Once Upon a Christmas Castle

Once Upon a Christmas Castle

by Virginia Barlow

 

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GENRE:   Historical Holiday Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Lady Rosalind Chatham journeys with her family to Weston Castle to wed an ancient earl on Christmas day. Yearning for true love, she falls for the duke, her stepfather’s cousin, while preparing for her nuptials.
Lady Rosalind entrances the Duke of Weston. Concerned for her future with the tempestuous earl, he can’t afford to get involved. The fines and scandal will be too great for a man of his wealth and power.
When the truth comes to light, and he almost loses her forever, he finds he cannot afford to give less than his whole heart.

 

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EXCERPT

 

 Careful not to make a sound, she sat on the window ledge and slipped her feet out the window. Turning to face the interior of the room, she inched her hips over the window ledge. She slipped on the ice, frozen to the brick outside the window, and slid down faster than she intended, cringing when the silk of her day gown ripped.

Panic gripped her like a cinched corset. She did not fear falling. No. The fine sheen of terror covering her brow appeared out of fear she might wake the earl.

Catching the edge of the brick where she lay against it halfway between her bosom and her waist, she sucked in a deep breath, conscious she must present a sight with her skirts bunched up and wedged between her and the window ledge. Her white pantalets and silk-stockinged legs dangled as she maneuvered her hands so she could drop to the ground. Thank the gods no one wandered the flower gardens beneath her to see her unladylike display.

Her prayer of gratitude stopped dead, and she received the shock of her life when a large pair of hands caught her about the waist!

She froze in terror, not daring to breathe.

 

“Lady Rosalind, how unexpected of you to drop by like this.” The duke’s deep voice laughed at her as he held her still.

 

She swallowed her cry of surprise and choked. God, what Cousin Lucius must be thinking about her right now. 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

I have always loved reading romance novels. I used to sneak into my mom’s room as a young girl and read them while she was gone. As I grew older, my reading and tastes expanded to sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy.

 

I considered becoming an author in my late twenties but as a busy mother with toddlers, I didn’t have the time nor the energy.

Later, in my fifties, I decided to give it a try and have enjoyed every moment of it since. I recently signed my fourteenth contract and am doing my happy dance as I type this. My husband of forty-one years is my greatest support as are all my kids. Most of them are grown and carving out lives for themselves. They are the beat of my heart and with every grandchild, the rhythm gets stronger. I enjoy every moment of my life. 

 

 

Social Media Links

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/virginiabar1031

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiasromancenook/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@virginiasromancenook

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGFHEfWqTshpYrUvlwbQhQ

Website: https://www.virginia-barlow.com

 

 

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Christmas-Castle-Virginia-Barlow/dp/1509250379/

 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-virginia-barlow/1144009112?

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198193906-once-upon-a-christmas-castle

 

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/once-upon-a-christmas-castle-christmas-in-the-castle-by-virginia-barlow

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

 

Virginia Barlow will be awarding a free copy of Gamble of Hearts to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back Against the Wall

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Title: Back Against the Wall

Series: Lindell Series #1

Author: Marie James

Release: February 15, 2024

Genre/Tropes: single dad, nanny/boss, a second chance at love, enemies to lovers, hockey star, small-town romance, steamy/spicy

Cover Designer: Qamber Designs

Cover Models: Michael Scanlon and Josie Fox

A small town, single dad, enemies to lovers romance.

Crawling back to this small town was never in hockey star Chase Woodson’s plans.

From hitting hockey pucks in front of thousands to selling urinal pucks at his father’s hardware store, coming back home is his worst nightmare.

But being a (newly) single dad of twin boys means making sacrifices. His boys need stability and his dad needs his help in the store.

Now he needs her.

Except, Chase has been the bane of Madison Kelly’s existence since high school.

She just so happens to be the only available nanny in town.

Besides, high school was ten years ago.

People don’t hold grudges that long, right?

Marie James is a full-time author, mother of two boys, and wife of 18+ years. Dog Mom to four great danes: Maximus, Sassy, Kiki, and Hargid

She has spent almost my entire lifetime living in central Texas, with only short stays in South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. She is currently residing in a sleepy little town in East Tennessee.

Writing is her passion, and she absolutely loves being able to sit down and put all of her thoughts and emotions into her stories.

She loves dogs, coffee, making handmade cards, and reading steamy romance novels!

HOSTED BY:

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Beyond the Book: Colds

 How do you treat colds in your house? 

I used to get colds all the time when I first started teaching, but as time went by I didn’t have too many. I don’t usually catch them now either. I think it’s because when I was teaching I was in a small room with sick teenagers all day. I heard that once you’ve had a cold you become immune to that particular virus so if you get a cold it’s a new variety that you never had before. 

Anyway, I treated colds the same way in the past as I do today. Truthfully, I don’t do much. I usually get a headache with a cold so I take some ibuprofen for that. If my nose is all congested I may use Mucinex to unstop myself. I always drink plenty of liquids especially water or a soft drink. My husband is a firm believer in Nyquil so maybe I’ll take one of those but not usually. When I have a cold I could go to sleep standing up. I don’t need the Nyquil. I don’t like cough drops, but I do suck on hard candy sometimes.

The thing that helps me most, though, is rest. I don’t have children to take care of so when I get sick I rest. I don’t do housework or cook. My husband gets takeout for us which I do appreciate, and he’ll straighten out the house too.

So, in short I rest and stay hydrated, and after a few days I’ll feel better. Does anyone have a special remedy that your family used? My husband said his mother put Vick’s on their throats when they get a cold.

Saving Madonna

                                                            Saving Madonna

by Kate Bristow

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GENRE: Historical Fiction

 

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BLURB: Is a painting worth dying for?

 

Inspired by real events, an unforgettable story of love, courage and sacrifice to save a country’s heritage.

 

Italy 1943. As the Allies bomb Milan, Elena Marchetti reluctantly gives up her coveted job as an art curator in the city to return to her family farm near Urbino. She takes up a new role assisting Pasquale Rotondi, the Superintendent of Arts in the region, in protecting works of art from all over Italy that have been hidden in the relative safety of the countryside.

 

At a family celebration, Elena reunites with Luca, a close childhood friend. A shattering event instigated by the occupying Germans deepens their relationship, and they start planning a life together. When rumors surface that Italy’s art is being stolen by the German occupiers, Pasquale hatches an audacious plan to rescue the priceless paintings in his possession. Elena and Luca are forced to make an impossible decision: will they embark on a dangerous mission to save Italy’s cultural heritage?

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Marco looked beyond his home to a small wood that stretched out from the rear of the property down to the narrow white road snaking through the valley toward the distant hilltop town of Peglio. His home was called Ca’Boschetto (House of the Copse) because of these trees, and Marco knew it would soon be time for his father and uncle to gather their friends and bloodhounds for the annual truffle hunt. Their small wood was known far and wide as a fruitful location for the illusive and highly sought-after fungi, and the truffle hunt was one of the highlights of the season.

 

Beyond the wood, a patchwork of fields that had been parched brown after the harvest in the heat of August was beginning to turn into shades of green from recent rain. Marco spotted a couple of deer making the most of the fresh grass. Something else caught his eye as it glinted in the distance. Marco lifted his hands to his brow to deflect the glare of the autumnal sun. Whatever was flashing in the sunlight was moving toward their farm. The ox-drawn carts that often made this journey on the back road couldn’t move that quickly. He squinted. Something was not right.

 

“Luca! Luca! I can see a car coming. Look at the road!”

 

His older brother turned away from the flock and walked over to where Marco was standing. Luca stared at the distant vehicle for a minute and his face darkened. “Marco, Gianni, run down to the house and tell Papà that there might be Germans coming. Move!”

A Word With the Author

 1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

For as long as I can remember I have been writing stories. I had a library card from the age of four and quickly got through all the children’s books I wanted to read in that small section of the library. My mother had to plead with the rather strict librarians to allow me to borrow books from the adult section. My parents always encouraged me to borrow any books that appealed to me, regardless of subject matter. Reading Lord of The Rings changed everything. I desperately wanted to be able to create worlds and characters that people would fall in love with but I simply wasn’t convinced that I had sufficient talent to make writing my career. Throughout my decades working in advertising, I would start writing a novel, complete four or five chapters, and then abandon the idea. I have piles of unfinished novels in various notebooks and Word documents! But during the pandemic I finally committed myself to finishing a book. Now that it is published, I feel I am entitled to call myself an author. My childhood self would be very happy. 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

It has been a journey. I naively thought that publishing a book was all about the writing. I had to learn about all the steps that go into launching a successful novel: the rounds of writing and rewriting, the rounds of editing, the feedback from beta readers, the proofreading and formatting and creating the book cover . . . and when the book is finally ready to be introduced to the world, you need to go out and tell people about it. Thank you for being one of the people that can help me do just that!

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

I adore Angela Petch’s Italian novels. Her research is impeccable and her books bring little known stories to light. I read her first novel ‘The Tuscan Secret’ years ago and became a huge fan. I was fortunate enough to meet Angela earlier this year and I am happy to say that we have become friends. She is not only a terrific writer but a lovely human being as well.
  
4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

The best part is being able to create a fully realized world and the people who live within it. My characters became real people to me—I think about them all the time and even dream about them sometimes. The worst part is having to constantly read and reread your work to ensure that you have not made any errors. You read your story so many times that it becomes difficult to maintain your enthusiasm for it. Now that it is out in the world, I can enjoy it once again.

5.What are you working on now?

Urbino, the stunning Renaissance city where much of my debut novel is set, is an incredible place with a storied history. Yet many people outside Italy do not even know that it exists. So I am keen to write more novels based in that part of the world. I am currently working on a story about Nicola da Urbino, a celebrated ceramicist who lived there in the 16^th century. So I am buried in research about that time period at the moment. 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Kate Bristow was born in London. She fell in love with reading when she got her first library card at the age of four. Her first attempt at writing and publishing for a wide audience was a local newspaper typed laboriously at home on her mother’s typewriter while at primary (elementary) school in north London. It is surely a loss to cutting-edge journalism that only one issue was ever produced. Kate divides her time between her small-but-perfectly-formed modern home in Los Angeles and her five-hundred-year-old farmhouse just outside Sassocorvaro in Italy.

 

 

Author Links:

 

Website: https://www.katebristow.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katebristowauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katebristowauthor/

 

Universal Buy Link: https://1link.st/katebristow

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Kate Bristow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Carrie Can Fly Too

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ashley and Breanna Bolliger will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Carrie Can Fly Too is an optimistic and inspiring rhyme for the entire family. It affirms that being different shall never prevent us from achieving our lifelong dreams. All we need is a little confidence and our imagination can suddenly become a remarkable reality.

About the Authors

Ashley and Breanna Bolliger are identical twin sisters born and raised in Canada. Growing up, they have always cherished creating new projects together. Their passion for writing flourished when they launched a wellness blog called Twinlife. Through the creation, they hoped their personal wellness experiences would propose positive change, motivating young adults to develop their own wellness routines to support personal mental health needs.

Ashley and Breanna created "Carrie Can Fly Too" to continually raise mental health awareness, targeting younger audiences. Self-confidence is an attribute that is often not taught, yet it is a motivating factor which drives many towards achieving personal goals. Self-confidence is also fostered when the world is a more accepting place, and everyone has the opportunity to embrace their unique differences. This is Ashley and Breanna's first children's book publication, and they wish to continue writing and illustrating books in the future.

Ashley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleybolliger/
Breanna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breannabolliger_/
Ashley & Breanna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtwinlife_/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Can-Fly-Ashley-Bolliger-ebook/dp/B0CKBXVV2L/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway >

Grumpy Little Christmas

 🎄 COMING SOON🎄

𝗚𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 by Marika Ray releases in FOUR DAYS in Kindle Unlimited!

PreOrder → https://mybook.to/GrumpyLittleChristmas

Goodreads TBR → https://bit.ly/466wE8t

“Just when I think you might have a human bone in that mountain of muscle, you go and say something so highly offensive I can’t help but dislike you.”

Good. That was exactly what I wanted. If she hated me, she’d be just as offensive back and it would remind me to steer clear of her temptations.

“Herregud!” My father’s voice rang out from inside the lodge. I could see him pointing at us from the two-inch gap where the door had not closed fully. “You two are standing under the mistletoe!”

Morgana’s eyes widened as she looked up. I heard Imogen squeal from somewhere inside while I groaned. What a time for my daughter to wake up and come downstairs.

“No, we are not!” I shouted back.

“You are, Dad!” Imogen squealed. “You have to kiss her or there will be bad luck.”

I frowned, silently cursing Mamma for putting up the mistletoe when I told her every year to stop that shit. “That is not what not kissing under the mistletoe means, Imogen.”

“I think it means the woman will not marry,” Mamma’s voice joined in.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, putting my hands on my hips. Having my entire family witnessing my every move was getting on my nerves.

“Well, I can’t say I’m sad I won’t marry. That ship has sailed, you know what I mean?” Morgana laughed, but it sounded all wrong.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss!” Imogen began to chant.

I had no choice but to kiss Morgana or hear about it for the rest of my life from my disappointed daughter. And I didn’t want Morgana to be cursed, right? Kissing her was the only way out of this situation.

“Morgana,” I said quietly.

She quit looking up at the mistletoe and looked at me. “What are you doing?”

I stepped closer, crowding her against the open doorway. “It means nothing.” A shot of honey and leather hit my nose right as my hand slid into the nape of her hair.

Her eyebrows shot together. “What—”

She didn’t get to finish her question. My lips were on hers and I lost all ability to think. Leave it to the irritating celebrity to be the one woman on the face of the planet who wiped my brain and left my knees feeling like Santa’s bowl full of jelly.

#GrumpyLittleChristmasTeaserBlast #GrumpyLittleChristmasMarikaRay #TeaserBlast #FourMoreDays #ComingSoon #PreOrderNow#Amazon #MarikaRayAuthor #RomCom #SmallTownRomance #EnticingJourney

Hosted by Enticing Journey Book Promotions

Starlight Bender

 

Starlight Bender 

by Sofia Nedic

 

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GENRE: Fantasy

 

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BLURB:

 

Imani Stone has a secret—she possesses an ancestral power to bend starlight.

 

Having grown up in the lush, magical hills surrounding the ancient city of Lumenor, she is no stranger to star-gazing, potion-making, or tarot-reading. However, in the time of civil war in her city, Imani must hide her power to avoid being recruited by the queen’s legions or killed by the ruthless rebels. But everything changes once the city learns of an incoming army of warriors threatening to destroy Lumenor and steal their starlight crystal. Imani is met with a choice—remain in hiding and help her family or risk everything and join the queen’s legions.

 

But does she have what it takes to be a legionnaire?

Can she help save Lumenor, or will she be the cause of its demise?

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

The ages-old rooftops of Lumenor stretched eastward, crowned by the white-gilded dome of Kirrah’s Temple. The goddess’ statue struck the skies beside it, her jewels gleaming in the night, rivaling the stars. Waterfalls of blue flower vines rushed down the tall stone fences of Old Town, and guards and folk crowded the streets, heading home after a night of drinking. Music spilled through tavern doors, singers’ voices blending with the subtle notes of lute and harp. The moonlight bathed the city in its silver gleam.

 

“The best thing you’ve ever seen?” Tain asked softly. 

 

He crouched beside me and our elbows touched. I could almost taste the scent of mint and leather that was on his hair and skin. His demeanor was now gentle like the summer rain, contrasting with the quiet storm he carried when we were training earlier. It made me wonder which one of them represented the real him. 

 

I sighed. “Second best,” I said. “Old Town is magnificent, but you should see the view from the very edge of the Mounds, the entirety of Lumenor stretched out before you. Nothing can best it. I stand by that.”

 

Tain was taken by surprise, staring at me in disbelief. He unrolled the sleeves of his shirt to protect his elbows from scratching against the stone. “In that case, you need to take me there. I would love to see it.”

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Sofia Nedic is a Slavic immigrant living in Austin, Texas with her husband and pup. She is a tech and fantasy nerd, and an avid enjoyer of ancient history, spirituality, and alchemy. When she is not working or crafting stories, she is exploring nature, reading books, visualizing her daydreams through AI art, or immersing herself in tarot and astrology.

 

Sofia visualizes the scenes and characters from her stories with AI art on her Instagram @starlight_bender.

 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Starlight-Bender-Archives-Book-ebook/dp/B0C9V599K3/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Sofia Nedic will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway