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R&R Book Tours

Package I chose: Package “C” (25+ stops across blogs and Instagram)

Number of hosts: 30+ stops (I don’t know the exact number because there were several bonus tour stops that didn’t require copies of the book)

What I paid: $190 tour cost + $177.54 cost of sending paperback books

Would I recommend them? Absolutely, yes! This tour was so much fun!

My thoughts: This was another favorite! The organizer of this company has a reputation for being engaged and excited about the tours she organizes, and mine was no exception. From my first interaction with her, I felt that she was invested in my tour, and I loved how quickly she pulled everything together, giving the paperbacks plenty of time to reach the hosts. And being able to send ebooks to international hosts was huge for my budget. This tour was the most diverse of all the tours I’ve done, with a mix of blogs, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, spotlights, reviews, and excerpt posts. My book was featured on multiple sites run by the tour, and there were several bonus tour stops from accounts that didn’t require a copy of the book. The energy behind this tour truly made it feel like an event. It was a great deal, and I had a blast seeing everything the hosts came up with.

Things to consider: I had two hosts who received books and didn’t post; however, the tour company did follow up with these accounts, and they were hardly missed with such a great turnout.

Read Brindi Quinn’s Full Article Here

Blog Tour: Go Home, Afton by Brent Jones

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I’m so excited to kick off the tour for the first installment of this unique serial thriller, Go Home, Afton!

Go Home, Afton (Release Date June 25th, 2018)

We all wear masks, and Afton Morrison is no exception.

A small-town librarian with a dark side, Afton, twenty-six, has suppressed violent impulses her entire adult life. Impulses that demand she commit murder.

Blending her urges with reason, Afton stalks a known sexual predator, intending to kill him. But her plan, inspired by true crime and hatched with meticulous care, is interrupted by a mysterious figure from her past. A dangerous man that lurks in the shadows, watching, threatening to turn the huntress into the hunted.

Go Home, Afton is the first of four parts in a new serial thriller by author Brent Jones. Packed with grit and action, The Afton Morrison Series delves into a world of moral ambiguity, delivering audiences an unlikely heroine in the form of a disturbed vigilante murderess.

Add to Goodreads

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My Thoughts…

This is quite the powerhouse for a novella and the perfect hook for a series!

Ahh, the female version of Dexter! A character readers can strangely identify with. After all, she’s a fellow bookworm. A bookworm who lusts for violence but knows what’s right and what’s wrong. So what does she do? She hunts a suspected predator. A monster she knows has committed heinous crimes but hasn’t been convicted. The only problem is that she isn’t the only one hunting.

I’ve been following Brent Jones’ writing for a while now and he has a uniquely gritty style that is perfect for this genre. He’s not afraid to take chances with his characters and that makes for interesting dialogue and fantastic storylines.

I blew through this one in the span of a few hours and I had to read more! I really enjoyed it and if you love serial killer type thrillers, you will love this!

Rating… A+

Excerpt

Parents—stay-at-home moms, mostly—brought in their toddlers once a week so I could read them a story. And I use the word toddlers loosely. Kids as old as six or seven sometimes attended during the summer. And the stories we would read were made up of fewer than fifty words, for the most part. A lot of the mothers in Wakefield were too lazy to read to their own children, I guess.

Oh, and crafts, too. After reading a story together, we’d break out glitter and colored pencils and paste and other nonsense, but that wasn’t the real reason a dozen women turned out with their little monsters each week. Storytime was an excuse for the mothers to gather and gossip. It always took a little while to get the children to settle down, sure. I’d press my finger to my lips and wait. Five or ten seconds at most, although I would have been happy to wait longer. Their mothers, on the other hand, were so much worse. Getting them to shut their fucking traps was a whole separate exercise in endurance.

But as much as I disliked children, there was something magical about them. It was their inability to see gray, I think. Their entire worlds existed in black and white, right and wrong, good and evil. You could see it in their faces as a story unfolded, rife with nervous energy at every inconsequential turn.

“And she just doesn’t know”—I read to the room, pointing to each gigantic word—“should she stay, should she go?”

I caught a boy’s expression, who sat just inches from me. The hippopotamus in our story was faced with a dilemma, and this boy was transfixed. His eyes were wide, his hands were cupped over his mouth, and he was vibrating with anticipation to see what the hippo would do next.

I flipped to the last page. “But yes the hippopotamus.”

The boy relaxed a little, making a deliberate show of letting his shoulders drop. A talented drama queen in the making. He was new to storytime and looked to be about five or six years old. He had dark hair, a tan complexion, and a missing front tooth. He’d attended just once before and he’d sat close that day, as well. I’d never really been big on learning children’s names, to be honest, but I knew his was Neil only because he’d come to the library alone both times. It sounds strange, I’m sure, but having a parent use the library as a free babysitting service happens more often than most people would guess.

I continued on, reading the final words of the story. “But not the armadillo.”

Neil was stressed all over again, and his tiny hand shot up. “Miss Afton?”

“Yes, ah, Neil? What is it, little man?”

“How come not the arma-darma?”

“Armadillo.” A woman in baggy gray sweatpants corrected him from the back of the room. She was a few years older than me, had bleach-blonde hair in a ponytail, and her voice resembled a seagull getting crushed by a car.

I shut the book and set it on my lap. “That’s a good question, Neil.” I bit my lower lip, deciding how much to share. “Well, let’s see. Ah, no one likes armadillos, for starters. They’re bullet-proof, if you can believe it, and ugly as sin. They carry leprosy, too, but they don’t bite children too often.”

The woman at the back of the room—Sweatpants, let’s call her—looked horrified. Her stained teeth chattered and she blinked in rapid succession. She placed her palms over her daughter’s ears, a girl around three or four in age.

Neil scratched his head. “What’s a lepra-she?”

“It’s—”

Sweatpants raised her hand to silence me—not that I minded—and looked to a few of the other mothers in the room for support, most of whom were checked out or occupied with their phones. She looked back at me again, then at her daughter. “It’s when good little boys and girls get ice cream.” That wasn’t how I might have defined the word, however. “You want to stop for ice cream on the way home, Jessi?”

It was hard enough getting these little turds to sit still for all fourteen pages of But Not the Hippopotamus. Why on earth would this woman want to stuff her daughter’s face with sugar before lunch? But the girl jumped up and squealed at the mention of sweets, and soon, other kids joined in, as did their mothers.

I peeked down at Neil to see him cradling his head in his hands, masking a look of disappointment by staring at the floor. It appeared he had forgotten all about armadillos and leprosy and storytime, and now sulked, wishing he had a parent present to take him for ice cream like the other children.

The mothers talked amongst themselves, and their toddlers fed on the elevated energy levels. The room was alive with discourse, and I wondered if the local Dairy Queen might consider paying me a small commission. “Well, that’s it for storytime, boys and girls. Thanks for coming.”

Sweatpants spoke up at the back of the room, the self-elected leader of Wakefield’s fattest and frumpiest. “But it’s only quarter past, Afton. Isn’t storytime supposed to be a full hour?”

“Just figured you were all on your way to get a double-scoop of leprosy.”

“Very funny.”

I raised my hands in a gesture of mock uncertainty. “We’ve got crafts we can do.” I pointed to three short tables covered in plastic, adorned with supplies that Kim had set up for us. “Should we get to it?”

“That won’t take long. Couldn’t you read them another story first?”

Couldn’t I read them another story? It’d been her idea to squeeze out one of these little nightmares. Why was I being punished for it? “Not this week, I’m afraid. Sorry.”

But she just wouldn’t give up. “Afton, do you know where Jessi’s daddy is right now?”

My first thought was that her husband was probably fucking her sister at some roadside motel with hourly rates, bed bugs, and a one-star rating on Trip Advisor. I couldn’t say that out loud, of course, and so I fought like hell to keep a smirk off my face. It helped to keep my sights trained on Jessi, who had sat back down, cross-legged in a checkered dress. She was drawing on the floor with one small finger.

Sweatpants answered her own question. “He’s at work, Afton. And he works hard, by the way, and we pay more than our share of taxes in this town. Taxes that pay your salary.”

Oh, the salary card. How I loved it when disgruntled parents brought up my salary, as if any one of them wanted to trade places with me. Yes, her taxes paid me a small fortune. That’s why I rented a one-bedroom apartment in a triplex. And it’s the same reason I drove a seven-year-old Corolla. I was so grateful—indebted, even—to Sweatpants and her husband that I just couldn’t wait to read another story.

“Sure thing.” I grabbed a second book off the pile next to me. “One more story, coming right up.”

Sweatpants smiled. It was a flat, fake smile, of course, the kind where the mouth curls tight but the eyes are dormant. It was about the best I could have hoped for, and it seemed to have a calming effect on the other mothers. They quieted down, eager to return to their various text message conversations.

I pointed my finger to more jumbo text on a colorful page. A story about an overweight and diabetic caterpillar with impulse control issues, who was always so very very fucking hungry. “In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf . . .”

And I couldn’t help but lose myself in thought. I was that little egg on a leaf, glimmering in the moonlight, and about to hatch. Soon after, the morning would come. And my hunger would be satiated at last, because Kenneth Pritchard would be dead.

Now Available

Amazon | B & N | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

 About the Author

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 From bad checks to bathroom graffiti, Brent Jones has always been drawn to writing. He won a national creative writing competition at the age of fourteen, although he can’t recall what the story was about. Seventeen years later, he gave up his career to pursue creative writing full-time.

Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Brent Jones

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Schedule

June 25th

Reads & Reels (Review) http://www.readsandreels.com

Book Wonderland (Review) https://bookwonderlandweb.wordpress.com/

Down the Rabbit Hole (Review) http://meggydowntherabbithole.wordpress.com/

Touch My Spine Book Reviews (Review) https://touchmyspinebookreviews.com

June 26th

Book Dragon Girl (Review) http://www.bookdragongirl.com

Jessica Rachow (Review) http://jessicarachow.wordpress.com

Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews (Review) https://sinfullywickedbookreviews.com

The Scribblings (Review) https://thescribblingssite.wordpress.com

On the Shelf Reviews (Review) https://ontheshelfreviews.wordpress.com

June 27th

Tranquil Dreams (Review) http://klling.wordpress.com

June 28th

Dash Fan Book Reviews (Review) https://dashfan81.blogspot.com

J Bronder Book Reviews (Review) http://jbronderbookreviews.wordpress.com/

Just 4 My Books (Review) http://www.just4mybooks.wordpress.com

Life at 17 (Review) https://lifeat17.wordpress.com

June 29th

Kim Knight (Review) http://kimknightauthor.wordpress.com

Misty’s Book Space (Review) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

Port Jerricho (Review)  http://www.aislynndmerricksson.com

Errin Krystal (Review) https://errinkrystal.wordpress.com

Blog Tour Organized By:

R&R Button

R&R Book Tours

Blog Tour: My Sweet Friend by H.A. Leuschel @HALeuschel #Review #Excerpt #Giveaway

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R&R Book Tours is so pleased to kick off the tour for this 5 star novella about a toxic friendship, I bet so many of us can relate to!

I really enjoyed this one!

I don’t often read short stories because a lot of the time I am left dissatisfied. It takes a very strong writer to develop a good story with fully fleshed out characters, the complete picture, and an enjoyable conclusion that not only ties up all lose ends, but also leaves you wanting more. But in a good way, not because the story was vague or incomplete.

This author is excellent at delivering these well-written firecrackers that always feel like full-length novels. “My Sweet Friend” is no exception. I highly recommend you give this one a go.

Rating… A+

My Sweet Friend (Release Date: December 6, 2017) 

A stand-alone novella from the author of Manipulated Lives

A perfect friend … or a perfect impostor?

Alexa is an energetic and charismatic professional and the new member of a Parisian PR company where she quickly befriends her colleagues Rosie and Jack. She brings a much-needed breath of fresh air into the office and ambitiously throws herself into her new job and friendships.

But is Alexa all she claims to be?

As her life intertwines with Rosie and Jack’s, they must all decide what separates truth from fiction. Will the stories that unfold unite or divide them? Can first impressions ever be trusted?

In this original novella, H.A. Leuschel evokes the powerful hold of appearances and what a person is prepared to do to keep up the facade. If you like thought-provoking and compelling reads with intriguing characters, My Sweet Friend is for you.

Goodreads

We all make up stories to understand the world around us and our place within. We often believe what we want to believe and consciously or unconsciously interpret what we see and what we hear from a restricted perspective. Furthermore, outer appearances and life’s circumstances equally tend to influence and challenge the story we tell ourselves and others … which in the case of ‘My Sweet Friend’ ends up taking on different versions because – to make matters worse – one of the main protagonists is also a liar. (Helene Leuschel_

Excerpt

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She ended up taking me to her stylist, and a few boutiques to change my classical outfits into more flamboyant and daring ones. She was being so kind and attentive that I wondered whether I could have muddled up the incident.

‘You’re like my mum was when I was a teenager, taking me to shops and make-up displays, thinking she could pep up my looks,’ I said.

‘She didn’t do a very good job, did she?’ She winked, her words leaving a sharp pain of hurt.

‘If you say so,’ I said eventually, my eyes focused on a row of buttons running down a tight fitting red dress. ‘You never mention your family. Visibly, they’ve done a better job.’

‘Oh, my parents,’ she answered dismissively, her tone of voice flat. ‘It’s complicated. We talk from time to time but we don’t have much in common. It’s a shame really, considering I’m their only child, but I don’t care now.’ It was all she ever said.

‘I couldn’t imagine… that’s so sad, Alexa. My mum and I are very close.’

‘Please don’t,’ Alexa said, her eyes lowered and lips twitching as if she were about to cry.

‘Oh, Alexa, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.’ She looked up at me with an empty stare and nodded.

‘Fine. Just don’t mention it again,’ she said coldly, slipping back into the changing room without another word.

Purchase My Sweet Friend Here!

Enter for your chance to win a digital copy (Format of Choice) of My Sweet Friend

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About the Author

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Helene Andrea Leuschel grew up in Belgium where she gained a Licentiate in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She now lives with her husband and two children in Portugal and recently acquired a Master of Philosophy with the OU, deepening her passion for the study of the mind. When she is not writing, Helene works as a freelance journalist and teaches yoga.

Helene Leuschel | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tour Organized By:

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R&R Book Tours

My Sweet Friend by H.A. Leuschel

Blog Tour Schedule

Feb. 19th

Reads & Reels (Feature Promo) http://www.readsandreels.com

Brizzle Lass Books (Excerpt) https://brizzlelassbooks.com

The Repeat Mom (Review) http://Thethreepeatmom.blogspot.com

Sinfully Wicked Reviews (Review) https://sinfullywickedbookreviews.wordpress.com

Nesie’s Place (Review) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Jill’s Book Blog (Review) https://jilljemmett.com

Feb. 20th

Books and Belle (Excerpt) https://booksandbelleblog.wordpress.com

Beware the Reader (Excerpt) http://bewareofthereader.com

Jenacidebybibliophile (Review) https://jenacidebybibliophile.com

Darque Dreamer Reads (Review) https://darquedreamerreads.wordpress.com

Cover to Cover (Excerpt) http://www.liisthinks.wordpress.com

Feb. 21st

Girl Masked (Review) http://girlmasked.wordpress.com

Didi Oviatt (Excerpt) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com

Book Reviews by Shalini (Excerpt) www.bookreviewsbyshalini.wordpress.com

The Starving Book Worm (Review) http://thestarvingbookworm.wordpress.com

Tranquil Dreams (Review) http://klling.wordpress.com

Feb. 22nd

Splashes Into Books (Review) http://splashesintobooks.wordpress.com

Kristin’s Novel Café (Review) https://knovelcafe.wordpress.com

The Bookworm Chronicles (Excerpt) https://www.muretbookworm.wordpress.com

Feb. 23rd

The Orangutan Librarian (Review) https://theorangutanlibrarian.wordpress.com

On the Shelf Book Reviews (Excerpt) https://ontheshelfreviews.wordpress.com

Love Books Group (Review) http://lovebooksgroup.blog

Just 4 My Books (Review) https://just4mybooks.wordpress.com

 

Book Release Blitz & Review: Fender by Brent Jones

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Happy book birthday to author, Brent Jones! Today we celebrate the release of Fender with a blitz and giveaway.

I’m also going to share my review of this book, as Brent was kind enough to gift me with an ARC for my honest opinion. Having read his debut, The Fifteeth of June (Read review on Booknista), I was happy to dig in!

Fender: A Novel (Release Date: August 21, 2017)

How far must we travel to find our way home?

Nothing could have prepared Brennan Glover for the car crash that claimed the lives of his wife and six-year-old daughter. Stricken with grief, the only things that get him through each day are breaking his sobriety and clinging to Fender—the family dog and the sole survivor of the crash.

Desperate to distance Brennan from tragedy, his two closest friends take him on the cross-country road trip they had always talked about. But what begins as an effort to mend his broken heart ends up unraveling a secret that changes everything he thought he knew about his family. Can a journey of six thousand miles lead Brennan to acceptance and new beginnings?

From finding the good in an often cruel world to learning to say goodbye to those we love most, this sophomore release from author Brent Jones is sure to leave readers longing for home, wherever that may be.

Add to Goodreads

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My Thoughts…

Ugh! Break out the tissues cause your going to need them for this one!

Fender is not like other books about tragedy. You know the ones I’m talking about… The ones that paint over the ugliness that is pure, soul-destroying grief, with flowery prose and comforting platitudes. No, this book is as visceral as it should be. The protagonist lost his whole family in one vicious blow and there are no words capable of soothing that kind of grief.

No, this kind of loss violently shoves Brennan off the wagon, his only comfort. That, and his poor dog Fender. Not only is Fender injured in the crash that only he survived, he’s also terribly old. But, he is Brennan’s only tenuous hold on life. (Are you crying yet?)

Brennan’s oldest friends decide to take him on a cross-country road trip to California. They are desperate to help their grief-stricken friend and think removing him from everything will help. Brennan will not leave without his dog, so they all pile in a car (Fender too) and head out.

The road trip in my humble opinion, is depicted in a very realistic way. The author provides an authentic experience of three grown men, all with complicated lives of their own, and their shared history, stuck in a car for hours at a time. There is laughter, tears, foul language, anger, more laughter and eventually, glimmers of hope for Brennan. Signs that maybe he can survive this.

Fender isn’t a pretty story but it’s real, well-written, and evocative. It’s hard to say “I enjoyed it” because of the nature of the story but I will say, that I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. And, God help you if you have a furry family member because this book will rip your guts out!

Seriously though, I can’t recommend this one enough.

Rating… A

Fender is Available on Amazon

About the Author

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From bad checks to bathroom graffiti, Brent Jones has always been drawn to writing. He won a national creative writing competition at the age of fourteen, although he can’t recall what the story was about. Seventeen years later, he gave up his freelance career as a social media manager to pursue creative writing full-time. Fender and The Fifteenth of June are his first two novels.

Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, (sometimes) vegetarian, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex. Subscribe to his newsletter (AuthorBrentJones.com) or follow him on social media (@AuthorBrentJ) for updates.

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