Cover Reveal: Flawless Foundations by Lauren Helms

Cover Reveal for Flawless Foundations
by Lauren Helms

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Super excited to share the cover for FLAWLESS FOUNDATIONS by Lauren Helms, the next book in the second season of 425 Madison Avenue. Check out this awesome cover for this must-read best friend’s sibling romance!

Levi

It's no secret I was born from money. And I'm destined to take over the family business, King Cosmetics when my father retires.

At least that was the plan. 

Until my father decided to impose some stupid rule about being married before I take the reigns. Everything I've worked for hangs in the balance and the future of the company is in jeopardy without a King behind the controls.  

I never considered Becca part of the plan for taking over, but when one kiss leads to so much more, I can't help but wonder if she's the answer to my problem.

Becca

There are two things I love - my beauty blog and Levi King. 

Coming from the same social circle has given me ample opportunity to crush on the next generation of King Cosmetics, but he made it clear a long time ago that I would never be anything more than "like family" to him.

Feeling the need for some serious changes in my life, I start shaking things up. 

It wasn't part of my plan to kiss Levi, but one kiss could never be enough. When that kiss turns into a relationship and I find out that Levi's been keeping a secret, I begin to question if our love affair was too good to be true.

Looks like we're about to find out if we can truly build flawless foundations for the rest of our lives. After all 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

Add to Goodreads! 

About Lauren

Lauren Helms has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. Lauren decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and joined NaNoWrimo and a month later, she had her first draft.

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Blog Tour: Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb...Review & Excerpt

Today I’m spotlighting...

Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb, a February 2020 Harlequin Intrigue release.

Keep reading for more including an excerpt and my review of the book!

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret?

After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family. Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws?

About the author Debra Webb: 

DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra's love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama. Visit Debra at www.DebraWebb.com

EXCERPT:

She shivered. The fire had gone out. She kept on her jacket while she added logs to the fireplace and kindling to get it started. Within a couple of minutes, the fire was going. She’d had a fireplace as a kid, so relearning her way around this one hadn’t been so bad. She went back to the kitchen and turned on the kettle for tea.

Bob growled low in his throat and stared toward the front door.

She froze. Her phone was in her hip pocket. Her gun was still in her waistband at the small of her back. This was something else Marshal Holloway had insisted upon. He’d taught her how to use a handgun. They’d held many target practices right behind this cabin.

A creak beyond the front door warned that someone was on the porch. She eased across the room and went to the special peephole that had been installed. There was one on each side of the cabin, allowing for views all the way around. A man stood on the porch. He was the typical local cowboy. Jeans and boots. Hat in his hands. Big truck in the drive. Just like Marshal Holloway.

But she did not know this man.

“Alice Stewart, if you’re in there, it’s okay for you to open the door. I’m Sheriff Colt Tanner. Branch sent me.”

Her heart thudding, she held perfectly still. Branch would never send someone to her without letting her know first. If for some reason he couldn’t tell her in advance, they had a protocol for these situations.

She reached back, fingers curled about the butt of her weapon. Bob moved stealthily toward the door.

“I know you’re concerned about opening the door to a stranger, but you need to trust me. Branch has been in an accident, and he’s in the hospital undergoing surgery right now. No matter that his injuries were serious, he refused to go into surgery until he spoke to me and I assured him I would look after you, ma’am.”

Worry joined the mixture of fear and dread churning inside her. She hoped Branch wasn’t hurt too badly. He had a wife and a daughter.

She opened her mouth to ask about his condition, but then she snapped it shut. The man at her door had not said the code word.

Look for Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb this month wherever Harlequin Intrigue books are sold!

Title: Witness Protection Widow

Author: Debra Webb

Format: Netgalley ARC

Witness Protection Widow is an entertaining reunion romance filled with suspense.

Allison James is determined to see her evil, murdered husband’s criminal family go down by testifying at trial about their involvement in organized crime. Until that can happen, she’s been placed in witness protection. But shortly before the trial, a car accident injures the U.S. Marshal who has been guarding her requiring her to get a replacement...enter U.S. Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex from when they were younger.

Ali is the last person Jax thought he’d ever see again, especially after she married into the Armone crime family. He is also surprised to find feelings he thought were long gone might still be lingering. As he works to do his job and keep Ali alive to testify, the two grow closer, but relationships can be tough when someone is trying to kill you.

I love reunion romance stories and this is a good one with two likable characters that you want to see find a happy ending together. Although, Ali seems just a tad naive at the beginning in regards to her husband’s criminal activity, I admire her backbone and determination to do what’s right and keep those she cares about safe. And I loved Jax’s protective streak, as well. I also liked the many secondary characters and what they added to the story. Besides the chemistry between the main characters and the fascinating secondary characters, there is also plenty of action and intrigue with an interesting plot making it an entertaining, fast-paced romantic suspense. 

Debra Webb did a great job at making the plot and characters seem believable. This was not my first book by Webb, and it won’t be my last.

*I received a free digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Blog Tour: His Last Ride by Marcie Shumway...Review

Release Tour for HIS LAST RIDE by Marcie Shumway

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From small towns to the big city, Payton and Cody are not the same people they once were. They will need to decide if what is between them is worth fighting for. Can a childhood friendship become so much more? Readers will want to saddle-up with this childhood friends romance from Marcie Shumway. The 425 Madison series is back with season two and HIS LAST RIDE is now live!

Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited 

Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2v4PMHJ

Goodreads ➝ http://bit.ly/2PDPXlr

Cody
She was my childhood friend. The one person outside of my family that I could always count on. Fate drew us apart, but when my life was turned upside down, it brought us back together. And, much like when we were kids, she made it right again.

Payton had a way of soothing more than just the wounds that were skin deep.

There’s one small problem, I’m not sure that I want to be just her friend anymore.

Payton
He was my childhood friend. The one who always accepted me for me.

For years, I didn’t realize my life was missing anything and, then Cody came back into it.

Just like when we were kids, he brought all the pieces back together. He made me feel things I didn’t know I could feel. How can I be his friend when I want so much more?

I won’t be his buckle bunny.

Adjusting to very different lives, Cody and Payton need to decide if what is between them is worth fighting for. From small towns to the big city, they’re not the same people they once were.

Can a childhood friendship become so much more?

Only time will tell.

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love!

Excerpt

Copyright @ Marcie Shumway 2020

“Come on, slowpoke!” I yelled at the brown-haired fifteen-year-old girl following me.

“Your legs are longer than mine, jerk,” she retorted on a huff. “Slow down.”

I turned and checked on her, she was climbing the hill easily behind me. Her face was flush from our run up the lower portion, and her blue eyes sparkling. She looked more relaxed then I’d seen her all summer. Normally, Payton, or Pay as I called her, was as laid back as they came. This summer for some reason when she’d shown up, she’d been different. More reserved.

“If we don’t hurry, we’re going to miss it,” I chided, reaching my hand out for hers. A minute later, we reached the top and plopped down on the large rock. She broke the connection of our hands and sat on hers. I missed it instantly, but let it go. As we’d gotten older, the simple things we used to do together turned a little weird. I wasn’t sure why. We were friends.

She looked up, and when she saw my hand, her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink. I shook it with a ‘take it’ look on my face, with a roll of her eyes, she did intertwining our fingers. I picked up the pace again and brought her along with me.

“I’m going to miss this,” she whispered wistfully, taking in the landscape.

We were sitting at the top of a hill that overlooked some of the pastures on my grandparent’s property. It gave us the perfect view of the mountains and the sunset. On the last day of the summer, we would come up here and sit. We had flashlights in our backpacks for the walk back.

“Me too,” I agreed. “But there is always next summer.”

Payton had been coming to visit her grandmother every summer since she was five. The two of us clicked immediately. Our grandmothers started this tradition of bringing us up here, we continued it on our own when we turned ten. Swearing we didn’t need them to babysit us. Since it was only a mile from one of the barns on our property, they hadn’t argued.

“Right,” she sighed sadly.

“Something you aren’t telling me?”

“Not that I know of,” Pay replied. “Mom is just acting weird when I bring up coming back. Told Gram we would talk about it later.”

My breath caught. The idea of not seeing her made my chest hurt. I counted on summers with Payton. Sure, I had friends in school, but there was something about her. I didn’t have to put on an act. I could just be me with her.

The sunset that night was beyond amazing. Purples, pinks, reds, and oranges swirled together, putting on a show that I’d never forget. When the colors started to fade and the sun started to dip below the mountain in front of us, I felt Pay slide her hand back into mine. I looked over and saw tears leaving trails down her face. Squeezing her hand, I faced forward again and put up a silent prayer; this wouldn’t be the last time we did this.

Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2v4PMHJ

About Marcie

Marcie Shumway is a small-town girl, born and raised in Maine. She resides with her high school sweetheart on a family-owned farm just miles from where she grew up. Her hubby and their four furbabies are her first loves, but they are followed closely by her writing, apple pie, and chocolate.

Marcie started writing short stories in middle school for her classmates to enjoy. They were always love stories with happy endings and spurred her dream of being a published author. Chasing that dream as an adult, she continues to write stories for her readers to love. An avid reader herself, Marcie thrives on the books of her favorite authors and when not writing, can be found curled up in her favorite spot with a good book in hand.

Facebook ➝ https://www.facebook.com/mshumwayauthor
Twitter ➝ https://twitter.com/marcie_shumway
Goodreads ➝ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14764341.Marcie_Shumway
Amazon ➝ https://www.amazon.com/Marcie-Shumway/e/B01MZ6VQM9
Instagram ➝ https://www.instagram.com/marcieshumwayauthor/

Title: His Last Ride

Author: Marcie Shumway

Format: Digital ARC

Life took them separate ways, but childhood friends Cody and Payton somehow reconnect in New York City in the latest entry of the 425 Madison series.

When an injury sidelines bull rider Cody and he makes the move to New York City, the last person he thought he’d run into was his old friend Payton, who has been living in the city working as a veterinarian technician. They may have went their separate ways, but neither forgot the person who gave them some of the best memories from childhood. As the two get to know each other again, things heat up between them and they both realize that their feelings of friendship may run deeper.

His Last Ride is a sweet love story with the relationship between our main characters heating up quickly as they realize the feelings of friendship they had as children and teens could be something more. I love romances where friends fall in love and this one was a good one. However, it was interesting, considering the time they’ve been apart, to watch them so quickly pick up where their friendship left off and slip into the easy familiarity they once shared. You would think the years apart would have made things awkward, but then again I guess they had known each other most of their lives before their separation as teens. In fact, dream-like flashbacks allow you to see their early friendship and just how close Cody and Payton were, which I really appreciated. The couple is clearly perfect for each other, but that doesn’t mean they don’t face some hiccups along the way and I liked how they handled them.

I also have to say it was an interesting setting for a story about a bull rider. I don’t usually think of New York City and cowboy romances or the rodeo, but I liked that it was different. I kind of wished that idea had been explored even more. I also liked how Payton’s profession complemented that whole concept or area of Cody’s life.

Overall, His Last Ride is a fast-paced, entertaining story with likable characters that you want to root for, a romance trope that I personally love (childhood friends falling in love), and a unique concept for its setting. I only wish the story was a little bit longer...but then again that might just be me. It just felt a bit short or a bit rushed sometimes, but other than that I really liked this book and recommend it! Also, this was part of the 425 Madison series, but like all of the others in the series that I have read, it can easily be read as a standalone so don’t worry if you pick it up first.

*I received a free digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.

This season will feature some new authors as well as some of season one's favs. Back for season two is Allie York, Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Aubree Valentine, Lauren Helms, and Katy Ames. Plus a warm welcome to KC Enders, and Marcie Shumway!

Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

Facebook | Newsletter

Check out the Season One and get caught up today! You can read all nine books for FREE with Kindle Unlimited ➝ https://rebrand.ly/425MadisonAmz

This series and all promotional events are brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs. https://www.facebook.com/ForeverWritePR/

Cover Reveal: Sweet On You by KC Enders

We are excited to share the cover for SWEET ON YOU by KC Enders, the next book in the second season of 425 Madison Avenue. Check out this super sweet cover for this must-read return to hometown romance.

Lyla Dupree
Lyla Dupree
She’s a bubbly, sugary sweet pastry chef. Living her best life in the Big Apple. Luxury apartment. Successful patisserie. Everything is great–better than great. It's absolutely perfect.

Raleigh Jacobs
He’s grumbly and growly–and so very out of his element–working on a temporary assignment in NYC. He wants to do his job and get out. Back to the clean air in the mountains near Denver.

Throw them together.
Mix things up.

Turn up the heat and what you get is, quite simply, alarming.

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

Add to Goodreads, this book hits kindles on 2/24!! 

About KC Enders

Karin is a New York Girl living in a Midwest world. A connoisseur of great words, fine bourbon, and strong coffee, she’s married to the love of her life and is mother to two grown men, she is proud to say can cook and clean up after themselves, and always open doors for the ladies (you’re welcome, world).

And when life gets a little too calm, she tends to adopt big old rescue dogs: short on brains, large on personality.

Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub | Pinterest

About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.

This season will feature some new authors as well as some of season one's favs. Back for season two is Allie York, Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Aubree Valentine, Lauren Helms, and Katy Ames. Plus a warm welcome to KC Enders, and Marcie Shumway!

Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

Facebook | Newsletter 

Check out the Season One and get caught up today! You can read all nine books for FREE with Kindle Unlimited ➝ https://rebrand.ly/425MadisonAmz

This series and all promotional events are brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs. https://www.facebook.com/ForeverWritePR/

Blog Tour: Must Love Forever by Leigh Lennon...Review

Must Love Forever
by Leigh Lennon

Powered by Forever Write PR

Bianca checked all the things for a wonderful life off her list, but always longed for something different. Mick knows that not everything is meant to be. When tragedy strikes the two finally have a shot at a second chance at love. Readers will love this friends-to-lovers romance from Leigh Lennon. The 425 Madison series is back with season two and MUST LOVE FOREVER is now live!

Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2NKLBYa

Goodreads ➝ http://bit.ly/MLFLLGR

Bianca
Handsome husband—check.

Beautiful house—check.

Wonderful life...I could never put a check next to this.

Through it all, I longed for a different life. With a man I had called my best friend. A man who is not my husband.

When the unspeakable happens and I’m left alone, its Mick who is there to pick me up.

Mick
Not everything is meant to be.

Watching the woman who owned my heart start a life with someone else - broke me to the core.
But time goes on and I try too.

Until one phone call changes both our lives.

She could have been taken from me forever. Instead, a tragic accident takes away the only man I thought ever made her happy.

When she starts over again, in my city, in my home; sharing slivers of her story with me it's then that I learn not everything is as it appears.

None of this matters though, when I’ve been given a second chance to prove we’re meant to be.

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

Don’t miss Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon from the first season of 425 Madison Ave.

"This book was a total feel-good romance. Gwen and Leo hit it off right from the begging and I really loved how the story is not just about them, their kids, all three of them get a bit of a spotlight and help the story move forward. Even the judge was a great addition to the story." —Amazon Reviewer

Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2PDKQSc

About Leigh 

Leigh Lennon is a mother, veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led to a deep passion. She lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. One could say she loves pretty nails, big earrings, and spiky hair. She can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.

Website ➝ http://bit.ly/2UxaxnT
Facebook ➝ https://bit.ly/2DXBg48
Goodreads ➝ https://bit.ly/2zxFsce
Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2qXQ1yH
BookBub ➝ https://bit.ly/2oZJPp2

Title: Must Love Forever

Author: Leigh Lennon

Format: eARC

While reading More than Forever, I fell in love with Mick and Bia...two childhood friends from different backgrounds who took different paths in life yet reconnect following an unexpected tragedy.

Mick has always been Bia’s protector, but he lost his chance to be more once she got married. However, there are secrets about Bia’s marriage that even he can’t protect her heart from. In order to fully heal, Bia has to face the trauma and secrets so she and Mick can build the relationship that should always have been.

I really cared about Bia and her story is a lot more emotional than I anticipated. Mick is a sweetheart showing patience and kindness as well as a determination to “win the girl” this time around. The understanding and chemistry that can only come from YEARS of knowing someone helps move this relationship along and I enjoyed seeing what the author would reveal to us next about both their pasts and their budding relationship.

Also, while mostly taking place in the same luxury apartment building featured in previous books in the 425 Madison series, More than Forever reads as a stand-alone. You may catch glimpses of previous books’ characters as they drift in and out of our main couple’s life, but you won’t feel completely lost reading this one out of order...something I worry about when reading multi-author, multi-book series. That being said, I still, however, intend to check out some of the other books in the series.

Overall, More than Forever is an emotional and sensual friends-to-lovers story featuring a couple who finally seem headed on the right path.

*I received a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.

This season will feature some new authors as well as some of season one's favs. Back for season two is Allie York, Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Aubree Valentine, Lauren Helms, and Katy Ames. Plus a warm welcome to KC Enders, Jennifer Rebecca, and Marcie Shumway!

Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

Facebook | Newsletter 

Facebook ➝ https://www.facebook.com/425MadisonSeries

Newsletter ➝ http://eepurl.com/gaz8fL

Check out the Season One and get caught up today! You can read all nine books for FREE with Kindle Unlimited ➝ https://rebrand.ly/425MadisonAmz

This series and all promotional events are brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs. https://www.facebook.com/ForeverWritePR/

2020: The Year Jennifer Attempts Reading Challenges...#Pondathon

This year I’ve decided to get myself out of a reading rut and be more active in the reading community. One of those ways is to participate in various reading challenges. Over the next few days, I will share these challenges with you. Some will overlap...in fact, most will, but all will be fun...I hope. Wish me luck and join me if you wish! I’ll need all the encouragement I can get!

Up first... Pondathon!

What is the Pondathon?

The Pondathon is a co-operative and story-driven readathon hosted and run by CW from The Quiet Pond. The aim of the Pondathon is to read books and collect points to protect the friends over at The Quiet Pond from the encroaching malevolent forces that threaten our friends in the forest. Have fun participating in the Pondathon readathon by joining one of five teams, each with a unique way to collect points and signing up! You can also follow the story of the Pondathon as it unfolds, and participants can also complete 'side quests' during the readathon to collect extra points. The readathon takes place from January 24th 2020 to March 7th 2020. More information about the readathon can be found here.

Information about Joining the Pondathon

1. To join the Pondathon, simply sign up anytime between January 18th 2020 to March 5th 2020.
2. Choose a team, create your own animal character for the Pondathon and create a character card!
3. Create a blog post, bookstagram post, booktube video, Twitter thread, or whatever medium you wish, with '#Pondathon' in the title or your tweet. Share the character you have created and your character card!
4. Link back to this post so that others can find this readathon and join in.

Share your updates on your blog/bookstagram/booktube and social media. You are more than welcome to tag @thequietpond or @artfromafriend on Twitter or Instagram in all your updates! We'd love to see all of the beautiful and awesome characters that you create!

My Pond Character

My Pond Character is called Kally, and she's the Reader of ALL of the Books! Kally is a cuddly (and a bit nerdy) Koala who is much more of a lover than a fighter, but she is determined to help protect her new friends and the forest as she’s seen the devastation that comes when malevolent forces attack. She is a member of Team Varian, and has been tasked with reading books to help research ways to help. She hopes to learn how others have battled evil forces or faced challenges in their lives in various worlds and time periods and perhaps that will lead her friends to victory. If that doesn’t work she has her trusty bow and arrows (as long as she doesn’t shoot herself in the foot...again). Kally doesn’t want to fight, but she’ll do anything to help her friends and the forest.

My Team

My (Tentative) Pondathon TBR

[I am only sharing a few books (in no particular order) that I possibly plan to read as I am a mood reader. One of the rules for Team Varian is that we don’t read the same genre twice in a row so you’ll see quite a variety!]

So, wish me luck!

And if this sounds like something you’d like, join us!

Oh, and I’m always open to book suggestions as I’ll be exploring many different genres this year!