Showing posts with label coming of age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coming of age. Show all posts

Monday, October 9, 2023

Spotlight-Excerpt & Giveaway: THE BASTARD PRINCE OF VERSAILLES by Will Bashor

The Bastard Prince of Versailles: A Novel Inspired by True Events

by  Will Bashor

Publisher: Diderot Press

Cover Artist: Will Bashor

Release Date:  September 6, 2023

Genre: Historical gay fiction

Tropes: Forbidden love, friends to lovers, coming of age

Themes: Love, war, redemption 

Heat Rating: 2 flames    

Length:  95 000 words/ 330 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK  |  B&N  |  Kobo

In The Bastard Prince of Versailles, a factually based historical novel, a disowned gay prince struggles to redeem himself through heroism and self-sacrifice at war in 17th century France. 

Blurb

Author Will Bashor portrays the intrigues of the 17th-century French court with fantastic detail and a passion for atmosphere, filling every page with rivalries, betrayals, and political maneuvering. The character of Louis is sensitively drawn, and readers witness his struggles with identity, love, and the demands of royal life. The Chevalier de Lorraine's manipulation and the gay society subplot add depth to the narrative, highlighting the complexities of sexual identity and society's prejudices of the time. As Louis is exiled and later given a chance at redemption through military service, the novel delves into themes of heroism and self-sacrifice with some deeply compelling emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings and help us relate to human beings from centuries ago on a modern personal level. Overall, The Bastard Prince of Versailles is a compelling historical novel that not only entertains but also educates about a lesser-known aspect of French history, and I would not hesitate to recommend it. 5 Stars.

Readers' Favorite - K.C. Finn

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

Château of Versailles, October 1682

The gathering of nobles and courtiers in the marble-tiled courtyard gasped when fifteen-year-old Count Louis of Vermandois collapsed after the final blow of the whip, his body dangling from the ladder’s frame. King Louis XIV, his expression grim, raised his hand to end the spectacle and motioned for his son’s lifeless body to be carried away.

Hours later, in a dungeon cell reeking of rat urine and pipe smoke, Count Louis woke up on a cot with vermin-infested straw prickling his bare stomach. Despite the sounds of vicious dogs growling and drunken jailers cursing in the corridors, his mind wandered back to his idyllic youth, trying to understand how he ever ended up in a dank, dark prison cell.

CHAPTER ONE: The Dance of Faeries

Château of Sceaux, January 1674

In a peaceful country château, far from the constant intrigue of infidelity and adultery that tarnished the Palace of Versailles, lived a young prince who, despite all that he’d ever been told, was not a true prince. Even though his father, King Louis XIV, had named him Louis de Bourbon and ennobled him under the titles of Count of Vermandois and Admiral of France, he was still not a true prince. Not yet.

From his chambers on the second floor, seven-year-old Louis gazed out of one of his two large windows encased with leaded panes and carved wood, overlooking an imposing courtyard. The enchanted château and its seven pavilions were linked by ornate galleries with gardens, a basin showered with waterfalls, and a grand canal flanked with trellises of greenery. The view always offered Louis a sense of harmony and serenity.

But today was different. His foxlike, deep brown chestnut eyes were wider than usual as he waited anxiously at the window for the first of the royal coaches to appear. His mother, Duchess de La Vallière, and the king rarely visited but were expected to pay a visit to Sceaux on this twenty-eighth day of January. Even though the king had legitimized him and his sister, Mademoiselle Marie-Anne de Blois, at an early age, recognizing them as his natural children, Louis never understood why they didn’t live at Versailles. Still, he dreamt of one day living at the fairy-tale palace and maybe even inheriting the crown. What he was too young to understand, however, was that a decree of legitimization only ensured him a certain number of limited rights.

Louis’ foster family, the Colberts, also chose this visit for a special event—his breeching. Like most princes before the age of seven, Louis had grown up in the company of women, and as such, court tradition required him to wear a girl’s gown. Until today. Today, the valets in his chambers were meticulously laying out his crisply pressed chemise with ruffles, embroidered breeches, and silk stockings in preparation for his rite de passage.

When Madame Colbert entered Louis’ room to check on their progress, Louis, after wiping the foggy window with his sleeve, looked up at her with an innocent smile. He knew there was something in his brown eyes that could melt any woman’s heart. He’d often admired himself in the mirror and his eyes offered him a sense of solitude. Or was it loneliness? With his parents living at Versailles, and the beautiful and graceful eight-year-old Marie-Anne caring little for her younger brother at Sceaux, he often felt quite alone.

Madame Colbert ran her fingers through Louis’ hair. In the window’s reflection, he noticed how his hair spilled down his neck like ink on a tilted piece of parchment. The subtle rays of light reflected an indigo blue on his curly locks, contrasting with the moonbeam paleness of his face. He remembered courtiers who’d visited Sceaux and found themselves speechless when searching for words to describe him, often deferring to “pretty” or “lovely.”

“Stop wriggling, Count Louis,” said Madame Colbert. “Remember, you have royal blood running through your veins.”

Still, he thought, Madame Colbert never really treated him any differently than her other three sons. Her youngest, the impetuous Jules-Armand, was only four years older than Louis and, unlike his older brothers, still lived at Sceaux. Jules-Armand often invited Louis to play with him and his friends, but Louis had nothing in common with Jules-Armand. Instead, he preferred playing on his own in his chambers, shying away from the rough-and-tumble diversions in the courtyard. Because Jules-Armand’s bedroom was just across the hallway from his, he could sneak into Louis’ bedroom at night to play games. Or at least Louis thought they were games.

About the Author 

From Columbus, Ohio, Will earned his Ph.D. from the American Graduate School of Paris, where, in his spare time, he read memoirs and researched the lives of royals and their courtiers. He hopes to share his fascination with the Bourbon dynasty and its quirky inhabitants and, at the same time, weave the historical record with creative fiction. He has written articles for the Huffington Post, Age of Revolutions, BBC History Magazine, and Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book.

Blog/Website  |   Facebook  |   Twitter

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Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

one of 5 ebook copies of The Bastard Prince of Versailles.

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Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Book Blast-Excerpt & Giveaway: THE FIRE ISLAND ICE QUEEN by BJ Irons

The Fire Island Ice Queen

by B.J. Irons

Publisher: Spectrum Books

Release Date: May 7, 2022

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance – Beach Read

Tropes: Friends to lovers

Themes: Coming of Age, Embracing Sexual Identity

Heat Rating: 2 flames

Length: 50 000 words

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK

A Fire Island beach read that will melt the hearts of all ice queens

Blurb 

College law student, Connor, is a bit pretentious, high-strung and what some might describe as being cold as ice. After catching his boyfriend cheating on him and then being dumped, Connor decides to take his best friend Byron up on his offer for a summer gaycation experience to Fire Island.

While at Fire Island, Connor reevaluates his identity and goes through a deep soul searching experience to truly understand himself. While on vacation, he befriends a stranger named Lawrence, who encourages Connor to open up more and become lively. Lawrence proposes that Connor completes a series of wild, fun tasks, which he dubs as the Fire Island Ice Queen Challenge to get Connor to come out of his shell more. Will this frivolous and boisterous vacation at Fire Island be enough to melt the heart of this Ice Queen?

Excerpt

Chapter 1

“Ewwwww!” I exclaimed, noticing the skinny, shirtless guy dancing on the box out of the corner of my eye. He had two older men standing below holding dollar bills up at him.

Pathetic!

The whole scene gave me an unsettling feeling in my stomach. The boy reeked of desperation for attention and the old men reeked of desperation for the pale and frail twink. I was expecting to see his skin glisten like diamonds when the strobe lights moved on top of him. He was decidedly vampiric-looking, but lacked the hot features of Edward Cullen.

I rolled my eyes and diverted my focus back to my boyfriend, Derrick, who was beside me at the bar, ordering us another round of drinks.

“What are you ewww-ing about now?” he asked.

“Just that dirty ginger up on the box.” I pointed in the direction of him, now bending over on the box, getting the money tucked into his waistband by the two tragic geriatrics.

“Ugh! Why do you care about him anyway, Connor?” Derrick questioned me with a vexed tone in his voice.

He was right. I did care too much about how other people behaved, dressed, acted, etc. I was a very judgmental person and I could recognize that in myself. However, I wouldn’t dare to let other people think that of me. As much as I cared about how others presented themselves, I cared even more about how I looked and how I was judged. I went to the gym every day, made sure I was the top student in all of my college classes, and wanted everyone to know that I was beyond mature for my age. I wouldn’t have them think any less of me.

But, I’d be out of my mind to admit this to my boyfriend.

“I don’t really care about him at all. It’s just an observation,” I confessed.

Derrick handed me my drink that the bartender gave him. “Yeah. But just let him be. He’s a young guy just trying to have fun. Clearly, he doesn’t care what other people think of him. If anything, you’re giving him the attention he wants by even making that comment.”

My boyfriend had a point here. I was giving him more attention than I should. And now, by having this conversation with Derrick, I was donating way too much of my time and energy in talking about him.

Derrick then reached for my empty hand. “Do you want to dance?”

I shook my head, recoiling from him. “Nah. I’m good. You can go ahead. I’ll chill out here at the bar for a bit. I wouldn’t be caught dead dancing out there.”

He simply shrugged and chugged his drink before turning around to head out to the dance floor.

I decided to take the now empty seat at the bar he left open. I glanced down at my phone and began scrolling through a few social media posts. This place was getting boring. Yawning, I checked the time to realize it wasn’t even midnight yet. What a snooze-fest tonight had turned out to be. Our usual friends had other plans and couldn’t make it out tonight, which left Derrick and me stuck alone with ourselves. I turned back around to try and pinpoint his location on the crowded dance floor, but had no luck.

I let out a heavy sigh, tapping my right leg up and down on the foot of the barstool. I had to really take a piss, and couldn’t hold it in much longer. But, at the same time, I didn’t want Derrick to come back and think I had disappeared.

However, I would only be gone for a minute or so. Oh well. I stood up and walked across the dance floor towards the bathroom.

“Nice ass!” I heard a man behind me say as he grabbed my butt as I scooted by him.

Dirty f*cker! He was lucky I had to use the bathroom so badly. Otherwise, I would have turned back around and made a whole scene in front of everyone.

I pushed my way through the random guys chilling in the hallway leading to the bathroom, who were either gossiping or making out with one another. I opened the bathroom door and saw that the four urinals were occupied. One of the two stalls had the door halfway open, so I slightly kicked it to make sure no one was in there before I claimed it.

Locking the door behind me, I dropped my pants and released myself, letting out a light sigh of relief. I glanced down at the floor and could see a rather large shadow coming from the next stall over. There was definitely more than one person there. I could then hear a few wet and sloppy kiss-like noises coming from next door as well.

Like seriously!? Get a f*cking room!

I flushed the toilet and walked out of the stall, shaking my head in disdain. Moving towards the sink, I checked myself out in the mirror as I proceeded to wash my hands. I rubbed my hand through my hair, making sure it was swept back nicely. My mouth gaped open at what I saw next. The door to the stall that was next to mine opened and the two guys emerged from it. The first was some random, cute guy who had a similarly toned body to me, except he had bright bleach blonde hair. Then, behind him, was Derrick.

Derrick was with that stranger in the stall!? What the f*ck!?

I immediately turned around to face them both.

“Derrick! What the f*ck!? Are you sh*tting me right now!?” I yelled.

About the Author 

BJ Irons works in the field of education as an educational leader and college professor. Many of his personal experiences as a gay man, have contributed to his works. Being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community himself, BJ hopes to continue to bring more fun fictional works to his LGBTQIA+ readers. The world could always use a little more color and fun.

Author Links

Blog/Website  |  Instagram

Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

one of three ebook copies of The Fire Island Ice Queen

or one of three paperback copies (U.S. only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Audiobook Review & Excerpt: BOY SHATTERED by Eli Easton, narrated by Tristan Josiah - Includes Giveaway!

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Boy Shattered 

by Eli Easton

BoyShattered Audiobook Cover2

Narrated by Tristan Josiah

Brian
You’ll make it out of here, Brian. I swear.
I had everything—school quarterback, popular with girls, and my dad was proud of me. I told myself it didn’t matter no one knew the real me. And then I nearly died. Landon saved my life. He’s the bravest guy I know. He came out a few years ago, proud and fierce, and he ran into gunfire to help others. Me, I’m a mess. Can’t even stand to be in a room with the curtains open. But here’s the thing about losing it all: You get a chance to start over and be someone new. Only how can I move on when the two shooters who attacked our school were never caught? And why do I feel like I’m still in the crosshairs?

Landon
Will you kiss me?
When I came across Brian Marshall,the hottest guy in school, dying on the cafeteria floor, I did what anyone would do. I tried to save him. His request surprised me, but I figured he needed comfort, so I kissed him on the forehead. When he survived and came back to school, he was broken in body and mind. He still needed me, and soon we were unlikely besties. But what I saw at school that day woke me up. I want to demand action on gun control, lead protests, raise my fist. I’ll tear the world down if I have to. And if I can get the man of my dreams and save the world at the same time? I’ll take it. Only I didn’t understand that the horror at Jefferson Waller High wasn’t over.

Universal Audio Link

Audible US
Audible UK
Universal Book Link

Goodreads

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Exclusive Excerpt 

“Help. Help me.”

The words were low, and they snapped me out of the fog. I looked around. Over by the water fountain was a guy lying on his side on the floor. He was looking at me. He said it again. “Help me. Please.”

A fresh wave of adrenaline and sorrow washed through me. Oh God. It was Brian Marshall. Yesterday, he’d been the picture of youth and glowing health. Now he lay on his side, trying to raise his head off the floor to look at me. His bloody hands clutched his shirt. His face was white, so damn white, and a red pool was growing from his body like an oil spill.

I pushed myself up and staggered over to him. I fell to my knees beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m here. Can you lie back? Let me help you.”

Brian rolled onto his back with a groan of pain. But he looked up at me with his dark blue eyes filled with so much relief and trust. Like he just didn’t want to be alone.

Like he didn’t want to die alone.

Hot, sour anger rose up in me again. This shouldn’t be happening. Not to Brian, not to any of them. But anger wouldn’t help right now. I had to get it together. I had to help him. My eyes stung.

“It’s okay. You’re gonna be all right.” I tried to sound confident, but my voice broke.

He was clutching his stomach on the lower left side, his hands bloody and shaking like crazy. Fresh, dark red blood oozed through his fingers.

I gently pulled his hands away and lifted the bloody shirt. I had to fight not to retch. He’d been shot in the left side, above the visible curve of his hip bone. There was a blown-out area the size of a ping-pong ball. Through the gore I saw a glimpse of something shiny and tubular. Internal organs.

Oh my God.

Don’t look. Don’t think about it. Just help him.

I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know much about gut wounds except that he probably had internal bleeding and that it could be fatal. But he wasn’t shot in the heart or lungs, so he had a chance. Except for the bleeding. There was way too much blood.

I wished I’d taken a more extensive first-aid class. I wished I knew exactly what to do to save him. I remembered, from the cop shows my mom loved, that they always put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. I looked around but didn’t see anything close by, so I tore my T-shirt over my head, rolled it into a ball, and pressed it to Brian’s wound.

He cried out in pain and tried to double up. But he didn’t push my hand away.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry,” I said. “But I have to stop the bleeding.”

“Yeah,” Brian grunted, giving a growl of agony. He made himself relax back to the floor, breathing hard through his mouth. “I think it’s coming out the back too.” His teeth chattered.

“Right.” If the bullet went all the way through him, there’d be two wounds. I didn’t have anything left to use, but a few feet away there was a soft-looking pink purse. With silent apologies to the owner, who I hoped was still alive, I left him long enough to grab it. I pushed it under him, hoping it would stop the blood, and went back to pressing my T-shirt into his stomach with both hands.

“You’re gonna be all right, I swear to God.” My voice was firmer now. Resolute.

Brian looked up at me, his eyes full of pain and fear. Of doubt.

“Screw that, Brian. You are gonna make it,” I told him in a bossy tone, rage giving it an edge. “Don’t you hear the sirens? They’re already on their way.”

It was weird because I hadn’t been consciously aware of sirens, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized they were true. I heard sirens. They were coming.

“Cops, ambulances, fire department—they’re gonna be here in just a minute. You’ll make it out of here, Brian. I swear.”

I pressed the wound with both hands, leaning close. But Brian didn’t respond. His eyes were getting a little glassy, and he looked over my shoulder at nothing.

“Brian!”

He blinked and focused on my face.

4

Carra's Review

When you have a topic like school shootings the focus of a story, it can be tough for many people to read.  The subject matter is disturbing on so many levels, and for some readers pushes buttons that they don’t ever want to be pushed.  For me, living just under 15 miles from the school where the Parkland shooting took place, it’s common to see #MSDStrong bumper stickers and magnets on cars, or people wearing t-shirts in support of the school that’s right here in our community.  While I may not have children of my own, I do have some in my family—and the thought that this could happen to one of them is terrifying.


In Boy Shattered, the author puts you right in the thick of things with a depiction that goes beyond eerie, and might have you thinking twice about not just the possibilities in other schools, but in ANY setting where you don’t have total control of your own surroundings.  Going through that from both Landon and Brian’s points of view (especially Brian’s) made for a highly emotional read—not just regarding the shooting itself, but also how it affects them both afterward.


There’s a strong line of tension running through the book until close to the end since resolution is not immediate for the victims, something that is a powerful factor in Brian’s recovery.  There’s even more drama added in the form of conflict with Brian’s father and his beliefs (the word that comes to my mind is “infuriating”.  But alongside all that is the friendship and eventually romantic relationship that develops between Brian and Landon, and there’s an intensity between them that is supercharged thanks to the event that brought them together.  


You cannot read this book and come away from it unaffected.  The subject matter is relevant and unfortunately ongoing in our lives today, and for some readers it may hit too close to home to be comfortable.  Be prepared for a brutal, uncensored eyewitness look at one of the horrors of our current society…but also know that the author shows hope and strength in the midst of it all.


5 stars, full stop.  This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content, and scenes of a graphic and disturbing nature depicting a school shooting.  This is a heavy read, just know that going in (and you’ll probably want to have something light and fluffy queued up to read next after it).


The narration: I really enjoyed listening to Tristan Josiah’s narration of this book.  The emotions were spot-on, and there was good differentiation in the character voices.  I felt just as much emotion from the events as they occurred in the story when listening to the audio version as I did when reading the ebook.  5 stars for the narration!

 


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the audio release of Boy Shattered, Eli is giving away an Audible Code for her other YA Story, Superhero.

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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EliEaston_Road_bw

About the Author:

Coming from a background in computer game design, Eli has written over 35 books in m/m romance since 2013. The Mating of Michael (2014) and A Second Harvest (2016) both won The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance, and Eli’s books have won many awards from the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Reader’s Choice Awards. She is best known for her Christmas romances, the Howl at the Moon series of rom coms featuring dog shifters, and her Sex in Seattle series, which revolves around a sex clinic in Seattle.

Connect with Eli:

Website - Facebook - Facebook Group - Twitter


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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Making it Happen's 2018 5-star Roundup - M/M Romance


Every reader has their own criteria for what makes a book a 5-star read for them.  What one person adores can make another person say, "What were you thinking?", and yet another might feel just meh.  The great thing is, there are stories out there for everyone in a multitude of categories, so sooner or later you'll find one that ticks all your boxes and makes you happy.  In 2018, I read over 250 books, and in addition to my five Top Recommendations that I gave this year, I came across another 25 books that were solid 5-star reads for me.  Here are the amazing stories that sparked my imagination, filled me with joy, or triggered an intense emotional response in 2018...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Yesterday I featured the first book of this series, Confessions: Robbie, as one of my Top Recommendations of 2018.  But every book of this M/M/M contemporary romance series was a 5-star read for me:

My Reviews:



Find them on Amazon:




Filled with emotion and suspense, touching on a subject in current events that affects us all, and an incredible coming of age read!




Nobody does M/M fantasy romance in short story format better than Kasia Bacon.  Every one of her books has been a 5-star read for me, which is no small feat for short stories!  If you haven't started her order series yet, you'll want to remedy that oversight ASAP ;-)




A.E. Via is an absolute goddess when it comes to writing alpha male characters.  Fans of The Bounty Hunters series long awaited Brian and Sway's story here in the fourth book, and to say A.E. delivered is an understatement.  Riveting and swoon-worthy, definitely unputdownable!




When Jaclyn Quinn's debut novel, Hard to Let Go, was release, I was blown away.  She continued to impress with each subsequent release in the Haven's Cove series, and all three of these I read in 2018 were 5-star material!

 
My Reviews:

Find them on Amazon:



Opposites attract and a touch of BDSM are what you'll find in this third book in the With a Kick series.  How could you say "no" to that?




A journey of healing and coming of age, and of course a bit of romance!




Sometimes what you need is a good sci-fi zombie story with romance, right?  Dead Fall is the second book in the Dead Things series, and definitely hit the spot for my zombie story craving.  Yes, you'll want to read book one, Dead Things, first.




Passionate and heartbreaking, Riley Hart's writing and characters really shine here in His Truth.  This one's a definite can't-miss!




Sci-fi adventure romance that is unique and addicting, The Perfect Whore quickly caught my attention from the moment I read the synopsis.  It'll probably catch yours as well!




I really found some fantastic sci-fi romance reads this past year, including this gem by Hanna Dare.  Action, suspense, and humor are all packed in to this story, and I hope to see a lot more to come in the series!




This story just might be my favorite royalty romance ever.  What happens when a royal falls for not just a commoner, but one who is part of the paparazzi?  Yep, that intrigued me as well ;-)




"You can be ruthless and feared by everyone else, but you will always be my home."  Fantastic romantic suspense, intense slow burn, and a May/December romance...yeah, this one shot to the top of my TBR when I found all that out!




Adorably cute, wonderfully sweet, and definitely uplifting...that's Levi and Beckett in a 5-star nutshell!




I never got around to reading the North Star series when it was first released, so when the series re-released last year, I jumped at the chance to give it a go.  Spark was a fantastic start to the trilogy, and this second chance romance for Hugo and Kevin is an amazing story.




This is the third book in Lily Morton's Mixed Messages series, and it's an angsty friends-to-lovers story that kept me on edge from beginning to end.




This is one of the best friends-to-lovers stories I've read, and it's definitely my favorite book by this author.  Incredibly sweet, but also incredibly hot!




Layla Reyne is one of the best romantic suspense authors out there, and Craft Brew is a perfect example of why.  This is the second book in the Trouble Brewing series, so be sure to read Imperial Stout first so you can get Cam and Nic's relationship from the start.




Dark Rivers, book two in the Witchbane series, showcases Morgan Brice's brilliant talent for writing urban fantasy.  It drew me right in from the start, and I finished it in a single sitting.  Highly recommended for paranormal romance/urban fantasy fans!




This collection is one of my favorite reads by this author, and when you add in Charlie David's narration of the audiobook, getting this collection is a no-brainer.  Be prepared--this one's a scorcher!




And last but absolutely NOT least, I have a holiday romance for you from one of my favorite authors, N.R. Walker.  A Soldier's Wish is part of the Christmas Angel series, and this one has ALL the feels!  Military romance, Woodstock, and innocence lost...keep your tissues handy for this one, and if you're like me, you'll want to make this an annual re-read :-)



I hope you like all of these as much as I did.  If you decide to check any of them out, let me know what you thought!

Happy Reading for 2019 everyone!