Release Tour for Broken Wings by Erika Ashby

Title: Broken Wings (10th Anniversary Edition)

Series: Broken & Mended Book 1

Author: Erika Ashby

Genre/Tropes: Contemporary; Military Romance; Second Chance at Love; Close Proximity; Friends-to-Lovers 

Release Date: March 9, 2024

Cover Design: Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative Covers

Graphics by: Devin McCain at Studio 5 Twenty-Five

Lynsie Fox has what she considers to be a perfect life. Married to Lincoln, a military pilot, she's living the Army life she's always loved. Being a sucker for great love stories, Lynsie makes it her mission to find Lincoln's best friend and copilot, Dax Adams, a good woman.

Losing the one woman he's ever loved, Dax attempts to be a good sport by playing along in Lynsie's matchmaking scheme. However, Dax is certain he will never get the woman of his dreams.

But life doesn't always fly smoothly. When turbulence strikes, Lynsie watches her world crash and burn around her, leaving her empty with broken wings. Despite her grief, can she mend the pieces back together and learn to fly again?

Prologue

Lincoln

Summer 2007

“Dude, this sucks.” I sigh, plopping down on Dax’s bed. Two years of fixed-wing pilot training together and my best friend is getting assigned to another base, states away.

“Such is life, man,” he replies, seemingly unbothered, but I know better.

“Glad you’re just as heartbroken as me,” I mutter, and he drills me clean in the face with a balled-up T-shirt. The force of the blow catches me off guard, and I fall back on his bed. Like a ninja, I roll to my side, retrieving the dirty laundry, and sling it back, missing Dax as it makes a thud hitting the wall behind him. “Lucky throw on your part.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what it was.” He snorts.

“God, I’m gonna miss you. You’re like my yang.” I place my hand over my heart, clenching it into a fist. “You keep me balanced and from losing my shit. How am I going to keep from losing it without you?” I’m being slightly dramatic, but moments like these call for such antics.

“I have a feeling you’ll manage just fine.” His words are reassuring as always.

“But what about you? How are you going to survive without meeee?” I drag the last word out with a high pitch. 

Dax zips his suitcase shut, sits down beside me, and lets out the longest sigh I’ve ever heard. 

“Tell me how you really feel.” I cross my leg and pretend to doodle on a notepad, putting my imaginary shrink hat on. 

He shakes his head, laughing, and pushes my shoulder…hard. 

“Hey, you made me drop my notebook.” I bend over, acting like I’m picking it up, and he pushes me all the way off the bed.

“There you go.” He laughs. “Maybe you can find it better down there.” 

I quickly jump up onto the bed and pull out one of our famous wrestling moves from our childhood, putting him in a chokehold from behind.

“Tell me you’re going to miss me, too.” His hands grab at my arms, but I refuse defeat. He will show weakness. “It’s okay to be sad,” I coo, gently patting the top of his head. He relaxes his body, and I take the chance to give him a good going away noogie, dragging my knuckles back and forth quickly.

“You win. You win.” He slaps his hand three times on the bed, and I release my hold.

I plop down beside him and expel the sigh I’ve been holding. “In all seriousness, I am going to miss you. We’ve been inseparable our entire lives, and now it’s our passion pulling us apart.”

“Yeah, I think we’ve been in denial about the inevitable.” He shrugs. “But I think it’ll be good for us. Maybe the distance will bring growth and give us the ability to fully spread our wings.”

“Tell me more, oh knowledgeable one.” I laugh.

He glances down at his watch and stands. “Time for me to hit the road.”

“Yeah, I know.” I push myself off the bed, standing beside Dax. I tilt my head back, looking up at him as he towers over me. It’s not by much, but he’s always felt like a giant in comparison. He’s got his normal Dax façade in place, and I can tell this isn’t as easy for him as he’s making it out to be. He has a girlfriend back home whom he’s refused to let go of, and I get the impression this transition will also greatly interfere with that. The realization makes me feel like an ass for being so selfish.

“Dax, I’m sorry.” I admit, placing a hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly.

His hazel eyes finally connect with mine. “For what?” He raises a brow in confusion. Normally, I’d take this time to make a condescending joke, but I’ve done enough of that already.

“I’ve been thinking about how much this is going to suck for me. Haven’t really considered everything you’re giving up in the process, as well. And I’m not referring to me.” I smirk. “How does this move affect things with Amber?” I usually don’t like discussing his girlfriend because I don’t particularly care for her. It’s not because she’s any sort of threat to our friendship. He just seems to have blinders on when it comes to her, and I can’t figure out why. But he’s my best friend, and just because I’ve avoided love to focus on my career, I can’t hold his lack of abstaining over his head.

His shoulders slump, and he lets out an exasperated sigh, running his hand through his hair.

“Do I need to get my notebook back out?” I raise my brow.

He laughs and shakes his head, then looks away as if he’s trying to piece together an acceptable answer. When his gaze meets mine, indecisiveness heavily weighs him down. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m supposed to stop by her apartment on my way to see my parents before continuing my trek up the coast.”

I nod and offer a smile as some sort of reassurance. “It’ll all work itself out the way it’s supposed to. I have faith.”

“Thanks, man.” Dax pulls me in for a hug. “I’m going to miss you too, Lincoln.”

He finally releases the words I’ve been trying to pull out of him. Victory is mine!

****

I THROW MY flight suit on, eager to get a head start on making a good first impression and personally introduce myself to my new commanding officer. On my way to the front door, I stop to take in the silence that surrounds me. I know it’s temporary, but I already feel lonely.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” I mumble, using the words I know Dax would say. He’s right. This is an opportunity for each of us to fully immerse ourselves in our careers without our friendship possibly holding us back. I shut the door behind me, deciding not to be sad and lame, but to make the best of the situation.

The sun beats down on me as I walk to my truck. Almost as if it’s a laser and I’m its target. I rest my hand around my door handle and lean my head back, reveling in the heat, letting it recharge me. Here’s to new beginnings.

I make the short drive from the barracks across base to the hangar I will be reporting to daily. As I turn onto the mass of concrete sprawled out in front of me that leads to the enormous metal building, an overwhelming sense of emotion hits me. This is it. This is what I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a little boy. I’m a pilot—an aviation warrant officer. Life can’t get any better than this.

I park my truck and walk in through the massive, lifted doors where mechanics work on a couple planes. These men and women are the true heroes. They work behind the scenes, making sure us pilots are operating safe flying apparatuses. I nod at those I pass, making my way to the offices on the adjacent wall. A nameplate reading Maj. Clark marks the third door down the corridor. Light shines through the half-cracked door and voices spill out as I inch closer.

A familiar voice says, “I think working at the salon in the PX will be a great start.” 

I can’t help but wonder who Major Clark is talking to. Curiosity gets the best of me as I sidle up to the door.

A female voice replies, “Me too, Dad.” 

The conversation seems to be coming to an end, and I take the opportunity to knock, stepping into the doorway. Major Clark’s eyes dart in my direction from behind his desk, and the brunette keeps her back to me.

“Sir.” I clear my throat. “I hope this isn’t bad timing.” 

He shifts his gaze from me to his daughter, then back to me.

“Not at all,” the female says, standing. “I was just leaving.” She glances over her shoulder at me and smiles. She rounds his desk and bends over, giving him a hug, then kisses his forehead. “Bye, Dad. I love you.”

“Bye, honey. I’ll see you at dinner.”

I try not to keep my eyes trained on her, but I can’t peel them off of her for the life of me as her petite stature saunters toward the doorway I’m standing in. She stops in front of me and glances down to my badge. Her green eyes slowly rise back to mine, and a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

“Fox.” She drags the three-letter word through her pouty lips as if she’s practicing it as her last name.

“Yes, ma’am.” I smile with a nod. “Lincoln Fox.” I stick my hand out, and she quickly accepts the gesture.

“Lynsie Clark.” She smiles back.

The scraping of a chair jerks our heads toward her dad’s desk as he stands. “Officer Fox, I’ve heard a lot about you.” His tone is even.

“Sir, all good things, I hope.” I chance a peek at Lynsie. She looks up and smiles, and I realize I have her blocked in. I shift to the left, offering her the space she needs to leave, and she mouths ‘good luck’ before walking past me out the door.

I straighten my stance and give my full attention to my commanding officer. I’m convinced I’ve just blown that good first impression I was after. Major Clark takes a few steps toward me, then crosses his arms and leans against the edge of his desk.

“Yes, all good things.” 

Redemption swarms within me. Maybe I haven’t ruined it, after all. 

“And how about we keep it that way?” he warns, raising a brow, and I don’t have to ask what he’s referring to.

I gulp. “Yes, sir.” Clearly, his daughter is off-limits. Which is a shame since my career indicates that I like to push them.

Erika Ashby grew up an Army Brat, spending most of her childhood in Oklahoma, where she finally put roots down. She currently lives in Edmond, OK where she faithfully attends North Church with her kids. She's a blessed mom of 4 who loves Jesus and serving others. Her hobbies include attending dirt track races, concerts, reading, DIY, and making red dirt shirts. It wasn’t until the ripe age of 27 when she realized she had a hidden passion for reading. Up until that point in her life, she claimed to have hated it. Shortly after, she was hit with another revelation: the desire to tell stories. Knowing she had failed all writing assignments in school, she set out on this journey mainly to prove to herself she could do it. So, here she is today, proving it. Erika wants to encourage anyone with a dream to go for it.

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Cover Reveal for Holiday Do Us Part by J.D. Hollyfield

Title: Holiday Do Us Part

Author: J.D. Hollyfield

Genre/Tropes: second chance romance, enemies to lovers, close proximity, holiday reads

Cover Design: All By Design

Release Date: November 1, 2023

Easton Cruz was my world.

Our souls collided the day he walked into that bar.

His presence made me whole in a way I hadn’t been before.

He was my forever.

Until one day, he wasn’t.

The beautiful life we were starting to create was destroyed by betrayal.

And after two long years, I was still trying to move on and put my shattered pieces from his deception back together.

Except when the man you hate haunts your dreams, moving on is impossible.

Maybe that’s why my friends tricked me into going for a secluded weekend in the woods. A vacation to heal and finally move on.

But this trip was anything but serene and healing. It was more like a nightmare.

I vowed never to let him in enough to hurt me again. Because I hated him.

The problem is, I loved him more…

Creative designer, mother, wife, writer, part-time superhero…

USA Today Bestselling author J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she is not trying to save the world one happy ending at a time, she enjoys the snuggles of her husband, sons, and doxies. With her love for romance, and a head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life.

J.D. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest and is currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions of her new books and series, along with her charm, humor, and Happily Ever After’s.

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Release Tour for Second Chance with the Rancher by Whitley Cox

Title: Second Chance with the Rancher

Series: A Young Sisters Novel

Author: Whitley Cox

Genre: Close Proximity, Western, Ranch, Military, Hero with PTSD, Dancing Heroine

Release Date: May 13, 2023

When all you thought you ever wanted isn’t at all what you need.

When Mieka Young breaks her arm in a freak accident, her dance company takes it as an opportunity to not renew her contract, calling her “too old” to dance for them. Now, literally broken and jobless, she retreats to her sister’s ranch in Colorado for a little rest and relaxation, along with some much-needed clarity.

However, the ranch is not all horses, goats, and newborn foals. There, Mieka must face a part of her past that still holds a tender space in her heart. She must figure out where Nate fits in her world, if at all. Ranch life isn’t for her, no matter how hard he tries to convince her otherwise.

Nate Harris falls in love every Friday night and falls out of it every Saturday morning. However, one hot night last summer everything changed when he and Mieka finally succumbed to their chemistry. Then she vanished, returning to work dancing on cruise ships, and living her best life. Only, now, Mieka is back at the ranch and Nate’s determined to show her the love, purpose and beautiful future she’s searching for.

Nate had given her a lot to think about on their drive, and no matter how much Mieka tried not to, her eyes kept drifting to his finger. Yeah, that finger as it gripped the steering wheel. Then, when she’d realize she was staring at his hands—particularly that finger—she’d move her gaze elsewhere, and of course, her eyes drifted down to the front of his jeans where a big peg apparently lived.

Damnit, she was in a dry spell. Like a major dry spell. Her stubborn cat was starting to pace and meow and demand attention. Not to mention those horny hornets in her belly that buzzed every time Nate smiled at her, or she imagined those big hands of his holding onto her hips as he plowed into her from behind over a hay bale.

Even though she’d been sleeping with that bartender back on the ship, it’d been over a month since they’d done anything, mostly because their shifts didn’t align. And when they did do things, he’d been mediocre at best. The man had no tongue skills, and zero stamina. Most of the time, Mieka had to get herself off after he came.

Yeah, Nate was right. A gentleman should always let the woman come first so she’s not riding a soft dick, limping her way to her own finish line.

Staring out the window, determined not to look at his finger or crotch anymore, she wasn’t even aware of the fact that she was chewing her nails until Nate’s voice broke her out of her trance. “I didn’t know you had ADHD,” he said. “When did you get diagnosed with that?”

She spun around to face him, but then dropped her eyes to her hands and the horrible chewed, red and tender fingertips. “When I was five.”

“And dance helps?”

“It keeps my mind focused and my body busy. I’m also medicated, which helps, too.” She shrugged. “It’s just a part of my life and who I am.” Her gaze slid to his. “But it’s also responsible for my fidgetiness, mood swings, impulsiveness and how my self-esteem can quickly take a massive nose-dive in a literal second.” Heaving a big sigh, she balled her sore hands into tight fists. Well, she did it with one hand and attempted to with the other. “I just do the best I can. Every day is a struggle. Just some days are more of a struggle than others.”

“If I’m doing anything to exacerbate that struggle, please let me know.” The sincerity in his blue eyes and his voice was touching.

“You’re not,” she said. “You’re keeping me distracted from wallowing… for the most part. So, thank you.”

They were already back at the ranch, so he turned off the road and rumbled the big truck and horse trailer down the laneway. A quick glance at the clock on the dash said it was just after five-thirty, so of course the petting farm would be closed to the public by now, which explained the empty yard and parking lot.

Nate exhaled. “I know it brings in money, and it was my idea, but fuck, it gets claustrophobic when we have the petting farm open. People, big and small, are everywhere.” He pulled the truck up in front of the barn, put it in park, and turned off the engine before hopping out.

Mieka did the same and met him behind the trailer.

“Feel free to go do what you need to do, Minx. I’ve gotta get this stuff out of the trailer and into the corresponding crates.” He grinned wide at her. “Good thing you were organized enough to color code everything ahead of time so I know which chair goes to which cabin.” He opened the trailer door to reveal boxes piled up to the ceiling. The bed of the truck was full of bedding, kitchen stuff, décor and everything else. The furniture was in the trailer and even then, not everything fit, so they paid for express shipping and the rest would arrive by tomorrow.

And just like he said, she had given each cabin a corresponding color code and put a big sticker of that color on the appropriate furniture. She wasn’t always this organized, but she was really passionate about this project, and appreciative of the trust Nate and Asher had put in her, so she was determined not to mess it up.

“I can help,” she said, watching Asher and Triss come down the front steps of the house.

“You’ve already done so much,” Nate replied. “It’s all good. Besides, we don’t want to hurt your arm.”

Asher sidled up beside his brother and whistled when he looked inside the trailer. “Don’t want to know what this cost us.”

“Then don’t ask,” Nate chuckled, hauling out a huge box that was part of a bed frame.

The two men went to work removing everything from the trailer and truck, while Mieka grabbed her leftover lunch and followed Triss inside.

“How was your day?” Triss asked, gauging Mieka carefully.

“It was good. We got everything we needed.”

Triss’s eyes fell to the fast-food bag. “Ah, you stopped at Gus’s. I take it you’re not hungry, then?”

Mieka puffed out her cheeks and shook her head. “I still haven’t even finished this. But it’s so freaking good.”

“I know. I’ve gone to Denver with Nate a few times and he always stops there. It’s good, but it’s definitely a treat. I’m like a snake after I eat there. That’s my meal for the week.”

“You’re okay that I’m going to skip dinner?”

Triss lifted a shoulder. “You’re an adult and free to do as you like. It’s why I haven’t put the meat on the barbecue yet.”

“The day here was good?” Mieka asked, pulling out the rest of her burger, taking a seat at the table and diving in. “We feel bad. We left when it was so busy.”

“Great day,” Triss said, taking up an abandoned spot at the counter to continue preparing a salad. “It was busy, but everyone had a good time. Fumble escaped again, so that was fun. Asher is so close to barbecuing that goat, I swear it.”

Mieka chuckled. “Apparently Ray’s auntie has a great recipe for jerked goat.”

A Canadian West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have two beautiful daughters and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn't end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes, and it's not quite wine o'clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.

A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships, and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With single dads, firefighters, Navy SEALs, mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage, and role-playing, Whitley’s books have all the funny and fabulously filthy words you could hope for.

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