Thursday, October 14, 2021

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: The Girl in the '67 Beetle by Linda Lenhoff

 


The Girl in the '67 Beetle

by Linda Lenhoff

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GENRE:   Contemporary Romance 

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BLURB:

The art director of Kids Press, Amy Shepherd has been assigned to reinvent the story of Goldilocks, and she finds her own life reflecting a similar tale. Will she fall for a man who’s a little too old (but exciting), a man who’s a little too young (but awfully exciting looking), or a man who’s just right, at least as far as her friends are concerned? Or will she bring Goldilocks’ story—and her own—up to date with a little help from high-technology and the Goldilocks Planet theory? Amy will have to decide how her own tale will end, all the while driving her beloved powder blue convertible through the streets of Santa Monica, where she has become known as the Girl in the ’67 Beetle, the only thing in her life that, so far at least, feels just right.

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EXCERPT"

I think it’s a sign of our times that when we feel low or

confused, unsure or unloved, we look for someplace

warm and comforting, with soft colors and soothing

music, and find ourselves time and again at Pottery Barn. At

least, my pal Susan and I do.


“Shopping has gotten a bad name,” Susan says. Susan is

my bestie from college, though we don’t use the term bestie

because it’s a little too cute, and Susan is a serious person.

She has a serious face with a serious haircut—auburn tinted

straight hair, excellent posture, and one of those fit bodies

where everything’s proportioned right. I think it’s because

she’s tall. But she doesn’t lord it over me or anything.

 

“It’s true,” I say. “I feel guilty shopping now. Even window

shopping makes me look over my shoulder to make sure no

one’s watching. When did this happen?”

 

“It’s all those TV shows where women in too much eye

makeup are constantly shopping for shoes.

 

“I’ve never willingly gone into one of those pricey shoe stores,” I say.

 

“Boutiques,” Susan corrects me.

 

“That’s a polite word for them,” I say. “What’s wrong with

DSW? What’s wrong with grabbing your own size and putting

shoes on yourself?” I ask.

 

“You just don’t get what it means to be a modern woman,”

Susan says, raising her nose in the air. “A modern woman who

spends money on shoes that hurt.”

 

“I’d rather have a nice quilt,” I say, looking at a nice quilt.

It’s five-hundred dollars, so I won’t be buying it, either. But

at least if I did, it wouldn’t pinch my toes.

 

I am scanning the aisles of Trader Joe’s, looking for

something celebratory but inexpensive for dinner. It is

my anniversary, and I realize I’m acting a little like a New

Agey Hallmark card for a thirty-four-year-old celebrating the

first anniversary of her divorce (and you just know the card

would be too pink, with a girl holding a martini glass with too

much martini in it).

 

Trader Joe’s is the grocery store where I came as a college

student to buy very cheap wine (I still buy it) and big blocks

of cheese (I’ve cut down on the cheese—dairy, you know).

The store looks brand new, having undergone renovation this

past year. A lot like me, but more fluorescent and way more

noticeable. You can now find some form of chocolate at the

end of almost every aisle. Something that makes me think they

know I shop here, or there are a lot more women like me than

I ever thought.

 

A crowd has gathered around the low-carb section, which

thankfully isn’t too large an area. Lots of women studying the fine print.


An older man is watching the low-carb folks, too. He looks

at me, and we share a smile. He then accidentally turns and

knocks over an entire rack of chocolate bars (the ones with

the white wrappers and hazelnuts inside, a very good choice),

and the whole group of low carb-ettes turns to see, with looks

of longing on their determined faces. The older man looks

slightly bemused.


“You’re a tempter, is that it?” I ask, helping him pick up the

bars. I put one in my basket. I don’t care if it fell on the floor.

It’s wrapped. 

 

“Who could resist?” he says, with a mischievous smile on

his face. “Thanks for the help. I should buy you a chocolate

bar,” he says.


“Please, I’m over thirty,” I joke. “You should buy me two.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Linda Lenhoff has worked in publishing as a writer and editor for several years,  having edited nearly everything from makeup techniques (apply blush up and over  the “apples” of your cheeks) at Seventeen Magazine to migraine studies (cut back  on that chocolate) at research institutes. She has earned an MFA in Creative.

Writing, and her next novel, *Your Actual Life May Vary, will be published in 2022. Linda lives in California’s Bay Area with her husband and daughter. Contact Linda at (925) 784-9393, lenhoff@informativity.com

https://lindalattelessons.wordpress.com. Author photo by Haley Nelson.


Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-67-Beetle-novel-Lenhoff-ebook/dp/B0977M7ZNT/

 

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GIVEAWAY:

Linda Lenhoff will be awarding one printed copy book or a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!

September 20: Novels Alive
September 20: Romance Novel Giveaways
September 21: Literary Gold
September 22: The Avid Reader
September 23: All the Ups and Downs
September 24: Christine Young
September 27: Viviana MacKade
September 28: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
September 29: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
September 30: Andi's Book Reviews review
October 1: Fabulous and Brunette
October 4: The Key Of Love
October 5: FUONLYKNEW
October 6: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
October 7: Harlie's Books review
October 8: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
October 8: Joanne Guidoccio
October 11: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
October 12: Gina Rae Mitchell review
October 12: Phoebe's Randoms
October 13: Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
October 14: Locks, Hooks and books
October 15: Sandra's Book Club review
October 15: Westveil Publishing






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8 comments:

  1. Hi Amy,
    Thank you so much for hosting my third rom-com, The Girl in the '67 Beetle! I wrote it to be pure fun, like a day at the beach. Did anyone else have a classic car in their family? Mine was a '68 Camaro convertible. I still miss it!

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  2. Cute cover! Thanks for sharing an excerpt. I really enjoy reading fairy tales retold with an adult twist. My question for the author, what inspired you to retell Goldilocks and add in a classic car?

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  3. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. I love the cover! Happy release!

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  5. The book sounds like a fun read. Great cover.

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