Cate Beauman's Bodyguards of LA County Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway

 

I am so excited to have Cate Beauman here at Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway.

Thanks Cate and CBB Book Promotions for allowing me to join your Bodyguards of LA Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Cate!

About FALLING FOR SARAH

Widow Sarah Johnson struggled to pick up the pieces after her life was ripped apart. After two years of grieving, she's found contentment in her thriving business as photographer to Hollywood's A-list and in raising her angel-faced daughter, Kylee... until bodyguard and long-time friend Ethan Cooke changes everything with a searing moonlight kiss.

Sarah's world turns upside down as she struggles with her unexpected attraction to Ethan and the guilt of betraying her husband's memory. But when blue roses and disturbing notes start appearing on her doorstep, she has no choice but to lean on Ethan as he fights to save her from a stalker that won't stop until he has what he prizes most.

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About SAVING SOPHIE

Jewelry designer Sophie Burke has fled Maine for the anonymity of the big city. She’s starting over with a job she tolerates and a grungy motel room she calls home on the wrong side of town, but anything is better than the nightmare she left behind.

Stone McCabe is Ethan Cooke Security’s brooding bad boy more interested in keeping to himself than anything else — until the gorgeous blond with haunted violet eyes catches his attention late one rainy night.

Stone reluctantly gives Sophie a hand only to quickly realize that the shy beauty with the soft voice and pretty smile has something to hide. Tangled up in her secrets, Stone offers Sophie a solution that has the potential to free her from her problems once and for all — or jeopardize both of their lives.

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Excerpt

She pressed her lips to his again, wanting to feel him, needing to give comfort.

Hesitating, he groaned, meeting her demands with fever, diving deep and playing his tongue against hers. He gripped her hips tighter as he nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth. Thunder crashed, and he pushed her away. “Damn it, Sarah.”

Confused, frustrated, vibrating with need, she advanced on him again. “Why are you angry? I want to kiss you. I want you to kiss me.”

“No.” He paced away and back to stand in front of her. “This isn’t going to happen. We’re friends, only friends. I’m not interested in anything more.”

Flashes of the night at the resort ran through her mind. And the way he kissed her just now told her a different story. “I don’t believe that. You’re the one who changed things in the first place.”

“Well, now I’m changing them back.”

Holding his impenetrable gaze, she scoffed and walked to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She moved to the sink, watching the rain pour through the reflection in the mirror as lightning brightened the sky. Shaking her head, she rested her hands on the countertop and closed her eyes. Was she wrong? It had been so long since she‘d dated. She had no idea how to play the game, but this wasn’t a game. She wanted Ethan, but he said he didn’t want her. She sighed out a weary breath, trying to figure her way through his mixed signals. Her instincts, although rusty, told her he did want her back, so why was he doing this?

“I don’t know,” she said in despair as she turned on the water and took a cloth from the ornate silver rack. She dampened the soft fabric, glancing in the mirror again, and froze, staring at a man’s tuxedoed silhouette filling the window behind her as he held a blue rose in his hand.

Her breath rushed in and out as she tried to scream, but the strangled sound wouldn’t leave her throat. Whirling, she staggered to the door, struggling with the handle, never taking her eyes from the man’s.

In the next spark of light, he slammed a paper up against the window, the crack of his gloved hand against the glass echoing like a gun blast.

She made out the words “Now Bitch” before the red marker ran like blood in the rain as she frantically yanked at the knob.

“Sarah.” Ethan struggled with the door as she finally freed the lock. “Sarah.” He whipped it open, and she fell against him, trying to catch her breath.

He pulled her closer, wrapping a protective arm around her. “What’s wrong? What is it?”

“He — He’s out there.” Her whole body trembled as she pointed to the window, but there was no one there. “He’s wearing a mask. It was him. I know it was him.” She gasped for air, clutching at his jacket. “Get me out of here, Ethan. I can’t be here anymore.” Her legs buckled as she tried to flee.

He picked her up and brought her to the library, sitting down with her in a chair. “You’re okay. It’s all right. I’m right here,” he murmured while he gripped her tight as she curled against him and clung.

It was too dark, too quiet as her ragged breathing and the rain pounding on the roof filled the room. She needed people and bright light. Her eyes darted from window to window, certain the man was still watching. “He’s still here. I can feel it. He’s laughing while he watches me.”

“He won’t touch you.” Rage edged his voice as he lifted her and hurried up a flight of stairs. “We’ll go in here.” He brought her to an office and set her on a couch in the dark, closing the curtains before he turned on a light.

Blinking rapidly, she looked up as Ethan pulled his phone from the leather holder on his belt and made a call.

“Tucker, it’s Ethan Cooke. I have Sarah with me at my parents’ house. He was here.” 

About the Author

International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards.Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the eleventh novel in her popular Bodyguards series. For information on Cate's new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td

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GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Ends August 3rd

Prizing is provided by the authors, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

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Ellie Alexander's Caught Bread Handed Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Guest Post and Giveaway

 

I am so excited to have Ellie Alexander here at Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Guest Post and Giveaway.

Thanks Ellie and CBB Book Promotions for allowing me to join your Caught Bread Handed Tour!

Please take it away, Ellie!

About the Book

Welcome to Torte — a friendly, small-town family bakeshop where the oven is heating up as high as the body count.

Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary especially when murder is thrown into the mix.

When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows that there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town, and tracking the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos, who is pleading — with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent — for Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start and risk getting burned?

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Excerpt

I sighed and brushed flour from my hands. Perfectly round balls of bread dough lined the island. I placed them in greased bread pans, covered them with thin dishtowels and placed them on the industrial steel rack near the oven to rise. The heat emanating from the oven would give the yeast a boost.

Sundays tend to be a later start for our regular customers. Unlike the early morning weekday rush, our busiest hours on Sunday are around brunch. Locals come in for a late morning coffee and pastry with the Sunday paper. I wanted to make something hearty and comforting to serve this morning, and I knew just the thing.

On cold winter mornings, my dad would bake a creamy potato casserole. With the bread rising, I gathered all the items I needed to recreate his casserole, with my own spin. I started by scrubbing russet potatoes. Once they were cleaned I pricked holes in them with a fork and dropped them into a pot of boiling water. They would boil until tender.

Next I chopped yellow onions and sautéed them in butter. I heated cans of creamed of chicken soup with our homemade chicken stock, and added the onions and butter to the milky mixture. I let that simmer for a few minutes while I checked on my rising bread dough.

The round balls had stretched in the bread pans. I poked each one with my finger. The dough sprang back with every touch. My bread was ready to bake. I slid the pans into the oven, set the timer, and returned to my casserole.

Steam funneled from the pot of boiling potatoes. It reminded me of the fog outside. I turned the heat off and drained the potatoes. Once they had cooled I would peel and grate them. The kitchen windows began to drip with sweat and the smell of bread baking made me smile. This is how Sunday mornings should start.

I grabbed a cup of coffee and a block of sharp cheddar cheese and two pints of sour cream from the refrigerator. This casserole was not low in fat or milk products, but if it turned out the way I remembered, it would be a savory and creamy accompaniment to our sweeter offerings.

The coffee wasn’t quite as strong as the pot I brewed at home. I used a breakfast blend. It’s a customer favorite—a light roast with a bright finish.

I sipped it as I began peeling the potato skins. I shredded them into a large plastic bowl in the sink. Mom uses most of our fruit and vegetable waste for her garden at home. She takes home the plastic bowl every night and dumps it into her composting bin. As Torte’s menu continues to expand, her garden might have to as well.

After the potatoes had been skinned, I grated them and the cheddar cheese into another bowl. Then I poured the soup mixture over the top. I incorporated the cheese, soup and potatoes and added both pints of sour cream, a handful of chopped fresh chives, and sprinkled in pepper and salt. The dish smelled exactly like I remembered it.

I poured the potatoes into two ceramic casserole pans and slid them in the oven with the bread. When Sterling arrived, I would have him fry some thick-cut bacon and breakfast sausage links to serve with the casserole.

My mouth watered as the cheesy potatoes began to bubble in the oven. The timer beeped to alert me that the bread was done. I pulled on oven mitts and removed the loaves of bread. They had nice golden crusts and had risen a few inches over the top each pan. 

About the Author

Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

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GIVEAWAY

Signed copies of all 4 books in the Bakeshop Mysteries, Cupcake tea towel and pot holder, Love cake topper, Bakeshop page flags, Assortment of gourmet lemonade and Triple Chocolate Chunk cookie mix.

US only.

Ends July 20th

Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.