Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teaser + Giveaway: Bad Decisions & Back Roads by Zoe Forward @XpressoTours

Bad Decisions & Back Roads by Zoe Forward

Series: Southern Veterinary #2

Publication date: August 3rd, 2026

Synopsis:

The problem with bad decisions is you never stop wanting them.

I used to be the rebellious girl from the wrong side of the fenceline. He was the local hellraiser nobody could tame. While our families carried on a feud older than indoor plumbing, we fell for each other.

Then my vicious father found out. To save Timothy's life, I broke his heart and disappeared.

Now over a decade later, I'm back as a large-animal veterinarian, working at his brother's clinic and treating everything from prize dairy cows to Timothy's homicidal llama. Avoiding him should be easy.

It isn't.

He's a single dad running two businesses, still infuriatingly irresistible, and determined to make me pay for every year he spent hating me.

The problem? I never stopped loving him. But if he learns why I really left, I could lose him forever.

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A small helpless laugh escaped me. "Do you know where I can find spray whipped cream?"

His eyebrows lifted beneath the bit of hair hanging over his forehead.

I narrowed my eyes. "Please tell me that your brain did not just put whipped cream on my body."

He looked almost offended. "Well," he drawled, "it hadn't..."

His slow grin spread. "But now that you mention it..." His gaze dipped, wicked amusement flashing in his eyes. "Question is, was your brain generous enough to imagine some on me too, or am I doing all the work here?"

A startled choke-laugh burst out of me as I dragged my eyes down his body, taking in the dark t-shirt tucked into jeans that hung a little low. I'd already checked out the backside and confirmed it still looked just as good as when he walked away the other day after agreeing to buy a tractor.

He leaned casually on his cart. "For the record," he added, "I'm picturing collarbone Maybe wrist. Then I'd go... lower... to areas that might enjoy some attention." His gaze dropped to my chest. "Then it depends on how wild we're getting."

That sent me over the edge laughing. The image of him standing in a grocery aisle naked and covered in whipped cream looing deeply inconvenienced by it was the funniest thing I'd thought all week.

"So, what do you really need whipped cream for?" he asked.

I swallowed my last snort of laughter. "Obviously, I need to keep my fridge stocked in case you randomly swing by. You'll have to bring your own sprinkles, if you can get them away from your dad."

His mouth twitched. His eyes went bright with trouble.

USA Today bestselling author ZOE FORWARD is a parent, wife, veterinarian, and unapologetic chocolate lover. She writes spicy paranormal and contemporary romances that blend action, adventure, humor and a touch of magic.

Zoe lives in the South with a lively menagerie of four-legged beasts and two slightly wild kids.

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Bad Decisions & Back Roads Blitz

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Book Blitz with Playlist + Teaser + Giveaway: The Wednesday Box by Jonathan Kieran @jkieran_author @XpressoTours

The Wednesday Box by Jonathan Kieran

Publication date: June 18th, 2026

Synopsis:

Some stories begin with "Once Upon a Time..."

This one begins with loneliness.

From the bestselling author of WistWood comes THE WEDNESDAY BOX, an illustrated supernatural horror novel for readers who love the haunting edge of stories like Coraline, The Thief of Always, The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, and The Nest.

May has learned to survive in a world of shrieking subway rails, soot-stained skies, and apartment hallways where silence, caution, and never asking for too much are simply facts of life.

But when a hulking stranger in a raincoat the color of broken promises begins to haunt her steps--on the train, in the tunnels, at her own door--May realizes that keeping quiet will no longer keep her safe.

Wednesday is the only day May cannot be alone.

The only night.

And when her weary mother leaves her with a new caretaker, May discovers that the tempting contents of an ancient box hold dangers far worse than anything she has ever feared.

The greatest danger, however, is not what hunts her, but the impossible choice before her...

Tell the truth and risk losing the one person she cannot live without.

Or keep silent and face the darkness alone.

Because below the city, something is hunting.

And it knows her name.

"You'll feel for May, just as I did. It's quietly devastating in all the right ways."

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"I was absolutely gripped by how this story manages to be both terrifying and incredibly moving. At its heart, it's a brilliant coming-of-age tale that isn't afraid to get dark, showing the world through the eyes of a young girl dealing with heavy, adult-sized burdens. It feels like a fever dream you don't want to wake up from--part mystery, part dark fairy tale--and the pacing is just perfect. It never rushes; instead, it lets the mystery coil around you until you're completely pulled in. If you're looking for a book that challenges you and lingers in your mind long after you finish reading, this is it."

"From the very first page, The Wednesday Box pulls you into a world of creeping dread and unsettling wonder, masterfully balancing psychological darkness with raw emotional stakes. Thoughtful, tense, and hauntingly beautiful, this is a story whose rich atmosphere and emotional intensity will linger with you long after the final page is turned. You'll fee for May, just as I did. It's quietly devastating in all the right ways."

"With the Wednesday Box, Jonathan Kieran delivers a striking dark fable that effortlessly bridges the gap between coming-of-age fiction and sophisticated adult fantasy. While the story centers on a young heroine navigating a perilous world, its core themes--confronting class divide, deep-seated neglect, and the sheer psychological weight of enduring hardship--track directly with mature, real-world anxieties. Kieran weaves a starkly beautiful tapestry of gothic atmosphere and fairy-tale danger, prioritizing emotional realism over easy genre tropes. It is a sharp, unsettling, and lyrical read that will deeply resonate with anyone drawn to high-stakes psychological tension and evocative, atmospheric storytelling."

JONATHAN KIERAN is an author and illustrator with a passion for world travel and ancient history--and an occasionally bewildered grasp of the present. He lives in a rustic house in the woodlands not far from Big Sur, California, where he awaits the future confidently with plenty of firewood, a new cat named Beezley, mercurial internet access, a magical footbridge (troll-infested and everything), and a reasonable supply of Cabernet Sauvignon. There also appears to be a significant Pinot Noir backup; viticultural shortages are not to be countenanced.

Jonathan's interests and eclectic. He is as likely to regale you with an account of his latest misadventures in the Midi-Pyrenees as he is to ask if you happen to have any spare cookies about the house--and if so, whether you might part with five of them. Nothing piques his interest like a good old-fashioned discussion about cryptozoology, Tuscan cuisine, classical English literature, the perils of pop culture, or the harrowing details of great white shark attacks.

In addition to running up and down various mountainsides to burn off calories accrued from the wanton consumption of baked goods, Jonathan enjoys a good party with people unafraid to laugh, and he veritably lives for bedtime.

He is the author and illustrator of The Wednesday Box, WistWood and the Enchanted Heritage Chronicles, with more adventures to come.

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The Wednesday Box Blitz

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Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teaser + Giveaway: Arcanum Book 1 & 2 by Kelly O"Hearn @XpressoTours

In the Temple Shadows by Kelly O'Hearn

Series: Arcanum #1

Publication date: June 1st, 2024

Synopsis:

Arcanum: In the Temple Shadows is Book One is a series of novels channeled through the tarot cards by noted intuitive Kelly O'Hearn--the first of its kind!

In this sexy past life romance, sometimes happily ever after takes more than one lifetime. Meet Sarah Fuller. It's her 40th birthday and things are starting to get weird. Is it deja vu? A midlife crisis? Nervous breakdown? Who is this dark, handsome stranger she feels like she's met before? Not on Fifth Avenue or through her luxury fragrance company but, like, many lifetimes ago?

Her husband, her best friend, her shrink: everyone seems to think they know what's best for her these days. Sarah's always been a skeptic, but when she meets this intriguing psychic who tells her she might have been a Pharaoh's lover and powerful mystic in ancient Egypt, thousands of years ago, it feels so right that she's determined to find out more.

"I was given early access to the manuscript of Arcanum, and I was immediately immersed in this unique and sassy book! It's like Carrie Bradshaw meets Cleopatra. The tension and drama between the characters was enthralling, both in their current lives and their past lives. I can't wait for the second book in the series!" K. Lewis

Whispers in the Forest by Kelly O'Hearn

Series: Arcanum #2

Publication date: May 13th, 2025

Synopsis:

From noted intuitive channeler Kelly O'Hearn comes the spellbinding second installment in the critically acclaimed Arcanum series--a mesmerizing blend of romance, reincarnation, and sensual awakening that spans across centuries.

When Manhattan parfumier Sarah Fuller abandons her picture-perfect life to pursue an obsession with an ancient rose in the South of France, she never expects to unearth secrets buried for centuries. What begins as a professional quest quickly transforms into a soul-stirring journey, cosmically interwoven with that of a medieval maiden with mysterious powers.

As her marriage crumbles and her closest friendship fractures, Sarah's carefully constructed reality begins to unravel. Between the gleaming penthouses of New York and the sun-drenched fields of Provence, she discovers that the fragrance she seeks may be the key to unlocking a past life--and a love that has endured across time itself.

But some secrets are meant to stay buried, and as Sarah delves deeper into her past, she must decide: Will she heed the whispers that call to her from the forest, or will she lose herself to them completely?

Perfect for readers who love:

• Time-slip romance with a supernatural twist
• Strong female protagonists on journeys of self-discovery
• Sensual, emotionally charged storytelling
• Mystical elements including tarot and past lives
• Evocative settings from Manhattan glamour to medieval France

Praised by readers as "an absolute treat for the senses" and "Outlander meets Game of Thrones with a metaphysical twist," the Arcanum series continues to captivate with its unique blend of romance, spirituality, and time-bending adventure.

Channeled through the tarot and inspired by O'Hearn's real past-life revelations, this genre-blending novel of supernatural women's fiction and romantic mysticism will leave you breathless and craving the next installment in the Arcanum journey.

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All of a sudden she felt an invisible ripple along her spine, a jolt of something. Her eyes flew open, and she saw a man standing about five feet in front of her.

"Holy shit," she blurted. "I didn't realize anyone else was here."

"Other than the two hundred people hobnobbing in the Temple of Dendur?"

"Yeah, other than those jerks."

His smile was a knockout. If she weren't happily married... scratch that. Tall, dark, probably of Middle Eastern descent? Gorgeous tux. Crooked smile. She'd have to be dead not to find him... attractive.

That was one word for it. Hot-as-fuck might be another.

"Harry Aiken." He held out his hand.

Was her mouth agape? Sarah settled herself. "Of course you are..."

She took his hand in hers, and the two of them stood there for way too long. Maybe it was only a second or two, but she felt--well, she felt everything. The power of his grip, the warmth of his skin, the clean smell of him, the slight bristle of the hairs on the back of his hand, his eyes--but beyond all of those sensory, well, pleasures, really, she felt like he was definitely part of whatever gut-roiling recalibration or transformation was going on inside her today. He was somehow in on it.

She released his hand and backed away a step, as if he had burned her.

Or could.

And then she started breathing again.

"Weird day." She shook her head and started walking slowly around the atrium.

"Do you want to be alone?" he asked.

"Not necessarily. I just didn't want to be in a room with hundreds of people."

Harry put his hands in his pockets and walked alongside her. "Same. I left right before the guest of honor arrived. Just all a bit too much for me, you know."

Sarah realized his clean, buttoned-up smell was just a top note. Sandalwood, tobacco, myrrh: this man was into expensive fragrance of some sort or another, and their heat had brought it to life. A deep, masculine scent. Her mortal weakness.

"You've never met her?"

"No. I'm not really even sure why I'm here. I met this hilarious guy named Max--"

She couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, I know him."

"Right? I met him last week. Turns out he's best friends with the CEO of this company I do business with whom I've been trying to meet for years. She's got a firewall of assistants around her. Max is a great guy and all, but he was like, 'You should totally come meet Sarah and learn more about her new foundation, yadda yadda...' and I was like, 'Great, I'd really appreciate the introduction.' and then he's like, 'I got you on the list of her surprise party Saturday night' and I'm like, 'Well, that's a little weird to show up at someone's fortieth birthday party uninvited, if I've never even met them, don't you think?' But he's kind of persuasive and funny, and it all seemed like a good idea last week. But now I'm just like a fish out of water... and now I'm babbling--"

When he turned to face her, their eyes caught again, and held, like they had when they'd shaken hands. "I'm not usually nervous, but you've caught me off guard," he said.

Sarah just gave herself permission to stare at him. Why not? It was her birthday, wasn't it? And maybe he was her gift. Her lip must have lifted slightly on one side when she thought that, because his glance darted to her mouth and his pupils dilated.

Then, as if realizing that what he was doing could be construed as creepy, his eyes flew back up to hers.

Her smile widened.

You can look at my mouth anytime you like, she almost said--but caught herself before she did something... regrettable.

"So, is this going to be like some Cinderella story?" he asked, his voice deeper, stronger, if that was even possible. "Are you going to introduce yourself, or am I going to have to enlist the cavalry and ride my steed throughout the kingdom tomorrow to find out your true identity?"

Harry Aiken on horseback, commanding an army. Wheeling his horse around with perfect control. Mastery. Smoke and leather and the clang of ancient weapons and still, always, his eyes on her, always on her. Tracking her, minding her, loving her.

"I could see that," she whispered, then turned to walk back toward the party. "I guess it is a bit of a Cinderella story," she continued, forcing her voice to take on a more carefree tone. "Because I'll definitely turn into a pumpkin if I don't get back to hobnobbing."

When KELLY O'HEARN first stepped off the train in the city of Florence, Italy, as a 20-year-old, she had the overwhelming instinct that she had been there before. In a place famous for its maze of medieval streets, O'Hearn navigated the city as if she had lived there for a lifetime. Born in New York City, O'Hearn first put her intuitive skills to work as a professional wine taster, instructor, and sommelier in the elite institutions of New York, Portugal, and Aspen. After raising her two children and enduring a personal health crisis, in 2012, she was drawn to begin reading the tarot cards, an ancient practice which does not presume to "predict the future" but offers a collection of stories, perspectives, and self-reflections that can guide one to become one's most authentic self. O'Hearn is in high demand for her readings, with clients on every continent but Antartica. While most people were baking sourdough or riding their Pelotons during the Covid pandemic, O'Hearn used the tarot cards to channel her own past lives. Weeks of readings, all captured on video, yielded six storylines of herself as several powerful women over the millennia and around the globe: the same one soul, over time, persevering against all odds in the quest for happiness and the love of a soul mate. This time-bending saga inspired O'Hearn to conceive of a series of novels titled Arcanum. Book One: In the Temple Shadows is available now. Book Two: Whispers in the Forest will be released Spring of 2025.

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Arcanum Books 1 & 2 Blitz

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