Sugar Sand Land by Patricia Leavy | Spotlight & Guest Post
She turned fame into an art form. He walked away from the spotlight. What happens when their worlds collide?
In Sugar Sand Land, Patricia Leavy introduces Emerson Blue, a social media superstar whose every move makes headlines, and Renn Walker, a country singer who has retreated from public life. Their unlikely connection raises an irresistible question: how much can we really know about someone whose life is constantly on display? Today I'm delighted to feature the book, a special guest post from Patricia, and a giveaway courtesy of the tour.
Book Details
Sugar Sand Land: A Novel (The Reality Star Romance) By Patricia Leavy
Published by She Writes Press on September 2026
Genres: Romance
Formats: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 214
For fans of Ashley Poston and Abby Jimenez, a contemporary romance—with a twist—about a media-savvy reality television star and a canceled country singer.
Twenty-eight-year-old beauty Emerson Blue is the second most followed celebrity on social media. A self-proclaimed “living piece of art” who rose to fame as a reality star and then parlayed her celebrity into a megabucks career as an influencer, she seems to have everything.
Forty-eight-year-old Grammy winner Renn Walker is a fallen country music star. Years ago, he was canceled following allegations of sexual misconduct, and he has lived in seclusion ever since. Once a beloved figure, he seems to have lost it all.
When Emerson and Renn meet, sparks fly. Against all odds, a star obsessed with popularity and a recluse shunned by the world fall in love. Everyone in the public and media has an opinion and thinks they know Emerson and Renn. But in a world dominated by social media—a world that blurs the lines between what’s public and private, what’s real and what’s illusion—do we ever really know anyone?
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions and thoughts shared here are entirely my own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Reader Resources
Who Is Emerson Blue? 10 Things to Know
Guest post by Patricia Leavy
Emerson Blue is one of the most famous women in the world of Sugar Sand Land-but her public persona may not tell the whole story. Patricia Leavy shares ten revealing details about her fictional celebrity.
- Emerson Blue is the second most followed celebrity on social media.
- She's 28 years old.
- She starred in a reality show about her life and parlayed it into a career as an influencer. She partners with fashion, cosmetic, and lifestyle brands. She gets paid seven figures just to show up on a red carpet or at a casino or nightclub opening. If she's there, the place becomes huge.
- She inserts Easter eggs into her social media posts. There are often double meanings. Sometimes something means something different than the obvious. She loves a good meta commentary.
- She believes a social media profile is like any other work of art. It's a creation, a representation, an interpretation. It isn't a mirror onto reality; it's a carefully curated offering that delivers the illusion of reality. It's more about misdirection and sleight of hand. She has made fame an art form.
- She has secrets.
- She believes in the power of art. Any artist can become famous through the right publicity campaign, and it's all just spin. The next big thing could be anyone. But the art they make is real. The art is always real.
- She calls herself "a living piece of art."
- She was born on Instagram.
- Her first social media post was a close-up photo of herself with the caption: Who Is Emerson Blue?
Read an Excerpt
Before you meet the author, here's a scene from Sugar Sand Land in which Renn gives Emerson a very personal reason to say yes to dinner.
Forty minutes later, a seamstress was pinning the hem of Emerson's dress when her phone rang. She grabbed it off the vanity. "It's him," she said to Diba. He rolled his eyes.
Emerson answered the call, "Hello."
"Renn here."
"Can you hold on? I'm in my dressing room prepping for a photo shoot, and they're just finishing pinning my dress. We're on a time crunch. Last-minute alterations. It'll just be a couple minutes."
"Sure thing."
As soon as the seamstress was done, Emerson handed her the garment and threw on her silk robe. She grabbed her phone. "I'm back. Sorry about that."
"Don't be. You're worth the wait."
"You're quite the smooth talker," she said. "I wasn't sure you were going to call back."
"Bullshit. You knew I'd call back." She giggled and he continued, "I needed time to write you a song."
"You wrote me a song?" she asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Hang on. I'm going to put you on speaker so I can play it."
A few seconds later, Renn started strumming his guitar and singing a country ballad in the whiskey-soaked voice that had made him a household name. Soon he was crooning the lyric, "Girl says she's blue, but she takes away my blues / Emerson Blue, making me feel new."
When he finished playing, Emerson could hardly speak. After a moment passed, she managed to say, "That was incredible. I can't believe you wrote that for me."
"Does that mean you'll have dinner with me?" he asked.
"Yes."
"How's tonight at eight?"
"Kind of last-minute. I have plans."
"Cancel them," he said.
She paused for a moment. "Okay. Tonight at eight. Where?"
"My place. Don't worry, I'll be a perfect gentleman. I'm just not into the LA scene."
"Okay," she said. "Where's your place?"
"Depends. Where do you live?"
"The Hollywood Hills."
"Then we can have dinner at my house in Beverly Hills," he said. "What's your address? I'll pick you up."
"Text me your address. My driver can take me."
"Okay. See you tonight. Anything I should know before dinner? Like you're vegan or kosher or only eat purple food?"
She laughed. "No. I eat everything. Surprise me."
"See you later."
"Later."
Emerson put the phone down and looked over at Diba, unable to stop the rosy grin from spreading across her face.
"Well, now you're fucked," he muttered.
"Yup. Definitely fucked," she agreed.
Meet the Author
Patricia's writing explores creativity, connection, and the stories people tell about themselves. Explore her books and research using the links below.
Learn more:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads | Author Hub
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Follow the Book Tour
This spotlight is part of the Goddess Fish Promotions virtual book tour for Sugar Sand Land.
Giveaway
One randomly selected winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Please check the entry page for eligibility requirements and the giveaway closing date.
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Let's Chat!
Do you think social media helps us get to know people-or makes it easier to hide behind a carefully curated image? I'd love to hear what you think!
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Some shopping links may be affiliate links; qualifying purchases may earn me a commission at no additional cost to you.
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