Melissa Keir-Small Town Romance Author
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Melissa's Musings

Saying Goodbye is Difficult...

5/24/2023

 
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Saying goodbye is hard, especially at the end of someone’s life. My aunt, Janice wasn’t someone I saw often. She lived clear across the country but she’d always write to me, at least at Christmas. Her cards were filled with a wonderful note telling me about our family history and what was going on in her life. And what a life it was! She was an adventurer like her parents. Janice traveled the world. Because of her visits to Romania and Ukraine, our family was able to learn more about our family tree. She met with other decedents of our common ancestors and brought back not just important information but also photos and stories.

Janice was a closet author. She wrote stories and writeups for her local senior center newsletter, telling stories about her early life. Janice grew up as the oldest of three children in a small Lorain, Ohio neighborhood. If we asked her siblings, they would probably tell tales of her bossiness but also her love of animals. Her looks mirrored her mother’s. She had her same dark hair and mischievous smile. Janice loved her three daughters and grandchildren. She shared photos of them when they were small and proudly spoke of them whenever she’d write or call.

The love of her life, Gregor, enjoyed traveling with her as well as world events and culture. With Gregor’s passing, Janice continued her traveling life with friends, although a little closer to home. She loved traveling with her companions at the senior center, from visits to museums to lunch spots in California.

In recent months her health had declined. She had been receiving treatment for invasive cancer which has spread throughout her body. While her smile remained, she had been forced to give up traveling.

With her passing, she is once more reunited with Gregor and her parents and no longer suffering.
​
We say goodbye but I imagine her free of pain and enjoying her wings. 

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Falling in Love #firstlove #newrelease

5/22/2023

 
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Do you remember your first love? I do. He was my childhood friend. We spent a lot of time together growing up. One day in middle school, my feelings changed and I couldn't stop thinking of him. Tracey was my first love and first kiss. But most of all, he was my friend. Throughout my adult life, Tracey and I would talk or get together and recall those early summer days. 

Author GiGi DeGraham's new book, LUCKY, features an amazing young woman who sees love a little differently. LUCKY is the story of a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who is forced to go to an upper crust prep school but finds a way to fit in. Now available, you can fall in love with LUCKY for yourself!!

Blurb:
Can a girl from Sunset Pines Trailer Park really hack it at Halton Prep? How hard can it be?

Lucky’s life hasn’t been fortunate, despite her name. Not the rich or even middle-class families ever lived in the Sunset Pines Trailer Park but Lucky and her father have love, even if they don’t have much else. Skipping school wasn’t her brightest idea but Lucky never met a rule she didn’t want to break.

Lucky would do anything to keep her father out of jail, but going to Halton Prep for her senior year? Didn’t the judge know kids from the trailer park NEVER step foot into that ‘Richy-Rich’ school? But her choice wasn’t hard. It’s agree to go or her dad spends time behind bars.

Whatever. Lucky will do anything to protect her father. She’ll compromise for his sake, but Halton Prep’s dress code isn’t all Lucky must deal with.

One hot footballer, Whit Graham has claimed Lucky as his and tries his best to become her only guy. Anyone who gets in his way might need a little friendly reminder, even if they are a star cross country athlete. But Hudson Preston isn’t intimidated by the mighty Whit Graham, or his Hellcat Crew. He doesn’t abide by anyone’s stupid bro-code and sets his sights on Lucky.

Two hot guys both want to be her one and only but Lucky’s never seen things the way most people do. Now that she’s on this compromising kick, she’s looking at Whit Graham and Hudson Preston with a new idea in mind.
The question is, would they even consider it? There’s only one way to find out, and it’s—Game On.
 
GiGi DeGraham’s coming of age romance will have readers cheering for the unique heroine, Lucky, who sees the world through the lens of possibility and without labels. A young woman who risks it all for the two guys who are willing to go through the fire of High School and emerge stronger than ever. Whit and Hudson will show Lucky what the true meaning of friendship and love is… as well as just how Lucky she is.

EXCERPT:
Hudson’s phone chimed with a notification. He swiped his screen and saw Whit’s name in his inbox.
 
Whit: Dude, you know I’m dating her, wtf?
Hudson: Congratulations.
 
Hudson smirked as he hit send. God, he was asking for it, but he couldn’t resist the smart-ass reply. Hell, maybe it was time for someone to stand up to the mighty Whit Graham.
 
Whit took Lucky home and got back to his house, he flopped down on his bed and picked up his phone. He sent Hudson a message.
 
Whit: She’s mine.
Hudson: Hardly.
Whit: Back off, man.
Hudson: Not going to happen.
 
Whit gritted his teeth. He looked up at the ceiling of his bedroom. This guy was not going to back off. Then, Whit laughed. Hell, he could almost respect Hudson for that—almost.


Buy Links:
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About the Author:
I stood in line at a gas station waiting for my turn to pay. It was a hot afternoon in April. I had just signed up for a summer class called “Book Bootcamp,” during my undergraduate program. The man in front of me in the long line wore a mechanic’s uniform. He was grease smudged and death gripped a cold, heavy case of Bud in bottles. Someone was buying a bunch of lottery tickets in front of us and we shared a moment of mutual irritation as strangers in lines after work sometimes do.

While the mechanic white-knuckled the cardboard handle, I took him in with the eye of a writer. He tossed a single sucker on top of his beer. After he paid, he let out a relieved sigh, gave me a head nod, then headed outside to his old truck. As I suspected, it started up smoothly, despite its age, and I noticed the waiting passenger. A little ponytail turned and a sucker was placed in her outstretched palm. I stepped up for my turn to pay, and in my mind, a character was born. That’s how I (sort of) met Bud Luck and he became the foundation and unlikely hero of this novel.

I love telling that story about how unexpectedly inspiration can strike, and I loved the challenge of writing Lucky. I hope you will enjoy reading it and I thank you, the reader, for investing your time in my work. I look forward to reading your review and encourage you to leave one. I believe writers and readers are collaborators in a unique relationship with each other. I read, appreciate, and utilize your feedback.

When I’m not writing (which is never), I live, play, and learn in New Orleans. While I do enjoy writing in multiple genres, Romance is my favorite. For fun, I enjoy fixing up old houses. Many of my story ideas develop while sanding and painting or doing yard work. Music also inspires me.

You’ll always find me with an audiobook in my ear. I prefer the outdoors when the weather permits, going on rock or fossil hunts or visiting local rock shops. Otherwise, I’m extremely boring, clacking away at my keyboard until the wee hours. I enjoy wearing funny T-Shirts with sayings like: All my friends are made up or I live in my own worlds. I do believe downtime should be spent on a porch swing in the south with a good book in your hand. 

You can find me on social media:
Email: gigidegraham@gmail.com
Facebook: @GiGiDeGrahamRomance
Twitter: @GigiDegraham
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gigigdegrahamromance
TikTok: @gigidegraham_author
Website: gigigdegraham.weebly.com
 
 

The Importance of Family #newparanormal #comingsoon #coverreveal

5/15/2023

 
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Family means so much to everyone. Whether you had a good family that got along or a bad one, your family set you up for your life. They are the pieces of your genetics but also your foundation. How much do you know about your family? I've been pretty lucky to know a bunch about mine because of family members who did the research. Even with that, we have holes. We are missing stories. I absolutely love that Author Catherine Peace is filling in all the back story for her swan shifters.

TRINA'S SACRIFICE is a compelling read and gives you a chance to check in with the rest of the swan shifters. We met each daughter in her own book but now we get to know the strong woman who birthed them! Preorder Today! Releasing on June 27th in ebook and print!

blurb:
A chieftain’s forsaken daughter….
Trina Huxford knows the old stories: wolf takes swan, wolf kills swan. When her beloved older sister is taken by a wolf, she fears the pattern will play out again, but her father’s inaction stuns her. After all, the tribe needs Margot to seal the alliance between the Kaqtukaq and Whakamanu warriors. If he won’t save her sister, then Trina will. Her only ally? A young warrior whose quiet strength and gentle spirit both soothe and entice her.

​An outcast craving acceptance….

Pou Ngata has spent years battling against his family’s tarnished lineage, so the Tane’s invitation to join him and his chosen warriors in Windsor comes as an honor and a shock. The problem? The bride intended for his cousin is missing, and the Tane has forbidden them to interfere. Refusing means losing any goodwill he’s gained, but Pou can’t stand by. Especially when Trina might be her sister’s replacement.

Two hearts bound by lies….

As Trina and Pou piece together the truth behind Margot’s disappearance, they can only trust each other. Lies and betrayal culminate in a battle that threatens their fledgling relationship. But there are greater dangers than the Windsor wolves, and Pou and Trina will need more than love to survive.
 
How can the truth set them free if it destroys everything they know?


TRINA’S SACRIFICE is the final installment of the Solstice Quartet, but in order to find the answers Ember, Amy and Dia seek, they must go back to the past and find the mystery surrounding their parents’ romance. The story their father shares could shatter the beautiful memories they have of their dead mother and change the way they look at their father. TRINA’S SACRIFICE and the Solstice Quartet is the perfect read for fans of Carrie Ann Ryan’s Wolf shifter series or Elizabeth Briggs’ Zodiac Wolf series. While each story can be read on its own, you will want to grab them all and dive into the unique Maori culture and the mystery that sent the three daughters running for their lives. 


Preorder Links:
AMAZON
KOBO
BN
APPLE

BE SURE TO CATCH UP WITH THE WHOLE SERIES!
NOW AVAILABLE!

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About the Author:
Catherine Peace has been telling stories for as long as she could remember. She often blames two things for her forays into speculative fiction—Syfy (when it was SciFi) channel Sundays with her dad and The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells. She graduated in 2008 from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in English and is still chasing the dream of being super rich and famous, mostly so she can sit around in her PJs all day and write stories.

Catherine currently lives on a farm in South Carolina. E-I-E-I-O.
​

Find Catherine at: 
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Holding on to a Hero #newromance #steamyromance #newrelease

5/8/2023

 
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What do you think about heroes? Policemen, firemen, military? These are guys (and girls) who put themselves on the line in order to protect and serve. I really admire people like that. They are physically fit and have received training above and beyond basics, that allow them to respond instantly. These are things that I am not able to do. But I believe that these guys make great fathers and lovers. Which is why I LOVE Isobel Reed's latest romance- HERO COMPLEX. Her hero is a former military man who will do anything to keep the heroine safe. 

HERO COMPLEX is a part of the Bluestone Series but can be read as a standalone. It's fun that the characters in HERO COMPLEX are ones who show up in the other books. It's like coming home to your hometown and seeing your favorite people. 

HERO COMPLEX is an amazing read. One that will draw you in and keep you riveted. Now Available in ebook and print! Grab a copy for yourself today!!

Blurb:
Fake it till you make it, that’s what they say.
​

And that’s what Ivy was doing. She’d do anything to save her ranch. Anything. Including pretending to be engaged to a handsome, retired Marine to placate her sexist clients. Not that draping herself over Ace was a hardship. It wasn’t. She just wished he could get over his hero complex and stop trying to save her. There were far better ways they could be spending their time.

Sweet, shy, and babbling Ivy had gotten so far under Ace’s skin, he knew he was in trouble. Faking a relationship may have been his idea but he knew deep down he didn’t stand a chance with her in real life. Medically discharged from the military, it wasn’t just internal battle scars he’d been left with, he also had some big ugly ones on his face too. If he couldn’t even look himself in the mirror, no one else ever would be able to either. Especially not the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

Can these two wounded souls turn their fake relationship into a real one?
 
HERO COMPLEX- the third book in the Bluestone Series is a sizzling fake engagement story featuring a scarred Marine and the woman who sees only his big heart. HERO COMPLEX features wide open spaces and ranch life along the lines of Becca Turner’s Cowboys of Oklahoma series and D’Ann Lindun’s sexy Black Mountain books. While it is a part of a series, HERO COMPLEX can be read as a standalone. Don’t miss this captivating and heartfelt romance, pick up your copy today!
 
EXCERPT:
The sun wasn’t even up yet, and Ivy was already having an existential crisis. Even the warm, orange glow from the table lamp did nothing to flatter the reflection staring back at her. One thing was for sure though, no matter how long she looked, nothing was going to change anytime soon. 

Internally she berated herself. She didn’t have time for this. She had chores to do. Horses to feed. And a sexy-as-hell man to try not to humiliate herself in front of. 

“F***ing YouTube.” She huffed under her breath before dragging herself away from the tilt of her floor-length mirror.

Damn you, Pricilla28! I’m not feeling sexy OR confident. What a load of cr*p. 

There was no time for Ivy to wallow in the YouTube star’s betrayal. Or dwell on her poor judgment at trying out a new hair tutorial at stupid o’clock in the morning. Right now, she had things to do. And that meant leaving the confines of her bedroom with her new hairstyle, which was much more male Viking warrior than the sexy, feminine goddess look she was going for.

Damnit all to hell.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Ivy dragged herself and her manly braid downstairs in search of caffeine. Caffeine wouldn’t disappoint her at least. Caffeine was consistent. Reliable. Not at all filled with lies.

With coffee brewed, she was just one sip away from bliss when a loud knock had her cursing again. Back was that funny feeling in her stomach. She knew exactly who was at the door. It had been the same person for the past five days now: Ace. Sweet, kind, thoughtful Ace. Quite possibly the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.

Stop swooning and get it together. 


BUY LINKS:
AMAZON
KOBO
BN
APPLE

Don't Miss the other books in the Bluestone Series

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About the Author:
Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing.
 
https://www.facebook.com/isobelreedbooks
https://www.instagram.com/isobelreedbooks/
https://www.isobelreed.net/
https://www.amazon.com/author/isobelreed
https://www.goodreads.com/Isobel_Reed
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-reed
​

Small Town Ohio- Falling in Love #coverreveal

5/1/2023

 
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I admit it... I'm in love with Ohio. The heartland of the United States, Ohio is filled with rolling hills, rivers, lakes and lush fields. I was born in Ohio and lived in a small town along Lake Erie's coastline until I was 18. It seemed like a perfect childhood. 

Lucky for me, Author Libby Kay has set her Buckeye Falls series in Ohio. I've devoured all her books and now here's another one!! FALLING AGAIN continues her small town romance but this time features the mayor and his wife. These two have appeared in her other books but as side characters. In FALLING AGAIN, they are front and center. FALLING AGAIN releases on June 13th. Grab your copy today!
​
Blurb:
Welcome back to Buckeye Falls, Ohio!
Does this small town mayor have the political savvy to negotiate his way back into his wife’s heart?

From the outside, Mayor Anthony Snyder and his wife Natalie have it all. Adorable children, a lovely home, and a never-ending supply of free food from the local diner. But behind closed doors, this duo struggles to stay connected. The sparkle they show Buckeye Falls has turned a little dull on the home front.

Over the last decade, things became hectic in the Snyder household. Anthony was elected to office, following in his father’s footsteps. Unfortunately, he’s reminded regularly that these are big shoes to fill. Being the best mayor takes a lot of time—time he’s not spending with his family.

Natalie prides herself on being everything to everyone, but the job of a wife hasn’t been smooth sailing. Wrapped up in her own growing business and their kids’ activities, her time with Anthony has dwindled faster than her secret stash of Halloween candy. Natalie longs for quality time with the man she loves, but it never seems to be in the cards.

A chance to visit their family lake house promises a week away from it all, but can these two reconnect when there’s no distractions? Or is it time for these high achievers to admit that love might be the one thing they can’t master?

With a little help from the residents of Buckeye Falls, this power couple will find their way back to happily ever after.
​
Falling Again is the third book in the Buckeye Falls series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone read. Featuring similar marriage conflicts as in Lyssa Kay Adams’ The Bromance Book Club and the small-town romance of Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series, fans will love this second chance love story. After all, who doesn’t deserve to fall in love again?


Falling Again Preorder Links:
AMAZON
KOBO
BN
APPLE

Don't miss the rest of the Buckeye Falls Series!
Available Now!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Writing is a solitary job, and Libby loves to hear from readers. Reach out and review her stories anytime. She’d love to hear from you.
​
Website: https://www.libbykayauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykayauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyKayAuthor/Goodreads: Libby Kay https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19377638.Libby_Kay
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/libby-kay
 

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