Gina Rae Mitchell

Kissing Kin by Karen Hulene Bartell (Trans-Pecos #1) | #BookReview #Paranormal #Romance @GoddessFish @HuleneKaren @karenhulenebartell #Giveaway $25 Gift Card

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

Quick Summary:

Bartell crafts a tale that’s as deliciously complex as a fine wine. It’s part romance, part fantasy, and all about seizing that second chance at life and love. The characters leap off the page, tugging at your heartstrings from the get-go.

Book Details

Kissing Kin by Karen Hulene Bartell
Series: Trans-Pecos #1
Published by The Wild Rose Press on March 13, 2024
Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 295

Maeve Jackson is starting over after a broken engagement—and mustering out of the Army. No job and no prospects, she spins out on black ice and totals her car.

When struggling vintner Luke Kaylor stops to help, they discover they’re distantly related. On a shoestring budget to convert his vineyard into a winery, he makes her a deal: prune grapevines in exchange for room and board.

But forgotten diaries and a haunted cabin kickstart a five-generational mystery with ancestors that have bones to pick. As carnal urges propel them into each other’s arms, they can't help but wonder: Is their attraction physical…or metaphysical?

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions

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Excerpt from Kissing Kin

Grandma’s bedtime stories echoed through my mind as I sped west on I-10. At an early age, family history had merged with myth until the name Fort Lincoln was as legendary as Avalon or Middle Earth.

But when the snow-covered peaks loomed closer, their reality was undeniable. Maybe her stories weren’t tall tales…

And what about her proverbs? “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” I winced. No job and no prospects. Mustering out after a five-year Army stint, I had to ask myself: What next? Where next?

Cody slipped into my thoughts, but I dismissed him, refusing to romanticize our breakup.

A troop of cavalry soldiers galloped toward me from the nineteenth century, but a second glance proved the images were metal cutouts–two-dimensional illusions that resembled an officer and guide leading two columns of cavalrymen.

The silhouettes evoked tales of my great-great-grandfather, Ben Williams. Beginning his military career as a scout, he’d been field promoted during combat, then commissioned as Second Lieutenant at Fort Lincoln.

I smiled, proud of our similar career paths. Maybe Grandma’s stories influenced me more than I realized.

Leaving the Interstate, I turned south. Road signs noted towns that sounded familiar from family stories but seemed as mythical as Camelot or Tintagel Castle.

Closer now, the mountains’ features came into view. No longer mere outlines on the horizon, each craggy palisade and butte towered over the highway.

Fluffy hoarfrost transformed the landscape into an icy spectacle, with flaky, crystal shards overlaying each leaf and every blade of grass. A frozen fairyland! Just the way Grandma described it. Inspired by the raw beauty, I straightened my shoulders. Maybe I’m viewing my discharge the wrong way. Instead of adrift, maybe I’m free…

Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.

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Purchase Link for Kissing Kin – Kindle

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My Thoughts on Kissing Kin

So, you’re cruising along, life’s GPS set to “fresh start,” when bam! Fate throws a curveball. That’s exactly what happens to Maeve Jackson in Karen Hulene Bartell’s “Kissing Kin” (Trans-Pecos #1).

Maeve’s navigating the twists and turns of a post-breakup life, her Army days behind her. Then, like a scene straight out of a rom-com, she skids on some black ice and kisses her car goodbye.

Enter Luke Kaylor, a struggling vintner with a heart as big as Texas. As fate would have it, they’re distant relatives. And in a plot twist worthy of a family drama, Luke offers Maeve a deal she can’t refuse: help out at his vineyard in exchange for a roof over her head.

But hold onto your hats because there’s more to this story than just grapevines and pruning shears. Forgotten diaries and a cabin with a ghostly presence kickstart a mystery spanning five generations. Talk about skeletons in the family closet!

As Maeve and Luke grapple with their ancestral ties, sparks fly. Does mere physical attraction draw them together, or is there something deeper at play?

Bartell crafts a tale that’s as deliciously complex as a fine wine. It’s part romance, part fantasy, and all about seizing that second chance at life and love. The characters leap off the page, tugging at your heartstrings from the get-go.

Veterans and their families will find a kindred spirit in Maeve, whose military background adds layers to her character. And trust me, once you start turning the pages of “Kissing Kin,” you won’t want to stop. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing until the very end. Cheers! 🍷

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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If the above link does not take you to your country’s Amazon page, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get a link for you.

Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share. Every penny helps to support this blog.

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Giveaway!

The author will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon/BN GC.

Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page for Kissing Kin

Full Tour Schedule:

March 12: Literary Gold
March 12: Country Mamas With Kids
March 19: Novels Alive
March 19: Gina Rae Mitchell
March 26: Sandra’s Book Club
March 26: Beverley A Baird
April 2: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
April 2: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

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