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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Blog Tour- WHO NAMED THEIR PONY MACARONI? By Marilyn Singer With An Excerpt & #Giveaway! @DisneyBooks



I am stoked to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for WHO NAMED THEIR PONY MACARONI? By Marilyn Singer! I have a few pages from the book to share with you today check it out and enter to win the giveaway below!
About the Book:


Title: WHO NAMED THEIR PONY MACARONI?
Author: Marilyn Singer, Ryan McAmis (Illustrations)
Pub. Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 48
Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, KindleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD

A family of mice. A runaway goat.
A mischievous snake.
A shocking parrot.
A pardoned turkey.
A pampered raccoon.
A ghostbusting dog.
A celebrity cow.
The White House housed more than presidents and First Families--who could forget the furry, scaly, feathered friends who impressed the press, guarded their charges, and kept them company through all the ups and downs of their respective terms?

Marilyn Singer's compelling poems will delight readers with stories of the creatures who sat beside our country's leaders, as she draws intriguing connections between the animals and the administrations they accompanied. Mixed-media illustrations by Ryan McAmis lend humor and vivacity, and detailed back matter explores each president's pet history in more depth.

Excerpt:






About Marilyn:
Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.



Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WHO NAMED THEIR PONY MACARONI?, US Only.



Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/11/2019
Excerpt
11/12/2019
Excerpt
11/13/2019
Review
11/14/2019
Review
11/15/2019
Excerpt

Week Two:
11/18/2019
Review
11/19/2019
Excerpt
11/20/2019
Review
11/21/2019
Review
11/22/2019
Review

Monday, November 18, 2019

Blog Tour- REFORMING THE CEO by @marisacleveland With An Interview & 2 Giveaways!



I am stoked to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for REFORMING THE CEO by Marisa Cleveland ! I have an interview with Marisa to share with you today check it out and enter to win the giveaway below!
About the Book:

Title: REFORMING THE CEO
Author: Marisa Cleveland
Pub. Date: November 11, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Indulgence)
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 200

What happens when your next door neighbor is the hottest, most notorious playboy in all of South Beach?

Reece Rowe is on hiatus from respectability. Before she returns to her stable, boring existence of charity events and dating predictable, stuffy suitors who are only interested in getting closer to the wealthy family who adopted her, she’s going to get a taste of what she’s been missing. She screws up her courage and heads to Vincent Ferguson’s office to find out what all the women in South Beach already seem to know about him.

Once CEO Vin Ferguson’s tech company goes public, he’ll have proved he’s no longer the poor, gritty kid from the wrong side of the tracks. But, citing his bad boy reputation, some financial backers waver, and his friends suggest dating a more respectable woman to improve his image. Ridiculous. Because delectable but snooty socialites, like his next door neighbor, are way out of his league.

And then, Reese walks through his office door and makes him an offer. To say his jaw hits the floor is an understatement.

And he can’t believe what she just proposed...

Book Trailer:






Interview:

Hey Marisa!! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books I’m glad you could stop by for a chat! REFORMING THE CEO sounds AWESOME and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

Thanks so much for having me!!!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about the REFORMING THE CEO and the characters?

This book is about an insecure girl and the guy who helps her become the fun person she wants to be. It’s about stepping out of any self-defined expectations and following your heart. Mostly it’s about two people who realize they are better together than they are apart. Because for Vin and Reece, this book makes them let go of heavy things like bitterness and resentment to make space for living a truly purposeful life.

How many more books are planned for the series?

All the South Beach books could be read in any order, but I have at least two more I’d love to work through.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

That’s tricky to answer. Maybe.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

Vin was definitely my favorite character to write. I had a clear picture of him from the start, all fun and adventure with a charming grin that sucks you into his orbit. My least favorite character to write was Landon, because I know how he ends up, but his journey isn’t in this book, so there are areas where I was really frustrated with how he behaved, even though it was true to his character at this point in time.

What is your favorite passages/scenes in REFORMING THE CEO?

This is a totally unfair question. But there is one scene Vin and Reece are at a work luncheon, and Vin is reminded yet again how differently theyve been raised, but this time, hes not bitter about it. He’s started to appreciate Reece for who she is now and not how she was raised then. That was one of my favorite scenes, because of what it means for Vin. For the significance for Vin to heal some of his past anger and maybe become comfortable with his new wealth.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

This book was sooooo fun to research! How rated should I keep this? PG? R? I know it’s a common “thing” with romance writers, but I love when my husband tells people “being married to a romance writer is as awesome as it sounds.” He’s always been so proud and supportive of my dreams, and because of that, he’s an integral part of my research. We take a lot of road trips, and for the South Beach series, we just had to visit South Beach! We’ve stayed at and visited pretty much every place mentioned in the book (some I renamed and redesigned, of course, to suit the book’s needs).

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

Fitzwilliam Darcy. I recently wrote an article on examining the ways in which Austen reveals the power of women even when living within the confines of the social structures of her time. To Darcy, Elizabeth is worth more than his strong opinion about social structures. Darcy states, “You showed me how insufficient were all my pretentions to please a woman worthy of being pleased” (Austen). Furthermore, Austen wrote during a time when patriarchal structures allowed females the opportunity to present their view of life, and as such was able to give agency to the power that females did hold during a time when so many other aspects of the times limited them. Through Fitzwilliam Darcy, Austen proved the power of the female to great than the power of familial or societal objection, and that Darcy was able to see this and adjust his behavior is the ultimate grand gesture, in my opinion.

Lets talk about the book trailer and song! How did that all come about? BTW I’m a new fan of Ben Allen because of the video love his voice!!!

Oh, yay! Ben’s voice is magical, in my opinion! I’m still a bit star-struck that he and Dan took the time to develop my idea. So the book actually started with the song. My husbandwith his long, powerful stridesusually adjusts to my strolling speed, but in this one instance, he said, We cant slow down, and that became the chorus. From there, this montage of FUN became a challenge of sorts, and then I wanted to put a tilt to the good girl-bad boy trope. Instead of the good girl making the bad boy good, I wanted the bad boy to make the good girl bad. So I had Vin write the song for Reece, and that’s when my super supportive husband suggested I get it produced.



Lightning Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

Next up, I have Shelley Shepard Gray’s Hold on Tight (The Bridgeport Social Club Series Book 3). She’s one of my favorite authors of all time, and I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t had a chance to read this yet, even though it released in June.

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Full disclosure: I took a quiz to find out the answer. The quiz placed me 55% in Ravenclaw, although I’ve always responded that I belong with the Hufflepuffs. This may call for another HP marathon so I can definitely decide. Here’s the link to the quiz: https://time.com/4809884/harry-potter-house-sorting-hat-quiz/

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter.

Favorite Superhero?

Argh! Last year I would have answered Wonder Woman or Batman. But I recently discovered Zatanna (I know, I’m late to the party), and I’m sort of crushing on her right now.

Favorite TV show?

Billions. Can I give the runners up? Killing Eve and The Blacklist.

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet.

Any Phobias?

Too many to name, although I’m getting better.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Just Get Crazy by Ben Allen.

2019/2020 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Mulan, releasing March 27, 2020.

Thanks so much Marisa for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read REFORMING THE CEO!

Thanks so much for having me!!!! I really appreciate your time and space here!

Cheers,
Marisa




About Marisa:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marisa Cleveland loves to laugh, hates to cry, and does both often while enjoying the journey one sunset at a time with her husband. Expressing herself through writing, music, and dance is her lifestyle, and as a former gymnast, cheerleader, and dancer, she understands the importance of balance and encourages everyone to stay flexible. Marisa loves to connect with other readers and writers through social media, and she can be found on Instagram (@thereisnobox) and Twitter (@marisacleveland).


Giveaway Details: 2 GIVEAWAYS!

Giveaway 1:
1 winner will win a $15 Amazon GC, International.



Giveaway 2:
1 winner will win a $20 eGift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iBooks (winner’s choice), ends  11/23.


Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/11/2019
Interview
11/11/2019
Excerpt
11/12/2019
Review
11/12/2019
Review
11/13/2019
Review
11/13/2019
Guest Post
11/14/2019
Excerpt
11/14/2019
Review
11/15/2019
Review
11/15/2019
Review

Week Two:
11/18/2019
Review
11/18/2019
Interview
11/19/2019
Review
11/19/2019
Excerpt
11/20/2019
Interview
11/20/2019
Guest Post
11/21/2019
Review
11/21/2019
Review
11/22/2019
Guest Post
11/22/2019
Review

Blog Tour- THE FIREFIGHTER'S CINDERELLA by @SonyaWeiss With An Interview & Giveaway!



I am stoked to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for THE FIREFIGHTER'S CINDERELLA by Sonya Weiss! I have an interview with Sonya to share with you today check it out and enter to win the giveaway below!
About the Book:


Title: THE FIREFIGHTER’S CINDERELLA
Author: Sonya Weiss
Pub. Date: November 18, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC (Bliss)
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 200
Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, KindleB&NiBooks, Kobo

What’s a Cinderella to do when she’s accidentally kicked her Prince Charming in the face and broken his nose? Hold an audition, of course.

Harper Bailey is desperate to keep her family’s amusement park business up and running, but her employees keep quitting, and the man playing prince to her Cinderella in the company’s mainstage show is just the latest casualty. When sexy firefighter Rafferty Bradford, the most eligible bachelor in their small town, offers to step in, Harper agrees--reluctantly. After all, she and Rafferty are ex-best friends with a ton of past history. Surely they’ll have zero chemistry onstage.


Rafferty has his own reasons for agreeing to play Prince Charming, and none of them are good. If Harper finds out the truth, it’ll just reinforce every rumor she’s believed over the years about Rafferty’s bad rep. But when their chemistry explodes both onstage and off, he’ll have to choose between happily-ever-after for himself...or the Cinderella he’s fallen for.


Interview:
Hey Sonya!! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books I’m glad you could stop by for a chat! THE FIREFIGHTER’S CINDERELLA sounds AWESOME and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about the THE FIREFIGHTER’S CINDERELLA and the characters?

Thank you for the warm welcome! The Firefighter’s Cinderella is the last book in a series that feature firefighter heroes and the women they love. This one is the story of Rafferty Bradford who comes from a close-knit family of firefighters. He portrays himself as a playboy but only because he’s hiding a heartbreak.

The heroine, Harper, is in charge of running the family amusement park, and needs Rafferty to fill in as the new Prince Charming after she accidentally kicks the former one in the face and he quits. She and Rafferty used to be close friends but that friendship ended after a fall out between the two.

The story is about two people finding their way back to each other not just as friends but as a meant-to-be couple. 😊

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the edits for a new series releasing next year.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

NowellI had someone like Grandma Jean in my life.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

I liked writing the characters as a whole but favorite was probably Harper. I don’t think I have a least favorite.

What is your favorite passages/scenes in THE FIREFIGHTER’S CINDERELLA?

That would have to be when Rafferty and Harper were at a barnI think because this was when Harper realized that she and Rafferty were both playing it safe.

“Pretty song,” she said softly.

“For a pretty girl,” he answered and held out his hands.“Let’s not waste it.”

Another memory to add to the what could have been file. Harper walked into the circle of his arms, questioning her ability to keep her heart as guarded as she’d 
hoped.

It had been easier to keep her distance when she thought Rafferty was a shallow playboy only interested in himself. After spending time with him in the supply room and at the castle, she’d learned that he, too, had a heart scar and, like her, protected himself.

He waltzed them across the hayloft, and Harper didn’t want to be careful, not while she looked up into his handsome face and her heart beat a hundred miles a minute.

“I know you’ve been hurt,” Rafferty said abruptly, holding her gaze. “But I want you to know that I meant what I said in the supply room. I’ll keep you safe.”

  
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

I’d interviewed firefighter’s in the beginning of the series. So I still had all that research. For this book, I interviewed someone who used to work with horses in a therapeutic setting because I wanted to get the horse riding part right. And I also interviewed a woman who’d gone through a live burn drill.

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

I’d have to think about that. Too many to name just one. Don’t want to make the other ones jealous. LOL!

What inspired you to write romance?

I just love romance. It’s so beautiful. I love that happily ever after. Two people who walk through life together and have each other’s back. You know everything won’t be perfect, but they won’t go through it alone.

When I watch a movie or a TV show, if it doesn’t have a strong romance, I usually lose interest.

Lightning Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

On my TBR-Supernova by Marisa Meyer and The Toll by Neal Shusterman.

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Love Harry Potter! Definitely Gryffindor

Twitter or Facebook?

Both equally

Favorite Superhero?

Superman

Favorite TV show?

I have so many of these! One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, The X-Files, NCIS, Merlin, Farscape, Lois and Clark-the New Adventures of Superman, Stranger Things

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet

Any Phobias?

Really tall bridges.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

This one is an old one but Luke Bryan’s “Do I” is one I’ve been playing over and over again.

2019/2020 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Wonder Woman 1984.

Thanks so much Sonya for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read THE FIREFIGHTER’S CINDERELLA!


Thank you for having me! 



About Sonya:
Sonya Weiss writes contemporary romance and young adult novels. She believes that every love story deserves a happy ending.

She’s the author of several series including: Stealing the Heart, Fire and Sparks, Seduced by Love and the Tazavorn trilogy.

Sonya is represented by Eva Scalzo at the Speilburg Literary Agency.



Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a $15 Amazon GC, International.



Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/18/2019
Excerpt
11/18/2019
Interview
11/19/2019
Guest Post
11/19/2019
Interview
11/20/2019
Guest Post
11/20/2019
Guest Post
11/21/2019
Review
11/21/2019
Review
11/22/2019
Review
11/22/2019
Review

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