Blog Tour: The Guestbook by Holly Martin

Welcome to Willow Cottage – throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook.

As landlady of Willow Cottage, the young widow Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider - whatever her colourful array of guests require. A flick through the messages in the leather-bound cottage guestbook gives a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of everyone who passes through her doors.

This includes Annie herself - especially now celebrity crime writer Oliver Black, is back in town. He might grace the covers of gossip magazines with a different glamorous supermodel draped on his arm every week, but to Annie, he’s always just been Olly, the man who Annie shared her first kiss with.

Through the pages of the Guestbook Annie and Olly, along with all the guests that arrive at the seaside retreat, struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling!

Forget sending postcards saying ‘wish you were here’ - one visit to Willow Cottage and you’ll wish you could stay forever.

There is a review today on http://reviewedbyfran.wordpress.com/ 

After Annie’s husband died, his brother Olly stayed with her for six months until the night they slept together.  The next morning, riddled with guilt, Olly fled.  They didn’t speak for four months.  But these are the emails that brought them back together. 

From: Oliver Black 

To Annie: Butterworth 

Subject: Sorry. 

Annie, I don’t know what to say, except how sorry I am.  I’m sorry that I took advantage of you when you were drunk and still grieving over Nick, I’m sorry that I betrayed him, I’m sorry that I abandoned you when you needed me the most. 

You must feel guilty too. 

I want to be friends again, I miss you so much.  If you ever can forgive me, I’d like to come back and see you.  Just as long as you know we can never be anything more than friends 

Olly x 

*** 

From: Annie Butterworth 

To: Oliver Black 

Subject: I’m not sorry. 

Olly, there is nothing to forgive and no I don’t feel guilty.  We didn’t do anything wrong.  I didn’t sleep with you because I was drunk or grieving and seeking comfort, I slept with you because I love you and I don’t feel any shame in saying that.   

Yes it hurt me that you fled after that wonderful night we shared, but I understand that you are still grieving too, and with that grief comes misplaced guilt. 

We were meant to be together, you know that. 

Annie xx 

*** 

From: Oliver Black 

To: Annie Butterworth 

Subject: RE: I’m not sorry 

I can’t… I wish I… I can’t be with you.  You’re my brother’s wife.  

  

We can’t do this. I can’t see you if you are going to pursue this further 

Olly  

*** 

From: Annie Butterworth 

To: Oliver Black 

Subject: Friendship. 

Olly, if the only thing you’re offering is friendship then I’ll take it.  I miss you too and I need you in my life.  You have my word that I’ll never mention the night we made love again.  We can be two friends that never kiss or touch or hug.  If that’s what it takes to bring you home then I’ll do it. 

Annie xx 

*** 

From: Oliver Black 

To:  Annie Butterworth 

Subject:  RE: Friendship. 

I’m popping in to see Dad next week.  I can see you too.  Just for coffee, nothing more. 

O x 

*** 

From: Annie Butterworth 

To: Oliver Black  

Subject: Coffee and… 

You can’t stop for coffee and not have some of my cakes, you know you love them.  I’ll make the coffee and walnut ones if you’re good. 

Annie x 

*** 

From: Oliver Black 

To: Annie Butterworth 

Subject: Squeaky clean. 

I’m always good, my halo is immaculate. 

*** 

From: Annie Butterworth 

To: Oliver Black 

Subject: hmmmmm 

Oliver Black, your halo is definitely more rusty than squeaky clean.  You kill people for a living and your reputation with women is not exactly glowing. 

*** 

From: Oliver Black 

To: Annie Butterworth 

Subject: Cake 

Let’s not let a little thing like philandering and murder stand in between me and your coffee and walnut cake.   

*** 

From: Annie Butterworth 

To: Oliver Black 

Subject: You never change 

It’ll be good to see you again Olly. 

*** 

From: Oliver Black 

To: Annie Butterworth 

Subject: RE: You never change 

You too 

Olly xxx 

The blog tour continues tomorrow with http://fabulousadda.blogspot.co.uk/  and they’ll be a review on http://www.maggiebob.com/     

Blog Tour: Almost Married by Roe Valentine

Almost Married by Roe Valentine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 27 January 2013
Buy: Amazon

Blurb

Realist, Dr. Carla Harris, believes that people create their own fate, through hard work and careful planning. She believes in playing things safe. But, while preparing for her upcoming nuptials sheís forced to confront the most reckless thing sheís ever done, her estranged husband, Jacob.

Idealist Jacob Moreau believes in soul mates, as much as he believes in saving endangered companies. When his long lost wife reenters his life seeking a divorce, he is convinced more than ever they are meant to be together. And he will doóand loseóanything to have her again.

She thought she had her life planned to perfection. He thought they made perfect sense together. Would marrying Jacob be the craziest thing she's ever done, or divorcing him?

Excerpt:

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Jacob shut his eyes. “According to?”

Silence.

The door pulled open, and there she stood. But that time, she wasn’t so smoothed down. In fact, she was barefoot and her long hair was tied in a bun on the top of her head. Her gray dress was wrinkled as if she’d been rolling around in the bed. His heart pounded. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her.

“Your lawyer.” Her eyes lifted to meet his. Had she been crying?

“He doesn’t tell me where to be.”

She gazed passed his body, eyebrows slanted. “You should go.”

He didn’t step closer, though he desperately wanted to. Taking her in his arms was all he could think about. Especially if she was crying because of him. “What if I don’t want to?”

As her lips parted, he could see her deep sigh. She was tormented, and it was enough to make him steadfast in being there, while before he wasn’t sure why he ended up knocking on her door. Something had happened between them at his house, on the patio. He was more certain than ever.

She stepped aside, the hotel room coming in full view.

Stomach fluttering, he walked into the room. First thing he smelled was her vanilla perfume. The bed was unmade, pillows thrown. Clothes thrown over the wingback chair near the window. Shoes lined up near the dresser, though the flat ones she wore earlier were near the side table. He took it all in, remembering her hotel room from many years ago.

“I don’t know what else we can talk about, Jacob.”

He turned to her. The door shut with a loud snap. “Do we have to talk?”

Her eyes widened. “What else would we do?”

I have an idea.

Second Chance Romances
by Roe Valentine

What can I say about second chance romances? Well, I think they can be great. I actually know people who were high school sweethearts, broke up when they went to college and ended up happily married years later. I also know a couple who actually both had been married to other people and ended up together in their 40s! In these situations, I think the two people have gone out and experienced life and when they encountered each other again, it just clicked. That said, I think timing plays a big part in love. I have never had a second chance romance, though I’m sure there were times when wondered what happened to an ex. But, sometimes second chance romances are just repeats of the first go ‘round, which might not be so great. Especially when you are reminded why you broke up in the first place. I’m not expert on love, but maybe for a second chance romance to work, one or both of the people involved have to go through some major change. A person who was selfish might have become a parent or someone who is arrogant might have been humbled somehow, etc. All these things change a person, and maybe the change results in being compatible with a past love. So, I think a second chance romance can be the one that lasts a lifetime.

About the Author:

Roe Valentine was born into the right family. Not only does the name Valentine suit her, but her grandmother, unknowingly, introduced the young Ms. Valentine to her first romance novel. She hasnít read anything else since. She calls herself a romantic at heart and believes that love conquerors all.

The San Antonio native, who now lives in Houston, attempted to write her first contemporary romance novel when she was nineteen years old. That attempt didnít take, but her story has a happy ending. She kept pursuing the dream until she landed her first publishing contract. Almost Married is her debut novel.

When not busy writing or reading love stories, Roe can often be found in a yoga class or chatting with friends at her favorite coffee shop. Enjoying margaritas with some girl-talk isnít unusual for her either. For a night in, she watches reruns of her favorite TV shows and, of course, romantic comedies on her Roku, usually with a glass of wine.

Roe Valentine also LOVES talking to readers. You can contact her in the following ways:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website | Email

Win 2 e-copies of Almost Married by Roe Valentine and a $25 Amazon Gift Card

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Blog Tour: Life, A.D.

Title: Life, A.D.

Author: Michelle E. Reed

Genre: Young Adult/Speculative Fiction

Publisher: Month9Books

Publication Date: December 10, 2013

Formats: eBook and print

In Life, A.D. you have two choices: join the program or face the consequences.

Seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly crashes headlong into fate on the side of a rural highway, her life ending in a violent collision of steel and screaming brakes. The train that delivers her newly departed soul to the crossroads of the afterlife won’t be carrying her to the sweet hereafter until she accepts her abrupt end and learns to let go of the life she’ll never finish.

Her new reality is conduct manuals, propaganda, and unrelenting staff, all part of a system to ease her transition from life to death, while helping her earn her way out of limbo. Atman City, beautiful and enticing, is an ever-present temptation that is strictly off limits to underage souls. The promise of adventure proves too strong, and beneath the city’s sheen of ethereal majesty, Dez discovers a world teeming with danger.

Welcome to Life, A.D. where being dead doesn’t mean you’re safe, and the only thing harder than getting out of limbo is getting through it.

     

ABOUT MICHELLE E. REED:

Michelle E. Reed was born in a small Midwestern town, to which she has returned to raise her own family. Her imagination and love of literature were fueled by a childhood of late nights, hidden under the covers and reading by flashlight. She is a passionate adoption advocate who lives in Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their yellow lab, Sully.

 Connect:  Website | Twitter |  Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway 

·        -  Three (3) ebook copies of Life, A.D. by Michelle E. Reed (International)

·         - One (1) signed paperback copy of Life, A.D. by Michelle E. Reed (US only)

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Check out the rest of the tour here: http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-life-a-d-by-michelle-e-reed-presented-by-month9books/