Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Warwick's Mermaid by Ellie Gray

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Warwick's Mermaid by Ellie Gray. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a great guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the tour for more content. Enjoy!

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Title: Warwick's Mermaid

Author: Ellie Gray

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: July 28th 2021

Print Length: 250 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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Having escaped an abusive relationship, Chloe MacGregor is determined to put the past behind her. The little cottage high up on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful North Yorkshire town of Whitby is her safe haven, somewhere she is free to be herself.

When the arrival of her new neighbor and boss, Luke Warwick, threatens her peaceful, sheltered life, Chloe is forced to confront her past and to re-evaluate who she really is. Falling in love with Luke is not part of her plan but, to her surprise, Luke is falling for her too. The only thing preventing their happy ever after is Chloe herself. Will she ever truly learn to leave the past where it belongs?

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EXCERPT:

“Oh, Jasper, what was I doing? I made such a fool of myself last night.”

The German Shepherd looked up expectantly on hearing her name, thumping her tail on the carpet as Chloe sank onto the sofa and dropped her head in her hands.

“I can’t believe I kissed him. A complete stranger, and I kissed him!” She squeezed her eyes shut, her cheeks burning as she remembered vividly what it had felt like to be held in his arms, and her own completely unexpected response to his passionate kiss. She looked up when Jasper whined and pushed a wet nose against her fingers.

“Okay, you’re right; think positive.” Chloe took a deep breath, and straightened up to address her dog. “So, lessons learned from last night. Number one, Lucie is a total bitch…excuse my language.” She grimaced apologetically at Jasper. “But she is. She is definitely not a friend, and you’d better remind me of that the next time she rings or texts me.”

“Lesson number two.” She counted off on her fingers. “Chris…Chris is…” Her chin wobbled and she paused, taking a moment to bite back sudden tears. Jasper shuffled closer as if sensing her distress, resting her head on Chloe’s knees.

“Thank you, Jasper. I love you, too.” She scratched Jasper’s ears before nodding her head. “Lesson two. Chris is a complete and utter bastard, and obviously still has the power to hurt me, if I let him. But I won’t, I can’t. Otherwise, this last year has just been a complete waste.”

“Lesson number three. Not everyone is like Chris; there are still some good guys out there. Guys like Luke Warwick, for instance.” She paused, head on one side as she considered. “At least, I think he’s a good guy. Not that I’ll ever see him again, thank goodness.”

She blew out a long breath. “Ohhhh, and lesson number four. Do not go around kissing said good guys. Just because I found out that I do actually like kissing some people, it does not change the fact that I am no good at the whole kissing and sex thing.”

Chloe smiled and lifted Jasper’s furry face, looking into the dog’s beautiful, brown eyes. “And finally, lesson number five. The same lesson as every other day. I am a good person, and just because I’m rubbish in bed, it does not give someone the right to treat me like dirt.”

“There.” She let Jasper go and walked over to the window, looking out over the cliffs. “I think that’s more than enough lessons for one day, don’t you? How about going down to the beach?”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I love to write heartwarming, contemporary romance, and romantic suspense novels, with characters I really want my readers to engage with. I live in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire in the UK and, although I work full-time in the public sector, my favourite pastime, when not writing, is wandering around old stately homes and castles, or sitting at a pavement café in the sun and watching the world go by – always on the lookout for something that might spark the idea for my next novel.

I enjoy engaging with both readers and other authors, and am a proud member of the Romantic Novelist Association. Feel free to contact me and chat about all things romance through my social media pages.

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GUEST POST:

- What is the most romantic thing someone has done for you?

My husband is not necessarily the most naturally romantic man, but he does have his moments. There are no grand, sweeping gestures, no whisking off to a romantic hideaway with flowers, chocolates and champagne – if that is considered romantic? But David does have moments where his thoughtfulness takes me by surprise and makes me realise that he does listen…sometimes 😊

A couple of things spring to mind that I would consider romantic and thoughtful. I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, and have bookshelves full of books, have been to Egypt, though not with David and not for some years, and have written a novel set in Egypt. One Christmas, when we hadn’t been together for all that long, David bought me a gift which I treasure – a 2,000 year old necklace made of tiny faience beads. I think he would like me to wear it, but I daren’t – it is so fragile and precious, and I am just blown away with the thought that these beads were worn by someone so long ago. Who knows, perhaps even an Egyptian princess…

The second thing I remember, and treasure, is a painting David did for me. He is a talented artist, though he would deny it, and paints rarely. When we first met, I had fairly recently separated from my first husband, and I was living in a small cottage – the first time I had lived alone. That was the beginning of a new life for me and I loved finding out who I really was. I also loved the beautiful cottage garden – it was far too big for me to cope with to be honest, but it was beautiful. But after living there for a couple of years with the children, the owners put the rent up and I couldn’t afford to stay and had to move. I often talked to David about how I loved the garden, and how it represented a new beginning for me. One Christmas he presented me with a little framed painting of the garden – he’d found one of the photographs I had of the garden, and painted it for me. I still love looking at that painting.

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GIVEAWAY:

Ellie Gray will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway