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Friday 29 April 2016

Blog Tour - Last Promise by Scarlett Dunn


Enter to Win a Print Copy of LAST PROMISE


LAST PROMISE
The McBride Brothers #3
Scarlett Dunn
Releasing April 26th, 2016
Kensington: Zebra


The heart always finds a home . . .

For British heiress Mary Ann Hardwicke, the Wild West is the perfect place to make her own life and escape the stifling privilege of an arranged marriage. Hard at work proving her independence, it's little wonder she has no time for handsome cowboy Luke McBride. No matter that he somehow understands the freedom she so badly needs—how could she trust such a wild spirit, much less find a way to love him?

Like the broncs he busts, Luke doesn’t see himself settling down in one place, let alone with one woman. So at first, Mary Ann is just an intriguing challenge. But her determination and bravery are sparking a longing to prove he can be the truly good man she deserves. Now as their enemies work to separate them, they will take a dangerous gamble on faith to claim an enduring love . . .

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Reaching her room, Mary Ann hurried inside and quickly turned the lock. For the first time in months she felt like she could actually breathe. Since she’d left England she’d been forced to ward off the advances of strange men. She’d even been forced to strike one man with her parasol, holding him at bay until a constable came to her aid. She counted on God to protect her, but she also felt like He wanted her to do her part. She’d purchased a pistol in one town for her own peace of mind. She knew how to use it and she wouldn’t hesitate if she had no alternative.
She found the men in this new country crude and overall quite distasteful. Other than her last fateful encounter with Edmund Stafford, she had never been pressed to protect her person from unwanted attention.
And look how that had ended; with her running away so she would not be forced into a loveless marriage. She should have called Edmund out instead of expecting her father to exact satisfaction. Her father would not even listen to the truth of what happened that night. His mind was made up and he was going to force her to marry Edmund. Perhaps after she left, Edmund had told her father the truth about that night, but she wasn’t inclined to wait and see. She made the decision rather quickly to leave England, and told herself once she arrived in Wyoming she would live the life she wanted.
Her uncle George, the proprietor of this hotel, had written in his letters how much he loved this country and she’d been excited to find out for herself. Uncle George had failed to mention that America was filled with ruffians. Upon her arrival to this very town, the first person she sees is that miscreant brawling in the middle of the street. The man was truly fearsome with his large black hat and pistol riding low on his hip. He must be a . . . what did they call them out here . . . oh yes, a pistolier. Granted, she’d been startled by his twinkling blue eyes when he stared directly at her, but make no mistake, that man was a scoundrel if she ever saw one. Just the memory of him fighting those men made her shiver. And the way those two women were putting their hands all over him! By displaying such a lack of breeding, one could only conclude they were surely not ladies. The rogue didn’t seem surprised by their behavior, she’d heard him promise to show those women a good time! Of all the nerve. If he lived in Promise, she prayed she wouldn’t encounter him often. Surely there were gentlemen in this town who understood proper comportment.
Aside from the ill-bred men in this country, she was mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the West. She’d never seen anything as magnificent as the mountains in the distance, or the thousands of stars twinkling in the infinite night sky.
Standing with her back to the door, Mary Ann inspected her quarters. It was a very well-appointed room and much larger than she expected. The four-poster bed was covered with a pristine white quilt embroidered with lilies of the field. Spanning one wall was an ornately carved wardrobe, and a writing desk filled one corner. A round mahogany dining table with four deep blue velvet upholstered chairs, along with a lovely crystal chandelier above, were cleverly positioned by a window overlooking the street below. The massive stone fireplace covered the wall nearest the bed, and she imagined it would be warm and cozy with a fire blazing in the hearth on a chilly night. She’d heard about the frigid Wyoming winters, and this room would be perfect for cold winter nights. All of the wood was polished to a glossy finish and the room was spotless, not a speck of dust could be seen. The room was lovely, and even though it was only a quarter of the size of her bedroom at home, she knew she would be comfortable here.
Her uncle had written he’d built a hotel that any Englishman would be proud to own in the new country. She certainly couldn’t disagree. When she’d hurriedly made her decision to depart England, this was the only place she thought she could go to escape the long reach of her father and Edmund Stafford. But as members of the peerage, they had vast resources at their disposal. She had to face the fact that if they wanted to track her down, she would be found sooner or later. She hoped it was later.

*****
Don’t you want me to stay, Uncle George?” The reunion with her uncle hadn’t gone as well as Mary
Ann had expected. After she’d told him of her reasons for leaving London, he seemed concerned her father would come to America to find her. Perhaps her uncle thought he might face her father’s wrath and be held responsible for her decision to come to Wyoming.
George’s sister, Coreen, had married Hardwicke for his money. Coreen was a great beauty in her day, just like his niece, and Hardwicke had been persistent in wooing her. George’s family were on the same social level as Hardwicke, but their estate was not nearly as large. George knew when his sister married Hardwicke it wasn’t a love match, but his sister wanted the life his wealth could provide. When George inherited the Granville estate he chose a different path than his sister. He gave control of the estate to his younger brother and he left England. He yearned for a different life, one filled with adventure and knew he would find what he was looking for in America. He could sympathize with Mary Ann for desperately wanting to get away from the life she was destined to lead. She feared her life would mirror Coreen’s if she stayed in England.
Of course I want you to stay, but you know your father. He’ll send someone to find you, and I would expect if they are not already on their way, they soon will be. I just don’t want you to be disappointed if he forces you to return.”
I left Mother a note and told her I was leaving. I didn’t say where I was going.”
She looked so devastated that George tried to relieve her concerns. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that it would only be a matter of time before they discovered she’d left England. Hardwicke had a legion of detectives and barristers at his disposal. “Let’s not worry about it tonight. I certainly don’t mind if you stay forever. If your father’s agents appear on our doorstep, then we will deal with the situation when and if it happens. But if you decide you want to go home before then, I will escort you.” It troubled him that his beautiful young niece had traveled so far with no escort. Why, all manner of evil could have befallen her. Her guardian angel must have been keeping a close watch over her.
I will not be going home. I have some funds, but I need to find a position, or a building where I can establish a business. Once I arrived in America, I discovered I could start a small shop. As a matter of fact, while I was waiting for you to return today I had time to look around your hotel and there is a perfect little spot I could utilize for a shop I have in mind.”
George couldn’t believe his ears. Mary Ann was nearly royalty in England, he wouldn’t hear of her looking for a position, or working for that matter. “My dear, that is impossible for someone of your position. If your father does show up here he will have me drawn and quartered if he finds you among the working class.”
Uncle, I don’t need to remind you that this is a different country and I am determined to support myself. I am no longer dependent on Father and I have not come all this way to be a burden on you.”
My dear, you have never been forced to earn a coin and I assure you I can certainly see to your needs. I do not consider you a burden.” Her desire to work was the last thing George expected out of a young woman who had been coddled her entire life.
I want to work. I want to live life like everyone else. I’m sorry, but I cannot exist like Mother.” She’d given her future a lot of thought, and if her uncle wouldn’t assist in her effort, she would find another way.
They discussed this point for over an hour until George finally relented. If she was determined to do this, then he would help her in any way possible. He actually admired her resolve. “What kind of shop do you have in mind?”
A small shop to carry products for women.”
What kind of products?”
On my journey here I noticed the farther west I came that there were fewer stores that sell items necessary for a woman’s toilette; powders, tinted rouges, perfumes, and such.
You are so beautiful, surely you have no need of such potions.”
Thank you, but I assure you all women will use such products if they are available. I will carry the finest perfumes, as well as undergarments from France. Such items are only found now in the larger towns.”
You’ll not find the women here will buy such foolishness. I thought apothecaries mixed the powders for women. As far as undergarments, these are items that can be purchased at the mercantile.”
I assure you it is not foolishness as all women enjoy looking their best. Apothecaries do mix various powders, but they are not equal to the products from Paris. The undergarments certainly are not what you will find in the local mercantile. They will be designed from the finest silks and satins.” She wasn’t comfortable discussing intimate apparel with her uncle, but he needed to know what she had in mind, and he seemed truly interested. “I am quite determined. If you do not have space to spare in the hotel I will find another spot.”
He quickly concluded his niece was not just a lovely woman, she also had a sharp mind. Far be it from him to know what interested the fairer sex. He would have to take her word for that. It seemed her mind was made up, and he wasn’t one to squash her dreams of independence. “What space did you see that you fancied?”
The space to the right as you walk through the door. The alcove under the staircase is quite large and I can use a partition should the ladies prefer privacy while they are shopping.”
Quite right. That is a space not utilized. While you are getting your shop underway, perhaps you would be interested to learn about managing the hotel. I am building a house on some land outside of town, and it is taking me away from my responsibilities at the hotel on a regular basis. You can register the guests when Eb is occupied with his other duties, and supervise the two ladies who handle the cleaning of the hotel. Mrs. Howe does the cooking in the restaurant. You may need to help her in the dining room when we are busy, nothing too demanding, maybe refill coffee cups, things of that sort.”
Mary Ann jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh thank you! I don’t know what I would do without you. I will pay you rent for the space.”
Now, now, this is not something you need to concern yourself with. As I said, the space is not used at present. Let me know what you will need in the way of construction for shelving, painting, or whatever, and I will see to it. We will install a door to have a private entrance.”
Her uncle hadn’t mentioned the man who carried her luggage to her room. The man with the stunning blue eyes. “Uncle, you didn’t mention Mr. McBride. What is his position at the hotel?”
George gave her a puzzled look. “Mr. McBride?”
Yes, he carried my luggage to my room.”
I have no Mr. McBride employed here.”
That is strange. I’m quite sure he said his name was Luke McBride. He’s a very tall man and quite the ruffian.”
George laughed. “Luke is not one of the employees. He is one of the owners of the McBride Cattle Company. He is the youngest of the three brothers. Fine men.” He furrowed his brow at her. “Ruffian, you say?”
Indeed. He was brawling in the street when I arrived. I thought he was one of those pistoliers I’ve heard so much about.”
Most men here carry guns and make no mistake, the McBride brothers know how to use them. But they are good men, certainly not gunslingers. I consider them friends, they’ve been very kind to me.”
She had tipped a man who didn’t even work for her uncle. “You say they have a ranch here?”
They own one of the largest cattle ranches in Wyoming. And Luke carried your luggage?”
Yes, I’m afraid I made a dreadful mistake. I thought he was in your employ and I tipped him.” She’d probably insulted one of her uncle’s friends.
No worries, honey. I’m sure he took no offense. Luke is a good-natured man.”
She remembered when Mr. McBride was in the room she hadn’t been very friendly. He was such a large man that he made her nervous. “I will apologize, of course.”
Don’t give it another thought. These men out here don’t consider such slights as serious transgressions.” He smiled at her. “Particularly if the transgressor is someone as lovely as you.”
She hoped her uncle was right and she hadn’t offended Mr. McBride. While she didn’t countenance his behavior, she wouldn’t want her uncle’s friends to think ill of him due to her mistake.
George stood and walked to the door. “You best get some rest, we will talk some more over breakfast and make plans for your shop. In the morning I’ll have Eb take your things to the third floor. Those are my living quarters for a few more months until my home is completed. You will find the space more accommodating than this room.”
Mary Ann hadn’t realized he lived on the premises. “The entire third floor is your personal living quarters?”
Yes, you will have all the room you require. Your bedroom is much larger than this room,” George informed her.
This room is quite lovely. Why are you building a home?”
I’ve an interest in trying my hand at cattle ranching. So perhaps your arrival will be most opportune for me if you find you enjoy managing a hotel.”
I am sure I will enjoy it very much and I will start tomorrow.” She was anxious to get started now that she had a plan for her future.
There is no hurry, take some time to rest.” George had made the trip from England and it was a grueling journey.
Mary Ann didn’t need rest. She was invigorated knowing she would no longer be forced to attend parties gossiping with bored women, or be forced into a marriage she didn’t want. “I do not need to rest. Tomorrow is the beginning of my new life.”



Scarlett Dunn lives in Kentucky surrounded by all manner of wildlife, and enjoys long "God walks" where most inspiration strikes. Possessing an adventurous spirit, and a love of history, particularly the pioneers of the West, she has a special place in her heart for all cowboys, past and present. Readers can visit her website: www.scarlettdunn.com.




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Tuesday 26 April 2016

Book Cover Reveal - Magic of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain

Magic of the Gargoyles has a new cover and I can't say enough good things about it. I love it!! It sure does justice to Mika. And also the next book will be out soon-er I believe. So I am happy right now.
Without further ado, the new cover for you all! Psst.. If you want to read my review of it, I am leaving a link below. It was one of the first books I reviewed on my blog so it has a special place in my heart.

Book Musings - Magic of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain




Mika Stillwater is a mid-level earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered.

Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika must jeopardize everything she’s worked so hard for to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…

MAGIC OF THE GARGOYLES can be found at:

Amazon, US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NYISFXY

Amazon, everywhere else: http://smarturl.it/MagicGargoyles


Meet the Author :




Rebecca Chastain is the international bestselling fantasy author of A FISTFUL OF EVIL, A FISTFUL OF FIRE, and MAGIC OF THE GARGOYLES. She has found seven four-leaf clovers to date, won a purebred Arabian horse in a drawing, and once tamed a blackbird for a day. Dreaming up the absurd and writing stories designed to amuse and entertain has been her passion since she was eleven years old. She lives in Northern California with her wonderful husband and three bossy cats.

Rebecca Chastain can be found at:

Website: http://www.rebeccachastain.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccachastainnovels

Twitter: @Author_Rebecca or https://twitter.com/Author_Rebecca

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5660379.Rebecca_Chastain

Excerpt : 

With one last twist of a filament of earth magic, I fused together the delicate seams of the quartz tube. Slumping forward, I braced my elbows on the table and rested my cheekbones on my palms, cupping my weary eyes in darkness. Six down, six finicky tubes to go. The specifications of this project taxed my substantial skills with quartz magic, which was the point. This project would launch my business and prove that even though I was only a midlevel earth elemental, my quartz skills were equal to or better than more powerful full-spectrum elementals. These fussy tubes would fund the down payment on the lease for the shop I coveted in the Pinnacle Pentagon Center. I could finally quit my demeaning job at Jones and Sons Quarry, be my own boss, and begin a career creating one-of-a-kind quartz masterpieces I could take pride in.

My entire future rested on these fragile vials, and they were due tomorrow at four.

Dull pain pounded my back muscles. Night had crept over the city while I worked, and my jerky movements as I stood and stretched were reflected in the semicircle of bay windows in front of my worktable. Purple smears of exhaustion beneath my green eyes were exaggerated in the dark windows, and my pale face floated above a dirt-smeared navy shirt. I checked the clock: almost midnight. Sixteen hours until my deadline, and eight of those would be taken up by my Jones and Sons workday. There was no time for a break. If anything, I needed to work faster.

Groaning, I redid my ponytail, tucking shorter wisps of strawberry-blond hair behind my ears before giving my hard wooden chair the stink eye. Mentally chanting, Pinnacle Pentagon, to motivate myself, I reached for another seed crystal.

Frantic tapping shook the glass in the balcony door. I pulled the door open, knowing it was Kylie, my best friend and the tenant who shared my second-floor apartment balcony. “I really can’t talk. I need to finish—”

“Help! Help! They’ve got—”

Something small and hard slammed into my stomach. I staggered backward into my chair and crashed to the floor. A small boulder skipped across the wooden floor and smashed into the wall.

“You’re a human!”

I shrieked. The voice came from inside my room. I twisted, scrambling onto my bed.

Against the wall, the rock moved.

Beautiful blue dumortierite quartz veined with green aventurine twisted into a winged panther no bigger than a house cat. A pissed-off, solid-stone, magical, winged house cat. A gargoyle—no, a baby gargoyle. A hatchling.

Her eyes glowed feverishly. Long polished blue claws gouged into the floor when she launched into the air. Her agile stone wings unfolded with a soft gritty sound.

I lurched backward across the bed until I was pressed against the wall. The mattress shook when the hatchling pounced on the space I’d just vacated. Sharp claws bunched in my yellow bedspread. She raised her muzzle, mouth open, and sniffed the air.

I eased toward the foot of the bed, readying my escape into the hallway.

“It’s you! Your magic smells so good. I thought—”

My magic has a smell?

The gargoyle’s eyes darted to the open door, then back to me. She arched her stone back and hissed at me, the sound dying to a hair-raising growl. The tip of her stone tail slashed back and forth, gouging my wooden headboard.

“I need help.”

“My help?” Gargoyles—even baby gargoyles—didn’t interact with midlevel elementals like me, and they certainly didn’t ask for our help. “There’s a full-spectrum elemental just—” I started to point up the street but froze when she snarled at me.

“No other humans! Before it’s too late.” The gargoyle’s words were smooth coming out of her rock throat, with just a hint of a lisp from her tongue working around enormous teeth.

I stared into her glowing blue eyes, seeing past the bared fangs and agitated movements, reading her fear for the first time. I reached for her, then pulled my hand back when she shied from me.

“Too late for what?”

“You can save him. Hurry!”

“Save him? Save who? If someone is hurt, I can send for a healer.” Where were this gargoyle’s parents?

“No. I need you.” Large blue eyes implored me. “Please!”

A thousand reasons I should find someone else to help the gargoyle crowded my mind, but the hatchling’s urgency was contagious. Someone was injured. I didn’t want to waste time arguing with her, but was I really the best choice? I could work earth, but healing usually took someone talented with all five elements.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get—” someone stronger? I started to ask, but she cut me off with another sharp, “Please!”

Gargoyles were creatures without guile, and this baby was obviously terrified for someone’s life. If she thought I could help, I had to try. I took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s go.”

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Monday 25 April 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Bright Blaze of Magic by Jennifer Estep



Bright Blaze of Magic (Black Blade #3)
by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: April 26th 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Supernatural


Synopsis:

Bad Things Always Come In Threes…

As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…


As bad things do come in threes, good things too come in a triple pack. I was a bit apprehensive when I started the book because it was the last book and I wasn't sure if it would live up to the expectation of the final book. The author had my attention from the beginning and didn't let up to the end. It was a smooth ride with little bumps in between.

The characters were well rounded and their growth was consistent in accordance with the previous books. There were no sudden leaps of heroism or anything. But at the same time, I would have liked others to have taken the lead for a while from Lila. Lila seemed to be the unheralded leader of the group. The supporting cast could have had a bit more active roles. Lila once again showed her full characteristics in the book - intelligent, courageous and loyal. Devon kept up his sweet persona and was satisfied to be more in the background. Deah was one character who surprised me with her divided loyalties and her growth from an almost spoilt snob to a genuine person with vulnerabilities. Victor was his usual evil self. He was rather consistent in his actions.

The romantic aspect of the story was well written without the usual instant love between the protagonists. The romance was built up slowly but surely between Devon and Lila and it was a pretty sweet relationship. I liked that Deah was paired with Felix and that Deah wasn't false in her love. I was afraid that it was all an act on her part but thankfully my suspicion didn't come true.

The author has written an engrossing finale and the world building was further dwelled into and it was seamlessly woven into the story. There were only 2 parts which felt unbelievable to me. The first was the other families' unpreparedness for Victor's assault in spite of knowing his mindset. The other was the withdrawal of all the blades without Victor's knowledge. It felt too easy to me and I felt it would have been better with some conflicts in that part.

All in all, it was a very good ending to the series and I can recommend it to both young adults and adults equally.

My rating : 4/5


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Her Elemental Assassin series follows the life and times of Gin “the Spider” Blanco, a barbecue restaurant owner who also happens to be an assassin with magical control over the elements of Ice and Stone.

The Mythos Academy series focuses on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. She studies at Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors.

Her Bigtime paranormal romance books feature sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love.

Estep’s new Black Blade series is about 17-year-old thief Lila Merriweather, who has a Talent for sight, along with the ability to take magic others used against her to boost her own powers. She tries not to get involved with the Families who control much of the town, but ends up in the middle of a potential turf war.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580315.Jennifer_Estep

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferEstepAuthor

Friday 22 April 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Calling It by Jen Doyle





Calling It

By: Jennifer Doyle 

Releasing April 11, 2016

Carina Press


Blurb

Baseball player Nathan Hawkins needs to get away from Chicago. After a near career-ending car accident and with paparazzi surrounding his penthouse, Nate can only think of one place to go: home. But when he finds his old apartment occupied by a half-naked woman wielding a baseball bat, he's not sure what to think...except that maybe his luck has finally changed for the better.

Librarian Dorie Donelli never thought she'd get to meet her fantasy man in person—much less while she’s wearing her bathrobe. To her surprise, her nearly naked run-in with Nate leads to more unclothed encounters. But Dorie is sure their fling is only temporary. As long as she remembers he’ll be gone once his life gets back on track, she won’t get hurt. In the meantime, she throws herself into enjoying their three weeks together before he has to report for spring training and go back to his old life.

For Nate, being with Dorie is the only time in months that he finds himself smiling. Laughing. And he has no intention of letting that go. He might even be falling in love…if only Dorie will let him say the words. What they have isn’t just a dream, but the start of a dream come true.

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/03/calling-it-by-jennifer-doyle.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29237126-calling-it

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: bit.ly/CallingItAZ2
Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/CallingItBN
iBooks: bit.ly/CallingItDoyle
Kobo: bit.ly/CallingItKobo

My Musings : 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever fallen in love with the story and the characters had you mesmerized at first glance? That was the case for when I started this book. Even after finishing the book, I can't believe that this is the author's first book. She has rocked it! I think I might just have her on my auto buy because seriously if this is her debut I can't wait for her seasoned writing. It is not often I fall for an author this easily. I am still in the tale haze.

Nate rocked my boat with his sweet persona and his attitude. I loved him to bits from his cocky demeanor to his sensitive self. And I have no words for Dorie. She was the king of the tale for me. I adored her! She was feisty and sassy with the right touch of innocence and naughtiness. Their chemistry was off the charts. The heat had me fanning myself and their sweet relationship was given the right touch with the realistic hurdles and hopes.

Every story should have a good supporting cast. From the people of Inspiration to the Donelli Clan to Nate's family to his teammates, everyone had a role to play in this romance. Inspite of being a sports romance, the majority was not focused on Nate's career. His personal life was the center of the tale and it was portrayed well. The author's writing style had me reading the book quickly without straying off the course.

I confess I didn't feel the pull with the book cover but the blurb intrigued me enough to check it out. I was totally expecting the usual cocky player and an innocent miss kind of story. But the story was so good even at the beginning. The author grabbed my attention and didn't let up till the end. And speaking of the ending, the last scene had me laughing out loud. Poor Nate!

The only part which irked me was the drawing out of Dorie's No game. I think it was overextended. But it all got resolved with a grand finale. Otherwise, I believe I will be reading this story often. It has kind of topped my favourites list at present.

My rating : 4.5/5

Excerpt :

It wasn’t until Nate looked down to turn off the phone that he remembered where he was—that the woman who lived here was down the hall. Hell, she’d probably barricaded herself in the bathroom in order to keep a locked door between her and the stranger who’d barged in on her in the middle of the night.

And ate her dinner, he thought with a quiet laugh.

He’d give her back her phone and let her know he was leaving. Nowhere to stay, but he had a very expensive tiny car he could sleep in.

He found her in the bedroom, changing the sheets, which he would have told her she didn’t have to do if his heart hadn’t just lodged itself directly into his throat, cutting off any possibility of speech. Her pajama pants and T-shirt weren’t nearly as revealing as the robe had been, but her bending over the bed and straightening out the corner stirred up something deep inside of him. And now the only thing running through his mind was how soft her hair would be when he wrapped it around his hand; how warm and wet she’d be when he buried himself inside her.

“Christ, woman,” he groaned. He grabbed the doorjamb above his head and he clutched it so hard he practically splintered the wood.

She gasped as she straightened up and spun around, her hand flying to her chest. “I was… I was just…”

She bit her lip and sank down until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes met his, and he had to tell himself he couldn’t take her right here. He needed to focus on climbing out of this hole—he didn’t have the time to fall further in, no matter how enjoyable that might be.

But he couldn’t look away.

Her eyes were a deep dark brown, the same color as the hair piled on top of her head. He wanted to trace the golden skin along her collarbone to the hollow of her throat, wanted his tongue on every part of her. And the glasses she now wore almost undid him.

If she’d been wearing those with the robe? When she’d hiked that bat up over her shoulder?

Holy. Shit. Turned out he liked a woman who would take him on without even blinking an eye. Who knew?

He especially liked it when her interested gaze traveled down his chest, past his waist… He liked it too much, actually. Only the quickly summoned thought of David Ortiz slamming into him at home plate stopped him from embarrassing himself in a way he hadn’t since he was practically a kid.

Even that almost wasn’t enough when she said, “I, um, changed the sheets. So you can take the bed.”

All control vanished as the words just came pouring out of his mouth. “The only way I take the bed is if I take you in it with me.”

His heart nearly raced its way out of his chest in the seconds before she replied, “I bet you say that to all the girls.” Laughter danced in her eyes and a wicked grin came over her face when her eyes again dropped to his cock and then quickly came back up. She bit her bottom lip before whispering, “Hungry?”

Miguel Cabrera. Adrian Beltre. Derek fucking Jeter.

He gripped the doorjamb tighter.

“I could eat,” he answered as evenly as he could manage.

For a moment they just stayed where they were, staring.

When she stood and walked toward him, he almost blinked. This was a dream. It had to be. Or some elaborate setup that Pete had come up with in order to get Nate’s mind off everything else. Put this fantasy of a woman in front of him—feisty and looking so innocent and cute while she offered up anything he wanted to take—until he was so goddamn spent he could finally get over himself and start living his life again.

Except then she brushed past him as she walked out of the room, pausing only to whisper into his ear, “I think you need another minute.”


Author Info

A big believer in happily ever afters, Jen Doyle decided it was high time she started creating some. Jen is a member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as a member of the New England, New Jersey Romance Writers and Music City Romance Writer chapters of RWA. She is represented by Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She has an M.S. in Library and Information Science and, in addition to her work as a librarian, has worked as a conference and events planner as well as a Communications and Enrollment administrator in both preschool and higher education environments (although some might say that there is very little difference between the two; Jen has no comment regarding whether she is one of the “some”).

CALLING IT is her first book, the first of two which will be published by Carina Press in 2016. It was the winner of The Beacon, the Finish the Damn Book, and the Melody of Love 2014 contests in the Contemporary Romance category, and was also the Contemporary Romance winner as well as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Gateway to the Best contest.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Website: http://www.jendoyleink.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jendoyleink
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jendoyleink
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7093094.Jen_Doyle

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Thursday 21 April 2016

Blog Tour / Giveaway - The Winemakers by Jan Moran



Blurb :

1956: When Caterina Rosetta inherits a cottage in the countryside of Italy from a grandmother she's never known, she discovers a long-buried family secret -- a secret so devastating, it threatens the future of everything her mother has worked for.

Many years before, her mother's hard-won dreams of staking her family's claim in the vineyards of California came to fruition; but as an old murder comes to light, and Caterina uncovers a tragic secret that may destroy the man she loves, she realizes her happiness will depend on revealing the truth of her mother's buried past.

From author Jan Moran comes The Winemakers, a sweeping, romantic novel that will hold you in its grasp until the last delicious sip.

Buy the book:



Jan Moran is a Rizzoli bestselling and award winning author. She writes historical women's fiction for St. Martin's Press (Scent of Triumph, The Winemakers), contemporary women's fiction (Flawless, Beauty Mark, Runway), and nonfiction books (Vintage Perfumes, Fabulous Fragrances). Her stories are smart and stylish, and written with emotional depth. Jan often draws on her international travel and business experiences, infusing her books with realistic details.

The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. She likes to talk to readers at www.janmoran.com and on social media. She lives in southern California and loves lattes and iced coffee, anything chocolate, and Whole Foods Double Green smoothies to balance it all out.

Connect with the author:


Giveaway :

Win a $25 Amazon gift card and Winemakers swag (USA)

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - The Debutante is Mine by Vivienne Lorret




The Debutante Is Mine
Season's Original #1

By: Vivienne Lorret

Releasing April 12, 2016
Avon Impulse

Blurb

USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret launches a new historical romance series featuring the Season’s Original—a coveted title awarded by the ton’s elite to one lucky debutante...

From the Season Standard: ”A true Season’s Original embodies the class, grace, and style of the ton. Such an honor ensures the recipient their pick of eligible suitors…“

Lilah Appleton’s prospects are looking dim. With one last chance to find a titled husband before she’s forced to wed her wretched cousin, she must make this Season count. Plain, forgettable Lilah must become the Season’s Original. Desperate, she seeks help from the devilishly charming, untitled, and thoroughly unsuitable Jack Marlowe. All she must do now is resist the tempting rogue…

Bastard son and self-made man, Jack Marlowe loathes the aristocracy. When he meets Lilah, he expects her to be like all the other greedy husband-hunters. But she’s far more dangerous. Her alluring smiles and sharp tongue intrigue him. Before he knows it, he agrees to help her find a husband, revealing tricks to ensnare any man. The only problem is, his plan works too well—on him.

When Lilah becomes the belle of the ball, Jack realizes he may lose her forever-unless he can take a chance on love and claim his debutante...

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/03/the-debutante-is-mine-seasons-original.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28781793-the-debutante-is-mine

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/157217-season-s-original

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Debutante-Is-Mine-Original-ebook/dp/B010LU8WLM

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-debutante-is-mine-vivienne-lorret/1122860693?ean=9780062446275

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Vivienne_Lorret_The_Debutante_Is_Mine?id=e0AJCgAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-debutante-is-mine/id1013980433?mt=11

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-debutante-is-mine

My Musings : 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Regency romances are one of my favourite reads and I can read them at any time and in any mood. As soon as I saw the book cover, I fell in love with it and the blurb totally had me rubbing my hands in anticipation of the read.

I read the book in one sitting. It was that good in my opinion. The characters were drawn with real vulnerabilities and situations. Lilah is a proper miss who doesn't go against her parents' wishes and though she has reasons to disobey her now deceased father's order, she still does her best to comply. Then there is Jack who despises everything about the Society because of his upbringing in poor conditions. The way they meet and proceed to fall in love makes for a delightful and charming tale. Some of the scenes were sultry while others were sweet. Jack shows a sweeter side while Lilah shows a more determined attitude as the story progressed.

I would say that the bottom line of the story is Hidden depths. Both of the protagonists show their hidden and real feelings in this story. Jack shows his vulnerable side hidden behind his bored mien and his arrogance while Lilah shows her more demanding and passionate side. The romance was beautifully portrayed with the right amount of heat. I read it so fast that I was at the end before I knew it. The scenes literally flowed into each other. Though there were few other characters involved, nobody was able to make me stray from the hero and the heroine. The only subplot I was interested in was the secret scandal between Thayne and Juliet. I hope there is a book for them.

So I can happily say that I have found a new author to follow! I can't wait to buy her other books.

My rating : 5/5


Meet the Author :

USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is an Avon Impulse author of works including: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone, The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Duke’s Christmas Wish, and the Season’s Original Series.
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Monday 18 April 2016

Book Blitz - With You I Dance by Aarti V Raman


Book Blitz

With You I Dance
by
Aarti V Raman



Blurb

Meera Sagar had everything—the perfect job as a principal ballerina (for a prestigious New York ballet company) and a man who loved her as much as she loved him. But tragedy struck on the night
before her biggest performance, forcing her to do the one thing she never wanted to do—come back home. To Mumbai.

Now, a year later, Meera is still trying to pick up the pieces, while fending off marriage proposals from her well-meaning but traditional Gujarati family, and figure life out all over again. By starting a ballet school in Mumbai. But she has two problems. One, she doesn’t know anything about running a business. And two, she can’t dance. Not anymore.

Enter . . .
Abeer Goswami. Hotshot junior partner at a South Bombay law firm and a man nursing a broken heart. When he meets Meera again, the woman who left him, he tries his hardest to be her friend, to help her . . . and not let the past get in the way.

And then . . .
There is the sexy Zoya Sehgal. Meera’s only friend in the city and the woman Abeer is currently seeing. They say triangles have pointy edges, for a reason. Will Meera find a new dream in her ballet school? Can Abeer and Meera find their way back to each other again? And, most important, has Meera danced for the last time?

With you I dance is a warm, funny, at times heart-rending, love story of second chances, true love, and finding yourself when your dearest dream has vanished.


Grab your copy on 
 

About the Author



Aarti V Raman is an established novelist in the romantic thriller genre (White Knight, Kingdom Come) with her third book, a contemporary romance titled “With You I Dance” out soon with Fingerprint Publishing.

29 years old, she graduated from Mumbai University in 2007 with a degree in Mass Media focused on Journalism, which provided her the perfect background for conducting sound research on any project. She then went on to study Creative and Professional Writing at Deakin University in Melbourne for post-graduation in 2008. It was there that she learned to hone her craft and lifelong ambition of writing romances that had strong characters and stronger stories that remained etched in the reader's minds.

While waiting for her big break, Aarti pursued commercial writing and gained a vast amount of knowledge (from fishing tackle to soft toys) that she claims have helped her with molding better stories. Her first novel "White Knight" was published by Leadstart in 2012 and gave her the impetus to continue writing. In 2013, her work was excerpted in the Tamil Edition of Mills and Boon novels. And in 2014, her short story "Post-Coital Cigarette" was chosen to be part of the Rupa Romance Anthology "An Atlas of Love" curated by bestselling author Anuja Chauhan.

Her latest novel "Kingdom Come" (Harlequin MIRA) has enjoyed a brief stay at the bestseller lists in Amazon India. Her work is represented by Red Ink Literary Agency, Delhi. And very recently, she was a speaker and panellist at the Goa Arts and Literary Fest 2014, Vth Edition.

She is currently expanding her skill set to include copy editing, content marketing, and creative writing workshop that help her explore the wonderful world of words in various forms.

Stalk her @

Tweet: Check out the latest release of @Author_Devika #SeducedInSpain. #Romance #TBR #RT http://bit.ly/1pCDRsuTweet About With You I Dance by Aarti V Raman
Win the Signed copy of her 1st ed. 

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Saturday 16 April 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - The Requiem Red by Brynn Chapman






The Requiem Red
Publisher: Month9Books
Release Date: April 5th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Blurb : 

Patient Twenty-nine.

A monster roams the halls of Soothing Hills Asylum. Three girls dead. 29 is endowed with the curse…or gift of perception. She hears messages in music, sees lyrics in paintings. And the corn. A lifetime asylum resident, the orchestral corn music is theonly constant in her life.

Mason, a new, kind orderly, sees 29 as a woman, not a lunatic. And as his belief in her grows, so does her self- confidence. That perhaps she might escape, might see theoutside world.

But the monster has other plans. The missing girls share one common thread...each was twenty-nine's cell mate.

Will she be next?

BOOK LINKS:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26176476-the-requiem-red

Amazon paperback: http://amzn.to/1Ryd1g0

Barnes & Noble (B&N): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-requiem-red-brynn-chapman/1122929418?ean=9781942664857

Bookdepository: http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Requiem-Red-Brynn-Chapman/9781942664857

My Musings : 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how and where to start about writing my thoughts on this book. This was a 5 star read right from the start!

The author caught my attention with the mysterious book cover followed by the blurb which totally had me panting to read this book with mystery of the monster of the Soothing Hills Asylum. The beginning of the book was right smack dab in the middle of the mysterious disappearings of various inmates, most of them being Jane, patient 29's roommates.

I admit I was kind of confused at the start of the book because I didn't realise that it was told in various points of view. After I got it, I was able to read faster and follow the story without any pause. The story was told in 4 views, that of Jules, Jane , Mason and Jonathan. It granted me views into each character. Jane was an intentional inmate at the Asylum because of a mad person who underwent lots of hardship and torture while Jules, though brought up in prosperity, nevertheless was treated same as Jane in different manner. Mason was a hitherto well to do gentleman who was reduced to working as an orderly at the Asylum. He came to know what went on among its walls while Jonathan, though working there for a while, didn't know all the details of his workplace.

All the other characters like Ginny, Maeve and Willis among others, add the necessary accessory to the story and lend genuineness to the atmosphere. And speaking of genuineness, the author has done a great job of being authentic in her story telling whether it being the manner of speech or the way of dressing or the torture methods used in the asylums in the time period during which she has based this book.

The story is a thriller involving mysterious disappearing of patients in a spine tingling and kind of macabre background with the right dash of romance to life the spirits even in that dire place. This will appeal to the thrill seekers. Now I can't wait for the sequel because the ending was a definite cliff hanger. The ending, while clearing part of the mystery, didn't address the entire matter. So I can see myself picking up the next book without any hesitation in the future. This was a superb introduction to a new author for me.

My rating : 5/5

Meet the Author : 



Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does theAsperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on thesubjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

She also writes under the pseudonym R.R. Smythe.

AUTHOR LINKS:


Website: http://brynnchapmanauthor.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1130133.Brynn_Chapman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rrsmythe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rrsmythe?__fns&hash=Ac20F_TQVsWiDcH0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brynnchapman/