Tag: #XpressoTours

Posted in Book Tours

Firelight Days

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Firelight Days
Savannah Pryce
Publication date: August 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When wildfires force an evacuation in her small town, baker and loner Penny Ridgeman seeks refuge at the only place she feels safe – Jack Olsen’s family ranch in Eastern Oregon. For years, Penny has seen Jack as just a friend – even if he is, inconveniently, the most attractive man she knows. But just like you shouldn’t mix-up salt and sugar in a cake, she believes that mixing love and friendship is a recipe for disaster.

Jack has always admired and respected Penny’s need for solitude. And, as the town handyman, builder, and cat-in-a-tree-rescuer, he prides himself on being able to fix and figure out anything. But he can’t understand why Penny holds herself back in her work. He can’t see what’s behind those stubborn, thick walls she keeps up. And he can’t work out, for the life of him, why suddenly he can’t stop thinking about her.

As the days stretch into quiet nights on the ranch, Penny and Jack start to see each other in a new light – one Penny is certain can only lead to getting seriously burned. With the world around them on fire and only each other for company, they find themselves in a whirlwind of emotions neither expected.

As the fire threatens to consume everything, Penny and Jack must decide whether to risk their friendship for something deeper… or will that go up in flames, too?

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Penny had never been in the car with Jack alone for this long. He’d given her rides here and there, of course, a ride home on a rainy day sometimes. But today, the energy felt totally different—of course, they were evacuating. She hadn’t seen him so pensive and on edge since right before he had broken up with Valerie a few years ago. She didn’t like it. She was used to seeing Jack as easily confident, relaxed, and always sure he could take care of anything. And she hadn’t realized until this second how much she’d come to just rely on that, even if they were just friends and saw each other for twenty minutes a day, usually.

He took a long drink from his bottle, relishing the cold washing down his suddenly dry throat. Was it possible that, deep down, maybe she had feelings for him? Was it possible that underneath it all, he actually had feelings for her?
Or was this just what happened to two people who happened to be stuck riding out a natural disaster together?

Penny decided there wasn’t just an elephant in the room between her and Jack. That was too small. It was more like a brontosaurus in the room. No matter how busy she kept herself, nothing distracted her enough from the big, fat, unavoidable presence growing larger and larger in her mind.
Jack.

Author Bio:

Savannah Pryce is a writer hailing from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. FIRELIGHT DAYS is her debut novel.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram


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Posted in Book Tours

Skating and Fake Dating

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Skating and Fake Dating
Ellie Hall
(Love in Maple Falls, ))
Publication date: September 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

I’m pretending to be his stable girlfriend while he plays my successful boyfriend. But now faking feels a lot like falling.

Bailey
I’m a walking contradiction—professional on the job, a hot mess at home, and working my “I’ve got this” smile until my cheeks ache while hiding my hobbies: making maple butter and finding a husband. With my perfect sister’s recent engagement, I’m desperate to avoid Mom’s pitying looks and matchmaking attempts.

Carson
I used to be hockey’s laid-back southern charmer until a crushing rejection from my high school sweetheart transformed me into a workaholic. When I’m unexpectedly traded to a new team, rumors circulate about whether the gentleman wingman lost his edge. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove them wrong.

Bailey
When our worlds collide after a dessert disaster, we come up with a mutually beneficial solution to our respective woes: a fake relationship. The rules are simple: I get a “successful” boyfriend for family events. He gets a “stable” girlfriend for team image. No feelings, no complications, and a definite expiration date.

Carson
But between posing as a couple at the fall festival, midnight maple butter-making sessions, trying to keep our stories straight, and undeniable chemistry, what started as a convenient lie is beginning to feel inconveniently real. As the clock runs down on our arrangement, we’ll have to decide: walk away when the final buzzer sounds, or take a shot at the love neither of us saw coming.

***

Skating and Fake Dating is a heartwarming hockey romcom featuring Bailey and ‘Bama who are perfect for each other in all the most imperfect ways, plus, small-town charm, family shenanigans, and a guaranteed happily ever after sweeter than homemade maple butter blondies.

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you’ll enjoy them best in order.

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“In one simple move—” Waving his hand across the links of the cuffs, my pulse skips and then plummets.

Nothing happens.

A consummate professional, he declares, “That was to show that no ordinary person has the ability to free these people from their bonds. No, it takes a special flick of the—” He motions again, and I expect the handcuffs to drop from our wrists, but they remain fixed, locked.

His smile wavers. My expression morphs into a scowl. Bailey grins as if this is all part of the act and she’s expecting the handcuffs to vanish like the coin from the box.

I know better … or at least, my stomach thinks it does.

The magician tries one more time, but we remain locked together.

“Ah, yes. I must’ve, um, we’ll just take a moment in my stall to—” Turning his back on the crowd, he ushers us inside and then closes the black curtain at our backs.

“Get these off, now,” I say, forgoing my manners and the word sir.

Bailey adds, “Please.”

Sweat dots his forehead. “I don’t know what went wrong. Yes, of course. Let me just find the key. It’s here—” He rifles through a little drawer in a wooden chest.

I glance at Bailey and her shoulders droop slightly. She mouths, I’m sorry.

No, it’s this clown show of a magician who should be sorry.

“Ah ha!” He says, pinching a small key between his fingers.

“Hurry up. We have a wedding to go to.” I belatedly realize I included myself when in reality I’m dropping Bailey off and then going, well, I’m not sure where. She must, though, having arranged my moving plans.

The magician slides the key into the lock, but again, nothing happens. Wrenching it from his fingers, I say, “Let me try.”

Author Bio:

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. 😉 She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter


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Posted in Book Tours

Faking the Pass

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Faking the Pass
Tru Taylor
Publication date: September 5th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Fake marry the smokin’ hot NFL quarterback who dumped me in high school? Hard pass.

…Or it would be, if my Hollywood disaster of an ex-fiancé wasn’t trying to destroy my career—and bankrupt me in the process.

Cue Presley Lowe.
Big-time quarterback. Bigger ego. Even bigger… contract.
The boy who broke my heart, then dared to somehow get even hotter with age.

He says a fake marriage will solve both our problems.
I say he’s lost his mind.

But I’m broke, blacklisted, and backed into a corner.
So now I’m wearing Presley’s ring, taking couple-selfies, and sleeping one wall away from the man who gave me my first heartbreak—and my last good kiss.

I pretend not to notice when he walks around shirtless.
He pretends he doesn’t remember exactly how I like to be kissed.

We’re both lying.
But it’s all temporary. Totally fake.

Right?

So why does every look he gives me scream mine?

And why am I starting to feel like there’s nothing I wouldn’t give to keep hearing him say, my wife?

What happens when your fake husband is also the boy you never got over?

Faking the Pass is a fun and flirty steamy small town romantic comedy ideal for fans of Pippa Grant, Lucy Score, Megan Quinn, Melanie Harlow, Lauren Blakely, and Abby Jiminez.

It’s the perfect next read for readers who love these tropes:

Fake Marriage
NFL Quarterback Hero/ high school ex
First love, second chance
Runaway Bride
One Bed / Forced Proximity
Tight-knit family of football-playing brothers
Swoon-worthy, heartfelt, slow burn romance

Goodreads / Purchase

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EXCERPT:

At first I thought it was another nightmare.

My sleep had been plagued by them thanks to one of the worst days of my life being closely followed by a full bottle of wine and way too many pre-packaged snack cakes.

But then I came to full alertness and realized that no, there actually was an enormous man staring down at me.

And holding a bat.

Heart rocketing around my chest and hands shaking with adrenaline, I flung the covers back and scrambled to the other side of the bed, sliding off it and attempting to flee for my life from my would-be murderer.

Unfortunately, my left foot was still caught up in the blanket.

When I tried to run toward the attached bathroom, it tripped me.

As I fell forward, my forehead hit the door frame with a loud thwak, and I ricocheted back, landing hard on my butt.

There was movement in my peripheral vision as the intruder ran around the end of the bed, reaching me before I even had time to react.

This was it. Not only was I going to die on my un-wedding night, I would look grotesque in my casket with a purple, misshapen forehead and chocolate in my teeth.

“Rosie.”

The deep male voice repeated my name, causing me to look up.

“Rosie, it’s me. Presley Lowe. It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.”

He knelt beside me, removing my palm from my forehead. “Are you okay? Let me see it.”

Was I already dead?

Maybe that blow to the head had been harder than I realized.

But no, angels probably didn’t welcome you to the pearly gates with a baseball bat in hand—at least I hoped not.

“Presley?” I blinked at him several times. “Are you real? Or wait… is this… Hell?”

Of all people to see me at what was perhaps the lowest moment of my entire life, did it really have to be Presley Lowe?

The guy I’d swooned over pretty much every day of high school, who’d finally noticed me in our senior year and had given me the most blissful three weeks of my young life.

The same guy who’d casually ended it and then crushed my soul by referring to me as a “flaky theater freak” in front of all his cool jock friends.

And now I’d gone and proved every word of that label.

Again.

He chuckled. “I’m real, but thanks for the flattering assumption. How’s your head? Any double vision or nausea?”

My hand went back to my face, probing my forehead, which hurt like hell, even though I was apparently not in the underworld.

What was he even doing here?

“Um… no. There’s only one of you,” I said.

I studied Presley’s handsome face, fighting a combination of hangover brain fog and sleep inertia—with a little head trauma thrown in for good measure.

“Why are you here?” I asked. “Did Wilder send you with my luggage?”

His head jerked back, and his mouth quirked in a perplexed expression.

“What? No, I’m here because this is my house, my bedroom. Why are you here?”

The fog cleared entirely as I realized what had happened.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I sputtered. “When Wilder said the house was unoccupied right now and that it was a family property, I thought it was like a vacation place or something. He didn’t tell me you lived here.”

Presley nodded, his own expression clearing. “Wilder let you in.”

“I had surgery a few days ago, and I’ve been staying at my parents’ house,” he explained. “Wilder probably didn’t tell you it was my place because he didn’t want you to worry about anything, and knowing him, he had a good reason for sending you here. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Not… particularly.”

I didn’t want to be in his presence—and look at that ridiculously gorgeous face, which had somehow gotten even more attractive over the years—a minute longer than necessary.

Getting to my feet, I staggered for a moment, trying to get my balance, before I began searching the floor for my belongings.

Presley reached out to steady me, placing a big hand on my shoulder. The warmth of it raised goosebumps all over my body.

“Go slow,” he advised. “You hit your head pretty hard there. In fact, you should probably sit down.”

Mortification heated my skin to scalding when I looked down at his hand on my bare arm and realized all I had on was the fancy bra and panties set I’d worn under my discarded wedding gown.

No wonder Presley was watching me so closely.

Author Bio:

Award-winning romance author Tru Taylor writes small town romance that’s hot and sunny (and a little bit funny.)

She runs on Coke Zero and dark chocolate, lives for lunches with her girlfriends, and drives to the town beach several times a week to watch the sun set over the water.

She loves LOVE and will attempt to turn any show or movie she’s watching into a romance whether it is one or not. Star Wars? A romance. Lord of the Rings? Clearly a romance. The Expendables? Okay, well not even Tru can redeem that one.

When she’s not writing, Tru enjoys watching movies and reading books with happy endings, spending time with her husband and two kids, and sneaking Hershey’s Kisses from the top shelf of the freezer throughout the day. (Top shelf because… two kids. Enough said.)

Tru is the author of the Eastport Bay small town romance series and loves living in a quaint New England town where she’s surrounded every day by the beautiful coastal setting you see brought to life in her books.

Visit her website at trutaylor.com where you can find a complete book list and get a free story! Join her VIP mailing list at https://bit.ly/TruTales for the latest book news, insider info, and fun freebies.

Tru loves to hear from her readers! Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and email her at trutaylor@trutaylor.com

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Bookbub / Newsletter


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Posted in Book Tours

Rekindled Flame

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Rekindled Flame
Ella Braeme
(Burning Hearts, )
Publication date: September 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He swore to protect his town—but guarding his heart is the real challenge.

Volunteer firefighter Shawn Miller thought he had his life figured out in small-town Elken Grove. His print shop pays the bills while his real passion—fighting fires—keeps him connected to the community he loves.

Then his new Captain walks through the station doors: Rebecca “Becks” Schwartz, the woman who walked out of his life nine years ago. Now she’s his superior officer, and someone in the department is determined to drive her away—or worse.

As danger closes in, Shawn must balance protecting Becks with respecting her authority. But when sparks fly hotter than ever between them, he realizes some flames aren’t meant to be extinguished—they’re meant to be stoked.

Get REKINDLED FLAME today and feel the heat of this slow-burn second chance romance!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“There’s something else you should know before you leave.”

Something in the chief’s tone made Shawn sink back into his chair. “Sir?”

“The new captain is a woman,” Washington said carefully, clearly bracing for resistance. “Rebecca Schwartz from the Charlotte Fire Department. Goes by Becks, according to her application. She’ll be arriving Thursday next week for an informal meet-and-greet at Mr. Jones & Husband, then coming by on Saturday to meet the volunteers during training before officially starting on Monday.”

Shawn nodded, unfazed by the gender revelation. “A female captain? That’s fine by—“

But the words died in his throat as the full name registered. The folder slipped from his suddenly numb fingers, papers spilling across the floor. Rebecca Schwartz. The name echoed in his head like the aftershock of an explosion.

“Rebecca Schwartz?” he repeated, his voice sounding distant to his own ears.

Washington’s eyebrows rose slightly at Shawn’s reaction. “You know her?”

Know her? Shawn almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. He’d known her as Becca back then—sweet-faced but determined Becca with her infectious laugh and fierce ambition. He’d known the curve of her smile and the scent of her skin. Known her dreams and fears. Known the sound of her voice first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.

Until he hadn’t.

“We trained together,” he said finally, the understatement of the decade. “At the North Carolina Fire Academy. When I knew her, she went by Becca, not Becks.”

Washington frowned, clearly surprised by this information. “I didn’t connect the dots when reviewing your files.” He leaned forward, suddenly concerned. “Is this going to be a problem?”

Shawn bent to gather the scattered papers, grateful for the chance to hide his expression. Memories he’d buried years ago resurfaced in vivid detail—Becca’s fierce determination during training exercises, her infectious laugh during rare moments of downtime, the devastating fury in her eyes the last time they’d spoken.

“I never want to see your face again, Miller. Keep six feet away from me for the rest of our lives.”

He straightened, clutching the reassembled folder, his knuckles white against the manila paper. “No, sir. No problem at all.”

Author Bio:

Ella Braeme writes steamy small-town romance where protective heroes and the women who capture their hearts find love in the mountains and marshlands of Georgia. Whether her characters are running toward danger or running from their past, they always find their way to happily-ever-after. When she’s not dreaming up new ways for couples to fall headlong into danger (and love), she’s in her garden, supervised by a dog who firmly believes digging holes helps the flowers grow. Her quick, satisfying reads deliver the perfect escape, whether you’re sneaking in a chapter during lunch or staying up way too late to reach that happily-ever-after.

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Posted in Cover Reveals

Dangerous Decisions #CoverReveal

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Dangerous Decisions
Evie Jacobs
Publication date: September 30th 2025
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

They’re chasing the truth straight into each other’s arms.

When CIA agent Angie Liu disobeys orders by looking into the mysterious death of an informant, her investigation leads her to Jamaica. To get out of the U.S. undetected, she must turn to the last man she wants to ask for help–the sexy, one-night stand she ran out on who just happens to be her dead informant’s son.

Nate Hughes wrote his father off as a drug smuggler. But after his dad’s possible murder reveals another side of the story, Nate will stop at nothing to get answers. And when the beautiful woman who bolted from his hotel room shows up at his family airline in need of an unofficial ride to the Caribbean, he’s not about to let her out of his sight.

Angie doesn’t want to fall for the handsome-but-gruff son of a former asset, and Nate wants nothing to do with the organization that may have set his dad up to be murdered. But neither is prepared for the feelings that surface–or how much they’ll need the other to stay alive.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Evie Jacobs is an award-winning author of romantic suspense. She loves grumpy heroes, forced proximity, and a good sex scene. She lives in Colorado with her husband, two cats, and seven bicycles.

For more information about me and my books, please visit my website: eviejacobsuathor.com.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Bookbub


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