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Books

BOOK FEATURE: “A Jingle Valley Wedding” by Martha Reynolds

January 29, 2020 1 Comment

 
 
Join Us for this Tour from January 27-February 14!

BOOK DETAILS:
Book Title:  A Jingle Valley Wedding (A Happily Ever After Series Book 1) by Martha Reynolds
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre:  Women’s Fiction
Publisher:  CreateSpace Publishing
Release date:   November 2015
Tour dates: January 27 to February 14, 2020
Content Rating: PG + M:
No profanity, but it’s geared more for adults (there’s a one-night stand). No explicit sex at all.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 
New York executive Julie Tate knows what it takes to win in the financial world, but her big-city success could never prepare her for her latest career move. When her brother abandons the failing family farm, Julie hopes its salvation lies in transforming it into western Massachusetts’s newest premier wedding venue. With her social-savvy friend Freddy in her corner, Julie feels infallible. But as their bank account dwindles and one obstacle after another crops up, the business partners wonder if their venture is doomed for failure before the first bride walks down the aisle. Maybe the best way to succeed in a business based on romance is to find one.

Buy the Book:
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
​

Martha Reynolds was raised in Rhode Island, spent a year of college in Switzerland, and is always planning a return visit. She completed an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and decided it was time to do something she really liked.
She now writes full-time and has set a personal goal of releasing a book a year until she dies. Her writing has appeared in Magnificat magazine and her very short poem was read by journalist Connie Schultz during NPR’s Tell Me More poetry challenge.
Her novel VILLA DEL SOL won the 2018 Book Award in Literary Fiction by the Independent Publishers of New England.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram


TOUR SCHEDULE:
Jan 27 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 27 – My Devotional Thoughts – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 27 – Books,Dreams,Life – book spotlight
Jan 28 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 28 – Ms. Cat’s Honest World – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 28 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 29 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 29 – Chick Lit Goddess – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 30 – Over Coffee Conversations – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 31 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 3 – b for bookreview – book spotlight
Feb 4 – The Avid Reader – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 5 – Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 6 – eBook addicts – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 7 – Bookmark and fork – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 10 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 11 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 12 – Laura`s Interests – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 12 – 100 Pages A Day – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 13 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 14 – Read and Review – book spotlight / giveaway

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Filed Under: A Jingle Valley Wedding Tagged With: A Jingle Valley Wedding, Book feature, Books, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway, Martha Reynolds, Romance

COVER REVEAL: “Then You Happened” by K. Bromberg

January 9, 2020 Leave a Comment

TYH - CR banner

“Bromberg is a master at turning up the heat.”

–Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author

Then You Happened, an all-new standalone contemporary romance about trusting fate and finding yourself again from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg, is coming February 3rd and we have the gorgeous cover!

THEN-YOU-HAPPENED-KRISTY-BROMBERG

Jack Sutton was the man I didn’t want to need.

His know-it-all attitude. His annoying suggestions. His outlook on life.

He was determined to help me while I had resolved to figure it out on my own.

But he taught me things I’d forgotten.

How to trust. How to believe in myself. Who I was.

The problem?

I went and fell in love with him.

—

Tatum Knox was the disaster I should have walked away from.

Her ruined reputation. Her failing business. Her chaotic life.

She hated me at first sight and yet intrigued me all at the same time.

I was only supposed to be there six months.

I was supposed to use that time to make amends for things I’d done wrong.

Instead I fell in love with her.

—

They say it’s better to have loved and lost, then not to have loved at all. Does that hold true when the love is based on a lie to begin with?

(THEN YOU HAPPENED is a STANDALONE enemies to lovers, small town romance. Full-length at one hundred and seven thousand words)

PRE-ORDER-ALL-RETAILERS

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QALvmE

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2FdNSqn

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/YouHappened

Nook: http://bit.ly/39yXfi7

Kobo: http://bit.ly/35fDXeb

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2N7qH5s

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2QfU2we

Add Then You Happened to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Fr5OOp

Be notified FIRST when Then You Happened goes live: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

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K. Bromberg Author Photo

About K. Bromberg

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love. A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow. Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018. She is currently working on her Everyday Heroes trilogy. This series consists of three complete standalone novels—Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit (late spring 2018)—and is about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them. She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

Connect with K. Bromberg

Website: http://www.kbromberg.com

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2QYIfBC

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sVi7Qe

Instagram: http://bit.ly/36ywE2S

Amazon Author: http://amzn.to/204Qnfz

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/1koZIkL

Join her Reader Group: http://bit.ly/1PMUoG3

Stay up to date with K. Bromberg by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

Filed Under: Then You Happened Tagged With: Books, Contemporary Romance, Cover Reveal, K. Bromberg, Romance, Then You Happened

COVER REVEAL: “Love at The Bluebird” by Aurora Rose Reynolds and Jessica Marin

January 3, 2020 Leave a Comment




Title: Love at The Bluebird
Authors: Aurora Rose Reynolds & Jessica Marin
Publisher: Boom Factory Publishing LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Sara Eirew Photography
Release Date: January 31, 2020



Blurb

With a hit song sitting at number one on the country music charts, Gavin McNeer thought he finally had everything he ever wanted.
All it takes is one look from the mesmerizing woman sitting in the front row at one of his shows and a brief encounter to make him realize just what he’s been missing. Even though he’s been burnt in the past, Gavin puts his inhibitions aside and his heart on the line to earn the trust of the woman who could be his everything.

Working in an industry where relationships start and end in the blink of an eye, Alyson Dawson has made it her mission not to get mixed up with musicians, no matter how good-looking they are. Keeping her focus on her blossoming career and clients, Aly doesn’t even have time to date much less fall in love. That is until she meets Gavin, a man who changes everything with one smoldering look.

Just when these two begin to settle into their new relationship, Aly is asked to do something that may require her to choose between the career she’s building and the man she’s falling in love with. To make things worse, Gavin’s ex decides to add a touch of drama to an already delicate situation.

Will their love survive, or become just another sad love song?


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Aurora Rose Reynolds

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Until, Until Him, Until Her, Underground Kings and Shooting Stars.

Her writing career started in an attempt to get the outrageously alpha men who resided in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.

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Jessica Marin

Jessica Marin began her love affair with books at a young age from the encouragement of her Grandma Shirley. She has always dreamed of being an author and finally made her dreams of writing happily ever after stories a reality. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband, children and fur babies. When she’s not hanging out with her family, she loves watching a good movie, going dancing with the ladies, sniffing essential oils, daydreaming of warm beaches, and world peace.

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Publisher


Aurora Rose Reynolds and her husband, Sedaka Reynolds, created Boom Factory Publishing to use their experiences to expand and promote upcoming and existing indie authors.

With over five years in the industry, and millions of books sold worldwide, we know what it takes to become a successful author and we will use this knowledge to take our authors to the next level.

“As a successful hybrid author in this ever evolving industry, I know that you’re only as successful as the team that is promoting you!” – Aurora Rose Reynolds


Publisher Links

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Filed Under: Love at The Bluebird Tagged With: Aurora Rose Reynolds, Books, Coming Soon, Contemporary Romanceorary, Cover Reveal, Jessica Marin, Love at The Bluebird, Romance

Chick Lit Chat HQ’s Wicked Good Hop

October 24, 2019 Leave a Comment


It’s that frightfully fun time of year, and Chick Lit Chat HQ has a few tricks along with a whole lot of treats coming your way this Halloween season. So, join us for a spooktastic time at our first ever Wicked Good Hop on Facebook. From Monday, October 21st through Sunday, October 27th, there will be hours of ghoulishly delightful entertainment at our Haunted Headquarters—otherwise known as our Facebook events page.

Over forty Chick Lit and RomCom authors will be giving away a pumpkin patch full of prizes, including books, swag, gift cards, and Halloween/fall-themed goodies. Plus, on the events page, you can enter to win one of FIVE Grand Prizes*, which will be custom 6-packs of scrumptious Wicked Good Cupcakes. These cupcakes in a jar come in a variety of mouthwatering flavors, including seasonal delights Caramel Apple Streusel, Chocolate Pumpkin (Oh My Gourd!), Mocha Madness, Pumpkin Spice, Reverse Chocolate Boo-Day, and Reverse Vanilla Boo-Day.




So, grab your broomstick and fly on over to the party on Facebook where your fave authors, both new and old, will be unleashing some serious hocus pocus. Don’t forget your black cat! 

*The giveaway for our Grand Prizes is open to US residents only. However, ALL of the individual author giveaways are open internationally.

Filed Under: Wicked Good Hop Tagged With: Authors, Books, Halloween Giveaway

BOOK FEATURE: “Let It Be Me” by Laura Chapman

October 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

Let It Be Me banner This is my stop during the book blitz for Let It Be Me by Laura Chapman. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 21 till 27 October. See the tour schedule here. Let It Be MeLet It Be Me (Amarillo Sour #2) By Laura Chapman Genre: Romantic Comedy Age category: Adult Release Date: September 30, 2019
Blurb: Who says history is boring? Professor James Mitchell has a rock star reputation. With a waitlist for all his classes, a best-selling book, and the requisite leather jacket, the university and publisher are eager to capitalize on this British sensation. But after his girlfriend leaves him for another man, James goes from rising scholar to spiraling bad boy. Forget contracts and tenure, James wants out—of his job, his book deal, and, better still, the country. He’s well on his way when his boss’s daughter walks into his favorite bar . . . Aspiring filmmaker Ali Ferguson-Day doesn’t scare easily. She’s been given the means to make a film of her own—on the condition she tames the professor. As the daughter of a famed documentarian and a renowned historian, she’s more than ready to step out of her parents’ shadows and shine on her own. She won’t let anyone—not even an unexpected charmer—get in her way. James and Ali butt heads from the start, but it isn’t long before their sparring gives way to attraction. There’s the promise of even more, if they can get past the fear of history repeating itself to let love in . . .

EXCERPT: Ali swiveled in her seat, searching the faces of the dozens of men crowded in the bar. It wasn’t an easy task. Amarillo Sour catered to an eclectic mix. There was everyone from a group of barely legal college guys to a couple of white-haired men stooped over their pints. “Okay, I give up.” She shook her head. “Which one is he?” “Do you see the guy with the Link Digital shirt and the pretty blonde who are chatting up Ford?” Nodding, Ali squinted her eyes in an attempt to get a better look. The guy was tall and lanky, and like Sidney said, wearing a royal blue T-shirt with the LD logo on it. Even though she’d been away for the better part of a decade, Ali had heard about the tech start-up that had become one of the city’s top employers during the past five years. Not that he couldn’t wear whatever he liked, but why would the professor have one of those shirts? Ali had been way off on her description of the professor. He looked more like a software developer than a historian. “You’re right. He’s not at all what I expected.” “That’s not him either. That’s Ian.” Ali’s eye twitched. “Are you trying to drive me crazy, or are you just being cute?” “See the guy in the leather jacket on Ian’s other side? That’s the professor.” “The leather jack . . .” Ali trailed off as her eyes landed on the man Sidney claimed was James Mitchell. She’d still been wrong in her guess. Beyond the leather jacket, his thick brown hair was neatly cut but messily styled. She wondered if that came from running his fingers through it or careful minutes spent in front of the mirror. She had the same questions about the tattoos she saw scattered over the knuckles of his fingers. If she had to guess, she wouldn’t put him over his early thirties. Not much older than her. He was . . . hot. There were better ways to describe him. As a storyteller, she should have found countless words, but she was drawing a blank. It was hard to believe the dangerous-looking young man was the historian behind the book tucked away in her purse. Then again, Ali hadn’t even looked him up online yet. “Who would have thought?” Ali murmured. “That’s James Mitchell.” “Or so he tells us.” Sidney cocked her head to the side. “I actually read his book. It’s pretty good.” Ali had too many questions to dwell on his writing style. “What’s he like?” “He’s . . . complicated. Honestly, I’m not sure this will be an easy assignment. He’s been through a lot.” “Like what?” Sidney shook her head. “You’ll have to get that out of him yourself. Doctor-patient confidentiality.” “You’re not a doctor.” “No, but I’m a bartender. That’s almost as good as being his therapist. But”—she lowered her voice—“anything he’s told me was off the record.” That was a term Ali understood. That made it all the more intriguing. “You think I’m going to have a hard time cracking him?” “You’re going to have your work cut out for you.” It was a good thing Ali didn’t mind getting her hands dirty. Especially when a project intrigued her. And James Mitchell definitely seemed intriguing.

You can find Let It Be Me on Goodreads You can buy Let It Be Me here: – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – Apple – Google Play

Check out book 1 in this series: Counting on You Counting on You Is love worth the risk? Links: – Goodreads – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – Google Play – iTunes
About the Author: Laura Chapman is the award-winning and Amazon best-selling author of sweet and sexy romantic comedies. A born and raised Nebraska girl, she loves watching football, traveling, crafting, and baking. When she isn’t writing her next story, she is probably working at a museum by day and binge-watching Netflix with her cats Jane and Bingley at night. So, basically, she’s living large. You can find and contact Laura Chapman here: – Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – Amazon – Instagram – Newsletter Giveaway There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Let It Be Me. One winner will win a $20 Amazon gift card. For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway banner Lola's Blog Tours

Filed Under: Let It Be Me Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Laura Chapman, Let It Be Me, New Release, Romance, Women's Fiction

RELEASE BLITZ: “Finally Yours” by Claire Raye

October 10, 2019 Leave a Comment




Title: Finally Yours
Series: Love & Wine #1
Author: Claire Raye
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Release Date: October 10, 2019



Blurb

What do Tim Tams and Jack Wilson have in common? Other than both being Australian…nothing! One is an amazingly delicious chocolate-covered cookie, and the other is a total nightmare.

At least that’s how Lauren Somerville feels when Jack and the cookies walk back into her life fourteen years later.

As much as Lauren isn’t thrilled to see him, Jack is ready to prove that Tim Tams aren’t the only good thing to come from the Land Down Under.

He may have been an arrogant kid when they met, but time has been good to him, because now he has the looks to back it up.

But Lauren has the upper hand. As the owner of the world famous Somerville Winery & Vineyard, he works for her now.

And you know what they say about sour grapes…


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Author Bio


Not only is Claire Raye a really sweet pen name, it’s actually a pen name for two sarcastic best friends who met through their mutual love of reading. After bonding over books (and wine and cheese), they decided to take the plunge and see if they could write a book together and ta dah… The Rockport Beach Novels were born! In addition to their shared love of food and dropping an occasional (read: a lot) of f bombs, the writing duo that is Claire Raye like to write about strong sassy females who aren’t afraid to say what’s on their mind and the overprotective men who fall in love with them. While Claire Raye’s resting bitch face might be strong, she always makes sure her alpha males are stranger!

Writing The Rockport Beach Novels has been so much fun, even if Book 2 needed a shared vacation, a stolen bottle of champagne and far too much vodka and POG to get it back on track! Both halves of Claire Raye are married and both of her husbands have a cheeky side that gets plenty of airtime in her books. From their smart mouths to their witty one-liners, there’s plenty of material to use for all those alpha males she loves to write about.

While Claire Raye isn’t sure she’ll ever reveal who she really is – there’s just something about your co-workers knowing you write erotic love scenes that makes having a pen name that much easier – she’s definitely going to keep on writing. Plans are already underway for the next series, which is sure to feature plenty of sass, steam and humor. And of course, a happily-ever-after!


Author Links

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Filed Under: Release Blitz Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Claire Raye, Contemporary Romance, Finally Yours, Romance, Women's Fiction

RELEASE BLITZ: “Dreams of 18” by Saffron A. Kent

October 10, 2019 Leave a Comment




Title: Dreams of 18
Author: Saffron A. Kent
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 10, 2019



Blurb

Violet Moore is in love with a man who hates her.

Well, to be fair, she kinda deserves it.

On her eighteenth birthday, she got drunk and threw herself at him, causing a huge scandal in their sleepy suburban town.

Now everyone thinks she’s a slut and he has disappeared. Rumor has it that he’s been living up in the mountains of Colorado, all alone and in isolation.

But Violet is going to make it right.

She’s going to find him and bring him back.

No matter how cruel and mean he is, how much he hurts her with his cold-hearted and abrasive ways, she won’t give up.

And neither will she think about his tempting lips or his sculpted muscles or his strong hands. The hands that she wants on her body, touching her, feeling her skin…

The hands that make her want to forget everything and kiss Graham Edwards – Mr. Edwards, actually – again.

Because you don’t go around kissing your best friend’s dad, do you?

Even though that’s all you ever dream about.


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Author Bio


Saffron A. Kent is a Top 100 Amazon Bestselling author of Contemporary and New Adult romance. More often than not, her love stories are edgy, forbidden and passionate. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After.

She lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, and a million and one books.


Author Links

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Filed Under: Dreams of 18 - Release Blitz Tagged With: Books, Contemporary Romance, Dreams of 18, Release Blitz, Romance, Saffron A. Kent, Women's Fiction

RELEASE BLITZ: “Unexpected Fall” by Kaylee Ryan

October 10, 2019 Leave a Comment




Title: Unexpected Fall
Series: Unexpected Arrivals #3
Author: Kaylee Ryan
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: October 10, 2019



Blurb

Life is full of ups and downs. Events that shape who you are, even those that are filled with heartbreak and tragedy.

What do you do when actions bring devastation?

How do you pick up the pieces and keep moving forward?

One breath.
One second.
One minute.
One hour.
One day at a time, you learn to live with your unexpected fall.


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Also Available


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Now also available in audio!

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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited






Author Bio


Kaylee Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.  When she’s not spinning tales of happily ever after, she’s reading or spending time with family.  Born and raised an Ohio girl, Kaylee resides in Cincinnati with her husband and their son.


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Filed Under: Unexpected Fall - Release Blitz Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance, Kaylee Ryan, Release Blitz, Romance, Unexpected Fall, Women's Fiction

RELEASE BLITZ: “Million Miles Away” by Alice Bane

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Million Miles Away
Alice Bane
(Million Miles, #1)
Publication date: October 5th 2019
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Science Fiction

For the past year, sleep paralysis has been little more than a thorn in Natalia’s side. That is, until she meets Korin, a strange but beautiful alien being who makes her question everything she knows about the universe.

Life-changing love almost feels like an invasion.

I won’t bore you with details about the mysterious medical issues I’ve had over the last year;

the sudden severe allergies to food and medication, the sleep paralysis. All I’ll tell you is that they turned my life upside down.

But I’m a rational person.

Naturally, I assumed that my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw the strange figures standing over me.

But it felt so freakishly real;

especially one face in particular that always stayed with me long after I woke up.

Something about him always drew me in and I knew he was different. He made me feel different.

All my life, romance has felt like something that was reserved for everyone but me. I’d accepted that the only love in my life would be experienced through my artwork.

Now I’m questioning everything I know about myself, about reality, and especially about love.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

The girls would always tease me about how put together my life was. Sure, it looked good on paper; top-rated artist in my department, an amazing house which I always kept immaculate, and when I wasn’t working, I was at the gym. They seemed to think that I had a perfect life. They had no idea how much I envied them. They both had incredible relationships with gorgeous men who doted on them endlessly. They were always commenting on how jealous they were of my body, but they also never missed a chance to eat delicious foods that I couldn’t so much as smell without getting sick. They didn’t realize that my house was always clean because it was empty and sterile; just like the rest of my life.

I didn’t even have a pet. Ever since little Ivan died, I accepted that I wasn’t pet owner material. If I couldn’t keep a goldfish alive, what chance did I have with a more complex and emotionally dependent animal? Besides, with my work schedule, it would be cruel to even try.

“Before we get started with what we’ve got on today, I need to ask you guys a really important favor,” Abiola said, circling the desk to take both mine and Laura’s hands in hers. “The two of you have been such a huge part of my life. You’ve been there for me through all my family drama and I couldn’t love you more if you were my flesh and blood sisters.”

“Abi,” Laura pushed out her bottom lip. “That’s the sweetest thing you could possibly say.”

“Well, I would be so honored if the two of you would be my bridesmaids this spring. Please say yes!”

The three of us all wrapped our arms around each other in a sickeningly sweet display of female solidarity. I forced a smile and swallowed the lump in my throat as I imagined walking down the aisle on the arm of some random groomsman who had a wife or girlfriend somewhere in the church. This would be the second time I was a bridesmaid at someone’s wedding. The old saying ‘three times a bridesmaid, never a bride’ rang out in my mind.

“I would love to be a bridesmaid at your wedding,” Laura crooned.

I mustered the minimal amount of excitement I could get away with for the situation and said, “Me too. I love you, woman,” then patted Abiola on the back.

Abiola nodded and wiped at eyeliner from beneath her watering eyes. She was an old soul with a soft heart. She spent her weekends volunteering at a children’s group home. That was where she met her fiancé Trevor, and they bonded over their dysfunctional family situations. They would probably adopt a bunch of foster kids right after their wedding and live happily ever after. She deserved that; it was all she ever wanted.

“Okay ladies,” Abiola clapped her hands. “Today we’re looking for something we can use for the promotion of the OSA campus, which will be opening next year in Portland, Oregon. Boss says our primary focus is to attract engineering and architectural students for the Lunar-retreat that’s in the works.”

“So, where do we start?” Laura said, looking right at me.

“I am going to need to work up some concept drawings for the Lunar Resort. Also, if you could give me the clearest photos of the most beautiful views the Lunar Surface has to offer, that would be cool to show exactly what the students should be aspiring to be a part of. I want to see some dramatic landscapes with visible craters, maybe some rock formations. Anything to pull people in.”

“I’m on it,” Laura nodded and sat down at her touch responsive computer.

“I’ll go to engineering to get permission to use blueprints of the resort that you can use to make the concept drawings,” Abiola said, then turned and headed towards the elevator.

It was an exciting project. I used to fantasize that by the time I was ready to retire, I would be able to cash in on all the vacation time I had accrued and maybe even spend a few of my golden years at that resort. The thought of waking up in the morning and looking out the window to see the Earth just as we see the moon from down here always gave me a sense of calm.

Four hours later, all final decisions had been made on what I wanted to use on the project. Right on cue, my trusty assistants started complaining that they were starving to death.

“If I don’t get some corned beef nachos in me in the next ten minutes, I might actually die,” Laura said and stood up dramatically from her desk.

“I want waffles and bacon,” Abiola rubbed her belly.

I sighed at the memory of bacon; I would probably just have some raw vegetables and berries. I was still looking at my screen and inspecting one of the photos, trying to decide on how I would alter the image to bring it to life. My eyes burned. I clenched them shut and rubbed them, forcing them to rest. Eye strain was the enemy and this day was proving to be particularly difficult since I had hardly slept the night before. I couldn’t shake my anxiety about today’s social gathering after work. Stress and lack of sleep usually meant a big fat migraine, which was the last thing I needed at Laura’s party.

“I’m going to head to the chill room. I need a nap more than anything.”

“You better be rested for tonight’s festivities,” Laura wagged her finger at me.

“I’ll bring my party face, I promise,” I said. I stood up but couldn’t stop the oncoming yawn. “The fatigue is killing me.”

“Yeah, no coffee or sugar in your morning will do that to you,” Abiola said with a shake of her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Well, it’s easy since a cup of coffee could put me in the hospital again, I guess.”

“Jesus,” Abiola pressed her fist to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s fine, Abi,” I assured her. “I just need to get a little rest.”

The two girls headed down to the food court while I made my way to the sleeping pods. White, plush, and stacked like a honeycomb, they were an inviting image that screamed comfort. I smiled and breathed a sigh of relief to find my favorite lower level pod was unoccupied. Turning on the sound system, I selected a playlist I knew I could sleep through. Sometimes I would choose guided meditation tracks or audiobooks. Today’s selection was soft cello. Something about the deep tones helped me unwind no matter what was on my mind. I settled in, turning on the heated cushions and closing my eyes.

I practiced the deep breathing exercises the doctor had taught me as I pictured myself floating through a dark endless sky toward the moon’s surface. The pictures I had looked at for over four hours served to be the subject of my meditation. I inhaled deeply, focusing on relaxing my arms and legs. Exhaling, I imagined moving further out into space. In… and out…

As soon as sleep found me, I was swept up in a flurry of blinding light. My stomach turned as the light began strobing violently, causing me to feel disoriented. My body tensed as I realized it had been several weeks since I’d had an episode. Right on schedule, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Oh no, no, no, no… I can’t deal with this right now, not at work!

I struggled to wake myself, I couldn’t move. The cold sensation of a smooth metallic surface beneath me was confusing. I felt my fingertips twitch as I tried desperately to flail any and all limbs that might respond to my will, but my body remained where it was. I strained to sit up or scream, but I couldn’t even open my mouth. I was trapped, overwhelmed by the weight of my chest collapsing in on itself. If I didn’t put every ounce of will I possessed into sucking air through my nostrils, I had a very real fear that my body would simply shut down, leaving my body as a cold stiff corpse which might be found hours later in my cozy little pod. Filling my lungs with intention, I gasped for air, breath after panicked breath, hoping someone would notice and wake me.

The strobing intensified for what felt like several minutes and when it finally stopped, there remained a constant blinding light that made my eyes water. Tears streamed from the outer corners of my eyes into my ears.

“Help… me…” I managed to whisper to no one in particular.

From the edge of my vision, a blurry figure leaned over me.

“Please,” I sobbed, trying to turn my head to get a better look at who it was, but I couldn’t.

My chest burned as my heart pounded out of control. I tried to calm myself by reciting the scientific facts about what I knew was happening.

During REM sleep, your muscles are essentially turned off to keep you from sleepwalking. When a person wakes up during REM, they are fully conscious but completely paralyzed. Usually, physical stimulation from someone rubbing or shaking them will pull the victim out of the purgatorial state. Unfortunately, living alone means I have no one to rescue me during these episodes, which can sometimes last for hours.

“Just close your eyes. Everything will be okay,” a distorted voice spoke through the fog of my half-conscious state.

Maybe my brain is morphing the cello music into a voice. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by waking dreams or hallucinations, after all.

I thought I could force myself to come out of it but, instead, I moved even deeper into unconsciousness. It wasn’t like falling, but more like being underwater and sinking slowly. I struggled against what felt like a chemically induced calm. I tried again to force myself awake but couldn’t. The darkness swallowed me up and I finally surrendered to it.

To my surprise, I suddenly found myself vividly aware of two things; one, the fact that I was breathing without much effort, and two, I was no longer in my cushioned sleeping pod, but rather stretched out flat on my back on a cold metal surface. All efforts to move just made me realize that what I was experiencing was very different from the sleep paralysis I was familiar with. I could move my fingers and flex my wrists and feet. There were actual physical restraints fastened around my wrists, neck, forehead, and ankles that were preventing me from moving.

Blinking hard, I strained to look around at my surroundings. The entire room was reflective as if every surface and object was made from surgical steel. It was shockingly cold, almost like the inside of a walk-in refrigerator. I grunted, twisting my wrists in hopes that I could slip out the straps.

There was a continuous hum that was so low I didn’t hear it so much as felt it vibrating through my entire body. There was a spherical light that seemed to be floating in the air a few feet over me. The ceiling was high above that and almost too dark for me to make out anything but the vague shape of what might have been a reflection of myself and the rest of the room around me. I strained to see past the light so I could study what else I could make out in the reflective ceiling. My heart pounded in my ears as my attention was drawn to a distorted human shape in the darkness at my side.

A chill spread through my body as I realized that someone, or something, was quietly watching me struggle but I couldn’t for the life of me work out who, as the silhouette disappeared from my view the moment I noticed it. Even when I turned my eyes as far as I could, the dark corners of the room remained completely obscured. Regardless of the deafening silence and the fact that I couldn’t see anyone, I knew someone was there.


Author Bio:

Alice Bane holds a BSc and a voracious interest in all things extra-terrestrial. Self-identifying as a citizen of the universe, she has opted to travel the cosmos through her words. Million Miles Away is her debut Sci-Fi Romance novel.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram



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Filed Under: Million Miles Away Tagged With: Alice Bane, Books, Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance, Million Miles Away, Release Blitz, Romance, Women's Fiction

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