Thursday, April 26, 2018

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Flipped by Lisa-Marie Cabrelli


Flipped
Lisa-Marie Cabrelli
Publication date: April 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Hazel Black is always in control. That is until a slimy new employee steals her work, gets her fired and ruins her chance at a partnership.
Not to worry, her nutty mother, Indigo, comes to the rescue with a nutty plan… move to Italy with her and flip a house she’s just inherited under strange and unexplained circumstances. Hazel knows better than to trust any plans of Indigo’s – but what choice does she have? But Italy has secrets and surprises that rock Hazel’s world.
Dean McLean, rich and famous action hero has developed an embarrassing problem; he faints when anyone points a camera in his direction. Quite an issue for a world famous movie star. When his manager bundles him off to stay with his in-laws in a small Italian mountain village, he can’t get his mind off of his endangered career. But when he meets the beautiful and irresistible Hazel everything he thought he knew turns upside down.
Will Hazel and Dean find their true home and each other? Or will a web of secrets and betrayal keep them apart?
If you like the dolce vita, quirky fun characters, and surprising happily ever afters with a dash of intrigue and suspense that will keep you turning pages, you’ll love this fun, romantic romp through Italy.
EXCERPT:
Dean reached for a plate from the stack Stefano had brought out and cleared his throat loudly.
“I was just asking Hazel to take a break tomorrow after all of this stress today and join me for a picnic. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Indigo?”
Indigo’s head popped up like a meerkat, her gaze sweeping back and forth between them. Hazel shot Dean a dirty look. Getting Indigo involved? That was cheating.
“Mind? Of course I wouldn’t mind! I can’t imagine Hazel on a picnic, though. You should go, Hay. It will chill you out a bit. Get you grounded with Mother Nature. And don’t wear any shoes. Earthing increases the circulation of your neutrophils.”
Dean gave Hazel a confused look, and she shrugged. Indigo was beyond explanation.
They sat down to eat. Stefano took the seat opposite Indigo, and Dean slid in opposite Hazel. Their knees banged together under the table and he gave her another of his vertigo-inducing smiles. Oh, God. She was in trouble.
“Well?” he asked again.
“Oh for goodness’ sake, Hazel, go on a picnic!” Indigo said. “Think about your neutrophils.”
Stefano was nodding vigorously. “Yes, your neutrophils,” he said, having no idea what he was saying.
“Honestly, Hazel,” Dean said, grinning mischievously, “how could you even contemplate neglecting your neutrophils. You need this picnic.”
She might regret it but she took a deep breath and plunged. “Okay, I’ll go on the picnic. Now can we shut up about neutrophils and eat this amazing meal?”


Author Bio:
Lisa-Marie has a weird accent - it's kind of English, with some Jersey twang and Scottish slang thrown in. That happens when you're born in England, move to NJ as a teenager and marry a sexy Scotsman.
If you like to read breezy, fun books that you can't put down then she'd love it if you'd read her books and then emailed her with questions, ideas or insults. You can reach her at: lisa@laptoplifelisa.com
She travels a lot. You'll find most of her favorite locations popping up in her books. She's struggling with some serious empty nest syndrome since her daughter flew the nest, which is why she fosters lots of kittens. It doesn't help much.

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Wednesday, April 25, 2018

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Only the Beginning by Daphne Dubois


Only the Beginning
Daphne Dubois
Publication date: April 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
After a heartbreaking betrayal, Melissa Legacy shuns romance. So when her best friend joins the Lovers Oasis website and fears her fiancé will find out, Melissa agrees to meet the anonymous Romeo, prepared to explain her friend’s change of heart—then she sees him.
Failing restaurant entrepreneur, Craig Wheaton hasn’t been home since his mother’s tragic death. Now he’s back to confront his demons and stand beside his brother as best man. Dreading the reunion, he agrees to meet his avatar lover, but at the last moment he reconsiders the arrangement—until he lays eyes on her.
When Craig assumes Melissa is his online consort, she impulsively plays along, resulting in an afternoon of unexpected intimacy. But with Melissa using her friend’s identity and Craig dealing with a family fallout, is a future together impossible, or will they discover that love at first sight is Only the Beginning?
EXCERPT:
They were in her bed and he was breaking off a piece of toaster pastry for her. The pillows and sheets were strewn around them. Earlier, he’d left the rehearsal party to pour out his heart to her. That confession had led to an encounter in her hallway, which then carried on into her bedroom.
Melissa looked at her phone and smiled. She’d told him she’d found the Proust questionnaire online.
Taking the last bite of toaster pastry from him she asked, “What is your perfect idea of happiness?”
He put the foil wrapper on the bedside table, then brushed his hands together. He had an answer, but he kept it to himself and instead said, “Easy, cooking for someone else.”
She frowned. “Not yourself?”
“No, too boring. There’s no surprise.”
She’d laughed, then handed the phone to him. “Ask me the next one.”
Craig cradled the phone in his hand going down the questions. “What is your greatest fear?”
Melissa pulled the sheet up to her chin, then tucked into his side. “Losing Gran or having something bad happen to her.” She was quiet for a moment then pinched his arm. “Ask another one, it’s supposed to be without too much thought.”
“Why?”
“Because people take too long, trying to come up with an answer that sounds grand and important. The truth gets lost…or at least the most interesting bits.”
He read, “What is your greatest extravagance?”
“My Pink Kitty toaster. It makes great meals.”
“God.” He moaned. “Okay, moving on. What is your current state of mind?”
“Mmm.” She curved one leg around his. “Bliss,” she said, taking the phone from him.
The glow from the phone illuminated her features in the dark room. He could tell she was scrolling through the questions. “Oh! This is a good one. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?”
Craig leaned his head back on the pillow and blew the air out of his cheeks. He thought of phrases like more successful, business savvy, lucky…
“Hurry up!” She pinched him again. “That’s cheating. Quick, one thing you’d like to change about yourself.”
“I want to be more determined,” he blurted.
She raised up on her elbow and studied him. “How so?”
He glanced up at the ceiling almost too shy to look her straight in the eye. “I want to be the man who knows what he wants and won’t let anything stand in his way.”
“I’ve met those guys. I consider them rude.”
Craig chuckled and hugged her closer. “Maybe I meant more decisive. There always seems to be a scale in my head, constantly weighing options.” Her head rested on his chest. “Maybe that’s why I started to leave the pub, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet you.” His fingers moved up and down her bare back, tracing her spine.


Author Bio:
Daphne Dubois writes contemporary romance and believes the right book at the right time can make all the difference. When she's not putting her characters in compromising positions (ahem), she works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Eastern Canada, the most romantic place in the world.
You can also find her writing for teens as B.R. Myers.

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Monday, April 23, 2018

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Evolved by N.R. Walker


Evolved
N.R. Walker
Publication date: April 23rd 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction
In 2068, androids are an integrated part of human life. Big Brother no longer just watches from the shadows. It’s in every household.
Lloyd Salter has OCD issues with noise, mess, and he’s uncomfortable with human interaction. When his ex claimed the only thing perfect enough to live up to his standards was an android, Lloyd dismissed it. But two years later, after much self-assessment, Lloyd thinks he may have been right.
SATinc is the largest manufacturer of androids in Australia, including the Fully Compatible Units known as an A-Class 10. Their latest design is the Synthetic Human Android UNit, otherwise known as SHAUN.
Shaun is compatible with Lloyd’s every need; the perfect fit on an intellectual and physical basis. But Lloyd soon realises Shaun’s not like other A-Class androids. He learns. He adapts. Sure that SATinc is aware Shaun functions outside of his programmed parameters, Lloyd must find a way to keep Shaun safe.
No one can know how special Shaun is. No one can know he’s evolved.
EXCERPT:
By the time my intercom sounded at nine fifteen the next morning, the butterflies in my belly felt more like stomping elephants. I buzzed the delivery team through and waited for the elevator to ping down the hall.
Breathe, Lloyd, I reminded myself.
My apartment was a spacious two-bedroom luxury unit on the top floor of the complex. Polished concrete floors, high ceilings, a bookcase as one entire wall, and floor-to-ceiling windows on the north-east facing wall. I liked the clean lines, minimalistic furniture. Well, I didn’t just like it. I needed it. Clutter and closed spaces made me anxious. My ex-boyfriend had found my apartment cold and clinical, but I found the whites and greys soothing, peaceful. Then again, he’d found a lot of things about me clinical…
The knock on my door startled me, even though I’d been expecting it. I opened it to find two men and a rather large crate. The first man smiled. He was wearing grey suit pants and a navy sweater. He showed me his ID. “Mr Salter, my name is Myles Dewegger. We have a special delivery.”
“Yes, yes, please come in,” I said, standing aside in invitation.
The second man wheeled through the crate. He was dressed all in black with a military style haircut, and he looked as though he belonged in a SWAT team. He was a rather large man, with bulging muscles and perfect skin, and I had to study him for a second. No, he was human.
“Nice place,” Myles said, looking around the large, open living room. “Are we all right to do this here?”
I closed the door and took a breath to steady myself. I wasn’t accustomed to having strange people in my house. “Yes, of course.” I followed him and stood next to the couch. “I thought Mr Kingsley might have attended the delivery. I assumed incorrectly, it seems.”
“Sasha’s a busy man,” Myles said with a smile. “Though if you’d prefer, I can call him and you can speak to him.”
“No, it’s fine,” I said. I was now staring at the crate. Oh boy. It was well over six feet tall, three feet wide. Shaun was inside. He was right there. I swallowed hard.
Myles read me. “Let’s introduce you, shall we?”
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
Myles and his helper, whose name I didn’t know, undid the crate and removed the front panel. My heart almost stopped. Inside, Shaun stood, packaged-in perfectly so as not to be damaged in any way. He was dressed in a dinner suit. A charming navy piece with a light blue shirt underneath his blazer, top button undone. His black hair was exactly as I’d ordered; short sides, longer on top, professional. His skin was warm ivory with a subtle hint of blush on his cheeks; his lips were pink and a perfect cupid’s bow. His eyes were closed, his lashes long.
He took my breath away.
The big delivery guy stepped in and unstrapped Shaun, then lifted him out. Right, that explained the need for muscle. Then he quickly wheeled the crate back to the front door, making the room neat again, leaving Shaun standing perfectly still in my living room.
Myles glanced at me. “Everything look okay?”
I nodded and had to focus on speaking so I could make actual sound. “So far, yes.”
Myles smiled as he took out a small hand-held screen I recognised from the SATinc office. It was a control panel. He tapped on both screens, I entered in a personal code, and Shaun was officially added to my Wi-Fi.
It was becoming so very real.
Myles seemed completely unfazed and oblivious to the fact that I was in the middle of a monumental life event. He went on a spiel of specifications and diagnostics, developmental robotics, neural networks, artificial consciousness, proprioceptive sensors, and spatial cognizance, but all I could do was stare at Shaun.
Breathe, Lloyd.
Myles stopped speaking when he realised I wasn’t paying attention, and his pause made me look at him instead. He continued, “I’ll activate him, then we’ll require him to study your face for a few seconds. He has facial recognition, so once he recognises you as his custodian, he’ll be able to identify you anywhere.”
“Okay.”
“So if you’re out in public and you become separated, he will be able to find you.”
For the strangest reason, I found that comforting.
“And your voice. He’ll recognise that anywhere.”
I smiled at Shaun, though he still had his eyes closed.
“Are you ready?” Myles asked.
I nodded.
Myles held the small black screen toward me. He entered in a code and spoke clear and loud. “Please re-enter in your Wi-Fi code,” he said, averting his eyes while I entered my security code for Shaun’s wireless access. Then Myles added something else, and watching Shaun, he said, “Activate.”
Shaun opened his eyes.
They were the exact shade of blue I’d asked for. But he just stared blankly.
Myles entered in more codes, then spoke to me. “Please stand in front of him until I tell you to move.”
I did as I was instructed. Shaun was approximately an inch shorter than me, and he was even better close up. Being this close to him sent a curl of anticipation through me.
I could hear Myles tapping on the screen and then Shaun’s eyes focused on me. He was scanning my face, and then he looked down to my feet and up my body. It set my blood on fire.
Then Myles handed me the small screen and said, “Please read this out loud to him.”
I let out a breath and looked Shaun right in the eye. “My name is Lloyd Salter. I am your custodian, and this is your home.”
Myles took the control again and clicked on the screen a few more times, and something in Shaun changed. I saw it, the very moment it happened.
He became aware.
His gaze fell on me. “Hello, Lloyd,” Shaun said. His voice was a deep baritone, with a tenor that curled in my belly.
“Hello Shaun,” I replied. My voice was barely a whisper.
And then, throwing my world completely off its axis, he smiled. Not a perfect smile, but slightly lopsided in a very human way. If a simple smile could complete my existence, it was done. He was stunningly perfect.
“It is very nice to meet you,” Shaun said.
“Likewise,” I replied. I couldn’t stop staring at his eyes, and I swore the corner of Shaun’s lip twitched in an almost smile.
“Is that normal?” I asked Myles. “He’s so… human.”
Myles grinned. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? How real they are?”
I nodded, staring back at Shaun. So very real.
“As I was saying before, he has the spatial awareness and object manipulation skills of a surgeon. He can lift heavy objects with ease, but he can also hold the finest, most delicate glass object with precision. He has social intelligence; he can recognise and interpret, process and simulate human affects and empathy. He is, without doubt, the most advanced A-Class synthetic android in the world.”
Shaun tilted his head a little while he studied me, and I stared right back at him. So remarkable.
“He’s been uploaded with extensive knowledge of all requested data,” Myles said, holding the screen out for me to see. I glanced at it but couldn’t take my eyes off Shaun for long. Myles continued anyway. “Literary histories, world current affairs, everything you asked for has been preloaded, but he can access any information you require. If it’s on the web, he can find it, and he can discuss, converse, debate whatever you want.”
Wow.
“Now, as for the personal companion aspect,” Myles went on. Personal companion aspect was synthetic speak for sex. “All lubricants must be silicone based, not oil based, though I’m sure you’re aware. He can self-clean but he might like it if you help him.” I looked at Myles and he winked. “Yes, he has likes and dislikes. Though he’s been pre-dispositioned to your psych evaluation so there are no conflicts. He enjoys conversation, attention, praise…, touch. Sex.”
My heart rate took off.
Breathe, Lloyd.


Author Bio:
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don't let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love.
She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She's been writing ever since...

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Sunday, April 22, 2018

#BookReview - Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Title:  Little Fires Everywhere
Author:  Celeste Ng
Genre:  Women's Fiction
Publisher:  Penguin Press
Release Date:  September 12, 2017


About the Book:

The runaway New York Times bestseller!

Named a Best Book of the Year by:
People, The Washington Post, Bustle, Esquire, Southern Living, The Daily Beast, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads, Library Reads, Book of the Month, PasteKirkus ReviewsSt. Louis Post-Dispatch, and many more!

"I read Little Fires Everywhere in a single, breathless sitting." –Jodi Picoult

“To say I love this book is an understatement. It’s a deep psychological mystery about the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love, and the danger of perfection. It moved me to tears.” - Reese Witherspoon

“I am loving Little Fires Everywhere. Maybe my favorite novel I've read this year.”—John Green

"Witty, wise, and tender. It's a marvel." – Paula Hawkins

From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned – from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town--and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides.  Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs. 

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

Perfect for book clubs! Visit celesteng.com for discussion guides and more.
Buy Links: Amazon 
My Review:

After seeing so many fabulous reviews and noting that LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE was named the Best Book of the Year by... OMG... so many, I really had to dive into this one!  As I grudgingly turned each page for the first half of the book, however, I started thinking that maybe I had the wrong book.  This thing dragged on and on with mundane, everyday stuff and mundane, everyday people.  I almost gave up and put the book down to move on to something with a bit more action.  That's when things started getting interesting.  Yes, that's when things from the past started to emerge and tie together with other things.


Celeste Ng gives us a look deep into the soul of certain members of two seperate families and leaves us unable to tell wrong from right. Is it better for an Asian baby to be raised by non-Asian parents, simply because they have more money?  Or should a mother lose the right to raise her own child, simply because she made a mistake?  And are wealthy parents living in the prestigious Shaker Heights better parents than a single mother who moves from place to place, barely getting by?

And what happens when everyone just needs to start over?  A fresh start. From the soil up.

Great thought-provoking novel that would make a terrific Book Club pick.

My Rating:



About the Author:
Celeste Ng grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Shaker Heights, Ohio. She attended Harvard University and earned an MFA from the University of Michigan. Her debut novel, Everything I Never Told You, won the Hopwood Award, the Massachusetts Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and the ALA’s Alex Award and is a 2016 NEA fellow. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

To learn more about her and her work, visit her website at http://celesteng.com or follow her on Twitter: @pronounced_ing.




Friday, April 20, 2018

#BookReview - Don't Look Down (Samantha Jellicoe Book 2) by Suzanne Enoch

Title:  Don't Look Down - Samantha Jellicoe Book 2
Author:  Suzanne Enoch
Genre:  Crime Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Suspense
Release Date:  October 13, 2009


About the Book:
The heat is on in Palm Beach-and Rick and Samantha are sizzling.
Samantha Jellicoe is no ordinary thief. At least, not anymore. She promised her significant other, British billionaire Rick Addison, that she'd retire from her life of crime. So no more midnight break-ins . . . no more scaling estate walls . . . no more dangling from the ceiling. From here on in, it's intimate dinners with Rick in posh Palm Beach followed by rock-your-world sex.
Who'd have thought that doing the right thing would turn out to be more deadly than her former life of crime? When the first client of her new security business is murdered, Sam is determined to find the killer. Now if only she can manage to stay out of jail, resist her former "associate's" lucrative job offers, and keep Rick from sticking his nose into her business, she might just manage to stay alive. Because trouble isn't just walking—it's running—to catch up with her.
Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

After reading Book 1 in this series a few days ago, I couldn't wait to delve into Book 2.  The Samantha Jellicoe series is the perfect summer beach read.  Light, fun and hot!  Once again, I couldn't put it down.

Samantha is going straight. Well, actually she is 'trying' to go straight. But for some reason, it just isn't as easy to do that as Rick would have liked. After her first 'almost' client is murdered, Samantha finds herself head over heals in another murder investigation.  Add in an ex-wife who is trying to worm her way back into Rick's life, a former fence trying to go straight along with Sam and yet keeps coming up with unexplained furniture and decor for their new office, a business associate of Rick's who is being blackmailed with suggestive photo's, a hot guy who also happens to be the son of the murdered victim and boyfriend of Rick's ex-wife Patricia all the while he is hitting on Samantha, and you have another great adventure of mayhem and mystery.

Yes, I am loving this series! This one wasn't quite as good as Book 1, but it was still a very good read.

My Rating: 
T

About the Author:
A lifelong lover of books, Suzanne Enoch has been writing them since she learned to read. She is the author of two well-received traditional Regencies, 24 and counting England-set Historical Romances, four contemporary Romantic Suspense novels, and a growing number of Scottish Highlands Historical Romances including the October 2016 release of HERO IN THE HIGHLANDS (Book One in the No Ordinary Hero trilogy).

A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne lives with a green parakeet named Kermit, some very chirpy finches, and a small army of Star Wars figures (including a life-size Yoda). Her books regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and when she's not busily working on her next book or staging fights with action figures, she likes to read, play video games, and go to the movies with her large and supportive village.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Willow's Way (The Sweet Life #2) by Sharon Struth


Willow’s Way
Sharon Struth
(The Sweet Life #2)
Published by: Kensington
Publication date: April 17th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
The breathtaking promise of the English countryside can lift even the heaviest spirits . . .
Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss” and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options—until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds.
Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving . . .
Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history–and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots—and testing her endurance—amid the region’s natural beauty. And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home . . .
EXCERPT:
Willow Armstrong could hardly breathe as she stared at the video playing on her laptop. Stupid. She’d been so stupid. Once again, she’d let urges rule her choices, and this time, she’d been exposed.
Willow squinted at the blurred image. Maybe that wasn’t even her. Heck, she’d seen clearer pictures of Sasquatch. “Are you sure that’s me, Becky? I mean, lots of people in Manhattan could own a black Lexus.”
Her assistant remained silent on the other end of the phone for a little too long then said, “Give it a sec. Keep your eyes on the rearview mirror.”
The camera zoomed on the inside of the car and the front mirror came into focus. Willow paused the tape and leaned on the marble kitchen counter to get a closer look. A shiny object hung off the car’s rearview mirror. Was that…?
Nooooo!
Dread wormed through her, twisting and turning like a knife in her gut. The silver folded-fork symbol associated with Willow’s weight-loss empire, Pound Busters, dangled off the mirror.
She groaned. “I can’t believe this.”
“I’m sorry. I figured you’d want to know.”
“You made the right call.”
“Now I’m not sure. Why don’t you shut it off?” Becky couldn’t hide her worried tone.
Willow’s heart warmed for her concerned assistant, who had given Willow ten dedicated years of service. Loyal right to the end. And this could be the end.
On the screen, the arrow hovered over the play button. Terrified to see what the rest of the world would, she froze, her hand stilled on the computer mouse.
Thirty minutes and four thousand “likes” ago, Celebrity Secrets had posted the video to their Facebook page. Dear God! Over seven hundred comments she didn’t dare read, and some three hundred shares, all over a slip into Tony’s Slice of Heaven. The mouth-watering goodness of the slice barreled toward her with a vengeance. Just a few moments of cheesy bliss. Was it too much to ask for?
“You there, Willow?”
“Yes.” She drew in a breath that somehow boosted her courage. “I really should watch this.”
She hit the play button. The camera moved and refocused, closing in on the shadowy figure in the driver’s seat until the picture became perfectly clear.


Author Bio:
Bestselling author Sharon Struth believes you're never too old to pursue a dream. THE HOURGLASS, her debut novel, is a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards for Best first Book and winner of the Chatelaine Award in Romantic Fiction. Her Blue Moon Lake Romances (Kensington Publishing) includes the national bestseller SHARE THE MOON, HARVEST MOON, BELLA LUNA and a christmas novella, TWELVE NIGHTS.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

#BookReview - The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing - Book 3 of 3 by Robyn Carr

Title:  The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing - Book 3)
Author:  Robyn Carr
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Military
Publisher:  MIRA
Release Date:  April 18, 2018


About the Book:

An exceptional storyteller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr beautifully captures the emotionally charged, complex dynamics that come with being part of any family. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears as they discover what it means to be loved, supported and accepted by the people who mean the most.

Having left the military, Dakota Jones is at a crossroads in his life. With his elder brother and youngest sister happily settled in Sullivan’s Crossing, he shows up hoping to clear his head before moving on to his next adventure. But, like every visitor to the Crossing, he’s immediately drawn to the down-to-earth people and the seemingly simple way of life.

Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.

When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.
Buy Links: Amazon 
My Review:

Although this is Book #3 of the Sullivan's Crossing series, it can be read as a stand-alone.  Reading the first two books in the series is a plus, however, because it gives you more insight into the lives of the fabulous characters in this series. The Family Gathering highlights the inclusion of Dakota into the family circle in Timberlake, Colorado and although the story mainly revolves around the developing romance between Dakota and Sid, we are brought up to date on what is happening in the lives of the other characters in this series, including Sedona.  

Dakota, after leaving the military, is somewhat lost in what he wants out of life. He had not stayed in close touch with his family over the past several years, but seeing them and how their lives had grown in Sullivan's Crossing warmed his heart and made him realize how important family can be.  His attraction to Sid, the one single female in town who is not throwing herself at him, flourishes. It's a sweet romance that turns intense. I love these two together!

Not to give away any spoilers here, but a situation arises with Sierra and Connie that brought tears to my eyes.  And we see more of the sweet romance between Tom and Lola and how that turns out. Oh! The excitement and suspense of a female stalker who develops a crazy attachment to Dakota kept me on the edge of my seat.

Robyn Carr creates multi-dimensional characters who warm your heart and make you feel like you are part of the story.  This book definitely did not disappoint me.  Great series from an author I have grown to love!

*Disclosure:  I received a complimentary advance copy from NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

My Rating:



About the Author:
Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. The third novel (THE FAMILY GATHERING) in her fan-favorite new series, Sullivan's Crossing, will be released in April 2018. Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com



Saturday, April 14, 2018

#BookReview - Flirting with Danger by Suzanne Enoch

Title:  Flirting with Danger - Book 1
Author:  Suzanne Enoch
Genre:  Crime Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Suspense
Release Date:  October 13, 2009


About the Book:


In her dazzling romantic suspense debut, USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Enoch brings us a thrilling tale about a thief who needs to prove she's no murderer and the millionaire who loves her.
Samantha Jellicoe is a thief and proud of it. Raised to appreciate the finer things in life, Sam has no trouble divesting the wealthy of their treasures. This all changed, however, the night she attempts to steal a valuable item from a Palm Beach estate. Before she knew what hit her, a bomb goes off, a guard is killed, and Sam ends up saving millionaire Richard Addison. She's a good thief and will own up to her jobs, but if anyone thinks to tie her to murder, they better think again.
On any other night, having a one hundred plus pounds of female fling herself at you is a good thing. But on this particular night, Richard Addison is mad as hell. Not only did he just have his gallery blown up-with him about to enter it-but the woman who rescued him didn't stick around to offer any explanations. When the dust settles, Rick knows the only person with answers to his questions is the mystery woman. And if she thinks she can hide from him, she better think again.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Wow!  This is just what I was in the mood to read! Action, adventure, mystery, romance and a snarky thief who won't take a back seat! 

I'm usually pretty good at figuring out "who dunnit", but this one had me stumped until the end.  And with the amount of action and really, really good romance, I had a tough time putting this book down for even a few minutes!

Samantha Jellicoe is a thief.  Her father was a thief who taught her well. She's also very smart and knows a thing or two about antiquities and art. And she is also a thief with ethics, which makes her a very likable thief. After breaking into the home of the very wealthy Richard Addison, a bomb goes off nearly killing her and the homeowner. Samantha manages to drag Richard away from the danger and saves his life, but the security guard is killed. Not wanting to be blamed for a murder, Samantha makes a deal with Richard to find out who was responsible. The chemistry between these two characters is sizzling hot! 

Although I'm more familiar with reading Suzanne Enoch as a historical romance author, this was a pleasant surprise being her first attempt in this genre.  After reading this (Book #1), I am quite anxious to read more in this series.  

My Rating: 
T

About the Author:
A lifelong lover of books, Suzanne Enoch has been writing them since she learned to read. She is the author of two well-received traditional Regencies, 24 and counting England-set Historical Romances, four contemporary Romantic Suspense novels, and a growing number of Scottish Highlands Historical Romances including the October 2016 release of HERO IN THE HIGHLANDS (Book One in the No Ordinary Hero trilogy).

A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne lives with a green parakeet named Kermit, some very chirpy finches, and a small army of Star Wars figures (including a life-size Yoda). Her books regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and when she's not busily working on her next book or staging fights with action figures, she likes to read, play video games, and go to the movies with her large and supportive village.

Monday, April 9, 2018

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - March in Atlantis by Alyssa Day


March in Atlantis
Alyssa Day
(Poseidon’s Warriors #3)
Publication date: April 9th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
When Poseidon’s Warrior Lucas escapes a group of rogue shapeshifters, he finds himself driven to help the woman who’d betrayed him.
When desperate Rhiannon is forced to do terrible things to protect her child, the man she left behind continues to haunt her dreams.
Danger and desire combine in shocking ways in … March in Atlantis.


TEASERS:
Lucas prided himself on his ability to be calm in all situations, but he’d never been—literally–stabbed in the back by a rogue shifter before.
Rhiannon: I’ve never trusted anyone who didn’t betray me…I don’t know how to open my heart.
Lucas: My past means nothing if you are my future. My heart, my body, and my soul are yours.


Author Bio:
Alyssa Day is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels filled with kissing, laughter, mystery and magic. Alyssa’s paranormal series include the Poseidon’s Warriors and Cardinal Witches paranormal romances and the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries paranormal mysteries. In an Alyssa Day book, the good guys (and gals!) always win and happily ever after always prevails!
Alyssa's many awards include Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for outstanding romance fiction, and the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance novel of 2012. She's a recovering trial lawyer who loves life outside of a courtroom. Her books have been translated into a zillion languages but she’s still holding out for Klingon.
You can hang out with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyssaDay), Twitter (@alyssa_day), where she talks about her rescue dogs and her future pug ranch, and her blog, where she talks openly about her struggles with depression and hosts Mental Health Check In Fridays (www.alyssaday.com/blog).
Text ALYSSADAY to 66866 or stop by her website to sign up for the newsletter and get release day news, behind-the-scenes scoop, win prizes, find out where Alyssa will be making personal appearances, and more! And if you love to talk books, join the DayDreamers!

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Saturday, April 7, 2018

#BookReview - The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Title:  The Great Alone
Author:  Kristin Hannah
Genre:  Women's Fiction
Release Date:  February 6, 2018


About the Book:


Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

THE GREAT ALONE will enter your heart and tear out through your gut.  Beginning in 1974, it is the story of a thirteen year old girl dealing with a life of domestic violence from a father dealing with PTSD after coming home from Vietnam, and a mother who refused to leave him. When Ernt takes Leni and Cora to Alaska, to a cabin in Kaneq that was left to him by a vet he served with, they have new hope that Ernt will be okay. They are welcomed into the fold by warm and helpful neighbors including Large Marge who owns the general store. Things go well until the first winter of darkness comes and Ernt's behavior gets more bizarre as he becomes engrossed in living off the grid and "protecting" his family, imprisoning them.

Time passes and Leni's friendship with Matthew grows into something much more. This is a story of love. True love and demented love. A story of compassion and friendship, hope and defeat. A story of difficult decisions.

Kristin Hannah gave us characters that are realistic and will be long remembered, long after you turn that last page. Well-written and memorable.

My Rating: 
T

About the Author:
Kristin Hannah is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. Additionally, it was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. 

Kristin's highly anticipated new release, The Great Alone, will be published on February 6, 2018 (St. Martin's Press). The novel, an epic love story and intimate family drama set in Alaska in the turbulent 1970's is a daring, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival and the wildness that lives in both nature and man. It has been listed as one of the most anticipated novels of the year by The Seattle Times, Bustle.com, PopSugar, Working Mother, Southern Living, and Goodreads.

The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with award-winning director Michelle MacLaren set to direct. Home Front was optioned for film by 1492 Films (produced the Oscar-nominated The Help) with Chris Columbus attached to write, produce, and direct. Movie news on The Great Alone is coming soon.
 

The Novel Lady Published @ 2014 by Ipietoon