Book Blast: Love, Life, and Mother Nature by James C. Glassford

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. James C. Glassford will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture in the lonely shore,
There is a society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but nature more.
– Lord Byron

These poems reflect the healing powers of nature both without and within. It can amaze you and comfort you, rejuvenate and rehabilitate you— if you let it.

Discover its powers—read on!

Read an Excerpt

Summer Sunrise

Sunrise in the mountains is a majestic and moving sight

It undresses the cloak of darkness and brings the world light To the east a rosy blush begins as earth embraces the dawn Curtains of night are lifted and its shadows soon withdrawn

Tendrils of light steal down the cavernous canyons tall Like fingers of liquid lava running down a volcano wall

Caressing the cliffs and painting a sheen on their snowy faces An artist’s hand and a pastel palette touching many places

Tree by tree tree the forest takes on a new found tinge The seas too are painted from their centre to their fringe

A kaleidoscope of colour as you watch the masterpiece unfold With subtle grace and beauty like an alluring dream untold

Rays of sunlight kiss the soft belly of the fluffy clouds Brushing them with chameleon colours endlessly endowed The world awakens in the sun’s tender soft-hued glow, Each ray a promise, a new day of heartfelt hope to sow.

From darkness to light, there is a magical transition A celestial ballet in a splendid and stately exhibition The wind seems to whisper softly dispelling all fears As a chorus of songbirds add their comforting cheers

The sun ascends faster now as purples turn to gold Bringing its welcoming warmth and dispelling the cold The sky is suddenly ablaze with the early morning light Finally vanquishing the demons of the daunting night

Enjoy Nature’s peace and grandeur as it percolates within Let your heart be touched and feel a solemn serenity begin Cast aside your worries, your troubles and your woes
As renewal begins and a blissful energy soon flows

  About the Author: I am a retired physician who has been blessed with the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on earth: Vancouver Island. Throughout my life I have remained intimately connected to nature. I consider it an alternate classroom and a timeless and thought-provoking teacher. It has taught me many enduring life lessons.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240661898-love-life-and-mother-nature
Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1834182123

Excerpt Reveal: Taylor's Father by Penelope Ward

 

Title: Taylor's Father

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Age Gap (17 Years), Best Guy Friend's Father

Single Dad, Forbidden, Second Chance

Protective Hero, Sassy Heroine

Release Date: February 22, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

When my best friend Taylor gifted me a vacation at a resort owned by his grandparents, the last thing I expected was to bond with a man seventeen years older.

Tate was also vacationing alone.

He’d come to Midnight Key to clear his head and reevaluate his life.

I’d come to get over my high school sweetheart who’d dumped me.

I’d spotted the brawny, tattooed Adonis in the lobby on the first day and thought he had to be someone’s hot dad.

But then we matched on an app that paired single men and women by proximity.

The problem was? At nineteen—almost twenty—I’d lied and said I was twenty-nine.

Tate outed me on our first date, and I fessed up to my real age.

But we continued to run into each other.

And eventually we found our connection was too magnetic to deny.

While we agreed to only use first names and to part ways at the end of the trip, I’d really fallen for Tate.

I never forgot him and knew he was the one who got away.

Remember that guy friend who gifted me the trip?

Well, four years later, Taylor got married.

He’d been estranged from his dad for years, though recently they’d reconnected.

What I didn’t know was that the man I’d had that torrid affair with at the resort would be standing next to Taylor in the receiving line.

My dream man Tate? Was Taylor’s father.

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The current paperback pre-order is for the special-edition cover only. A model-cover paperback will be live on release day.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

17-YEAR AGE GAP

BEST GUY FRIEND'S FATHER

SINGLE DAD

FORBIDDEN

SECOND CHANCE

PROTECTIVE HERO

SASSY HEROINE

EXCERPT

Copyright © 2025

By Penelope Ward

The next morning, I woke up happier than I’d been in a long time.

The prospect of seeing Tate again filled me with anticipation. It was a wonder I’d gotten any sleep.

His words from last night still replayed in my head over and over.

“A responsible person wouldn’t be struggling with whether to protect you or eat you.”

God, I hoped he ultimately chose the latter.

We hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers, so I was pleased to see a message come through the dating app from him.

Tate: I’m heading down to breakfast in a few. Care to join me?

Blair: Only if you order me four different kinds of beverages to choose from. BTW, it’s never too early for an espresso martini.

Tate: You’re about two years too early.

I laughed as I typed.

Blair: Very funny.

Tate: See you in a few?

Blair: Maybe…

Tate: Brat.

Blair: You like that about me.

Tate: You’re not wrong.

My mouth hurt from smiling.

When I got downstairs, I saw Tate before he saw me. He sat at a table with a huge pile of food spread before him. How did this man look even more hot today? He wore his baseball hat backward, which was absolutely my weakness. The way pieces of his hair poked out the sides? Scrumptious. Every look he’d rocked was sexier than the last.

I walked over to where he was sitting. “Hey, you.”

He gave me a once-over, and his eyes filled with something that seemed a hell of a lot like desire as he appraised the floral sundress I wore, the top of which was held up by two skimpy strings. My current look wasn’t as dramatic as last night’s, though. Today I had gone for fresh-faced and sassy.

“Well, hello.” He smiled. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a baby…”

“No comment.”

“You’d better not.” I took the seat across from him. “How did you sleep?”

“Best sleep I’ve had in a while, actually.”

“Must have been the company you kept the night before.”

“I did have an amazing time with you last night.” Tate smiled.

He seemed genuine, and I felt myself blush. “Likewise.” I gestured to the food. “Hungry much?”

There were eggs, bacon, a huge stack of pancakes, home fries, and fruit.

“All of this is for both of us. Have you seen that buffet line? I waited for like twenty minutes. Didn’t want you to have to do the same.”

“Well, I guess I win for being fashionably late. Thank you.” I grinned. “Between the variety of drinks the first time we met and this private buffet, I’m starting to think this is your thing—hoarding food.”

He gestured to the plates. “Eat up.”

How I wish I could.

For some reason, I wasn’t all that hungry—at least for food. But it was amusing to watch this big, strong man devour his breakfast.

“What are your plans today?” I asked as he munched.

“Depends on whether a certain girl wants to hang out with me.”

“I wasn’t gonna be presumptuous. You’re the one who’s been resistant.”

“Only to certain things and for your own good,” he clarified. “I’m not resistant to your company in the least. I quite like it.”

“So what’s another safe activity we can do so you don’t have to feel like a creeper?”

Tate stopped chewing for a moment. “I was thinking maybe we could go kayaking, if you’re up for it.”

My mouth curved into a smile. “I would love that, actually.”

In truth, I could take or leave kayaking. But any activity where I’d be in close proximity to Tate today was fine by me.

“Cool. I already booked it.”

“Now you’re the one being presumptuous.”

“Maybe, yeah.” He winked before stuffing a big piece of pancake into his mouth.

Never thought I could be jealous of a pancake, but here we were.

I reached my fork across the table and began eating off his plate. As I leaned forward, I accidentally rested my foot on top of his at one point. To my surprise, he didn’t move it away. The contact sent a rush of desire through me.

I popped a piece of pineapple into my mouth. “Do anything interesting when you got back to your room last night?”

“Not particularly.” He chewed.

“After what you said about contemplating eating me, I think you might be lying.”

He stopped mid-bite and shook his head. “Even if I did do what you’re implying, I wouldn’t admit it.”

“I’m pretty sure you just did.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your face is red. You’re fidgeting. The signs are all there.”

I strategically selected a banana, holding it firmly in my hand as I slowly peeled it and took a big bite. Tate’s eyes remained fixed on me the entire time. “It was the only way I could sleep,” I added.

He nearly choked on his coffee.

“What you said riled me up,” I told him.

“Some things can remain private.” He glared. “You know?”

“So, you don’t want to know about my soothing Epsom salt foot soak?”

Tate reached across the table, grabbed my banana, and took a frustrated bite.

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

SEE ALL BOOKS HERE

New Releases: Week 4 February

                       

 

Here are this week's New Releases for February 22-28:

Releases  February 22:
1. NR by Penelope Ward

 Releases February 23:

1. Goggles by D. Williams

2. Shattered Hopes by Addy Anders

 Releases February 24:

1. Marcus by Pepper North

2. All I Need by Kaylene Winter

3. The Garden of Forgotten Things by Maeve Garner

 Releases February 25:

1. Almost Ruined by Abby Millsaps

Happy Reading!!
Melissa

Release Blitz: Redeem by Jessica Buss

 

Title: Redeem

Series: Bering Sea Crabbers Book 4

Author: Jessica Buss

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Small Town; Second Chance; Secret Baby; Blue Collar; Past Abuse (FC); High School Sweethearts; First Everything; She Runs

Release Date: February 16, 2026

In fisherman tales, there's always talk about the one that got away… This is that story.

When they were in high school, Brock and Courtney felt they were destined to be together. They'd had their future all mapped out. Until a week before graduation, when two pink lines changed everything, diverting the course of the life they'd planned.

Young and scared, Courtney made the impossible decision to keep it a secret and leave their hometown, never planning to return, and breaking both their hearts in the process.

And for years, her plan works. Until her abusive father dies, leaving her mother rudderless in her newfound freedom. Returning home with her secret daughter is the only answer. But what will happen when she comes face-to-face with the past she's tried so hard to forget but couldn't?

Thirteen years after the only woman Brock has ever loved ran from the small Alaskan island they'd called home, he learns she's back—with a preteen daughter. Too many emotions and unanswered questions hang heavy between them. And when the answers are brought to light, the chasm between them widens further. Will it be possible for them to reconcile for their daughter's sake?

HOSTED BY:

Book Spotlight with Review: Redeem by Jessica Buss

                         Book Spotlight with Review:

 Redeem 
Jessica Buss

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:

Brock & Courtney's Second Chance Romance

🦀We’re heading back to the Bering Sea… are you ready? Move over, cowboy romance, the Bering Sea crabbing captains are the new heroes in town. Ready to set your heart ablaze, these sea cowboys are made to handle the most rigorous and dangerous situations.🦀

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My Review

I received an ARC copy of the e-book for an honest review of this book. This is book #4 of the Bering Sea Crabbers. Sad to see this series come to an end.

Always good to be with the Bering Sea Crabbers.  Loved this book. It’s my favorite of the series.  Very heart-warming! 

CAWFILE: 10.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!

Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!

Melissa 

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FTC Disclosure: The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company has provided me with a copy of this book for review or I have purchased the book with my own funds.  The opinion I share about the story are mine and have not been influenced by The Publisher/Author/Book Tour Company if received for review.

Author Spotlight: Kim Hopkinson

Author Spotlight: Kim Hopkinson

The Refugee

Kim Hopkinson

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:

In a small rural town, Bernard's seemingly perfect life is shattered when Sally, his beautiful wife and Joshua, his young son, are murdered in cold blood. Nearby, in a local village a refugee, far from home, attempts to put his violent past behind him and escape the consequences of his monstrous deeds. Caught between his fractured reality and the lies he spins Ahmed travels from town to town. Ahmed's psyche begins to unravel. Will he be able to outrun his guilt or will the truth finally catch up with him. As the investigation unfolds it seems that there were quite a few people who might have had reason to kill Sally. Leading Inspector Lawrence to think that perhaps he should look for the perpetrator much closer to home. A chilling tale of betrayal, rage and the lengths one man will go to, to protect his reputation.

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?  

KH: I was born in North London and from a young age enjoyed writing poetry and stories.I'm trained in journalism and worked on women's magazines in London. When I had a family, I discovered a love for teaching and became an infant school teacher. Later, I became a deputy head and headteacher and spent twenty years in education. I retired early to concentrate on my writing and moved to Sussex where I lives with my family. This is my first book, and I spends her time writing, raising sheep and enjoying my granddaughters.

What genre do you read? Who's an author you read? Name your top 5 authors. 

KH: Thrillers; Freida McFadden, Nora S, Claire Douglas, Jayne Austen, Lee Child

What's the best book you've read, and what do you like about it? 

KH:  Ooh, such a tough one, but I’d have to say The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas. The reason I liked this book, was that I was fascinated by the relationship between the sisters and how little they really knew about each others lives. I found the storyline gripping and couldn’t wait to find out how it ended...I wasn’t disappointed. I am looking forward to reading Claire Douglas’ latest book the New Neighbours. As much as I love writing, I’ll always be a reader first and discovering new stories like this keeps me inspired to keep creating my own.

Favorite sports.   

KH: Not really into sports. Like going to the gym. Classes; Chi Tai, Zumba, Body Balance

Favorite thing about the state/country that you live in. 

KH: Since moving to the countryside, life has felt a lot slower, in the best possible way. Surrounded by fields, fresh air and nature at its best… I’ve come to appreciate the simple moments more than ever.

One of my favourite spots? This incredible oak tree that lives in our garden, it’s been standing here for hundreds of years. A gentle giant that offers the most perfect shade on sunny days and feels like something straight out of a storybook.

Just imagine yourself here… a warm breeze, a good book (maybe even The Refugee

) and the peaceful sounds of nature. It’s the little things that inspire the most.

How long have you been writing? 

KH: From a young age (see the answer for the Tell me about yourself)

Where did you get the idea for your book, The Refugee? 

KH: People often ask me where the idea for The Refugee came from. Growing up in London and now living in the Sussex countryside, I’ve always been fascinated by the contrasts between places, the stories people carry and how seemingly ordinary lives can hide extraordinary secrets. That curiosity became the heart of my first novel.

Looking ahead, I’m already deep into my next project! I’m currently in the character development stage of a brand new book. While it isn’t a sequel, readers will recognise Inspector Lawrence from my previous novel as he takes on a fresh investigation. I’m excited to see where the story leads and I can promise a mysterious, unexpected ending.

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser? 

KH: A plotter

How did you come up with the ideas for your series? (If your book is a 

standalone or nonfiction, please skip) 

KH: Standalone

How do you celebrate finishing a book? 

KH: Went to a local restaurant

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write? 

KH: I retired which gave me the time to write

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?  
KH: My husband

How do you name your characters? 

KH: No method, it's random. But if stuck, I look online for a book of names

 Can you describe a typical day in your writing life? 

KH: Juggling housework, looking after my granddaughters, going to gym and writing in between. Nothing glamorous!

Tell us about your current release. 

KH: Putting the final touches to my current novel. It's about the daughter of a crime boss who gets kidnapped. It's a story of revenge, betrayal, and the pursuit of power, don't want to give to much away at this stage.

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Kim Hopkinson was born in North London and from a young age enjoyed writing poetry and stories. She trained in journalism and worked on women's magazines in London. When she had a family, she discovered a love for teaching and became an infant school teacher. Later, she became a deputy head and headteacher and spent twenty years in education. Kim retired early to concentrate on her writing and moved to Sussex where she lives with her family. This is her first book, and she spends her time writing, raising sheep and enjoying her granddaughters

Release Blitz: Owning Jett by Lucy Lennox

 

Title: Owning Jett

Series: Made Marian Legacy #3

Author: Lucy Lennox

Genre: Gay Romance

Tropes: Accidental Rent Boy, Secret Relationship

Billionaire, Intrigue, Late Bi-Awakening

Release Date: February 17, 2026

BLURB

Two weeks. One villa. A dangerous game of seduction and lies.

My job is simple: get close, get the intel, get out.

Then Locke Maris walks into my op.

He’s cold. Controlled. Heir to a billion-dollar shipping fortune. And so aggressively straight he doesn’t even look at me twice…

Until he does.

Locke makes me an offer: play his assistant by day, be his secret lover by night, at a house party where the world’s elite will gather to sip champagne, enjoy the Italian sun… and play a dangerous game called Paxis. 

In this ancient variation of chess, humans are pawns and each coded move could start or stop wars. I should report this to my agency immediately. Walk away clean.

But I can’t walk away.

Because in the privacy of his suite, the moves Locke makes are just as dangerous, the words he murmurs in my ear as devastating, and the growing devotion I feel as destructive as any global war.

At the end of this, I’ll have to disappear like I always do.

I don’t get to want things that could ruin my cover—or my career.

But Locke Maris is ruthless about protecting what’s his, and as far as he’s concerned he owns me.

When everything falls apart, I’ll find out exactly how far he’ll go to keep me.

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COMING SOON

Releasing September 22

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

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AUTHOR BIO

Lucy Lennox is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of the A.C. Katt Gay Debut Novel Award.

After enjoying creative writing as a child, Lucy didn’t write her first novel until she was over 40 years old. Her debut novel, Borrowing Blue, was published in the autumn of 2016. Lucy has an English Literature degree from Vanderbilt University, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the years and years of staying up all night reading tantalizing novels on her own. She has three children, plays tennis, and hates folding laundry. While her husband is no shmoopy romance hero, he is very good at math, cooks a mean lasagne, has gorgeous eyes, looks hot in his business clothes, and makes her laugh every single day. She writes gay romance with heart, humor, and heat!

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