Book Musings - Much Ado About Bachelors by Caitlyn Blue

Title : Much Ado About Bachelors
Author : Caitlyn Blue
Series : Windy City Bachelors Book 2
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Source : ARC from the author

Blurb :

Drama teacher Sarah Callahan has been falling for Harrison Academy's hot, new chemistry teacher since the first day of school. Unfortunately, this sexy nerd has a policy against dating coworkers after his relationship with a teacher at his former school crashed and burned. So what do you do when you’re hot for teacher? Pretend to be drunk so he’ll take advantage of you of course.

Reed Barron has done a great job resisting the beautiful, quirky Sarah. Then comes the night she parties a little too hard and begs him to kiss her. How’s a guy supposed to hold out against…begging? Chemistry like theirs doesn’t happen every day, but Reed isn’t going to give their romance a chance. He’s learned that when things get too intense, it’s safer to retreat.

Armed with Shakespearean quotes and a Goldendoodle puppy, Sarah is determined to teach Reed how to open his heart. But when he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime to teach abroad, it looks like she might lose him—and their shot at love—forever.

GOODREADS

My Musings :

I had already been introduced to the roommates of Sarah in The Trouble with Bachelors. So I was looking forward to reading each one's story. When I came across Much Ado About Bachelors, I was excited because Sarah seemed interesting from the previous book. So I took a chance and well, I have to say that I enjoyed the ups and downs of Sarah and Reed's romance.

In the beginning, I liked the way Sarah and Reed interacted but as the story progressed, I got annoyed with Reed. But this was the only negative point I found in the story. As for the positives, there are a lot including the characters and the story.

Sarah comes across as a force of nature and I can totally understand Reed's reaction to her. Her introduction is superbly played by the author. By the first chapter, I was able to get the entire premise of the book with a hint of what was coming in the following chapters. As much as Sarah is loud and full of energy, Reed is silent but oh so hot. Yeah, a perfect pair in my opinion. Except for his over cautiousness and cowardice when it comes to Sarah, I love love love the pairing!

As for the supporting cast, I loved the family dynamic of Sarah's roommates and friends. The students' aspect, I absolutely enjoyed Reed being bossed around! The story unfolded in both of the protagonists' POV. So there was not much of a surprise twist. It was a bit predictable. But the angst they undergo touched my heart.

The story was at the right pace and it was an easy read. The romance was sweet and hot in turns. The quotes interspersed throughout the book had me going "Aww". It was a very good touch to keep my attention. The ending had me emotional and I enjoyed the way the author had done it. Now I look forward to reading the stories of the other quirky friends too!

I received an ARC from the author for reviewing purposes. This doesn't affect my review in any way.

My one line review : A heroine full of sass + A hero with silent charm = a sweet romance

My rating : 4/5

My reread factor : 3/5

Floryie

Weekly Book Spotlight - Here Be Monsters by Leenna Naidoo

Welcome to this week's book spotlight. Yeah, I know I am a couple of days late! But here goes.

Here Be Monsters

Leenna Naidoo

Blurb
What’s in the juice?

First-time visitor to Mars, Angela Dornach, must solve this horrifying mystery. Angie's looking forward to spending quality time with her husband, Kieron, while accompanying him on one of his projects. Life on Mars might be more than she's bargained for, especially with rumours of ETs floating around, and the Mars residents behaving strangely.

Behind the Scenes
Yes, yes, I know the title is somewhat tired, but I did write it six years ago. In a notebook. In China, but not in my favourite KFC, like most of the other stories I wrote in Yulin. In fact, penning the first paragraphs of HBM is how I spent New Year’s Eve 2010. Don’t believe me? Here’s photographic proof! Besides, I think the title suits the story very well!

If you look real close at my photographic proof of the day I began writing this story, you’ll also notice that the beginning is way different. That beginning I actually published in the first edition of this story, but everyone felt it took too long to get to the good ‘monstery’ stuff. With a few cuts and some new added scenes, the story got much stronger without losing its charm or my original intentions. BTW, if you did buy the original version and are curious about this new edition, you can get a free copy of this new version with the much cooler cover. See my blogpost (https://leennanaidoo.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/update-april-2017/) for more details.

The original version also had more mushy scenes between Angela and Kieron, but almost everyone said something to the effect of: ‘I like this about them, but hurry up already and get on with the story!’ But I couldn’t resist keeping just a marshmallow or two of true mushiness...

Here Be Monsters was my very first not-flash-fiction attempt at ‘real’ sci-fi. I intended it as an entry to the annual Baen Competition, but sadly, the story was too long. I cannot remember if I submitted it or not, but it doesn’t much matter any more. What does, is that I still love this story and that it’s finding new fans, like S.Shane Thomas (he gave it 5-stars despite its slow burn start!) and my beta-readers for the revision prep.

A lot of the technical stuff (and the aliens) are inspired by 50s-70s sci-fi by the likes of Robert Heinlein, Harry Harrison and short stories of that period. It always amazes me that we still haven’t put those ideas into use until recently. But it’s nice to see the world finally catching up with sci-fi.

The setting of a mining base is partially inspired by movies like Total Recall (the original, not that awful remake) and old TV series like Ark 2.
The people, though, were inspired by my own experiences in mining towns. While I’m not a geologist, a number of my family are, so I got to spend some holidays in some really small (and some not so small) mining towns. And yes, I just let my imagination run wild from then on!

I can’t remember the soundtrack to this story. I do know it definitely featured two songs from the early 80s, or was it late 70s: Clouds Across The Moon by The Ra Band, and Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggle. If I recall correctly, Lullabye by Deep Forest might have been on my tracklist as well. I don’t really know how it all made the story come to together, but it did!
See if you can spot which song set which scene’s mood. I’ll let you know if you’re wrong :-D

Links:
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/416881

iBooks/iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/here-be-monsters/id860067193?mt=11

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/here-be-monsters-leenna-naidoo/1119222174?ean=2940045821841

Scribd https://www.scribd.com/book/217499523/Here-Be-Monsters

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/here-be-monsters-7
Excerpt :

I found the safety suits uncomfortable.

“Get used to it.” Kieron, a serious look on his face, was helping me suit up just past Immigrations. “You never go anywhere outside the staff quarters on this planet without one – and preferably a backup, just in case.”

It was like wearing an oversized down-suit with tubes running along in unexpected, uncomfortable places. I didn't mind the packs too much: one for air and the other a divided tank – a compartment for drinking water and another for recycling and producing oxygen. They fitted as a unit onto my back by straps – not too different from the pack I used at home.

My first view of Mars from the shuttle reminded me of flying over the Chinese desert at winter's dusk. Rugged sand structures in various tones of red and musk with delicate brushes of pink. It was prettier than expected under the harsh starlight. The Picasts didn't do it justice. There's yet a broadcast camera to be made that can beat the human retina for picking up subtle colour gradations.

“Last chance.” Kieron stood close to my ear as I stared at the sight through the view-deck while we waited for our transport to his new quarters. “The shuttle leaves in two hours and won't be back for a month more.”

“And you want me to find a new boyfriend on the way back home?”

He put his arm around my waist awkwardly. “Didn't know there was an old one!”

“That's 'cos I only see him sometimes. You see, he's hardly ever on Earth these days.”

“Then I guess you'd better stay here where I can keep an eye on you.”

“I guess I'd better.” I cupped his face and smiled, then frowned.

“What is it?” Kieron held onto to my hand as I withdrew it.

“It's funny that Tony's not come to welcome us.”

“Probably out in the field. You know how it is.”

I knew. Two weeks on, two weeks off. Three months annually on Earth or the Moon, if they so chose. It wasn't a life for the attached. I sighed, realising how lucky I was that Kieron was Project Manager and not a Geo. I got to see more of him than a Geo's family – and I didn't have to leave Earth. I wondered if Tony had found a partner yet, here on Mars.

And don't forget the 0.99$ Sale going on at Smashwords till July 17!

Trailer Reveal - The Kingdom Saga Collection by Megan Linski

The Kingdom Saga Collection: Books 1-4

by Megan Linski

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Release Date: May 19th 2017

Gryfyn Publishing

Summary:
A princess becomes a warrior, indulges in forbidden romance, and rules an empire in an epic fantasy saga inspired by Aladdin and the 1001 Arabian Nights.

Princess Bennua is betrothed to a foreigner in a far-away land -- until a prince of thieves comes to claim her for himself. Kidnapped and brought to a desert of mystery and wonder, Bennua finds herself the master of a djinn trapped within a magic lamp... and in love with a man who’s as secretive as he is dangerous.

Her travels take her to lands of ancient pharaohs and dark crypts, to illustrious palaces and jungles filled with mythical beasts. Bennua finds herself in service of an ancient deity, a fire god who is at war with the devil, and in the middle of a war where angels battle kings and monsters devour men.

Swords clash, magic ignites, and sultans fall. One girl has the power to save the world, and she will bring the desert to its knees with her bravery... her strength... and her love.

With thousands of copies in the hands of readers, The Kingdom Saga is an emotional story of true love, redemption, and faith featuring a strong heroine, a handsome prince and a lovable djinn.

Includes all four books in The Kingdom Saga series!

ON SALE FOR ONLY $0.99 THROUGH JUNE 30TH!

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rhefWa
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940154750391
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-kingdom-saga-collection-books-1-4/id1240984785?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-kingdom-saga-collection-books-1-4
GooglePlay:https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Megan_Linski_The_Kingdom_Saga_Collection?id=mjclDwAAQBAJ

Book Trailer:

About the Author

Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.

Author Links:

Join The Release Party on the author’s Facebook Page, starting June 28th!

Promo Blitz - The Trainee Undercover by Brenda Shaw

Welcome to the promo blitz post of The Trainee Undercover by Brenda Shaw. I am your host today.

YA Suspense/Thriller

Date Published: April 2017

Blurb:
The Trainee Undercover is a mystery, action, and thriller novel written by Brenda Shaw.

Paul Collier, a high level executive, in a pharma company gets threatened into silence by an unknown force. In despair, he decides to send his family away to protect them.

Alex, a happy-go-lucky teenager, is all set to enjoy his summer vacation with his friends.

But fate has other plans in store! They get entangled with a murder case.

Alex and his friends are now committed to pursue criminals.

They desperately want to help Paul! But, will they fall prey into the hands of the criminals?

It’s a gripping adventure where they have to race against time and winning is everything!

The teenagers’ amateurish skills will have to compete with professional criminals.

Will they be a victim or victorious? Read the novel to find out...

Purchase Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trainee-Undercover-Brenda-Shaw-ebook/dp/B06ZZ66WXY

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-trainee-undercover-brenda-shaw/1126251013?ean=9780995472341

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-trainee-undercover

iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-trainee-undercover/id1230589843

Meet the Author :

Brenda Shaw is a author based in UK and writes under a pen name.

Since childhood, she has been a very keen and voracious reader of adventure, suspense, mystery, detective, legal and science fiction books.

After completing her post-graduation in biological sciences, she worked for the pharmaceutical industry for nearly two decades. She decided to leave her career and pursue her childhood passion of writing fiction books.

Brenda Shaw is the author of the suspense action-packed thriller, ‘The Trainee Undercover’.

Being a travel lover, she has been travelling to various cities in Europe, America and Asia. She is very keen to explore and understand the varied customs and colorful cultures that exists around the world.

Contact Information
Website: http://www.thetrainee.info

Website: http://www.brendashaw.co.uk

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/brendashawg

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

Promo Link: http://bookbuzz.net/blog/ya-suspensethriller-the-trainee-undercover/

Release Day Blast - Storming the Castle by Arianna Hart

Welcome to the release day blast of Storming the Castle by Arianna Hart. I am your host today and I am looking forward to reading this book. I have included a teaser to get a peek into the story.

Storming the Castle by Arianna Hart

Release Date: 6/26/17

Blurb :
Sam Castleton has fame, houses all over the world, and one really big problem—he’s got an album due and he can’t write. All he wants is a quiet place to get his head straight. Dale, Georgia, seems like the perfect quiet spot to try to hear the music again and get some lyrics down on paper.

With her daughter’s paternal grandparents making a sudden appearance and the difficulties of running her own lodge and being a single mom, Faith Adams doesn’t have the time to worry about the mysterious stranger staying in one of her cottages, no matter how sexy he is.

Her newest guest may be surly, but his money is good, so she’s willing to overlook his surly nature. If only she could ignore the way he awakens a searing hunger in her…

Goodreads

Buy links:

Amazon    B&N    iBooks    Kobo

A peek into the book:
“Knock-knock. Sam?” Faith called in through the door as she opened it. It was the first time she’d been in the blue cottage since the night she’d shown it to him. The flowers she’d left for him were dead, and he had two full bags of garbage tied up and set near the door, but other than that, the place didn’t look half bad. Clean dishes rested on a drying board next to the sink, some pencils and paper were on the coffee table, and a half-full bottle of Gatorade was on the kitchen counter. Considering she hadn’t been in to tidy up, it was a pleasant surprise.

“I’ll be down in a second,” he answered from the loft.

She could smell soap and steam and figured he must have just taken a shower. Don’t think about him walking around up there naked.

“I can leave the laundry basket and come back if you’d like.”

“No, it’s—shit—fine.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Not wrong, just irritating. I waited too long to do laundry and now I only have one pair of clean jeans left.”

“I can take care of that in no time.”

“I mean, that’s all I have left. One pair of jeans. All my shirts and stuff are nasty.”

“Oh.” Faith’s face got hot as she realized what he wasn’t saying. His bare feet appeared on the steps and she tried not to look at the front of his jeans and imagine him going commando underneath.

Thank God, the pile of laundry he carried blocked his view of her, because she was sure she was staring. A thin line of dark hair trailed from his belly button down to the waistband of his low slung jeans and a few drops of water sparkled in the light.

For the last two weeks, every time she’d seen Sam, he’d been in running shorts and a T-shirt. Seeing him shirtless sent her blood pressure through the roof. Her mouth watered and she imagined capturing those droplets with her tongue as she followed the path to what waited behind the fly.

“I think this is all of it,” he said, dropping the pile of laundry on the couch.

“Did you remember your towels? I brought you some new ones.” Her voice was thick and raspy, and she tried to discreetly clear her throat while looking anywhere but at his naked chest.

“Yeah, they’re in the pile.”

“Good. Great. I’ll just strip the…ah, the bed and put on the new sheets.” She scooped the clean linen out of the laundry basket and bolted for the stairs. “Just put your laundry in the basket, and I’ll bring it with me when I go back to the house.”

If her face got any hotter, she’d burst into flame.

Meet the Author :
Arianna Hart enjoys spending time with her family, reading anything she can get her hands on, and of course writing! She’d love to spend her days on a beach with a drink in one hand and a book in the other, but until she wins the lottery she’ll just have to settle for chasing her girls around the pool.

Connect:

Website    Twitter     Facebook    Goodreads

Book Blast - Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series by Jean Oram

Escape to Indigo Bay…

Six authors. Six Sweet Romances. One small South Carolina beach town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sweet Dreams by Stacy Claflin

Ever since her twin became a singing sensation, Sky Hampton has struggled to be appreciated for who she is—apart from her sister. She wards off Aspen’s fans, who beg for autographs and selfies everywhere Sky goes. She can’t even find a guy who likes her for her. Sky flees to the small coastal town of Indigo Bay in hopes of blending in and building her blossoming career.

 Jace Fisher is the textbook definition of the strong silent type—nobody can break through his tough exterior. He has suffered more than his fair share of tragedies, and to protect his shattered heart, he pushes everyone away. Jace spends his days fixing the Indigo Bay cottages, and his nights… nobody really knows. He keeps to himself.

 When Jace shows up to fix Sky’s AC, he barely notices her and she’s distracted with settling in. It takes an emergency situation to get them talking, and when they do, the two find they have more in common than first appeared. As their attraction grows, defenses soar. Will they be able to risk love when they’ve both been burned in the past?

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sweet Matchmaker by Jean Oram

Ginger McGinty hates liars. And she just married a spy.

 Bridal shop owner Ginger McGinty excels at matchmaking unless it’s for herself. That is, until she meets the dreamy Aussie who helps her get into an event meant for engaged couples. Logan Stone is sweet, caring, thoughtful and fun—everything she desires in a man. But it turns out, her new fake fiancé could use a bit more than just a pretend engagement to get him into parties—he needs a quick marriage keep him in the country so he can be with his adopted special needs daughter.

 With a marriage of convenience pro-con list longer than the average wedding veil, Ginger puts her faith in romance and offers Logan her hand in return for one thing—no lies.

 But little does she know, almost everything she knows about her new husband is based on a lie. 

Everything except his kisses and the way he accidentally spills his soul whenever they meet. And that’s quickly becoming a problem for Logan Stone who depends on distance and deceit to keep civilians such as Ginger safe from his enemy’s clutches.

 Will the two find love in their marriage of convenience, or will everything break apart when the truth rises to the surface, shattering everything, including their trust?

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sweet Sunrise by Kay Correll

Sometimes life has a way of teaching lessons whether you’re ready to learn them or not…

 The last place on earth Will Layton wants to be is Indigo Bay, but his younger sister needs him and he’s never been able to say no to her. But she left out a few details… like their father staying with her and the girl who dumped him years ago is living right next door.

 The last person Dr. Ashley Harden thought she’d see in Indigo Bay is Will Layton, but he’s back in town and just as irresistible as when they were young. Seeing Will again is a complication that isn’t on her carefully mapped out life plan.

 In spite of Ashley’s best intentions, she starts falling for Will again, but nothing has changed. She’s still focused on getting the townspeople to accept her and see her as more than the girl from the wrong side of town, while Will is determined to guard his heart at any cost.

 Not the easiest road to true love… especially when secrets from the past are revealed and history threatens to repeat itself.

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sweet Illusions by Jeanette Lewis

Eva Malone was very young when her mother forced the family to join a violent doomsday cult, but she remembers a little about how normal life used to be. As a young woman, she escapes the cult and relocates to Indigo Bay, South Carolina to pursue her dream of peaceful anonymity.

 After several tumultuous years as a policeman in Atlanta, Ben Andrews has had enough. He returns home to Indigo Bay and joins the Indigo Bay PD, where the most exciting part of the job is getting a kitten out of a tree or rescuing tourists who lose their keys at the beach.

 Eva and Ben are immediately drawn to each other. But as the prophesied date of the apocalypse draws near and the cult steps up its efforts to find her, Eva realizes she can’t maintain her sweet illusion forever.

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sweet Regrets by Jennifer Peel

Melanie Dixon never thought she would find herself divorced, pregnant, and living back with her parents in Indigo Bay. Not one to let misfortune get the best of her, she picks up the broken pieces of her life and bit by bit puts them back together. She’s determined to go it alone, but her loving and equally determined family and friends have another idea.

 Enter Declan Shaw, the boy next door from long ago. The boy she wasn’t quite ready to commit forever to at eighteen. Back in Indigo Bay due to a recent job promotion, Declan sees this as a second chance to reunite with the girl who has owned his heart since the day they met in their junior year of high school. But Melanie is a tougher sell on the idea than he thought she would be. Now it’s up to him to prove to Melanie that she can trust him with her heart and that he’s the man she and her baby deserve.

 Will the regret and hurt of the past win out? Or will love prevail?

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sweet Rendezvous by Danielle Stewart

On her last tank of gas Elaine Mathews drives South. Spontaneity had never been her strength, but there was something about being publicly fired that had a way of changing things. An empty bank account, broken heart, and enough humiliation to last a life time was all Elaine could claim as her own. Her car choked to a stop in the quiet beach town of Indigo Bay and all she could do was sit on the curb and wait for the sun to set on her misery.

 Davis Mills has a routine. Wake. Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. It hadn’t always been that way. He’d left indigo bay once and returned a broken man. Now he kept his dreams small and his schedule tight. If there was no room in his life for anything new then he’d never repeat his mistakes.

 When fate has them, quite literally colliding Elaine and Davis are faced with an important question. Can you live a full life if you never take a risk? Or is life made up of every mistake, miracle and chance that comes with being in love?

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google

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$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway 

Ends 7/17/17

 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast - The Ghost of You and Me by Kelly Oram

The Ghost of You and Me by Kelly Oram

How do you tell someone who hates you and blames you for the death of his best friend that you miss him? 

 From the bestselling teen and young adult author of Cinder & Ella comes a new heart-wrenching romance sure to bring all the feels. 

 The tragic death of Spencer Schott unravels the lives of the two people he loved most—his girlfriend, Bailey, and his best friend, Wes. Secrets and guilt from that fateful night keep both Bailey and Wes from overcoming Spencer’s loss and moving on with their lives.

 Now, nearly a year later, both Bailey and Wes are still so broken over what happened that Spencer can’t find peace in the afterlife. In order to put his soul to rest, he’s given one chance to come back and set things right...even if that means setting up his girlfriend with his best friend. 

With the emotional resonance of Jellicoe Road and the magical realism of The Lovely Bones, The Ghost of You and Me is a story about overcoming grief, finding redemption for past mistakes, and the healing power of friendship and love. Fans of John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Nicholas Sparks are sure to love this haunting new tale from Kelly Oram. 

 This is a clean young adult romance stand alone novel that reads like contemporary drama romance and has just a touch of magical realism.

 

 

  Author Kelly Oram 

 Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen--a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat, Mr. Darcy.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

    $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 7/15/17

 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Spotlight - Dancing in the Rain by Lucy Appadoo

Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?

Book Details:

Book Title: Dancing in the Rain (The Italian Family Series)

Author: Lucy Appadoo

​Category: Adult Fiction, 274 pages

Genre: Historical Coming of Age/Romance/Family Drama

Publisher: Lucy Appadoo

Release date: March 24, 2017

Tour dates: June 5 to 23, 2017

Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There is physical abuse and death involved.)

Book Description:

Fifteen-year old Valeria Allegro works diligently on the family farm in Italy, where she is torn between her duty to her family and her desire to find freedom from her strict, domineering father. She finds solace in Dario, a young student who provides a blissful escape—until a neighbour’s son, Gregorio, decides he wants her for himself.

This raises an alarm for her father, which leads to family conflict and aggression. When Dario is threatened and her family is plagued by a series of suspicious accidents, Valeria is desperate to keep her loved ones safe. Can she end the turmoil and escape the firmly built trap to find the freedom she craves?

Buy the Book:

Amazon.com.au ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble

Other online stores

Add to Goodreads​

Meet the Author:

Lucy Appadoo is a registered counsellor and wellness coach with a part-time private practice. She also works as a rehabilitation counsellor for the Australian government. In her spare time, she self-publishes or writes nonfiction and fiction texts. She previously worked as a rehabilitation consultant, caseworker, English as a second language teacher, and proofreader.

Lucy has postgraduate diplomas in psychology, education, and English as a Second Language teaching, as well as specialised qualifications in grief counselling and hypnosis. She has also completed wellness coaching courses (levels 1-3) at Wellness Coaching Australia.

Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She writes in the genres of romantic suspense, historical fiction, and romance. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.

Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).

Lucy’s interests include meditation, playing tennis, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends July 1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Musings - Her Surprise Engagement by Ashlee Mallory

Title : Her Surprise Engagement
Author : Ashlee Mallory
Series : Sorenson Family, Book 4
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Source : ARC from the publisher, Entangled

Blurb :

Single mom Daisy Sorensen doesn’t believe in fairytale endings—at least not for her. All she wants is to enjoy a much-needed, stress-free family vacation at a friend’s Lake Tahoe home. So of course everything that can go wrong does. Including a gorgeous man and his daughter showing up in the middle of the night.

Soon-to-be Governor Jack Harrison has had a crazy week, but he’s sure nothing can top arriving to find a bathrobe-clad, beautiful stranger in the home he’s staying in for the week. He’s wrong. When things spiral out of control the next morning, Jack makes Daisy an offer she can’t refuse. She’ll pretend to be his fiancée and he’ll help her open the bakery she’s been dreaming about.

But in between late-night campfires and days on the lake, Jack finds himself falling for the strong, stubborn woman for real.

GOODREADS

My Musings :

I had just finished Her Backup Boyfriend when I came across the opportunity to review Her Surprise Engagement. So I of course jumped on the chance because I was intrigued by Daisy's character. She showed strength in it but I was in two minds about her. So I am happy the way her story turned out.

One thing I have to note is that the book cover doesn't seem to fit Daisy and Jack. Oh it is attractive but it doesn't go with their characters for me.

My perception of Daisy was different from how she is in this book. I love her strength, her stubbornness and her love for her family and friends. She is well developed and is a good complement to Jack. Her love is boundless as shown by willingness to include Jack and his daughter in her inner circle. Oh how I loved her character!

Another surprising character who caught my heart in their trap is the hero himself. I have read books with heroes who are billionaires, teachers, firefighters, players etc., But I have never encountered a politician as a hero and I was pleasantly surprised how down to earth he was. I loved his simple needs and his yearning for a big loving family.

Kudos to the author who once again has created a protagonist pair who touched my heart effortlessly with their actions and their pasts. The way the author added a bit of sadness of their pasts to enhance their present happiness adds well to the story. The romance was sweet but not over the top. It was perfectly paced and I loved their love story! Oh I wish this happens in real life!!

Now I am smitten with the Sorenson family and I can't wait to read the other intervening books. Each is a standalone so it doesn't have to be read in order or all books have to be read. You can always enjoy it as a single. Now I am off to peek at the other titles while I hope you guys check this one out!! I strongly recommend this tale and the series to people who love romances with sweet love and family closeness.

I received a free ARC from the publisher, Entangled. I reviewed it voluntarily and this doesn't affect my review in any way

My one line review : A sweet love story with a sprinkle of family closeness

My rating : 5/5

My reread factor : 4/5

Floryie

Weekly Book Spotlight - His Christmas Delight by Summerita Rhayne

Welcome to this week's book spotlight. Today, I am bringing to you His Christmas Delight by Summerita Rhayne. And the author is sharing a few interesting facts about the book too. Read on to know more and get a peek at her writing! 

BLURB:
Myra is determined to steal from Santa. But she discovers a surprise in store for her because Santa is someone all too familiar! Soon she's chatting and recapping old times with her high school friend Jay. He has changed and so have a lot other things. The attraction between them is all too patent and she's one for throwing caution to the winds.

Jay has his issues and she finds him holding back at every turn. Will she be able to surmount the barriers between them? This is one Christmas she's not spending alone.

Book buy links:

Amazon.com             Amazon.in

Excerpt:
‘It isn’t what you think. I didn’t refuse because of Pete. His memory is precious and it would be with me always. But I’m not hanging on to the past.’ He paused.

It went on so long she began to think she’d offended him in some way.

‘Maybe I am,’ he said slowly. ‘I meant it when I said we weren’t friends. We never were on my side. Because I’m hanging on to your memory, Myra. The memory of your lips on mine.’

Her heart stopped then began to beat fast.

‘A good kiss is like a lovely ice cream flavor. Once tasted, never forgotten,’ he said. ‘I never forgot that kiss, sweetheart. Because it was with my first crush.’ He smiled crookedly.

‘Jay...’

‘One grows out of a crush, they say. Maybe I did for a while. But then I saw you in Kochi and it started all over again. I couldn’t risk betraying myself so I wouldn’t come home.’

‘Oh Jay. I didn’t know.’

‘How could you? I was taking care you didn’t. That seemed to be a good enough reason to stay away. But now I realize I shouldn’t have. I should have come back...should’ve shared your grief with you. But all I could selfishly focus on was my feelings. After the trauma I was too raw. Stressed. They said, it was normal. It would pass. But it didn’t. It took me quite a while to get myself together. Even then I wasn’t cured.’

‘Oh Jay, you’ve been so stubborn. I could have helped you. You could have let me know.’

He smiled again. A whimsical one. Too stubborn. She saw he would never have admitted the illness that must have seemed to him like a failing. That was how most men thought of being ill. She had seen it with her father. Her brother. Even Pete.

‘I’m fine. But there are spells sometimes…’ She could see the effort it cost him to admit that.

‘What I’m trying to say, Myra, is this. I can’t go for anything steady with you. My life isn’t what it should be...what a man has who wants to offer commitment to a woman and to you I would have liked to offer that. With you, it would have to be the works. I don’t know if I can go for it. And, after what happened, the way you lost Pete, I can’t take the chance of hurting you.’

‘Oh Jay!’ She could hardly take in what he was saying. It was too much all at once.

‘When you asked me this afternoon, I realized things were going too quickly for us. I’d just got carried away seeing you again.’ He rubbed his neck. ‘And I had to stop before we got started on anything. Still, no matter what my intention, I was very rude. That’s why I had to come. To apologize. You mean too much to me to be able to brush you off like that. I had to explain. I’m not sure I’m doing a good job of it.’ He grimaced.

She knew what he wanted to say. Being honest, he’d really put it the way it was. He couldn’t dissemble. He might be wishing he’d said less because she knew intuitively he didn’t like to share his feelings.

He’d crushed on her...the way he described the kiss...oh God she hadn’t known. No wonder he’d stayed away. She and Pete had got engaged. She’d been besotted with Pete. He’d been such a good person. A great human being. Always ready to help others.

‘I might look like I’m managing well but I’m not in too good a shape.’ She pulled a face. ‘The shock of losing Pete... it took a lot out of me. However, family and friends, especially Tonya, have been a great help.’ She paused. ‘I appreciate your worry and concern but I don’t know if I’m ready to take another chance.’ She shook her head. ‘It was too painful. I am barely recovered now. In fact, I haven’t given any man a thought for so long. You’re the first man I’ve really noticed in a long while. I won’t lie, I noticed you good, Jay. But about thinking of anything serious…’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know if I can take the risk of loving again.’

‘I understand, Myra. If ever you do, you deserve better than a damaged man. We had better accept we cannot be. Some things are just not meant to be.’

‘Jay, don’t think of yourself like that.’

He was already straightening, terminating the conversation. ‘If you need anything, I’ll be there for you. Remember that.’ He came close. He began to hug her then changed his mind. Just for a moment, his mouth swooped down on hers. She felt a rush of feeling, a hint of spice, passion and humor that was him, but before she could even hold onto him, he broke the contact.

‘Goodbye, princess.’

He picked up his keys and walked away. She waited for him to stop, say something, searched her mind to detain him some excuse but nothing came and he was soon out the door.

It was better this way. Jay was someone she could fall for. It was better to end it. Now when it was safe.

Why did it feel as though her heart was breaking anyway?

Fun Facts about the book: 
- It started to be a 3k words story but turned into 30 k words novella. 

I believe that's a win-win situation. A reader would love to have a longer and a richer story.

- It has a sequel His Christmas Surprise which is Jay’s brother Dan’s story.

- Most of the book occurs around Christmas and New Year!

- Goan culinary delights and avian fauna get a lot of spotlight.

Author Bio:
Summerita Rhayne writes contemporary and historical romance with lots of emotional conflict. She first got published in 2013 and has won contests with prestigious publishers such as Harlequin and Harper Collins India. She’s a bestselling romance author at Amazon.

At heart, she’s a family person. She loves winding down with music, romcoms, cricket (strictly watching only) and social networking.

Author Links:

Website  Amazon page  Twitter  Goodreads

Weekly Book Spotlight - Shadow in the Mirror by Deepti Menon

Welcome to the first post in the weekly book spotlight by The Book Drealms. We are starting this feature off with the book, Shadow in the Mirror by Deepti Menon. I personally have heard good things about it and I have it on my immediate To Be Read List. Yeah, I have 2 lists because I am such a book addict! 

Without any further ado, let me give you the book cover and the blurb. Be sure to read it and go down further because you are going to learn some interesting facts/incidents in connection with the book. This is not an ordinary spotlight. It will also highlight a few behind the scenes facts which I, as a reader, enjoy. So I am here hoping that you guys enjoy such stuff too! 

Blurb :

It all begins with a death. Nita, a pregnant woman falling

from a balcony becomes the string that unravels the plot.

Her death casts a shadow over many lives; her heartbroken

father, her husband, and Vinny, a young journalist drawn in

by the whiff of foul play and murder.

What follows are stories within stories, eras and worlds

colliding with each other, leaving behind splintered

relationships and mesmerizing slices of lives that appear

to be drawn together and driven apart by the whimsical

strings of destiny.

As events cast their shadows ahead to link the stories of

Vinny, Kavita, Roma, Krish and Nita in an unrelenting knot,

a journey starts to uncover the truth. What is the secret

that links Nita’s death to the other characters? Will

Vinny be able to unravel the mystery?

From intimate diary entries, letters, to bantering over a

meal, and sharing memories while spring cleaning, this novel

de-familiarizes the ordinary, presenting a kaleidoscope of

our own pasts, broken edges and pulsating hearts.

About the book :

Genre: Shadow in the Mirror is a psychological thriller.

Editor: Dipankar Mukherjee - dipankar.mukherjee@readomania. com

Availability: The book has been published by Readomania and is available on Amazon.in and in major bookshops, like Starmark and Odyssey.

Amazon

Interesting facts about the book :

This book was initially two books with two sets of characters. One fine day, I suddenly felt that it would be a good idea to blend the two together and create a sizzling cocktail out of them. And so, after much editing and juxtaposing, Shadow in the Mirror was born!

The most difficult part was not the actual writing or the editing, but finding a suitable cover for the book, one that would mesmerize and impel the readers to want to pick it up! Dipankar Mukherjee and I pulled our hair out, hunting for the perfect image. Actually, he searched and I kept rejecting, till one fine day, we screamed 'Eureka'. We had found the cover we wanted!

I for one can agree that the book cover fits it to perfection. It just pulls the reader in.

About the author :

Deepti Menon has always loved the written word. She is the author of three books, ‘Arms and the

Woman’, ‘Deeparadhana’ and 'Shadow in the Mirror'. She has worked as a

journalist with several publications, and is now a freelance

editor. Short stories with deft twists and tongue-in-cheek

articles that tickle the funny bone are her forte. Deepti

lives with her family in Chennai.

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Mother of Wolves by J Aislynn d'Merricksson

This is my stop during the blog tour for Mother of Wolves by J Aislynn d'Merricksson. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 22 May till 11 June. See the tour schedule here

Mother of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper #1)
By J Aislynn d'Merricksson
Genre: Sci-fi/ fantasy/ arcanepunk
Age category: Adult
Release Date: July 2, 2015

Blurb:
It is a year of awakening and change for Kalla kyl’Solidor - the Wolf Who Sleeps. After a fire wyvern attacks her home, she sets on a harsh path to self-discovery.

With the future of their world at stake, Kalla and her magister embark on a journey that will shake the foundations of De Sikkari and shape their destiny.

From the depths of Xibalba to the plains of Arkkadia, and the soaring heights of the sky continent of Argoth, they journey to claim their rightful place in the world, and to put an end to the source of the destruction before chaos claims the realm.

Book 1 of 4 in the Evalyce: Worldshaper series

You can find Mother of Wolves on Goodreads

You can buy Mother of Wolves here on Amazon

My Musings :

 I didn't realise how apt the title is till the end. The story is all about the Mother of wolves and it is a nicely woven piece of fiction. The blurb had me interested in the story but the cover, though contained the elements of the story, didn't have the right look to complement the book.

I admit as soon as I started the book and finished the first scene, I was a bit disappointed. It felt too familiar as with other books. But thank goodness I continued because after that, it was a completely unique fantastical story with elements of Scifi thrown in. Actually I loved the mix of fantasy and scifi in the story. That's one reason I fell in love with the book.

The plot was pretty fast paced. There was no time to sit and think at all. From the start till the end, I was in a race to know what was going on. The flow of the scenes was pretty good. There was no jumps. Only thing I found hard was keeping straight the characters because of their names. Another thing which was well done was the world building. It is a completely unique and fun universe and it was a pleasure to read. I am expecting to know more of it in the sequels. I am sure the next book will rock as much as this one has.

As for the characters, they are a very good bunch. Kalla is such a strong and dominant person. She adds her own twist to each scene. I love her confidence and her righteousness. Aleister is a delight with her part serious and part mischievous persona. But Vander is the one who touched my heart. I really felt for him. The author has created characters who not only settle in good in the storyline but also touch the heart with their dilemmas and past.

I look forward to the sequels with much anticipation because yeah it was kind of a cliffhanger. And I can't wait to continue! I want more of Kalla and Aleister especially. There are  so many things hinted at that I can't keep my head straight. It is a refreshingly new voice inspite of a familiar beginning. I can't recommend it enough!

I received  a copy for reviewing purposes. This doesn't impact my review in any way.

My one line review : A refreshingly new blend of scifi and fantasy for the adventurous readers.

My rating : 4/5

My reread factor : 4/5

About the Author:
Allemerra! That’s ‘hello’ in Argosian. Argoth is one of the countries of the world of De Sikkari, where my Evalyce novels take place. It is a vibrant world, as real to me as the mundane world here. The ‘J’ in my name stands for Julianna, but I prefer Aislynn.

I have a degree in anthropology you see. I approach my writing from the viewpoint of an anthropologist. My sister calls me a ‘biblioanthropologist’. I like the word. It fits perfectly! What are writers but consummate anthropologists? Writers must employ the skills of the ethnographer, the cultural anthropologist, the archaeologist, the linguist, and sometimes even the psychologist and the naturalist in order to weave their stories. I do not craft this world. I merely found the key to it and happen to have the skills (and courage) to share it with others.

I was destined for a career in forensic anthropology. A medical issue thwarted those plans and I ended up with a bachelor’s in archaeology, and later a master’s and a doctorate in philosophy. Along the crooked path away from what I found familiar, and into the unknown, I discovered a knack for poetry, and a gift for writing. I’ve honed these raw skills to something worth sharing, and found the key to a world I’ve fallen in love with.

There was a decade-long love affair with teaching, in which I crafted many of my own classes related to mythic studies, anthropology, archaeology, and ethics. My favourite class crafting was for an intro to mythology class. I did not want a boring listing such as Intro to Mythology. So…. I tweeted several famous people, authors, actors, and the like, the question- what would you name a class on mythology if you wanted to be creative. The last person I ever expected to respond was Mark Sheppard (Crowley on Supernatural. His response was ‘Bob’. So I took the challenge, and in the end, I had a class called BoB, a gift from the King of Hell. The full name was Blessing of Bragi, Bragi being the poet and keeper of stories in Norse mythology.

An observant person may notice that my eyes are heterochromatic. One is blue and one is hazel. Now, true heterochromia is rare. In my case it is a personal choice. That medical issue was a serious one. At the age of twenty, I lost my right eye and had prosthesis put in. That gave me the opportunity to express my eccentricity and insist on an eye that was a different colour. It also forced me to confront one of my greatest fears- that of losing my eyesight altogether.

I think I have Loki to thank for that. I follow a Norse spiritual path called Rokkatru. Brother Wildfire always has lessons for me. Fun fact-Loki is also known as the Lord of Laughter. My lessons generally are to teach me to laugh at the mild or major setbacks in life. It’s a lesson I’m slowly learning.

My crooked path has led me to a wonderful home in Northern California, where I live with my sister, bond-brother, bond-mate, niece, a guinea pig, and two kitty cats. Yes, we have a large house! Sometimes it feels a little crowded, but most often it is nice to have the closeness of family.

I spend my nights as an innkeep, which usually gives me ample time to write, or to read. I love to read! I was an early reader and I always have a book with me. That’s a passion that lead me to becoming a professional book reviewer, freelancing for several review groups such as the San Francisco Book Review. Such bliss! Paid to read! What could be better?

Synmerra! That’s good-bye in Argosian :)

Feel free to stop by Port Jericho! Always happy to see new people.
www.aislynndmerricksson.com

You can find and contact J Aislynn d'Merricksson here:
- Website
- Creativia page
- Creativia Mother of Wolves
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Amazon