Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: Breakup Boot Camp by Beth Merlin

Book info:
Title:   Breakup Boot Camp
Author:  Beth Merlin
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: October 8th 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Source:  E-galley from Xpresso Tours which did not influence my opinion
My rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis:

“Merlin gives off Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin vibes only with an execution of plots that is all her own….Beth Merlin is totally going to grow in popularity. I’m calling it.” – Book and Broadway

After weeks of training to whip Joanna Kitt into shape for her big day, her picture-perfect engagement to her high school sweetheart is torn in two, and Joanna is left out on her perfectly toned rear end. To put the past and her heartache behind her, she sets off for two weeks at the renowned Retreat House Breakup Boot Camp in Topsail Island off the coast of North Carolina.

Despite her sadness, Joanna throws herself into the experience hoping surfing, yoga, spa treatments, meditation, and talk therapy will be enough to help her get over the one man she’s ever loved. But she soon learns the Boot Camp is only the first step to healing her broken heart. Joanna will have to come to terms with the career she abandoned, the losses in her life she never fully accepted, and the role she played in the ending of her relationship. .

When she meets Todd Aldrich, the handsome and mysterious hotel chef, she has the chance to take her renewed heart out for a test drive and see if she is ready for new beginnings and new love.

Will 12 steps be enough to get her life back on track? Or will her getaway to get over him prove healing the heart takes a whole lot more?

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My Review:
I really enjoyed the other books I read by this author, the Campfire series which started with One S'more Summer, so I was very excited to read this one.   It was a pretty good story overall.  I liked a lot of the things that she learned to do to help out with her feelings at the Breakup Boot Camp.  There were definitely some things that can be applied to real life for any time you're feeling down.  I also loved having a connection back to the characters from the earlier series that I love, that was fun.  Todd, the new love interest, was also pretty sweet sounding, and definitely had a smoulder about him with being able to cook and surf, etc.  I also thought the whole pirate's treasure bit was fun and made for a very sweet twist at the end.  I'd say it's another sweet story from an author I enjoy.

Author Bio:

Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.

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Author Interview with Giveaway: Passion Punch (Key West Escape #3) by Tricia Leedom

Book info:
Title:  Passion Punch
Author:  Tricia Leedom
Series:  Key West Escape #3
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: October 22nd 2019
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Romance

Synopsis:

When April Linus’ best friends find themselves in trouble with the Miami Mafia, the former heiress turns to an even more dangerous criminal for help… her father.

Not an easy decision for the young, single mother who found herself pregnant at nineteen and forced to choose between her trust fund and having a baby. April’s father agrees to loan her the money, if she moves home for a few months so he can get to know his grandchild. Before she can decide what to do, she comes face to face with the last man she ever expected to see again… her father’s former bodyguard who disappeared five years ago after she slept with him.

Black Ops operative Jonas Ostergaard made a nearly fatal mistake the last time he was in Key West. After working his way into Philip Linus’ circle of trust, Jonas let the Arms Dealer’s beautiful, kindhearted daughter distract him from his mission. He was yanked off the job by his superiors, but now he’s back to stop Linus from selling a dangerous new technology on the black market.

Needing to prove himself to save his job, Jonas is determined to keep his distance from April this time. But when he suspects she knows more about her father’s illegal business dealings than she admits, he’s torn between protecting her and uncovering the truth.

Passion ignites when April and Jonas end up on the run dodging arms dealers in the steamy Amazon rainforest, but April wonders what kind of relationship she could have with a man who has more secrets than she does. A man who could disappear at any moment and leave her heart in tatters.

Trapped between loyalty to her father and a new allegiance with the man she’s falling in love with, April realizes none of it will matter if they don’t escape the jungle alive.

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Author Interview:

1.  What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start?  Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?  

I’m a loose plotter in that I sketch out the plot, listing the major plot points, usually on my computer, but I don’t go into great detail. Next, I do some character sketches, again on my computer. Finally, I think about the chapter I’m going to write and flesh out the details a little bit more – sometimes in my head, sometimes on the computer, or in a notebook – before I start writing. If the characters speak to me along the way and want to go in a different direction, I let them take me there. They are usually smarter than I am, so I’ve learned to trust them.

2. Do you edit as you go, or wait till you're finished before you edit?  How many times would you say you go over it yourself before having another set of eyes look it over? 

I’ve learned not to edit as I go when I’m writing the first draft, because it slows me down. Whenever I’m tempted to look back, I quote Dory and tell myself “Just keep swimming.” After the first draft, I may go back and tweak a few things (like the love scenes) before I send the book to my content editor. She sends it back with notes and then I start my second round of revisions. In this round, I color in the details, deepen the characters and story, and polish the dialogue. In the third and final round of revisions, I make sure the plot makes sense, and I smooth out any remaining bumps. Finally, the book will go to the line editor to check for grammar and spelling mistakes/typos. I’ll get the book back one last time to make the final corrections before the book is published.

3.  Are you part of a writer’s group that gets together and helps each other with their writing?

I’m in a small writer’s group with two of my writer friends from grad school. We use Instant Messenger on Facebook to check in with each other and report our progress. It helps to maintain accountability on a day to day basis. We sometimes bounce ideas off of one another or are just there to provide moral support and encouragement.

4.  What tips do you have for aspiring writers?

I have a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in writing, but I still continue to take craft workshops and read books on writing, because there is always room to grow and improve my craft. My advice would be to take a writing workshop and read some books on writing. And excellent one to start with is a classic that is relevant for all genres: “Goal, Motivation, and Conflict,” by Debra Dixon. Also, read voraciously in your genre. It will make you a stronger writer.

One way to find writing workshops is by joining a reputable writing organization like The Romance Writers of America. Not only does the RWA offer excelling online workshops, which will help you regardless of your genre, they also have local groups that meet monthly and an annual conference jam-packed with workshops given by popular authors, editors, and agents. Writers of all levels are welcome to attend.

5.   What are your favorite:

Books/authors/genres - Diana Gabaldon, Karen Robards, JR Ward, Julia Quinn, Judith McNaught, and Johanna Lindsay are some of my favorite authors. Romantic Suspense and Historical Romance are my two favorite genres.

Movies/TV Shows - I’m a huge Outlander fan. I’ve been a fan for many many years, so I was thrilled when the TV series came out. I also enjoy watching The Voice and various sitcoms like The Good Place and Modern Family.

Music - I have an eclectic taste in music, but I’ve adored Queen since I was maybe 9 or 10.

Food/Writing snack – Coffee. That’s a food group, right?

Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I hope you enjoy Passion Punch (Book 3 in The Key West Escape Series.)

~ Tricia Leedom

Author Bio:

TRICIA LEEDOM enjoys traveling to exotic destinations and having torrid love affairs with hot, dangerous men… even if it’s only in her own mind. When she’s not writing romantic adventure novels, she reads voraciously, tweets compulsively, and fangirls over a TV show based on her favorite book series. Tricia earned her BA in Creative Writing from The University of Tampa and her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her favorite authors include Diana Gabaldon, J.R. Ward, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Karen Robards, and Johanna Lindsey. She lives in Southwest Florida with two very spoiled dogs. Follow Tricia on Twitter and Instagram @tricialeedom

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Cover Reveal with Giveaway: Breakup Boot Camp by Beth Merlin

Book info:
Title:  Breakup Boot Camp
Author:  Beth Merlin
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: October 8th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis:

After weeks of training to whip Joanna Kitt into shape for her big day, her picture-perfect relationship is torn in two and Joanna is left out on her perfectly toned rear end. In an effort to put the past and her heartache behind her, she gears up for a whole different kind of boot camp – but will 12 steps be enough to get her life back on track?

Or will her getaway to get over him prove healing the heart takes a whole lot more?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.

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Blog Tour Author Interview with Giveaway: Rekindled (A Circuit Fae NEMESIS Prequel Novel #3.5) by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge

Book info:
Title:  Rekindled
Author:  Genevieve Iseult Eldredge
Series:  A Circuit Fae NEMESIS Prequel Novella #3.5
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: March 26th, 2019
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

“If you like reading about the fae, other realms and watching two bada** chicks fight then you will love this series! – The Avid Reader

It’s good to be queen. Except when it’s a total disaster.

Syl Skye, newly crowned Queen of Fair Faerie, would be psyched to be the ruler of her Summer realm, except for two things.

First, her girlfriend Rouen Rivoche became Queen of Dark Faerie, the Winter realm. That would be great except the Winter realm’s always been at war with Summer. By tradition, that makes Rouen Syl’s mortal enemy. That said, love can break past old hatred, right? Especially with a new foe about to attack them both.

Ah, no.

Which brings us to Syl’s second problem. Rouen’s under a dark spell and doesn’t remember Syl, their lives, their love. Worse, if Syl doesn’t break the spell by the next new moon, Rouen will forget her forever.

“Fast paced, full of action, never a moment of bore! Strongly recommended!” – Annarella, Goodreads

To defeat their foe, it’ll take two soul-bound queens whose hearts and minds act as one. Trouble is, no one has ever broken the dark spell Rouen suffers from.

Good thing Syl isn’t the type of queen who gives up easily.

Don’t miss Syl and Roue’s adventures in REKINDLED, the new prequel novella to NEMESIS, Book 4 of the Circuit Fae

Don’t miss out!

Perfect for readers of romance, urban fantasy, fairy stories and LGBT.

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Author Interview:

1.  What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start?  Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?  

I’m a big plotter. The first thing I do is what I call a “treatment.” That’s where I open a blank doc and just type in anything that comes to mind about the book/series, whether it’s concepts, titles, character names, visual, snippets of dialogue, anything. Then I organize it and draft an outline. I write from the outline, but often, the characters take me in different directions as they work through the conflict. I let that happen when I can. The sweet spot for me is to be a plotter with pantser tendencies. 

2. Do you edit as you go, or wait till you're finished before you edit?  How many times would you say you go over it yourself before having another set of eyes look it over? 

First draft all the way! Once I’ve got my outline, I write the first draft from beginning to end, even when I’m struggling. I let it be messy, crappy, and incomplete, as long as there’s a discernable beginning, middle, and ending. I take notes along the way. A lot of trial and error has taught me that it’s much easier to edit something I’ve already written than a blank page. After the first draft is done, I grab my notes and it’s back to my outline. I don’t show it to anyone until I’m about three drafts in. 

3.  Are you part of a writers group that gets together and helps each other with their writing?

 I just started with one, and I realize how much I’ve missed it. We get together once a month, critique one another’s work, and talk shop. It’s very recharging. I can’t recommend a good critique group enough!

4.  How important are names in your books?  Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds, or the meaning?  Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend? 

 Oh, great question! In CIRCUIT FAE, you can tell who the secret Fae are because they all have alliterative names: Syl Skye, Rouen Rivoche, Jessamine Jardin, etc. Readers are smart, and I wanted a way to drop some hints about who is and isn’t Fae. Also, the Go-Go’s are my fave retro 80s band, so in DERAILED, all of Syl’s old squad is named after the members of the Go-Go’s.

I love putting little Easter eggs like that in CIRCUIT FAE. There are more, too. J

5.   What are your favorite:

Books/authors/genres

Books (in no particular order): Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Wizard of the Pigeons by Meghan Lindholm, Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin

Authors: Sarah Waters, Leigh Bardugo, Zoraida Cordova, Laini Taylor, Effie Calvin

Genres: I love everything, but I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to read much horror.

Movies/TV Shows

Movies: Sucker Punch, Frozen, Alice in Wonderland (2010), Captain Marvel, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Pan’s Labyrinth, the Dark Crystal, Crimson Peak

TV: She-Ra, the Runaways, Shadowhunters, Wentworth, Xena, also I’m a sucker for shows like The Voice and the Titan Games. I love seeing people do awesome things and shoot for their dreams.

Music

Demi Lovato, Throwing Muses, Lady Gaga, Belly, Wolf Alice,

Food/Writing snack

Popcorn or Popeye’s fried chicken

 
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Author Bio:

Raised by witches and dragons in the northern wilds, GIE writes angsty urban fantasy YA romance–where girls who are mortal enemies kick butt, take names, and fall in love against all odds.

She enjoys long hikes in the woods (where better to find the fair folk?), believing in fairies (in fact, she’s clapping right now), dancing with dark elves (always wear your best shoes), being a self-rescuing princess (hello, black belt!), and writing diverse books about teenage girls finding love, romance, and their own inner power.

She might be planning high tea at the Fae Court right now.

GIE is multi-published, and in her role as an editor has helped hundreds of authors make their dream of being published a reality.

The Circuit Fae series
Derailed – A Moribund Prequel Novella

Moribund eSampler (FREE)
Moribund
Ouroboros

Dethroned

Inimical

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Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: Love You S'more (The Campfire Series #3) by Beth Merlin

Book info:
Title: Love You S’more
Author:  Beth Merlin
Series: The Campfire Series #3
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: September 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary
Source:  E-galley from Xpresso Tours which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:

Having successfully designed the wedding gown of the century, Gigi Goldstein is on top of the world – that is until it all suddenly comes crashing down around her. When the paparazzi captures her and Perry Gillman in a compromising moment the night of the royal wedding, she finds herself entangled in a scandal of global proportion. Convinced her carelessness has ruined every relationship in her life, she’s surprised and moved by her boyfriend, Gideon’s, sudden proposal of marriage and accepts it without a second thought.

Four months later, Gigi’s living at Badgley Hall contemplating an entirely new kind of life, while guilt, regret, and obligation keep calling her back to her old one. Will Gigi stay in South Gloucestershire, marry Gideon, and become the Countess of Harronsby?

Or, will unfinished opportunities and an old flame bring her back across the pond to confront her past and reclaim her future?

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My Review:

You should probably read my review of book 2, S'more to Lose, before you go on with this review, because I can't promise not to spoil anything.  Before I go any farther, I will tell you that I really, really, really liked this one though!  If you haven't started the series at all, maybe you want to go back to my review of book 1, One S'more Summer.    Okay, you've been warned, don't go on!  I'll try not to do many spoilers for this book, but like I said, can't promise for the first two.

So, the 2nd book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, and so I wasn't quite sure where exactly we'd end up starting this 3rd book.  I wasn't necessarily happy to see that Gigi and Gideon had decided to make it work.  That she wasn't going to try with Perry, because I really like Perry.  But things unfold the way you would expect, and soon Gigi knows that her life with Gideon probably wouldn't give her the chance to realize her dreams in fashion.  So when a chance to go work with a big fashion show in NYC comes up, at the same time she must go back to fulfill a final obligation for her reality tv show contract, things really start to switch up.  Of course she'll run into Perry. And of course, she'll have to go see his amazingly successful Broadway show, Elizabeth.  Perry even sets up a very special, personal showing of his play for Gigi.  

In this book Gigi has to figure out where exactly she wants to go with her fashion designing future.  She also gets a visit with a blast from the past, her ex, Joshua.  And when it even starts to stray towards maybe he might be interested in her, I know that I was still all about being team Perry.  I finished this book smiling, loving how the author wrapped everything up.  This is a sweet little romance series, one that I think needs much more recognition and attention than it gets!

 

Author Bio:

Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.

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Cover Reveal: Love You S'more (The Campfire Series #3) by Beth Merlin

Book info:
Title:  Love You S’more
Author:  Beth Merlin
Series: The Campfire Series #3
Published by: Firefly Hill Press
Publication date: August 21st, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:

Having successfully designed the wedding gown of the century, Gigi Goldstein is on top of the world – that is until it all suddenly comes crashing down around her. When the paparazzi captures her and Perry Gillman in a compromising moment the night of the royal wedding, she finds herself entangled in a scandal of global proportion. Convinced her carelessness has ruined every relationship in her life, she’s surprised and moved by her boyfriend, Gideon’s, sudden proposal of marriage and accepts it without a second thought.

Four months later, Gigi’s living at Badgley Hall contemplating an entirely new kind of life, while guilt, regret, and obligation keep calling her back to her old one. Will Gigi stay in South Gloucestershire, marry Gideon, and become the Countess of Harronsby?
Or, will unfinished opportunities and an old flame bring her back across the pond to confront her past and reclaim her future?

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Previous books in the series:

Author Bio:

Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.

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