Closing The Deal by Hayley Oakes (Book Release Event)

In association with Francessca's PR & Designs, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book release event for Closing the Deal by author Hayley Oakes!

About The Book

Closing the Deal by Hayley Oakes

Publisher: Independent Self Publishing

Publication Date: Paperback - July 12, 2016 / eBook - July 20, 2016

Format: Paperback - 396 pages

               Kindle - 660 KB

ISBN: 978-1535253536
ASIN: B01IUDIY56

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Buy The Book:

Amazon UK
Amazon USA

Goodreads

Book Description:

Charlotte Blake. Cut throat business woman and a powerhouse professional. Her interpersonal skills could use some work but her career comes first.

Everything she has, she has worked for.

Luke ‘Dex’ Dexter. Her adversary at work with the face of an angel and the charm of the devil. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he’s everything that Charlotte resents.

Everything he has, has been handed to him.

He’s a self-entitled arrogant playboy. She’s an uptight work-focused bore.

Two opposing colleagues forced together in small-town America through decisions beyond their control. Charlotte and Dex must find a way to make it work and close the deal a thousand miles from home.

Charlotte can’t remember how it feels to be young and carefree and Dex doesn’t know what it means to be an adult.

When the sworn enemies unwittingly find themselves becoming a finely tuned team, neither of them are prepared for the outcome.


Book Teaser: 

                                  

Early Feedback:

The characters are written with so much complexity that I feel like I know them in and out. Some books have difficult backgrounds thrown in for good measure, but their backgrounds were pivotal in the story line. ~ Laura Barnard Author

This is the first book I have read by Hayley Oakes, it will definitely not be the last. You can’t help but fall in love with her characters from the off. They are both well written and you get drawn to them, you can feel the emotional battles they have as if they were happening in front of you. ~ Goodreads Reviews

About The Author

I have been writing stories from a very young age. My very first tool, at the age of ten, was an electric typewriter that my Dad saved from being thrown away at work. I tapped away on that for hours and hours.

I have always told stories and written stories and my favourite ones are the ones that people have told me. I collect peoples’ lives in my head, storing the most interesting and wacky anecdotes that I utilise without even realizing.

I also collect mannerisms and when I’m with someone for long periods of time I start copying their facial expressions and habits. It’s a curse but I am a natural mimic.
I love life and love making people laugh.


Author Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

                            

Going For Two by Laura Chapman (Book Release Day Event)

In association with author Laura Chapman and publisher Marching Ink, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the book release day event for Going For Two!

In honor of Going for Two’s release, I’m sharing some fun facts about the book and Queen of the League series.

Though I’ve mentioned some football teams by name—the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Green Bay Packers—in the Queen of the League series, I wanted to shy away from focusing on any real players or real teams for specifics. Knowing how big of a part Brook’s high school team would play, I created a fake one: the Lincoln West Warriors. Even though all of the people associated with the school and team are completely fictional, I did throw in a few details from my own high school: the Millard West Wildcats. Both of our schools have green and black as our colors—though our other accent was gold while the Warriors are silver. Like a lot of the little things in these books, it’s a small tribute to my past.

I hope you will check out the other facts—view a complete listing of locations and dates on my website, www.laurachapmanbooks.com—and the series.

Thank you, Kathleen, for featuring Going for Two—and me—today. Enjoy!

About the Book

Harper Duquaine is back for another season of fantasy football! This time she’s a year wiser and prepared to dominate the league. But while she finally seems to have her fantasy life in order, reality proves more challenging.

Her plans to peacefully play house with her boyfriend come to a halt when the high school suddenly names Brook its head football coach. The promotion comes with more responsibility on the field and less time at home. It also unexpectedly means more work for Harper, who already has her hands full helping a friend pull off the perfect proposal (while dodging questions about when she and Brook are going to get hitched already). Plus, a new development at work could leave her—and half of the fantasy league—jobless.

With the complications of her career and being “Mrs. Coach” adding up, Harper wonders if she’s committed to the life she’s already building or if there is something else out there.

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Goodreads

And from January 20-29 you can get First & Goal, book one in the Queen of the League series, for only 99 cents.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Goodreads

About The Author

Laura Chapman is the author of Going for Two, First & Goal, The Marrying Type, and Hard Hats and Doormats. Her work also appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and the holiday collection All I Want For Christmas from Marching Ink. She loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura makes her home in Nebraska, where she is penning her next novel.

Connect with Laura:

Author Website

Author Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Goodreads

First & Goal by Laura Chapman (Book Release Blitz: Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with author Laura Chapman and publisher Marching Ink, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the book release blitz event for First & Goal!

Author Guest Post

If you’re a follower of my blog, Change the Word, then you’re already well aware of my storied and tumultuous affair with fantasy football. If you aren’t familiar with the history, you can click here to catch up (or you can maybe guess the extent of my interest based on my use of words like “storied,” “tumultuous,” and “affair” to describe it).

Through three football seasons and five teams I’ve sought a fantasy football championship title. And five times I’ve fallen short. Regardless of my tragic fantasy football history, the journey has been good research for writing First & Goal, the first novel in my Queen of the League series.

Each season and team has been like a snowflake—unique and unpredictable, even though they’re all comprised of the same basic elements. And accordingly, I’ve picked up a thing or twelve along the way. (Some of these lessons learned may have found their way into the story…)

Here’s some of the wisdom I can impart to you:

Don’t draft drunk. You shouldn’t operate heavy machinery or a cell phone containing your ex’s number after having a few, and you shouldn’t build an empire while equally impaired. This can be challenging as football and booze tend to go hand-in-hand, but I urge you to resist the urge to overdo it. Pace yourself and hydrate. You’ll need your wits about you should your top picks go before you have a chance to take them.

Leave you sentimentality (and libido) at the door. I know there are some total hotties in the NFL. And I know you’re a longtime fan of… some team. So you definitely have favorite players if you’re a fan of the game. Forget them. Seriously. Unless you have a deep passion for Aaron Rodgers complete with a poster over your bed a desire to draft him (he’s a good pick, he’s very good) you’ll only hurt yourself by drafting with your heart or that funny feeling you get in your tummy. Talent and consistency are better drivers for your team’s future.

Sometimes you have to research. Even if you watch every game, enough decisions (and God forbid injuries) happen off the field that you have to pay attention outside of the parameters of regulation play. You don’t have to go crazy and read or watch every Fantasy Football program available, but don’t set your lineups blind.

Practice makes perfect. I used to roll my eyes at the idea of people doing mock drafts, but they really do help. If nothing else, going through the motions of pretending to draft a team before you have to will remove some of the nervous tension you might experience in the real thing. Best case scenario, you’ll notice some trends about which players will go fast that it will give you a game plan for making your own picks.

It’s okay to cry. Whether you’re happy, because you’ve somehow managed to secure a spot in the playoffs or beyond bummed that you’ve lost yet another game by a measly couple of points, give in to that urge to let it out. Just try to do it in a safe place so you don’t end up getting ridiculed by your friends or league-mates for years to come. And I highly suggest crying to punching someone in the face. It’s less messy.

I suppose I should close this out by saying something inspiring and sweet like, “The most important thing is to remember to have fun,” but I won’t. I’m sure some people find fantasy football fun (I know I did the year I was destroying every other team in the league), but it’s hard work. I’d say the most important thing is to stay classy and aware. These people may be your friends, but remember: this is war.

Links included:

http://www.change-the-word.com/

http://www.change-the-word.com/search/label/Prince%20Charming

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26057362-first-goal

About The Author

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, Hard Hats and Doormats and the Autumn and Tuck series, which appear in Merry & Bright and A Kind of Mad Courage. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Until she fulfills her dream of landing a British husband or becoming a Disney princess, you can find her in a bar penning her next novel.

Author Website

Author Blog

Facebook

Twitter
Instagram

Goodreads

Book Review

First & Goal by Laura Chapman

Book 1: Queen Of The League Series

Publisher: Marching Ink

Publication Date: September 6, 201

Format: eBook - 278 pages

               Kindle - 728 KB

               Nook 

ASIN: B0151ZBL0G

BNID: 2940151152693

Genre: Chick Lit / Sports Theme - Football / Women's Fiction

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in the virtual book release blitz hosted by the author and publisher.

Book Description:

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Then beat them.

When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.


My Book Review:

Finally! Author Laura Chapman takes her personal passion for fantasy football leagues and creates a hilarious chick lit story with a football theme to kickoff the 2015 NFL season! Yesssssssssss!

First & Goal is an entertaining chick lit tale that follows the trials and tribulations of Harper Duquaine as she delves into the competitive world of fantasy football leagues.

Author Laura Chapman weaves a sassy tale full of humor and drama that easily draws the reader into Harper's story as she tries to fit in with her new co-workers by joining their fantasy football league. As a newbie, it doesn't take long for Harper to set aside nicety and realize the competitive edge to the league ... and when you add in two sexy men who vie for her attention but who are also her challengers, what are her chances at winning the game and finding love?

As a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan who also plays the various fantasy sports leagues, I can so relate to the author's passion, and to Harper's competitive side as she learns the ins-and-outs of fantasy football leagues, and the drama that comes with it. I couldn't help but snicker as I read the story, it is just plain fun. I absolutely loved the intertwining of romance with a football theme, football fans get the best of both worlds in this nifty little story!

First & Goal is an exciting and fast paced story that flows smoothly and easily keeps the reader turning the pages. Author Laura Chapman sure knows how to weave an enjoyable tale that keeps her readers in stitches. You can't help but get caught up in Harper's roller coaster ride of a life full of crazy co-workers and fantasy football drama, and a sweet chance at romance, it's simply delightful!


RATING: 5 STARS