Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway - - Double Dog Dare

Double Dog Dare
by Tracy Solheim
Milwaukee Growers Football - Book 2
Publisher: Sun Home Productions
Release Date: July 25, 2022
Reviewed by PJ



They say he who dares wins…

Luke Kessler is known for his daring play on the field and his carefully scripted life off it. The Growlers’ wide receiver has a strict rule of dating one carefully chosen woman per season, then letting her down gently. After all, his game is football, not love. That is until his dopey mutt falls for a French bulldog owned by a hot mess of a woman whose sassy mouth and mind-blowing curves have him fumbling his best laid plans.

After a humiliating concert performance played out in front of the world on social media, cellist Summer Pearson has sworn off a career in music. Forever. She’s hiding out with her grandparents in Milwaukee, licking her wounds and preparing for a predictable, if not boring, law career. The last person she needs challenging her life choices is a sexy, dog-rescuing jock who loves his grandma as much as he loves a good dare.

Especially when that same guy is dating her perfect cousin.


PJ's Thoughts:

I've already read this book twice. I have no doubt I'll probably read it again. As much as I enjoyed the first book of Solheim's Milwaukee Growlers Football series, I loved this one even more. Such a funny, swoony, heart-tugging, sassy, feel-good story! 
There are so many facets to this story it's impossible to claim only one as my favorite. The team dynamics are spot on with the scenes featuring the Growlers players among some of my favorites in the book. I can't be the only one eager for the QB's story. And then there's the rookie receiver. What an endearing character; I just wanted to hug him. The seniors are by turns hilarious and poignant, bringing me to laughter and tears more than once. And don't get me started on the dogs. Scene stealers, the both of them! 
But it's Luke and Summer who captured my heart. I laughed with them, cried with them, ached with them. I loved these two so much! Solheim did an outstanding job of creating two multi-layered characters with emotional baggage and complex family dynamics who I couldn't help but root for. Their journey was filled with laughter, sexy shenanigans, achingly poignant sweetness, surprising revelations, and, of course, a happily ever after, in more ways than one. 
Whether you love football, dogs, music, or just a fast-paced, fun, contemporary romance that will tickle your funny bone, touch your heart, and keep you eagerly flipping pages from beginning to end, I recommend adding Double Dog Dare to your reading list. 

~~~~~~~~~

Tracy Solheim joins us today to share a bit about her writing process and her Milwaukee Growlers. Welcome, Tracy!

Thanks for inviting me to the dish today, PJ! I’m excited to tell readers about my new book featuring hunky football players, adorable dogs, zany senior citizens, and a happy ever after for two people who don’t think they deserve one. But first, I thought I’d pull back the curtain and give readers a peek inside an author’s process.

Writing a novel is a solitary endeavor for most authors. We spend hours each day wrestling with our keyboards to make the words in our head sound just as exciting on the computer screen. But for each of us, our process is very different.

I know a lot of authors who can’t write unless they are streaming a television show in the background. I’m always stunned by this because if it’s a good show, I’m usually sucked into watching in the first few minutes, and there’s no way any words will flow for me until the show is over. Except then, I’ll have to binge the entire series.

Other writers like to park themselves in a coffee shop or library to get their words down. I’m too easily distracted by the conversations—both verbal and non-verbal—going on around me to get any writing accomplished outside of my writing cave. And if you don’t think we authors use the little tidbits we hear around us, think again! So if you’re going to argue with someone on your cellphone, put it on speaker so we can listen to both sides. 😊

Still, other authors use music as background noise while they write. I used to be able to do that when I was working in non-fiction, but not so much anymore. I’ve tried streaming one of those “brain music” apps to get the words flowing, but all that did was remind of the dentist’s office, and then I was too stressed to write.

            That’s not to say that music doesn’t play a big role in my books. I often associate certain bands or genres of music with my characters and scenes. Never more so than in my upcoming book, Double Dog Dare. Summer Pearson, the book’s heroine, is a YouTube famous cellist who has lost her edge after a humiliating performance streamed all over social media. Originally, I planned to make Summer a classically trained musician, but that seemed too serious for her. Instead, I wrote her as a musically gifted woman who possesses relative pitch and can play any tune by ear. In the book, she performs music from every genre, including a lot of recent pop hits. I enjoyed coming up with a playlist for her various performances. If you’re interested, I have a link to the playlist for you here.


            Do you like to listen to music while you work? I’ve got a signed print copy of Double Dog Dare for one of you (international winner will receive a digital copy) along with some fun swag. Just tell me in the comments your favorite genre of music. My playlists are pretty eclectic, everything but heavy metal and hard rap.

 




31 comments:

  1. This sounds like a book that I would really enjoy. Thanks for the chance. I don't listen to music while I work.

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    1. You're like me. I have to have it quiet. Unfortunately, my work soundtrack usually involves a snoring dog! Thanks for stopping by today.

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  2. I do listen to music while doing other things....on a regular basis. There is a terrific radio station in East Texas - they play oldies....I like them. I enjoy classical - Chopin, Vivaldi and Debussy are some of my favorites....lyrical. I also listen to country - Everyone from George Strait to Luke Bryan to Carrie Underwood to Trisha Yearwood. All this depends on what I need at the time. If I need a lift, sometimes I listen to Harry James and Glenn Miller. As you can see, I live in the past. I was younger then.
    Thanks for this review and the introduction to the story. I love stories about sports. I have several of this series on my Kindle and I hate to admit that I have not dipped my toe in yet. I will be doing that very shortly.

    Hope everyone is well and cool.

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    1. I forgot to tell you about one of the best music stations I listen to online. ...parischanson.fr. I do not speak French, and I have no idea what the lyrics are saying most of the time. But, it is so great - and different. Y'all need to try it if you are into a musical adventure.

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  3. I work for a local Top 40 radio station so I have to listen to music while I work :-)

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  4. My favorite genre of music is rock from the 70's and 80'.

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    1. We listened to an 80s rock station on Sirius a few weeks ago while on a ten hour drive. It got a little weird when Rick Springfield came on with his own show. I felt OLD!

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  5. I listen to music whenever I get a chance. I enjoy all kinds of music from Josh Groban to Ed Sheeran, oldies to current pop, and easy listening to rock.

    By the way, I really enjoy Tracy's books. This one has been on my wish list for a while.

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    1. Sounds like we have similar taste. Thanks for stopping by today.

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  6. Because I have tinnitus, I can't function well in silence--I need a radio or tv in the background.

    denise

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  7. "I remember when I was young; me and Elton had so much fun . . . " (Insert "Crocodile Rock" tune!) Yup, that's where my heart lies. Thanks for the review, PJ. I never even contemplated "football" stories until SEP converted me, and this one sounds really good. And of course, a story with a dog is always better than a story without a dog!

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  8. I always have music on while working as background noise. Thanks PJ for the great review and Tracy for joining us and sharing about herself.

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  9. I listened to the Double Dog Dare playlist while I "worked" in the pool this morning. Loved it!

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  10. I can't wait to read Double Dog Dare! I do like having music playing and will listen to and enjoy pretty much all genres (except for hard rap) but rock and pop tend to be my fall back ones.

    When I worked retail we had to have family friendly music, which makes sense. My manager hid the remote so he was the only one who could change stations, etc and threatened to write up anyone who messed with the music. That wouldn't be too bad except for the fact that he only played the Beatles and 70s folk music. One day when he was off The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald played 5 times in an hour! To this day the song makes me twitch. LOL

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  11. I would listen to music when I was working and writing computer programs. It helped block out the surrounding noise & the beat would help me type. Listened to all sorts of music: Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Musical soundtracks like That Thing You Do, James Galway the Irish Flutist, etc. Your review really makes me want to read this book!

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  12. I remember music playing in the background when I did my homework. I always have music playing when I drive, do yard work, clean, cook…
    I like acoustic guitar, soft rock, classic rock, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, some pop, classical recently added a few pop country songs from Old Dominium, Sam Hunt, Keith Urban and Luke Bryan.
    I’m looking forward to reading your Milwaukee Growlers series! I love athletes as heroes and heroines.

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    1. I saw Old Dominion a few summers ago. They put on a fabulous show!

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    2. I’m jealous!

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  13. I do enjoy music and generally have something going when I'm working and driving. I like a wide variety: classical music, Celtic, classic rock (I'm a 60's and 70's girl), Sting, Santana plus many others. No heavy metal or most rap for me either. I have a bad habit of putting a song like Sting's Desert Rose on constant repeat and just letting it go on forever. It works if I have something I have to concentrate on and just want background.
    Your Growlers series sounds like an enjoyable one to follow. For me, add in dogs and delightful & interfering elders adds so much to a story. Your two main characters sound like people we can cheer for on their way to a HEA. Thank you for the comments and the giveaway.

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  14. Tracy, I just noticed your comment on Elton John above. We were volunteer ushers for several years at our local city venue. We were fortunate enough to see Elton in concert 3 times. I liked the first one the best. It was just him and his piano. He played for 90 minutes straight. Awesome. The other concerts with a band and flashy video and light effects were good, but I like the personal connection the first one gave.

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    1. Oh my gosh, I'm so jealous, Patricia! How fun!

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    2. This book sounds wonderful and yes sometimes I put on music while cleaning the house.
      Patty B. Coral

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  15. I just bought the new book on Kindle. Love football (and baseball, too). I also have three rescue dogs. I can't wait to read this at the pool tomorrow but a signed copy would be displayed on my shelf.

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  16. Hello..The book sounds like it will keep me a reading.

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  17. I'm so excited to read this, especially after reading this! Kathleen Bylsma

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  18. I have the radio on all the time. At work and in the car. Listen to country, rock, R & B, and blues.
    This looks like a great book and live series.

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  19. This book sounds great. I do not listen to music while I work. Some of my favorite singers are Lady Gaga, Pink, Josh Groban and Andre Bocelli. Cathie P.

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