Thursday, December 16, 2010

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros


Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah's stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she's intrigued. What's all the fuss?

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, "MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?


Abigail Donovan should be writing the next bestseller, yet she finds the task a bit daunting seeing as how her first novel was not only a bestseller, but a selection for Oprah’s Book Club. Now with her literary star beginning to dim, her publicist, seeing the need to connect with potential readers, sets her up with a Twitter account. Abby soon finds that she has connected with a mystery man, one who claims to be traveling the world, while seeking the inspiration for his potential novel. With a nudge and push in the right direction from her mystery man, Abby finds that the challenge she faces isn’t as great as what other are going through.

Will Abby and “MarkBaynard” find love in 140 characters or less?

My Thoughts
Okay first let me say that I am not one who generally loves Contemporary reads. Yet when I heard about a novel composed almost entirely of tweets, I was intrigued. I wondered if that style of writing would add to or take away from the story and I have to say that it added to the story greatly. I found that I had a hard time putting this novel down-if it wasn’t for having to go to work, I would have read it straight through instead of reading it in two settings. “Goodnight Tweetheart” was truly an amazing book, one that actually makes the reader think about life.

I highly recommend this book. “Goodnight Tweetheart” will keep your attention with it’s quick wit and amazing flow. Although I will warn you, one minute you will be laughing the next you will be crying. Overall a MUST READ.

*READERS BEWARE* ONCE YOU READ THE FIRST PAGE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO STOP UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED THE END!!!!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul


Title: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball: A Novella
Author: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Water Brook
ISBN: 978-0-307-45899-5
$14.99
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5


Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?
In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?



Review:

Cora Crowder is on a mission-well two missions actually. Her first mission is to catch Christmas, not that it has escaped her, but to discover the right way to celebrate this blessed holiday. Her second mission is to find the perfect gift for her uncle, which not only proves to be the easier of the two, but also acts as the catalyst for the following events. After finding Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s, a quaint little bookshop, she discovers, or should I say the shop owners discover the perfect book for her uncle. After retuning home, gift-in-hand, she flips through the pages and finds one ticket to an annual Christmas Ball, sponsored by the odd owners of the bookshop.

Simon Derrick, known as Serious Simon to his coworkers which include Cora, has also ventured into the same little bookshop, on the same day as Cora. He has also discovered a ticket to this one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball, the only problem is he needs to locate another for his sister. Thus an odd series of events seems to be throwing Simon and Cora together.

Will the proprietors of Sage Street, aid the two not only in matters of the heart, but matters of faith as well?

My Thoughts:

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, has to be my favorite novella of the season. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold, as well as the characters develop. Simon’s sister, Sandy added the right touch to the story to remind the readers of the true meaning of the season, and the One we should be seeking. The lovely characters of Sage Street added whimsy and magic that made this a very charming reading.

I truly enjoyed this novella, and I have found a new book to read each Christmas. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, is one of those, curl up by the fire reads.

This book was provided by WaterBrook

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Sundays At Tiffany's Movie reminder



MOVIE REMINDER
Sundays At Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original movie from Sony Pictures Television , which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT.

Here is a bit about the book to peak your curiosity, although I imagine that knowing it’s by James Patterson has already done just that!

Book info:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

An Amish Christmas



Enjoy this Amish Christmas bestseller with an additional new novella from romance author Kelly Long.
"Christmas Cradles" by Kelly Long -- When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local Amish midwife in Paradise, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and the help from resourceful and strong Asa Lapp, whose job it is to get Anna through a dangerous blizzard to complete her midwifery rounds.
“A Miracle for Miriam” by Kathleen Fuller: This Christmas, Miriam must decide whether to guard herself or accept the love of a man who once broke her heart.
“A Choice to Forgive” by Beth Wiseman: Lydia, a widow who has given up on love, is shocked when Daniel-- a past love-- returns to the Order, and her life.
“One Child” by Barbara Cameron: This snowy Lancaster Christmas Eve will see two couples’ lives changed by the birth of one child.
Contributer Barbara Cameron is the author of fifteen novels and three nationally televised movies (HBO), as well as a recipient of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart.



I fell head-over-heels in love with “An Amish Christmas: December in Lancaster County”. This is the perfect book to give or get this Christmas. The four novellas (one is actually a bonus novella) reminds the reader of the true meaning of Christmas, with their heartfelt story’s of love, redemption, and God’s grace. This is my third encounter with Kathleen Fuller’s work, and I have to say that I have and still am enjoying her work. This book should be a must read.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr


Title: Hearts Awakening
Author: Delia Parr
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0670-2
Publisher: Bethany House
Format: Trade Paperback $14.99
Genre: Historical Fiction: Inspirational Romance
How I Read it: Trade Paperback provided by Bethany House
Rating: 5 out of 5


TWO PEOPLE IN DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES ONE UNLIKELY PROPOSAL…..

Life has left few choices for Elvira Kilmer. Her hopes for marriage and a family of her own have long since passed her by, and her arrival on Dillon’s Island, nestled in the Susquehanna River, is not of her choosing, either. She needs work, and Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper.

YET ELLIE NEVER IMAGINES THE WIDOWER WOULD BE SO YOUNG…..SO HANDSOME…..

Jackson, on the other hand, has never met anyone quite so…plain. But he quickly comes to realizes that Ellie’s presence may solve his own problems- both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage.

When Jackson offers her something quite out of the ordinary, will Ellie look beyond mere necessity and risk opening her heart?

My Review:

Elvira Kilmer- or Ellie as she is known- fears that she is firmly on the shelf. Gone are the chances that she will ever be wife or mother, and after the death of her parents she is forced to rely on the kindness (if you can call it that) of her cousin and his wife, who are not too thrilled to receive her. As a form of punishment she is sent to the widower, Jackson Smith to care for his house, although once she arrives, Ellie finds more than just a few dirty floors to occupy her time.

Jackson Smith, a widower who runs the local orchard, needs more than just a housekeeper, he needs a wife who will care for his two young sons. Although thanks to the scandal surrounding his first wife as well as that of her death, that task may prove to be a bit more difficult than he expected. Yet when a rather plain housekeeper arrives on his doorstep, he realizes that he may need Ellie for more than just tiding up.

When the two enter into a marriage of convenience they soon discover that they have quite a few obstacles to overcome, and Ellie is unprepared when she finds out that the woman who owns Jackson’s heart is very much alive. Will Jackson set Ellie aside or will he allow her to play the part of wife and mother.

My Thoughts:

This is one of my favorite books that I have read this year. There was so much emotion surging through this book that you could not help but to fall in love with the characters. I could not help to feel sorry for Jackson, he was carrying around so much hurt and anger from his past that he was too bogged down to see his future. He was also too intent on reclaiming what he though to be his grand love that he failed to see what was right in front of him. Ellie was the solace of both his spirit as well as his broken home, and I enjoyed watching as the Lord’s plan unfolded. I also have to say that the two little boys tugged at my heartstrings, as they were trying to come to grips with the death of their mother.

Overall I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a heartwarming tale of loss, love, and redemption, that proves that one can always reclaim the faith that they lost along the way.


Favorite Quote: Normally there is a certain phrase that sticks with me after reading a book, although I found that this time it was a few chapters that will be embedded in my mind. Chapters 26-27 unfolded so brilliantly that I will never forget what they entailed. I felt that they were extremely emotional for both Jackson and Ellie, and both bore their souls until they were emotionally naked so to speak. I believe that these two chapters captured the soul of the story.

If you enjoyed this book please check out my review of Walker’s Wedding by Lori Copeland.

Also please watch for my review of Delia Parr’s “Love’s First Bloom”

Friday, November 19, 2010

Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Pineiro review/giveaway


It's been six months since Liliana Carrera helped her brother rescue Caterina Shaw from Wardwell Laboratories, a group of fringe scientists experimenting on human beings. Now, Liliana--with funding from the FBI--has set up a new facility to continue testing the inhibitor complex, a cure for the patients of Wardwell. What's even better is the FBI has managed to recover another of the patients, Jesse Bradford.

When Jesse arrives at Liliana's facility, he has been drugged and displays violent erratic behavior. As Liliana helps him detox, Jesse demonstrates strange powers--superhuman strength and the ability to heal quickly.

Despite their growing attraction, Jesse is secretive and Liliana remains fearful of him. Eventually he admits that Wardwell scientists threatening his sister's life in order to maintain control over him and his powers. As they try to locate her, they begin to suspect that the scientists may have corrupted the FBI. Unless they can discover Wardwell's master plan soon, Jesse's sister, the other patients, and an unknown number of innocent people, will pay the price.
(from the publisher)



My Thoughts:

This is my first time reading a novel by Caridad Pineiro and I have to say that I was very impressed. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed “Stronger Than Sin”, and even though this novel is the second in a series it reads pretty much as a stand alone. Although it does refer to the events of the first book, I did not feel as though it took away from this story, but readers be warned once you have read “Stronger Than Sin”, you will want to read the first part “Sins Of The Flesh”.

Overall would I read this book again? Defiantly. Especially after I read the first one.

What to look forward to: Chapter 38 sets up the next book nicely, and I cannot wait to read it once it’s out.








I have 5 books to giveaway

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry No P.O. Boxes
Contest ends December 13

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Sundays at Tiffany's By James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet giveaway



Sundays At Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original movie from Sony Pictures Television , which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT. And to promote both this book as well as the movie, One lucky winner will win a copy of the book.

Here is a bit about the book to peak your curiosity, although I imagine that knowing it’s by James Patterson has already done just that!

Book info:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.



THANKS TO VALERIE AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP I HAVE 1 COPY TO GIVEAWAY!!!!

Contest ends December 15

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address as well as your favorite holiday movie.
Contest open to residents of the US and Canada only.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes



Monday, November 15, 2010

Montana Glory by R.C. Ryan review/giveaway


Title: Montana Glory (book 3 in the Fools Gold Trilogy)
Author: R.C. Ryan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-446-54864-9
$7.99
Format: Mass Market ARC


The last thing in the world Zane McCord wants is a wife. But after returning home to the family ranch in Montana to help his cousins search for the lost treasure that is their legacy, Zane can't help notice that love and marriage seem to be contagious. Both his cousins have succumbed, but he refuses. Determined to stay a bachelor till he dies, Zane wants to devote his time to filming documentaries and taking care of the ranch...and then Riley Mason walks into his life.

The last thing on Riley Mason's mind is romance. Sent to the McCord ranch to save the family's accounting problems, she only wants to impress her firm in Helena and be on her way. Life as a single mother isn't easy and she needs to impress her bosses for a raise. But when Zane McCord opens the door, her breath catches in her throat and a desire she's never experienced before takes over her. When the McCords insist that she and her daughter, Summer stay at the ranch, she's forced to give in and before long, she's pulled into their search for the long lost treasure. But she absolutely draws the line at getting involved with Zane McCord, playboy and heartbreaker extraordinaire.

But as they all get closer to finding Coot's lost treasure, a dangerous series of accidents target Riley and her daughter Summer. Can Zane keep her safe while trying to win her heart?
(From the publisher)

My Thoughts:

When I read the first and the second book, I found that Jesse was my favorite, although I have to say that after reading Montana Glory, I believe that I like Zane the best. It was fun watching him interact with Riley’s daughter Amber, I also enjoyed the way he worked through his feeling about love and staying away from it due to his parents messy marriage.

Like the two previous books in the series, Montana Glory, has everything one would expect from a R.C. Ryan romance, plus a few things that I didn’t see coming.


I have 5 copies to giveaway on November 30, 2010
Please leave your name & a valid email address
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Walker’s Wedding by Lori Copeland

Title: Walker’s Wedding (book 3 in The Western Sky Series)
Author: Lori Copeland
Publisher: Harvest House Publisher
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2761-1
$12.99
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 276 Chapters: 46
Genre: Historical Western Inspirational Romance
Rating 5 out of 5

My Review:

After a near death experience Walker McKay, owner of Spring Grass Ranch, is determined to produce an heir. There’s only one problem with his plan, he needs a wife. So what’s a man that has been previously jilted by his fiancée to do? Find himself a mail order bride. Yet things don’t go quite as planned.

Sarah Livingstone, wealthy railroad heiress, has everything that money can buy, yet she longs for more. If only her father would allow her to marry, her dreams of becoming a wife and mother would be complete. When an opportunity arises to trade places with a mail order bride she snatches it in an instant.

Once Walker and Sarah marry-it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Walker now feels as though he has been betrayed all over again. Will Sarah be able to soothe Walker’s wounded heart, or will they walk away from what could have been the greatest love they ever found?

My thoughts:

There was something about Walker that drew you in yet held you at an arms length away. You could feel the hurt and betrayal that he still holds from his first fiancée, and it haunts his existence, and only allows him to feel to just to an extent. Then there is Sarah, she is a feisty, independent thinker, and you knew that she was going to be both the balm to ease Walker’s broken heart and the catalyst to break it all over again. I knew that each scene that Sarah was in was going to be emotionally charged, and I was not disappointed. Each page held a different emotion, and I felt that Lori Copeland captured the readers attentions and held them transfixed as the plot unfolded.

Overall this was a lovely Inspirational read that held an amazing message at its core. I love it when I discover a new author that I have not yet had the pleasure of reading and fall in love with their work. I now can say that I have become a fan of Lori Copeland, I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Please note that even though this is book 3 in the Western Sky Series, Walker’s Wedding is a standalone read.

Also note that this book was originally published by Avon Romantic Treasure as Marrying Walker McKay

Friday, October 15, 2010

A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore review/giveaway


Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.



My Thoughts:

Jennifer Haymore has done it again with her new novel A Season of Seduction. This has to be by far my favorite as of yet. There is something very alluring about Jack Fulton that makes the reader want t know more about him. Plus I found that Lady Rebecca, is one of my favorite heroines. A Season of Seduction is the perfect book for a cold winters night. A must read for all historical romance fans.

This would make the perfect gift this time of year.

Fun Idea:

Instead of giving cards for birthdays or other occasions why not inscribe your well wishes on a book rather than a card. People are more likely to keep a book (something that they will read) than a card that normally they tend to throw away.

Another fun idea- if you have get-togethers or if you are like me and have teas why not use books as name holders? I simply print up the names of my guests on corresponding cardstock, secure a ribbon around the cardstock, and wrap the ribbon around the book. It’s also the perfect gift for your book club.
I know that I am going to be using A Season of Seduction for my holiday tea favor.


Five fun facts
1. After writing two books with Lady Rebecca as a young girl trying to find her place in the world, I loved writing about how she becomes a strong and independent woman in A Season of Seduction.
2. Cornwall, England, where Lady Rebecca’s property is, is one of those stark, windy places I always imagine as a setting for gothic novels. I have always wanted to write about it and visit it. Now that I have written about it and researched it, visiting is the next on the list!
3. I spent hours and hours researching the traveling time from London to Launceston, Cornwall while writing A Season of Seduction. I am always stymied by the amount of time it took to go from point A to point B using the various means of travel during this era. I’m trying to talk my husband into buying a horse for me just so I can be as accurate as possible! Unfortunately, so far, my husband is not convinced, but I’m still working on him…
4. In my last book, A Touch of Scandal, Lady Rebecca broke her arm in a carriage accident. Unfortunately, I know some things about broken arms, because my son has had two of them in two years! Lady Rebecca had the same break as my son’s first injury (a broken humerus just above the elbow), but she didn’t have access to modern medical care, so even after four years she’s still suffering from the repercussions in A Season of Seduction.
5. Christmas is my favorite day of the year, and I’d never imagined I’d be lucky enough to have the opportunity to write a historical romance set during the holiday season. Combine that with the special romance between Becky and Jack, and A Season of Seduction is definitely one of my favorites!


About the author
I’ve been writing since I could pick up a pencil….
Wait, no…that’s what every other writer says! I started writing just before my eighth birthday, and it wasn’t on my own volition. I was sailing with my family in a 42-foot sailboat across the Pacific, and since there were no local schools (except those pertaining to fish) nearby, my mother homeschooled me. She was a strict taskmaster! A veritable slave driver! She demanded a new story every day.
So I’d sit in the boat’s galley and write. And stare out the porthole, and write some more. And doodle, and write some more. By the time we arrived in Hawaii the following year, I had a portfolio of stories, and I was hooked. Since then I haven’t stopped. (Well, much. I did take breaks now and then, for things like college, young kids, and a master’s degree.)
I love to read just as much as I love to write, and actually the reading bug hit me at about the same time my mom was cracking the whip over my head and commanding me to write. What else to occupy your time with when there are no other kids to play with and nothing to do but stare at the endless sea? Some of my most recent favorites: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, River God by Wilbur Smith, and anything by Laura Kinsale and Loretta Chase.


I have 5 copies to giveaway thanks to Anna @ Hachette Books

To enter leave your name and a comment along with a valid email address.
Contest ends Nov. 30

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pajamas by Judy Parkinson


Title- Spilling the Beans on the Cats Pajamas:
Popular Expressions-What They Mean & How We Got Them
Author- Judy Parkinson
Publisher- Reader’s Digest
ISBN- 978-1-60652-171-7
Format- Hardcover
$14.95



Strike while the iron's hot and bone up on the origins of your favorite expressions

Cat got your tongue? Well, for Pete's sake, use this collection of colorful expressions to enrich your everyday speech. This book spills the beans on our best-loved euphemisms and most curious sayings, explaining their fascinating origins and the remarkable stories that surround them. It rounds up the usual suspects -- the catch phrases, quotations, and expressions that keep our language flourishing -- and makes them easy to find in a convenient A-to-Z format.
Did you know that . . .
The expressions all that glitters is not gold and apple of the eye have each been in use for more than a thousand years?
To bark up the wrong tree comes from the sport of raccoon hunting?
Embarrassed parents can thank the songwriter Cole Porter for the euphemism the birds and the bees?
(from the back cover)

My Thoughts:

WOW!! WHAT A BOOK!!!!!! I picked this up last night just to have a look through and I was so hooked I ended up reading it straight through. Not only does Spilling the Beans on the Cats Pajamas contain the where any why, it contains little adages to go all along with each phrase. This book chocked-full of the normal ever day phrases as well as some that may be new to some readers. I was pleasantly surprised with the information that filled each page. I was surprised at the origins of a few of the phrases.

Overall would I read this book/use this book again? Most Defiantly. I believe that I will find myself referring to this book quite often.

Who would I recommend it to? Any/ Every one. This is the perfect book for those who are home schooling as well as writers, and lovers of literature.

My thanks to FSB Media for sending me this copy.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon Review/giveaway


Title- Two Lethal Lies
Author- Annie Solomon
Publisher- Forever Romance an imprint of Hachette Book Group
ISBN- 978-0-446-17845-7
Release Date- 10/1/2010
Format- Mass Market Paperback
$6.99/$7.99 CAN.
Pages- 381
How I read it- Mass Market Paperback

Book description:

A LOVE TO DIE FOR………….

On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives. But when a series of shocking murders hits their newfound home, the trail leads straight to Mitch. With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn- until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer. There’s a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease. As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child. But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game. And the price of losing is the child-and the future-they could both share……………………….


My Thoughts:

This was my first introduction to Annie Solomon, and I have to say that it will not be my last.

I truly enjoyed this book. In fact I loved it, and I am not one for Romantic Suspense. The writing was very intriguing, and I found that I could not put the book down. It seemed like each time I turned the page a new challenge was waiting for Mitch. I also enjoyed the characters immensely. Mitch was an enigma, one that I could not quite figure out in the beginning. He kept me guessing, which I rather enjoyed (normally I can have a character figured out by chapter two), I enjoyed unraveling the mystery that was Mitch. Neesy was also well mapped, and I found that she completed the story and gave it a nice rounded feel, while complimenting Mitch.

Overall this was my favorite book that I have read in a while. I think that this would make an incredible movie. It has all the right elements that one looks for in a Romantic Suspense novel. Intrigue, mystery, murder, secrets, and to top it off romance. In the end would I read this book again? Defiantly, it’s a keeper that I will reread.


I also wanted to say that while reading this book, in my mind Mitch Turner was Thorsten Kaye. If any of you have watched the soap opera All My Children, the character of Zach Slater (played by Thorsten Kaye) will remind you of Mitch, or at least it reminded me.


Favorite quote:
“But Mitch was more Rochester than Darcy. And like Rochester, there was something about him. Some dark undercurrent no one but her seemed to see.”


Five Fun Facts
1. Hot Chocolate Freaks: My hero, Mitch Turner, and his 11-year-old daughter, Julia, drink a lot of hot chocolate in Two Lethal Lies. And they are VERY particular about the type. No open-packet-and-add-water for them. This comes from my stint in Seville, Spain, where hot chocolate and churros is an afternoon treat. You've never enjoyed the drink until you've had it there—thickest, richest, most chocolaty I've ever tasted. Dip in a freshly made churro—paradise! I've got a bunch of hot chocolate recipes on my website, so come on over and check them out. Or email me yours and I'll include it with the others!

2. Radio Research: In an early draft I had a car problem I couldn't solve. So, where do you go for unsolvable car problems? Click and Clack of Car Talk, of course! You can hear my question and their on air response on my website. Sadly, though, the scene using their answer was deleted from the final book. But you can still read it. Where? My website, of course.

3. Southern Yankee: My heroine, Neesy Brown, is from a small town in Tennessee. Two Lethal Lies takes her, among other places, to New York City, where she has to learn what a knish and a nosh are. I had fun with this, since I'm a New Yorker living in Tennessee and had to learn what country ham and red-eye gravy were.

4. The Iowa Way: I stationed my FBI agent in Iowa's Quad Cities so I could send him to Muscatine. My brother and his wife moved there and I had a fun time visiting them. Everyone I met was so warm and welcoming. Among other things, I got to ride a combine and harvest corn. I used the layout of Muscatine, which is on the Mississippi River, as a partial model for Crossroads, the small town in Tennessee in which Two Lethal Lies takes place.

5. Lies, the Movie: No, I haven't sold the book to Hollywood, but you can see who I'd cast if I did sell it. Go to StoryCasting.com and click on Two Lethal Lies. You'll not only be able to see who I'd cast, but you can create your own cast, too.








A native New Yorker, RITA-winning author Annie Solomon has been dreaming up stories since she was ten. After a twelve-year career in advertising, where she rose to Vice President and Head Writer at a mid-size agency, she abandoned the air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps of her professional life for her first love—romance. An avid knitter, she now lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter.












I have 5 copies to giveaway.
Contest ends October 29
To enter please leave your name & a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis review/giveaway


Title- Simply Irresistible
Author- Jill Shalvis
Publisher- Forever Romance an imprint of Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 978-0-446-57161-6
$6.99/$7.99 CAN.
Release Date- 10/1/2010
Format- Mass Market Paperback
Pages-336
How I read it-Mass Market Paperback


Book Description-

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
(from the publishers)

My Thoughts-

This was actually a good book. I found myself drawn in by the characters as well as their stories. The plot read smoothly, and while it didn’t offer that many ‘surprises’, I found it to be intriguing, and hard to put down. The only thing that I would change about this book is the cover. To me the cover seems a bit bland, I know the whole “don’t judge a book by it cover” adage, but I am afraid that if I spotted this cover in the bookstore I would walk right past it. The cover provides no allure which is sad because the book is full of it!!

Overall, don’t judge this book by its cover-give it a try and I believe that you will be pleasantly surprised. Although I will warn you once you finish this book you will be willing April to arrive so that you can read the second.


Favorite Character- While I really enjoyed Maddie and the way her character developed I found that my favorite character in the book had to be Jax. He held that extra something that will make him a memorable character.

Favorite line- At the beginning of each chapter, their deceased mother is quoted. Each quote is better than the last, although I have to say that my favorite quote would be
“If you are saving for a rainy day, you’re never going to get out of the house”




Five Fun Facts
1. Jill is more afraid of spiders than the bears that she runs into on her daily mountain hikes.
2. If Jill couldn't be a writer, she'd want to be a rock star. Only problem—she can't hold a tune to save her life.
3. Jill would take a box of cookies over just about any other food. Mother's Double Fudge, if she had a choice, but she's not picky.
4. While writing Simply Irresistible (Oct '10), the first Lucky Harbor book, she knitted her own crooked boyfriend scarf just like the heroine in the book. However, the dog ate it. You don't want to know what happened to it after that.
5. For more information on Jill, check out her website at jillshalvis.com, including her daily blog chronicling her I-Love-Lucy life.


USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.




I have 5 copies to giveaway thanks to Anna @ Hachette Books
To enter leave your name, and email address.
Open to Residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes
Giveaway ends on October 29

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A Summer of Secrets by Kathleen Fuller


In the Mysteries of Middlefield series, readers will be immersed into exciting mysteries and authentic Amish culture.

With a twin brother and five younger brothers, Mary Beth Mullet’s house is in constant chaos. Her parents don’t seem to mind the noise, but she needs a break from all the pestering and babysitting.

It’s the summer before eighth grade, and Mary Beth plans to escape to her secret place as much as possible. The old barn in the neighboring field is dangerous, and her parents have forbidden her to go there, but she escapes to it as often as she can.

Mary Beth soon discovers she is not alone in the barn. Someone is living there; someone who needs help. Can Mary Beth help the stranger without losing her secret place? And what if the barn is as dangerous as her parents say it is?

Readers will identify with Mary Beth’s struggles for peace and independence and be engrossed in the excitement and danger of A Summer Secret.




Although this is a teen book I believe that both teens and adults will adore this book. I have read numerous Amish themed books but I have found that Kathleen Fuller always offers readers a bit more than other authors. If you are searching for the perfect weekend read, this is it!

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Way Home movie review





A missing child. A family in crisis. A faith tested. In their darkest hour, God gives hope.
Dean Cain stars as Randy Simpkins, a husband and father torn between the demands of his job and family. Asked by his wife to watch their two-year-old son, Joe, for a few minutes, he becomes distracted by work. When he returns, Joe is gone. He and his wife search desperately for their missing son through the vast countryside. But as their fear grows, the community responds – hundreds of supporters uniting behind the family in a powerful spiritual journey that will test the couple’s love and faith, and forever change a community.


This was a heartwarming film that I believe all should watch. Not only did it deal with the testing the bounds of your faith it deals with reclaiming what you have lost. It was truly moving.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt review & Giveaway


Title- Wicked Intentions, book one in the Maiden Lane trilogy
Author- Elizabeth Hoyt
ISBN-9780446558945
Publisher- Forever Romance
Page-416
Price-$6.99/8.99
Genre- Historical Romance
Publication Date-8/01/2010
How I read it- Mass Market ARC


Forever Romance brings to us the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Maiden Lane trilogy, Wicked Intentions.


From the New York Times bestselling author of To Desire a Devil comes this thrilling tale of danger, desire, and dark passions. A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . . Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk .

My thoughts

I have read and enjoyed Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes Trilogy although I have to say that they fail in comparison to Wicked Intentions. The first books in the Maiden Lane series leads the way for what I am sure is going to be a highly alluring series. The relationship between Caire and Temperance draw me in so that I wanted to know more. I also liked the dichotomy of Caire and Temperance the sinner and the saint. Although a few of the scenes get a bit steamy, Wicked Intentions has that extra something makes you want to devour the book. The cover art also invites the reader to pickup the book and have a look.


Take a peek inside the covers



I have 4 books to giveaway


Please leave your name and email address.
Open only to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry no P.O. Boxes.


Giveaway copies & Arc provided by Hachette Book Group!
Thanks Anna

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What's in the Bible Episode 3 Wanderin' in the Desert


The 3rd DVD of Phil Vischer’s Wanderin’ in the Desert covers the “Pentateuch”, otherwise known as the first 5 books of the Bible. Explaining in child-friendly terms the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, as well as the difference between ethical rules & ritual rules and why some of those rules are no longer in use today. The texture of the material is rich in Biblical knowledge that could be applied to toddlers as well as grade school children, I believe that adults will even learn a thing or two. As for using this as a teaching tool, What’s in the Bible, offers a wealth of starting points that can be applied to all ages. Using this as part of a lesson plan, I would draw up a curriculum for each of the sections. Depending on the Episode you are using you could further your studies in history, science, and so forth. I highly recommend this for both homeschoolers and church groups.


A few ideas to get you started:

(History)
When discussing Moses and the Pharaoh you could use this as a jump off topic for discussing Egypt
(Social Studies)
When discussing the Laws in Leviticus use that as a way to discuss the law and rules in place today.
(English)
Each Episode has featured words as well the definition, depending on the age group use those featured words as part of your vocabulary and spelling lists.
Use the Episode of when they are talking about the Tower of Babel to either introduce a foreign language of to talk about the different languages once again this depends on the age of the students.


Each Episode offers a variety of discussion points that can be used in both your home schooling curriculum or in your Bible lessons for Sunday School or Bible school. The DVD’s are wonderfully composed with a whole cast of zany characters that will capture your child’s attention while educating them as well. I will say that older children and adults will appreciate the funny humor that pops-up every once and awhile. While the Veggie Tales were toddler oriented What’s in the Bible is for all ages.

Monday, August 16, 2010

And One Last Things by Molly Harper


“If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger.”

Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of “administrative support” his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say “instant urban legend,” Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.
Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?


My Thoughts

This was a very interesting book that offers an odd humorous look at divorce. Several of the situations had me laughing my head off, while others had me going what was she thinking. Molly Harper is a genius at contemporary writing, her characters are charming and realistic as well her take on the after affects of divorce in a small town, where everybody knows everybody. I found that this book practically flew by, I read it in about two days. The perfect dramedy for a weekend read. This is one of those books that you should give a try.

Manifest by Artist Arthur


When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moved to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener - and everything she'd ever want - except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door - Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good? (book back blurb)



Please check out the authors website

Follow Me by Joanna Scott review & Giveaway


On a summer day in 1946 Sally Werner, the precocious young daughter of hardscrabble Pennsylvania farmers, secretly accepts her cousin's invitation to ride his new motorcycle. Like so much of what follows in Sally's life, it's an impulsive decision with dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Soon she abandons her home to begin a daring journey of self-creation, the truth of which she entrusts only with her granddaughter and namesake, six decades later. But when young Sally's father--a man she has never known--enters her life and offers another story altogether, she must uncover the truth of her grandmother's secret history.

Boldly rendered and beautifully told, in FOLLOW ME Joanna Scott has crafted a paean to the American tradition of re-invention and a sweeping saga of timeless and tender storytelling


My thoughts-

First off let me say that I normally don’t judge a book by its cover, although I will say that I did on this one. The vivid greenery and splash of red hair called to saying “read me, read me, put me to the top of you tbr pile, see what I am all about”. So needless to say I listened and this was my next read. I must say that I was not disappointed, I enjoyed the family dynamics that is features and I am always a sucker for books that feature family secrets. The author has a way of pulling the reader into the story that makes you want to read more. So be warned this is one of those cant put down types of books.


I have 3 Copies of Ravens to giveaway.
To enter leave your name and email address.
Please note this contest is only open to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes.

Contest ends August 31st

Ravens by George Dawes Green giveaway


The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.



I have 3 Copies of Ravens to giveaway.
To enter leave your name and email address.
Please note this contest is only open to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes.

Contest ends August 31st

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand review


Rylee Monroe was once a member of Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, although that was many years ago, so many in fact Rylee has almost no memories of living among the elite. After her father, a prominent lawyer, up and leaves both his job and his family, and her mother dies, the life Rylee once knew no longer existed. With debt piling up her grandmother has no choice but to enlist the aid of her fathers partner and sell off the families home and possessions.

Like I said that was long ago. Rylee is now a dogwalker for Charleston’s elite, earning enough money to pay for her grandmothers (her grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s) care in a nursing home. When Rylee encounters a robber in the house of one of her clients, she finds that the streets that she once loved are more dangerous than she ever has imagined, and someone is intent on following her. After the thief targets the homes of her clients, Rylee not only has to deal with her stalker, she now has to prove that she is not the so called “Robin Hood thief.”

Logan Woods is a reporter hoping to crack the case and turn his findings into a bestselling novel. Discovering Rylee may have more information than she is letting on, Logan takes the investigation into his own hands hoping Rylee will be selling point to his story, although he never imagined that he, the man who is terrified of dogs would develop feelings for a woman who is a dogwalker.

Now Logan is faced with a life altering decision, will he choose the girl, or his story? If he chooses the girl will he clear her name, or be the one to put her behind bars?

My thoughts?

I liked this book, it kind of put me in mind of Susan May Warren’s P.J. Sugar series, a light mystery, with uplifting undertones, and an adorable love story to boot. The characters were full of charm, and I found myself liking both Rylee & Logan from the start. Plus I love novels that are set in Charleston, it seems that its impossible for the city just to be a background and in this book it has become a character in its own right. Another intriguing aspect of Beguiled was the plot, not only was it a weekend mystery/love story, it was a story of self-discovery, and a sort of riches to rags type story whereas normally authors have the whole Cinderella type theme.

This book was provided by Bethany House, my thanks for sending me this copy.

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand review & giveaway



Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.



The Castaways, well, what can I say about Elin Hilderbrand that hasn’t been said before? She is an amazing writer, that writes with conviction and emotion. You can feel what each of the characters are going through, it so vividly described that you almost feel as though you among them, while each deal with fallout the occurs after the death of the MacAvoy’s. I would highly recommend that each of you push this to the top of your To Be Read list.





Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.


What’s better than winning 1 Elin Hilderbrand novel? How about winning two?

As a treat for you I will also thrown in an audio book of The Island ,Elin Hilderbrand’s newest novel.
The Island




I have 3 sets to giveaway on the 30th of August.
To enter leave your name and email address
Open only to residents of the US & Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes

The Secrets of Newberry by Victor McGlothin giveaway


Two lifelong friends are about to discover the hard side of life in The Big Easy after a heinous crime is committed . . . THE SECRETS OF NEWBERRY 1950s New Orleans couldn't be sweeter for Ivory "Bones" Arcineaux and Hampton Bynote. Friends since meeting at an illegal gambling house outside Newberry, Louisiana, they indulge themselves with all the fine women, good food, and wild nights they can handle. All seems good in N'awlins-especially for Hampton, who plans to make a clean break from riotous living after falling for the woman of his dreams, classy Magnolia Holiday.



I DID NOT FINISH THIS BOOK. I simply could not get past the first few chapters and I figured life is simply too short to read a book that cannot hold my interest.


I do have three copies to giveaway on the 30th of August.
To enter leave your name and email address
Open only to residents of the US & Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes

She's Gone Country by Jane Porter giveaway


Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustrated led a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he'd fallen in love with someone else. Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves.



My Thoughts:

At first I was a bit worried that this book was going to be way over the top, I was surprised when I found that it was actually quite subdued with the whole Southern vibe that the title possesses. I half expected it to be twangy, boot-wearing, pure country type of boot and in reality it was a nice refreshing read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, and enjoyed the journey Shey takes while finding who she is. Although there were a few heavy moments in the story, this was more of a light weekend read.

I almost forgot to tell you, give this book a chance the beginning is very slow,so stick with it, it gets better as you go!





I have three copies to giveaway on August 30th.
To enter leave your name and email address
Open only to residents of the US & Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes


Giveaway & review copy provided by Hachette Book Group

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Giveaway Extravaganza

I have a few copies of left of each book, so please list the ones that you would like to be entered for in your comment along with your name and email address.


Once again the giveaway is only open to residents of the US & Canada.
No P.O. Boxes



HOW CAN THIS PASSIONATE KNIGHT...
Renowned beauty Lady Linnet is torn between two desires: revenge on those who destroyed her family or marriage to her childhood sweetheart Sir James Rayburn. One fateful night, she makes a misguided choice: she sacrifices Jamie's love for a chance at vengeance.

TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST?
Jamie Rayburn returns to England in search of a virtuous wife-only to find the lovely Linnet as bewitching as ever. Their reckless affair ignites anew, even hotter than before, although Jamie vows to never again trust her with his heart. Then just as Linnet begins to make amends, she's tempted by one last opportunity to settle old scores. But a final retribution could cost her Jamie's love - this time forever.




FORBIDDEN LOVE

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER




They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their...

MONTANA DESTINY



Robin Wells takes us back to Chartreuse, Louisiana, for a deeply moving story of forgiveness and second chances.

STILL THE ONE

After Katie Charmaine's husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she's always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town . . . with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago.

Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spent together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn't felt in years. But he's in town for Gracie. Their daughter is sixteen, angry at the world, and-worst of all-pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to each other?



SHE SEES HIM IN HER DREAMS...

Fueled by her family's murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways--leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena's doorstep--it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust...the man who saved her life.

BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.

Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he's not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together--as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear.

Queen Pin by Jameker Thompson-Hairston giveaway


Jemeker Thompson-Hairston paid a heavy price for her involvement in the drug game. Learning from her sources of a federal investigation, Jemeker went on the run. It was love for her young son that brought her back to Los Angeles, even though she knew she would be arrested. A subsequent 12-year sentence would cost her not only her legitimate business and the fortune she'd amassed through the drug trade, but the most precious thing of all: time with her child. But not all was lost. Fortunately, while Thompson-Hairston was serving out her sentence, one pivotal moment helped her turn her life around, setting her on a path to help and inspire others like her.


I have 3 copies to giveaway on August 31

To enter please leave your name & email address

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan review & Giveaway


Best friends since childhood, the sexual tension between April and Oliver has always been palpable. Years after being completely inseparable, they become strangers, but the wildly different paths of their lives cross once again with the sudden death of April's brother. Oliver, the responsible, newly engaged law student finds himself drawn more than ever to the reckless, mystifying April - and cracks begin to appear in his carefully constructed life. Even as Oliver attempts to "save" his childhood friend from her grief, her menacing boyfriend and herself, it soon becomes apparent that Oliver has some secrets of his own--secrets he hasn't shared with anyone, even his fiancé.


My Thoughts:

April & Oliver was one of my favorite books that I have read this month, it has an emotional edge to it that keeps readers interested. Tess Callahan’s writing reminded me of Nicholas Sparks with a darker twist to it, and the opening of the book will have readers wanting more, this is one of the books that I hope there will be a sequel to as I found at the end I wanted to know more. For a debut author, Tess Callahan knows her way around a good novel. If you only read one contemporary fiction novel this year make it April & Oliver.




This is would be perfect for your book club so why not use this guide?


I have 3 copies to giveaway on August 31st.
To enter leave your name and email address.
Giveaway open to residents of the US & Canada only.


Giveaway & review copy provided by Hachette Book Group