BLOG TOUR: The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery - Excerpt + GIVEAWAY!

Why hello there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we make way for a VERY special post as we host a stop along the current TLC Book Tour featuring one of my favorite series!  It's perfect for the time of year with the impending holiday of love approaching (*raises eyebrows*) and suited for readers coupled or single.  Raise the curtain and shine the spotlight brighter than bright.  Here comes today's featured guest....

The Girls of Mischief Bay

by

Susan Mallery

9780778317746

Mira

About the book....

Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there's a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she's never seen. He won't even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time. 

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg became VP at her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she really can have it all. 

Although Pam Eiland adores her husband, she feels restless now that the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise him brings the heat and humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she'll have to redefine herself. Again. 

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, the girls of Mischief Bay will discover that life is richer with friends at your side.

AMAZON   |   B&N   |   iBooks   |   INDIEBOUND   |   KOBO   |   TARGET

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~Squee!~

*ahem*

So, how's it sound?  Good, right?  I thought it might.  Now, I've not read it quite yet (stay tuned for my review in the coming weeks on part 2 of the tour!), but I have the esteemed honor of being one of several blogs helping to share the story with all of you!  That's right.  Follow the tour from start to finish and catch an eye full as you get an exclusive peek inside Susan Mallery's latest before it celebrates its bookish birthday February 24th!  

Now, my site happens to be stop NUMBER 11, so if you haven't been following the tour to date, I suggest you CLICK HERE to do a little pre-reading....wouldn't want you missing out on any of the fun now would we?  If you ARE all caught up, get your peepers ready because here comes the next piece to the growing bookish picture....

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*** EXCERPT ***

     While Lulu was a sweet, loving, well-behaved little girl, she came with several expected Chinese crested issues. She had skin allergies and soft teeth, luxating patellas and tummy problems. They were lucky in that her eyes were fine. And her moving kneecap didn’t seem to be a problem yet. John said it was because the dog never walked anywhere.

     “You’re cute,” Pam told her pet as she carried her to her small SUV. “Of course people want to carry you.”

     Lulu was six years old and had a veterinary file so thick, it was broken up into two folders at the vet’s office. Pam had a feeling that a lot of other families wouldn’t have been able to afford her chronic medical costs, but she and John were blessed. For all his complaints that Lulu cost as much as sending any one of their kids to college, the truth was, he adored her.

     Now Pam climbed into the driver’s seat of her SUV. Lulu scrambled into her doggie car seat. Pam put her in her harness and made sure it was attached to the restraining leash, then confirmed the air bag was off.

     “Ready to see Dr. Ingersoll?” she asked.

     Lulu wagged her tail in agreement.

     The drive was only about ten minutes. Come summer, it would take three times that long. Tourists loved Mischief Bay. Despite the fact that it was often warm and sunny all winter long, most visitors didn’t bother their little community until Memorial Day weekend. Which made it nice for locals.

     Pam drove along T Street and then turned right into the parking lot of Bayside Veterinary. Lulu whined until she was released from her harness, then jumped into Pam’s arms for the short carry inside.

     “Hi, everyone,” Pam said as they walked into the foyer.

     The two receptionists smiled at her. “Good to see you, Pam. How’s our favorite girl?”

     “Doing well on the new cream.”

     Pam set Lulu on the ground. The slightly pink dog with the dark patches raced behind the counter and greeted the two women.

     There was much skittering of nails on linoleum and yips of excitement as she was given her soft cookie. When Lulu finished munching, she returned to Pam and waited to be picked up.

     Heidi, one of the techs in the office, appeared with Lulu’s file. “He’s just finishing up with another patient. Let’s get her weighed and in a room.”

     Pam carried Lulu to the scale in the hallway. Lulu sat obligingly until she was told she could move.

     “Exactly ten pounds,” Heidi said, making a note. “Same as always. I wish I could maintain my weight as well.”

     “Me, too,” Pam admitted.

     “We’re in room two.”

     Lulu jumped off the scale and led the way through the open doorway. Pam picked her up and put her on the examination table while Heidi went through the usual visit stats. Seconds later she left Pam alone and a few minutes after that, Dr. Fraser Ingersoll walked in.

     “How’s my best girl?” he asked with a smile.

     Pam knew he was asking the question of Lulu, but every now and then she pretended it was addressed to her.

     Dr. Ingersoll, a tall, slim, dark-haired man in his early forties, radiated sex appeal. Pam couldn’t explain it, nor did she want to. It was one of those things best left undefined.

     She was sure half his female pet parents had a mad crush on him, and she was comfortable adding herself to the ranks of the swooning. Vivid blue eyes stared out from behind adorable glasses. He always had an easy smile ready, along with a quick touch of reassurance. Sometimes, it seemed to her, that touch lingered.

     While she loved John and would never do anything to screw up her marriage, every now and then she allowed herself a little daydream. One involved a request from Dr. Ingersoll to meet for coffee.   She would reluctantly agree, he would suggest a place outside of Mischief Bay and she would pretend not to know why. Over lattes and muffins, he would confess his attraction to her and while she would be genuinely tempted, in the end, she would let him down as gently as she could. After all, she was a married woman. She might not have been a virgin on her wedding day, but John was the only man she’d ever been with. She wanted to fantasize about Dr. Ingersoll, not actually sleep with him.

     Still, those little moments helped when her day was tedious or she was annoyed by always having to take care of everyone.

     But now she was less sure of her crush. Did Dr. Ingersoll see her as a sexy, slightly older, vital woman? Or was she simply Lulu’s old and wrinkled pet mom?

     “How’s the new skin cream working?” the vet asked. He stroked Lulu as he spoke.

     “She’s scratching less.”

     “Her skin looks clear.”

     Pam watched him pet her dog and noticed that while the backs of his hands were smooth and taut, she’d developed a few age spots on hers. She held in a sigh. She didn’t like this, she admitted to herself. Not the questioning or the concerns. Not the self-absorption. She’d always considered her life to be one that was blessed. She was lucky. Lucky people didn’t get old and wrinkly, did they? Which brought her back to what the AARP really should be doing for their future members—warning them about the coming apocalypse of old age.

Text Copyright © 2015 by Susan Macias Redmond

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

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~twirls in bookish delight~

Oh, hey!  You're back!

^_^

So, what'd you think?

Well, there's more where that came from.  Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more reading delights and chances to win.  Oh, wait.  We didn't get to that part yet now did we?  Silly me!  

Ladies and gents, get ready, because here comes....

...YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN EXCLUSIVE...

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' PRIZE PACKAGE!

Woo-hoo!

Doesn't that look spiffy?

Seriously, I'm jealous that you guys have the chance to win this amazing package while I host the contest, but hey...all's fair in love and books, right?  ^_^  

Now, let's take a closer look at what this puppy holds....

~ A Pacific blue beach towel
~ Pure Paradise body cream
~ Luxury moisturizing bath bar from the San Francisco soap company
~ An autographed copy of EVENING STARS by Susan Mallery

(the first book with a character from Mischief Bay)
~ Flip-flop tea candle holder
~ Map of Mischief Bay
~ THE GIRLS OF MISCHIEF BAY Post-It book
~ THE GIRLS OF MISCHIEF BAY bookmark
~ Handy bath mini-tote
~ Susan Mallery lip gloss
~ Susan Mallery 3D luggage tag
~ Susan Mallery pen

....yep, still jealous and yet, incredibly happy to see one of you score this fab prize!  So, who will it be?  Will it be you?  Or how about you over there in the corner?  Well now, that's a question that can only be answered once the drawing ends AND of course, only if you enter!  So, how do you enter?  Easy peasy!  Just fill out the Rafflecopter below and BAM, you're in!

Entries accepted through Friday, February 20th at midnight CST.  Open to US/Canada residents, no PO boxes please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours and the fab folks at Harlequin for the chance to bring this tour to you AND the fab prize package.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour, those on the horizon, this title, the author, the publisher, or anything else that strikes your fancy, feel free to click through the links included above.  This title is set to release FEBRUARY 24th, 2015, so find a place on your wish list or pre-order it now from your favorite local or virtual bookstore (a few links of which are included above...yes, I am an enabler. ^-^).

Until next time..SPREAD THE WORD...and happy reading!