making-their daughter, Charli and their son, Leo. Cori is currently represented by Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency. www.prospectagency.com Discover more of Cori's work at her own site. www.coridoerrfeld.com