Friday, June 20, 2014

Book Review: Four Weddings and a Kiss

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In 1885 five western preachers sit around a campfire talking about unlikely couples they've seen God bring together.

“Spitfire Sweetheart” by Mary Connealy

Maizy Place is an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident, injuring neighbor Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbor is, and he never expected to fall in love.

“Love Letter to the Editor” by Robin Lee Hatcher

Molly Everton is the outspoken daughter of the town newspaper's owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be editor, she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He’s resolved to change Molly's mind about him—as an editor and as a man.

“A Cowboy for Katie” by Debra Clopton

Katie Pearl is uninterested in men and love. But she needs help on her ranch and hires Thad Rayburn, a wandering cowboy looking to make a buck. Will Thad change Katie’s mind?

“Saving Grace” by Margaret Brownley

Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive—or a killer. When her third husband is found dead, Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels isn't interested in the case—until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence, but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace.

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It's not often that I curl up with a book that's filled with novellas by multiple authors. Quite often, they feel a bit disjointed because each author has their own style. In this case, the prologue sorted that out right quick. The stories were being told by four different men, so they'd have their own tone and style. If I'm completely honest, as much as I enjoyed this book, I think the prologue was my favorite part! There was a humor in these men that just made me smile. I'd put this down as another great before bedtime read..where you can read a section or the whole book and go to sleep smiling.

Four best-­selling romance novelists bring tales of feisty heroines, stubborn heroes, and unlikely love in the Wild West in Four Weddings and a Kiss. Don't miss the latest from the Western Brides Collection from Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton.

The authors are celebrating with a "Sweet on Love" iPad Mini Giveaway and rip-roarin' Facebook party.
4weddings-400-click
 
  One winner will receive:
  • An iPad Mini
  • A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings and a Kiss 
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the Four Weddings and a Kiss Facebook Author Chat Party. Connect with Western Brides Collection authors Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton for an evening of fun book chat, western-themed trivia, and prizes. The authors will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the collection!

So grab your copy of Four Weddings and a Kiss and join the authors on the evening of July 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

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Monday, June 16, 2014

Book Review: Blind Trust

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Kate Adams had no idea she was carrying counterfeit money, and she can't believe that it came from her sweet neighbor. Or that it lands her in the middle of another one of Detective Tom Parker's investigations. Determined to prove her neighbor's innocence, Kate stumbles into a pit of intrigue that is far deeper than a two-bit counterfeit operation--and strikes too close to home for comfort. As family secrets come to light, her world--and her budding romance with Tom--begin to crumble. To Kate, it's clear that she won't be safe until she uncovers all of Port Aster's secrets. But is it too late for her and Tom?

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard draws readers into a world of rogues, red herrings, and romance as she unfolds the continuing story of amateur sleuth Kate Adams.

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When I realized that this was book 2 in a series, I was a little nervous that I'd be lost from the beginning. It was a major relief when that didn't happen. While it's the second book, plenty of backstory is offered that it can easily work as a stand alone book. The story is well paced, the characters are well developed and the story keeps you reading. I was really enjoying the book right until I hit the end...well, except it wasn't an end. It was a cliffhanger that means if I want to learn what happened, I have to buy the next book. I really dislike endings like that. I'd much prefer to buy another book in a series because I want to instead of feeling like I have to so that the previous book can have its ending. So, if you pick up this book, be warned that's what's going to happen. Other than that, it was a really good read.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.
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Friday, June 13, 2014

Book Review: The Hatmaker's Heart

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For Nell Marchwold, bliss is seeing the transformation when someone gets a glimpse in the mirror while wearing one of her creations and feels beautiful. Nell has always strived to create hats that bring out a woman's best qualities. She knows she's fortunate to have landed a job as an apprentice designer at the prominent Oscar Fields Millinery in New York City. Yet when Nell's fresh designs begin to catch on, her boss holds her back from the limelight, claiming the stutter she's had since childhood reflects poorly on her and his salon.

But it seems Nell's gift won't be hidden by Oscar's efforts. Soon an up-and-coming fashion designer is seeking her out as a partner of his 1922 collection. The publicity leads to an opportunity for Nell to make hats in London for a royal wedding. There, she sees her childhood friend, Quentin, and an unexpected spark kindles between them. But thanks to her success, Oscar is determined to keep her. As her heart tugs in two directions, Nell must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for her dream, and what her dream truly is.

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Another day, another lovely read. This was one that I enjoyed more than others that I've read lately. I lost myself in the pages and the time period. I grew to despise Oscar, to love Nell and to be charmed by Calvin. The only one that I wasn't sure about was Quentin. Nell holds a lifelong crush on him and yet, as readers, we don't see much interaction between them, not even in the form of letters. This book is about a young woman coming into her own and growing up and it's one that will go on my shelves and be picked up again.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.
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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Book Review: Out of the Ruins

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Abby’s shattered faith in both God and man is challenged when the terrible earthquake hits 1906 San Francisco.

While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn’t expect, however, is for God’s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.

As they work together toward a cure, Abby’s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

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Oh Abby...I smiled with you, I cried with you and I held my breath as one awful thing after another happened to you. I hoped and wished for a happy ending...but I won't spoil it for others by giving away if you found one. Karen Barnett took a period of time that was tragic for so many and tells the beautiful story of one woman's journey to finding herself, letting go of others and finding love in the midst of tragedy. While some of the characters seemed a little flat to me, those of Abby and Robert stood out and kept me turning page after page. If you're a lover of historical fiction, there's a very good chance that you'll enjoy this book.

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I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Lazy Days of Summer Literary Addicts Book Blast

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LiteraryAddictsLazyDaysofSummerBanner
Welcome to Literary Addicts Lazy Days of Summer Book Blast
Brought to you by the following authors
Join our Virtual Book Party Friday June 13 - Sunday June 29 to chat with the authors, find great books to read,
and win some cool prizes
AuroraSkyVampireHunterAurora returns from boot camp to a new assignment, an unwelcome roommate, and the increasingly amorous attentions of a certain vampire hunter. College is starting, and so is Aurora’s undercover work at a network of swanky parties known as “Tastings” for high rolling vampires who like their blood laced with fine wine. But Aurora’s not the only one on the prowl. An underground investigation is under way to find out who killed one of Anchorage’s most prominent vampires… and Aurora is a prime suspect. Buy on Amazon CarryMeAway Carrie Destin, a biracial military brat, learns the injuries she sustained in a car accident will prove fatal before she reaches adulthood. Facing an abbreviated life with a brash attitude and a biting, sometimes morbid sense of humor, Carrie races to experience life before it ends, but spirals out of control, leading to a physical and emotional collapse. Buy from Publisher (and other retailers)     DaughteroftheSeaandtheSky
After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light-two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean.
Children of the Republic, Helena and Jason were inseparable in their youth, until fate sent them down different paths. Grief and duty sidetracked Helena's plans, and Jason came to detest the hollowness of his ambitions.
Read More and Buy
KnightofWands
Return to a world of mind blowing visuals, heart stopping action, and ships that sail the skies.

Nix, Queen of Wands, has exactly what she wants—Synn El’Asim, the greatest Mark the world has ever seen. Even though she bound his soul to hers, he is not easily controlled. If she wants him, she must do the one thing that pains her most. Let him go, and give him what he desires. Peace.

Read more and Buy   SanctuaryIn a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meet The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it… When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going? Buy SearchingforNormalSEARCHING FOR NORMAL: A Memoir by Alison Neuman They thought she was going to die. At three-and-a-half years old, bed-ridden shivering in a cold sweat, Alison Neuman's tiny fingers wrap around her mother's for strength. But even at this age, Alison is determined to beat the odds. When years of hospitalization robs her of most of her childhood, she finds joy. When children and adults avoid her like the plague.. Read more and Buy ShadowFireAshlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic. Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever. Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power. All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess. Shadow Fire - adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal.. Read more and Buy TheForgottenPharoahSome secrets are meant to be buried. Julie Gerber isn't thrilled to be pulled out of school her senior year to follow her parents halfway around the world to unearth a lost pyramid. However, when the cute British guy and the mysterious financier of their project both fight for her attention, things start to get interesting. The pharaoh known as Djedefre was cursed for the murder of his eldest brother. The work of the archaeologists brings new secrets to light, ones that prove the fallen god-king wasn't the villain history had painted him to be. Can they prove his innocence? Read more and Buy

TheLoneWolfWhen her husband David’s infidelities are revealed, shattering the perfect life Kasey Sanford thought they’d created together, it’s a wake-up call that she’s lost herself along the way. She demands that David move with her to a new town, to a fresh start for their life together. Kasey loves the freedom of reinventing herself, including her new friendship with police officer and soldier Andrew Adams. Andrew is handsome and charming, and his interest in Kasey awakens feelings she’d rather have for her husband, who pushes her further away with each of his alcohol-fueled outbursts. Intent on preserving her marriage for the sake of her young daughter, and with no one else to confide in, Kasey turns to Andrew for support. Read more and Buy TheSpaceBeyondNew Adult Paranormal Romance ** Mature Content ** Recommended for ages 16+ due to sexual situations and language This book includes realistic scenes of domestic violence that are not gratuitously graphic, but may be disturbing to sensitive readers. Hearts break. Souls shatter. Love lies in The Space Beyond. Read more and Buy TheWarInsideThe end of the world is only just the beginning. So eighteen-year-old Thea discovers when her solitary life on a dying Earth is shattered by a mysterious dream, a devastating choice, and a strange gift that propels her on a journey towards the restoration of all mankind. Thea is bitter and alone; a perfect embodiment of the sunless, cloud-covered Earth she inhabits. A terrifying dream convinces her to save the life of an injured girl, and despite her misgivings, Thea decides to rescue sixteen-year old Viviana. She soon learns that gentle Viv has a life-threatening infection, as well as a freakish patch of glowing skin over her heart. Read more and Buy   TwiceasGoodMaxi Reynolds comes from a life of privilege in one of the South’s most renowned cities; however, she has set out to make her own way in the world. In hopes of moving past her failed marriage, she embarks on a new business venture with her two best friends that will combine her passions with theirs. When the women find themselves in need of an architect for renovations of the old Victorian that will soon house their store, they call on Ross Mercer. It should be a relief to have her older brother’s best friend on the job, but for Maxi, it’s not… Will the old feelings she thought had faded return? Read more and Buy UnsurpassedAubree is infatuated with two men, Max and Ryan. The two former Marines have been her close friends ever since she made her first misguided attempt at joining their kickboxing classes. When the pair invites her to join them at a weekend party thrown by Drew, a famous MMA champion, she has no idea what they have in mind. After spending one hot ménage night with the pair, Aubree learns the men's intentions are not all about her. Feeling betrayed, Aubree turns to Drew who is also tugging at her heart. She must choose between the two men who have been the center of her fantasies, and the one man who could make all her dreams come true. Read more and Buy WhispersoftheDeadMurder was never something Zoe Delante enjoyed, but solving the cases…. She does that rather well, and has the track record to prove it. Yet when she’s called in on a new case with the Baltimore PD as their go-to clairvoyant, she’s unprepared for the heinous nature of the crimes. The hunt for the murderer unfolds, dropping Zoe right in the middle of a power struggle between a nightmare of a coven, and a serial killer leaving bodies in ceremonial circles in the rural parts of Baltimore’s city limits. Read more and Buy WickedWindBorn with the ability to command the wind, Nicole Bonham dispenses her own brand of vigilante justice in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods. Stealth and surprise are always on her side. Lash demon Gunnar prowls Earth and several supernatural realms to help maintain peace among the immortal species. His chance encounter with Nicole creates a hurricane of sparks between them, and he won’t rest until she is his. Read more and Buy   50 Ways Cover FINALEve Wolcott has it all: a handsome, successful husband from a moneyed old New England family, two bright young sons enrolled in a premier prep school, stately homes sprinkled along the East Coast. Well, except her husband is a serial philanderer, her mother-in-law is the devil in Lily Pulitzer, one of her sons is miserable at prep school while the other is dismissive of her altogether, and it takes a cocktail of antidepressants to get Eve through her day. Read more and Buy   The Merchant of Venice Beach CoverThe Rollicking Bun--Home of the Epic Scone--is the center of Suzanna Wolf's life. Part tea shop, part bookstore, part home, it's everything she's ever wanted right on the Venice Beach boardwalk, including partnership with her two best friends from high school, Eric and Fernando. But with thirty-three just around the corner, suddenly Suzanna wants something more--something strictly her own. Salsa lessons, especially with a gorgeous instructor, seem like a good start--a harmless secret, and just maybe the start of a fling. But before she knows it, Suzanna is learning steps she never imagined--and dancing her way into confusion. Read more and Buy Just Desserts 5When her friend Julia needed help forming a revenge plan against her ex-boyfriend, Ava was happy to lend a hand. She never expected that in the course of making Liam pay, she'd be the one to fall hard. . .for the one person who was absolutely off-limits. Crushing on the guy who humiliated her best friend is definitely against the girlfriend rules. Besides, Ava has goals. Her life is all about graduating with honors and landing the perfect job. And Liam Bailey, sweet-talking, complicated son of a well-known local politician, isn't part of those plans. Read more and Pre-order forherprotection_msr-1-182x300You shouldn’t mix business with pleasure. Yet pleasure seems to be the one and only thing on Charlize’s mind the moment Connor steamrollers into her life. Desperate to save her family company, prove she’s more than a pretty face and worthy of being CEO, pleasure is a distraction she can’t afford. She doesn’t want a bodyguard, especially not one whose caveman heroics kick her libido into hyper drive. But surrounded by enemies and an attacker on the loose, there’s only one man she can trust with her life. Read more and Buy constricted_ebookShe doesn't believe in love. He needs love to break his curse. The world sunders, humanity ascends, and the demons arise from the cracks and shadows. The new world reverts in time as innovation and invention plummets, and steam power and bio-fuel rises. As the Gates of Hell unleash, war breaks in the south as a new army sweeps across the lands, enslaving those it conquers. Read more and Buy Rogue Alliance-coverWhile still a child in Redding, California, Shyla Ericson killed her father to end years of abuse. She’d left town shortly thereafter, changed her name, and started a new life, eventually becoming a highly decorated DEA agent. But some history doesn’t stay buried. When Shyla goes undercover to bring down drug kingpin Victor Champlain, the case takes her back to a town that hasn't forgotten her, and to a past she thought she’d left behind. Read more and Buy Fill out the form to support the authors and enter to win Prizes a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monday, June 9, 2014

Book Review: A Place in his Heart

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Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Puritan Barnabas Horton is still in love with his deceased wife and needs only a mother for his two young sons. And yet these two very different people with very different expectations will take a leap of faith, wed, and then embark on a life-changing journey across the ocean to the Colonies. Along the way, each must learn to live in harmony, to wait on God, and to recognize true love where they least expect to find it.

This heartfelt tale of love and devotion is based on debut author Rebecca DeMarino’s own ancestors, who came to Long Island in the mid-1600s to establish a life–and a legacy–in the New World.

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Wow, you would never believe that this was the author's debut novel. I started reading and some unknown hours later, I put the book back down. I couldn't seem to stop reading and even though there were tears in my eyes at the end, it was well worth one very late night. Historical fiction has found a new author and one that I hope doesn't stop with just this book. By the time I finished reading, I felt as if I had been there, that I was a part of this family through their joys and their sorrows. I came to care about each of the characters and it's a rare thing for a book to pull me in that deeply these days.

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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Indie Bookfest 2014!

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IBFearlybird
Indie Bookfest 2014 Schedule
Orlando, FL. August 8th-9th at the
Friday, August 8th.
7:00-8:00 Registration
8:15-8:55 Keynote Address- HM Ward
9:00-9:45 Session 1A (Got Flexibility?) & 1B (Got Reach?)
10:00-10:45 Session 2A (Got Serials?) & 2B (Got Gore?)
11:00-11:45 Session 3A (Got Character?) & 3B (Got Grit?)
12:00-12:45 Session 4A (Got Diversity?) & 4B (Got Game?)
12:45-2:15 Lunch Break
2:15-3:15 Session 5 (Got Mad Author Love?)TicketsNowAvailable
3:30-4:15 Session 6 (Got Fantasy?)
4:15-5:00 Session 7 (Got Romance?)
5:00-5:25 Closing Credits ;)
Saturday, August 9th.
1:00-4:00 Free-Entry Book Signing Event
6:00-10:00 After-Party!!! (50’s style!)
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Indie Bookfest2014 Panels
Orlando, FL. August 8th-9th at the
Panel 1A- Got Flexibility?
(Tiffany King, Elise Marion, Courtney Cole, Casse Narome)
Today’s successful authors know that there isn’t a right or wrong way to publish, as a matter of fact some of the best are going HYBRID! Find out what being a hybrid author means and why it just … makes sense.
Panel 1B- Got Reach?
(Kobo Writing Life Presentation)
Presentation by Kobo Writing Life, one of Indie Bookfest’s 2014 sponsors.
Panel 2A- Got Serials?
(HM Ward, Rebecca Ethington, Sarra Cannon, Rene Folsom)
It’s new. It’s wow. And how! Not really … serials have been around about as far back as when authors had to pen their work by candle light with paper and a quill. Find out about this “new” wave of novella serials from some of the very authors who are writing and publishing them.
Panel 2B- Got Gore?
(Alexia Purdy, Rick Chiantaretto, Melanie Karsak, Adam Kunz)
Murder. Zombies. Mayhem. Find out how to keep the tingle going up your reader’s spine. See how gore, guts, & plot can work together to make an amazing story. A bone-chilling good time!
Panel 3A- Got Character?
(Maria V. Snyder, Claudia Gray, Raine Thomas, Adam Kunz)
If you ain’t got a character that readers can feel deeply for, you ain’t got much! Why plot, without great character development makes for a hollow story.
Panel 3B- Got Grit? Not all those who arrive survive!
(Kristie Cook, Amy Miles, K. S. Thomas, Carol Kunz)
So you wrote a novel? Cool! Now the real work begins. Hope you’ve got what it takes. Editing, beta readers, book covers, & swag. Oh MY! & let’s not even get started on the … marketing!
Panel 4A- Got Diversity?
(Inger Iverson, Casse Narome, Kristina Circelli, Ceci Giltenan)
The world is a colorful place filled with a huge variety of people, cultures, and diversity. So where is all the variety in our books? Take an inside look on what some authors are doing to portray heroes/heroines from different cultures and backgrounds.
Panel 4B- Got Game?
(Kristie Cook, Rick Miles, Tawdra Kandle, Mandie Stevens)
Time to market your book. Oh, boy. Marketing is hard. Marketing is a lot of work. But sometimes thinking outside of the box when it comes to trying to get your book noticed is just what can make the difference.
Panel 5- Got Mad Author Love?
(All authors attending Indie Bookfest!)
An interactive round of “Author Speed Dating”. Meet each and every one of our authors in this fun, fast-paced table-hop! (Some goodies may or may not be involved!) ;)
Panel 6- Got Fantasy?
(Maria V. Snyder, Claudia Gray, GP Ching, Chanda Hahn)
No matter what the current trends are in books, we will never tire of our paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi reads. Am I right? Learn what it takes to make a fantasy plot really work and how these authors keep their writing fresh with new ideas.
Panel 7- Got Romance?
(Belinda Boring, Lacey Weatherford, Sawyer Bennett, Brenda Rothert)
Everyone loves a little boom-chicka-wah-wah every now and then. While some authors like to keep it sweet & light, some like to make their pages steam as they type. What is your flavor of romance?
TicketsNowAvailable
Enter to win a Kindle Fire HD. (GC if outside the US) a Rafflecopter giveaway


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