Spotlight – Diane Alberts

14 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

Tags

Beauty and the Boss, Diane Alberts, Divinely Ruined, Say You're Mine

Whether you like your romances professional, paranormal, or panty-melting we’ve got a Diane Alberts book that’s just right for you. Take the following quiz to find out which one you should read first!

The perfect date night wouldn’t be complete without:

wine and candlelight
dancing and lots of eye contact
foreplay, lots and lots of foreplay

Your usual bookmark is:

a bookstore receipt
did you mean quitter strip..?
swag from an author

If you were going out on a girl’s night your ideal outfit would have:

a skirt, heels, and your signature perfume
your favorite pair of jeans and a leather jacket
lots of cleavage and knee-high boots

When it comes to book boyfriends give you:

billionaire playboys who can show you a good time
protective alphas who know how to treat you right
bikers, soldiers, rock stars, you want them all!

Your favorite authors are:

Bella Andre, Sylvia Day, J.S. Scott, Robin Covington, Maya Blake, Kendall Ryan
Kresley Cole, Felicity Heaton, Dannika Dark, Nina Croft, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione
Tracy Wolff, Elle Kennedy, Katy Evans, Jay Crownover, Tessa Bailey, Melissa Foster

If you picked mostly 1‘s you got Indulgence Diane Alberts. You’re elegant, polished, and you can probably handle any situation with poise. You like your heroes suited, powerful, and with an edge to them. Seeing the heroine swept off her feet into a world of luxury has you ready to trade places with her. We think you’ll love BEAUTY AND THE BOSS.

If you picked mostly 2‘s you got Otherworld Diane Alberts. You’re adventurous, witty, and you aren’t afraid of a good challenge. You like your heroes growly, brooding, and Alpha with a capital ‘A’. Diving into the world of the paranormal is your ultimate escape. We think you’ll love DIVINELY RUINED.

If you picked mostly 3’s you got Brazen Diane Alberts. You might be the girl-next-door but there’s more to you than meets the eye. You like your heroes ready and willing to please any time, any place. Slipping between the pages of a good read is almost as good as slipping between the sheets for you. We think you’ll love SAY YOU’RE MINE.

If you picked a mix of 1’s, 2’s, and/or 3’s you’re someone who enjoys variety both in their lives and in their books. You’re known for your great taste and your friends probably come to you for advice on which books to buy. When it comes to book boyfriends you know that one is never enough. We think you’ll enjoy everything Diane has to offer so visit her Entangled Publishing page to find all of her great books!

*****

Beauty and the Boss

Researcher Maggie Donovan has no luck with men, and it doesn’t help that she can’t keep her eyes off of her sexy boss – the one everyone else in the office calls The Beast. Relationships in the office are forbidden. So no one is more surprised than Maggie when she pretends to be his fiancée to save him during a difficult situation. Not only has she put her job on the line, but the future of the company.

Billionaire Benjamin Gale III doesn’t believe in love or romance, but the look on his mother’s face when Maggie tells her that she’s his fiancée is worth millions. Instead of firing her for her insubordination, he goes along with the ruse. In his arms–and in his bed–she’d be everything he could ever want…which is why he can’t have her.

But if he doesn’t let her go, they’ll lose everything…

*****

Divinely Ruined

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick.

Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?

*****

Say You’re Mine

Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.

Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.

Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…

*****

Author Info:

Diane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and four cats. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://www.dianealberts.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Tumblr: http://dianealberts.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dianealberts71/

Entangled: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/diane-alberts/

*****

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55495679/

Spotlight – I’ll Be Home for Christmas

14 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

I'll Be Home for Christmas, Lori Wild, Twilight Texas series

I love the down home feel of Lori Wilde’s stuff (don’t ask me how it is that I have only reviewed one book and that was almost 3 years ago). Add in Christmas and I’m hooked!

*****

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

A Twilight, Texas Novel

by Lori Wilde

Avon Romance

October 27^th, 2015

Mass-Market ISBN: 9780062311412 * $7.99

E-ISBN 9780062311429 * $5.99

Blurb:

Nothing says Christmas like New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde and Twilight, TX, and now Lori returns to Twilight for a brand new heartwarming holiday tale. The matchmaking members of the Cookie Club are up to their old tricks again!

Christmas in Twilight, Texas, is all merriment and mistletoe. The Cookie Club is whipping up their most festive sweets, the townspeople are scrambling to get their holiday shopping done, and Joe-a hometown guy with a restless heart-is dreaming about the woman he wants to kiss most…

…And who happens to be staying at his sister’s place over the holidays, while Joe’s sister is away. But Joe isn’t quite sure he wants to be a living Christmas present to runaway law student Gabi Preston.

Joe thinks the sassy sweetheart he nicknames “Trouble” won’t inconvenience anything but his healthy sex drive. But when he discovers the reasons Gabi escaped from her life, he aches to give her everything she’s never had. As the magic of the season draws them together, the gift of love is the only one worth giving…

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS on Goodreads

A TWILIGHT, TEXAS series on Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

Relieved, Gabi turned back to the room and for the first time really saw the inside of the tent. It was, in a word, surprising.

For one thing, the interior was a lot more luxurious than she expected. The approximately eight hundred square feet of circular space included an impressive limestone fireplace on the north side of the room, surrounded by a plump sectional sofa. To the east was a full kitchen with butcher- block countertops and stainless- steel appliances. Between the living room area and the kitchen sat a small dining room table and four wooden chairs hand painted in a whimsical chicken motif. To the south where Gabi stood was a full- sized, white wrought- iron bed dressed with a yin- yang patterned comforter. Paneled walls partitioned off the west side, which she supposed housed the bath-room. Hand- scraped, knotty pine flooring invited her to take off her shoes and relax. A skylight let in what light remained of the overcast day.

Maybe tent living wouldn’t be too weird after all. She stepped deeper into the home and turned to glance behind her. On the back of the door was a Christmas wreath and a plaque that read “Home Sweet Yurt.”

A yurt.

So that’s what this was.

The room was chilly, and she looked around for a thermostat, only to realize there wasn’t one. Was the fireplace the only heat source? That was an intimidating thought. Umm. Maybe there was another flight back to LA tonight.

Suck it up.

No running away. She could do this. It would be like fancy camping. Except that she’d never been camping and had no idea how that worked.

Outside, she heard the ping of an axe again. Clearly yurts were not soundproof, but at least the noise reassured her that He- Man had decided to respect her privacy and he’d gone back to his business.

Good. Great. This was the perfect time to fetch her luggage from the car and start settling in.

She breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the keys she’d dropped along with her purse when she’d run panicky into the yurt. Head down, she pulled open the front door, strode forward— And plowed smack- dab into a wall of blue-flannel-wrapped muscles.

Yeeps! She jumped back, lost her balance, and wobbled precariously on the edge of the deck.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lori Wilde has sold seventy-eight works of fiction to four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensic nursing from Kaplan University. She is a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Her first NYT bestseller, the third book in her Twilight, Texas series, The First Love Cookie Club has been optioned for a television movie. The town of Granbury, Texas, upon which her fictional town of Twilight, Texas is loosely based, honors Lori with an annual Twilight, Texas weekend each Christmas. http://www.twilighttexas.com

A popular writing instructor, Lori is a two time RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Golden Quill, the Lories, and The More than Magic. Her books have been translated into 27 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman, and Quick and Simple magazines. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill, and her two New American Shepherds.

Connect with Lori Wilde

Website – http://loriwilde.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/loriwilde

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LoriWildeBooks/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38217.Lori_Wilde

Book Review – A Cold Creek Christmas Story

13 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Cold Creek Christmas Story, Book Review, Cowboys of Cold Creek series, Raeanne Thayne

A Cold Creek Christmas Story

Cowboys of Cold Creek series

by RaeAnne Thayne

Sparkle In The Snow Leads To So Much More

Celeste Nicholas has always preferred to keep to herself in her hometown of Pine Gulch, Idaho…until she becomes an instant celebrity! When one of her children’s stories becomes a major success, she’s suddenly the talk of the town. Celeste should be gloriously happy…but something, someone, special is still missing from her life. Could the return of her childhood crush be the answer?

Flynn Delaney has moved back home for his daughter’s sake. Yet all the millionaire’s resources can’t help the little girl heal from the tragic loss of her mother. Shy librarian Celeste and her stories do hold some indefinable magic, though. Flynn came home looking for support—can he find that, and true love, in the one who got away?

This is a wonderfully sweet story about love and healing. Flynn’s daughter Olivia has survived something devastating and she’s still dealing with it. He’s back in Cold Creek, after years in California, to take care of his grandmother’s affairs and he’s hoping that the place that meant so much to him as a child can help his daughter heal. But it is meeting the author of her favorite story that has Olivia showing real enthusiasm.

Flynn’s love for his daughter and how he’s devastated by what she’s been through is so touching. He’s trying so hard to help her. But when it is obvious that Celeste is the key, he takes advantage of it … regardless of the attraction to the quiet librarian that he’s trying so hard to ignore. Celeste had a traumatic event of her own when she was a child, which gives her a special understanding of what Olivia is going thru. It takes dealing with the haunted little girl, and her father, to really face some of the scars she’s still holding onto.

I’ve read other Thayne stories, but this is my first in the Cowboys of Cold Creek series. It looks like this one has been going on for a while (this is the 14^th story) but I’m not sure how related they all are. Celeste’s sister Hope stars in Book 13, The Christmas Ranch, and while it isn’t necessary to have read it (I didn’t and it didn’t really bother me) I think there’s enough continuation that it probably would have made this one more enjoyable. So not required, but beneficial 🙂 I got along just fine and Thayne did a good job of relating the necessities.

A Cold Creek Christmas Story is super sweet and just about perfect for a holiday read. The characters are interesting and complex, the story is heartwarming and joyful, and it has that innocence that will make just about anyone feel good. I’ll definitely be looking for more in this series and by this author.

Buy on Amazon

Book Review – Xylan

12 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Rider Jacobs, Xylan

Today we’ve got a hot, sexy, emotion-packed romance for those more daring readers.

*****

Xylan

by Rider Jacobs

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Blurb:

With his latest action movie finding worldwide success Xylan decided to try something different. He became a judge for the television show Talented Americans. There he meets Jarrett, a reporter with a surly attitude and a reputation for unethical journalism.

Xylan has a secret. While he may portray the larger than life action star in films he has a desire to be dominated in the bedroom. With a room filled with equipment to fulfill that desire and a boyfriend who knows how to wield a paddle, Xylan feels he has found a perfect balance in life. Then one night, while Hamilton is away, Xylan suffers the ultimate act of betrayal. When his world comes crashing down and his secret is revealed for the world to see Xylan must decide if his love for Hamilton is enough to see them through.

*****

Review:

If you’ve made it this far then you know that this is a M/M romance. It’s also got a little BDSM thrown in too so while it isn’t going to be for everyone, it is well written so Xylan is a good choice for more adventurous readers. Amazon has it at just under 100 pages (and 4+ stars, btw), so it is definitely a fast read.

But Jacobs doesn’t pull any punches with her plot and there were a lot of different things about it that worked for me. I really liked the committed relationship between Xylan and Hamilton – the trust and honesty and love between the two. There were moments of humor as well as some that were darker. And definitely some that were sexy and hot, but it’s the ones that were from the heart that were the best.

If I have any complaint it is that I felt like I needed one more chapter to find out what happens next … maybe there will be a follow up book. Not that I want more bad things for Xylan but I’m curious to see how everything turned out. If she doesn’t have one planned, maybe we can talk Rider into writing one 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Raised in a small town in the corner of Kansas, Rider’s mother installed a love of books in her. Thanks to her mother she developed a love for all things paranormal at an early age. Her parents always encouraged her to use her imagination and write stories.

When she was 18 she left the small farming community without a stop light and headed for the bright lights of Las Vegas. She continued to write but life kept her from actually publishing anything. After ten years in the big city, Rider decided she wanted a much slower paced life and returned to Kansas.

It was here that she met a friend who loved her stories and encouraged her to submit them.

When not writing Rider loves to read anything she can get her hands on from the Dark taboo erotic books to the lighter Amish romance. She also has an interest in the lost art of pen paling. Putting pen to paper and sharing the good times and the bad through the written word with friends near and far. Rider also loves to travel and while she has been to the tourist attractions she much prefers the hidden gems off the beaten path that few know about. It is these adventures that often find their way into her books.

https://www.facebook.com/rider.jacobs.3

@RiderJacobs

Instagram riderjacobs

*****

Spotlight – Welcome to Forever

11 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Tags

Annie Rains, Hero's Welcome series, Welcome to Forever

Today we’re back to military hotties … and anything that is compared to Kristan Higgins, Susan Mallery or Jill Shalvis is definitely going to the top of my TBR pile. I love those ladies and I’m always looking for new reads like their’s.

*****

Welcome to Forever

Hero’s Welcome #1

by Annie Rains

Releasing December 1, 2015

Loveswept

Blurb:

If you love Kristan Higgins, Susan Mallery, or Jill Shalvis, you won’t want to miss the Hero’s Welcome military romance series! Welcome to Forever introduces a small coastal town where America’s best and brightest risk everything for love.

In Seaside, North Carolina, there are two kinds of people: Marines, and kids of Marines. Then there’s Kat Chandler. Recently hired as the principal of Seaside Elementary, Kat makes it her mission to turn the school into a place of peace and calm. That’s not going to be easy with hard-liner parents like Micah Peterson storming in, telling her how to do her job—and then kissing her with those gorgeous lips of his and turning her brain into mush.

As a Marine Sergeant and a single dad, Micah Peterson has just two priorities: doing his job better than anyone else, and getting the absolute best for his son, Ben. But when he meets Ben’s beautiful new principal, a different yearning shifts into focus. He wants her, sure, but he’s also moved by the connection Kat forges with her students. So after learning that she refuses to date Marines, Micah sets two more objectives: convincing Kat to give him a chance . . . and then holding on to her forever.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25476323-welcome-to-forever

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/154832-hero-s-welcome

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

*****

Excerpt:

“Have you thought about that kiss?” she asked, as he leaned in close to fasten her seatbelt. She couldn’t control what was coming out of her mouth. “Because I have. A little.” She started laughing again. Val had warned her that she was a horrible drunk, and evidently, it was true.

“What have you thought about it?” he asked, his voice low and bristly. Her buckle snapped into place with a loud click. He could step back now, but he didn’t.

And she didn’t want him to. What was the point of being drunk if you couldn’t say and do what you wanted, and then apologize for it in the morning? No one blamed a drunk, they blamed the drink. “I thought that I liked it. The kiss. It was amazing.” She held her breath as he lingered in front of her, his hand still resting on the seat’s buckle.

“I thought the same thing.”

“You did?” She swallowed thickly, as her heart rode up her throat.

His brow lifted. “You sound surprised.”

“I’m out of practice.” She nibbled on her lower lip, drawing his gaze there. Then his gaze flicked back to her ring. Just the thought squashed the flutterings in her chest, leaving a deep ache that vibrated with the alcohol. “He’s been gone for two years,” she said.

Micah’s brows pinched together softly.

Explaining about John in her state wasn’t a good idea, though. She might start crying, which she didn’t do in front of others anymore, and right now all she wanted to do was forget everything but their kiss. That she wanted to remember. “You could kiss me again,” she said softly.

His smile deepened and, damn, he smelled good.

Leaning in closer to her ear, his hot breath melted her as he whispered, “Kat, you’ve had too much to drink. I’m taking you home now.”

Before she could process what he’d said, he stepped back and shut the Jeep’s door, the sound as offensive as if someone had crashed cymbals in her ears. A moment later, he reappeared on the driver’s side and cranked the engine, another sound that made her wince.

She closed her eyes, unsure of what to do with her drunken emotions.

“If I kiss you again, I want to be one hundred percent sure it’s what you want. Not because my almost ex is walking up and you want to help me out. Not because you’ve had too much to drink and want to escape.”

She suddenly felt very tired, as the Jeep Cherokee headed out of the parking lot. “So, you are going to kiss me again?” she asked. Before she could hear his answer, though, her eyes closed and the sounds of the road and his voice, and the blood thundering in her head, blurred together. She remembered their kiss, the feel of his stubble roughly brushing against her cheek, and the way he had smelled like pine and fudge brownies.

No, wait. His eyes reminded her of fudge brownies. He didn’t smell like them.

Her eyes fluttered open. Yeah, she was definitely going to regret tonight in the morning.

*****

Author Info:

Annie Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America’s largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors. Represented by Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary Agency (NYLA).

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon Gift Card and a Book Bundle

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8852/

*****

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Spotlight – Colin’s Quest

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Colin's Quest, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Shirleen Davies

I don’t see a lot of historical westerns any more but this one is definitely on my TBR list.

*****

Colin’s Quest

MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Book One

by Shirleen Davies

Historical Western Romance Series

Blurb:

For An Undying Love…

When Colin MacLaren headed west on a wagon train, he hoped to find adventure and perhaps a little danger in untamed California. He never expected to meet the girl he would love forever. He also never expected her to be the daughter of his family’s age-old enemy, but Sarah was a MacGregor and the anger he anticipated soon became a reality. Her father would not be swayed, vehemently refusing to allow marriage to a MacLaren.

Time Has No Effect…

Forced apart for five years, Sarah never forgot Colin—nor did she give up on his promise to come for her. Carrying the brooch he gave her as proof of their secret betrothal, she scans the trail from California, waiting for Colin to claim her. Unfortunately, her father has other plans.

And Enemies Hold No Power.

Nothing can stop Colin from locating Sarah. Not outlaws, runaways, or miles of difficult trails. However, reuniting is only the beginning. Together they must find the courage to fight the men who would keep them apart—and conquer the challenge of uniting two independent hearts.

*****

Excerpt:

“You’ve changed since I last saw you.” Colin tightened his grip on her hand.

“Oh?”

“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.” Turning her toward him, he stroked his knuckles down her cheek, watching as her eyes glowed. She didn’t resist when he moved his hand behind her neck to draw her close. “I want to kiss you, Sarah.”

“Aye, it’s been too long.” She sucked in a breath, waiting, as he lowered his head, brushing his lips across hers once, then twice before taking her mouth.

Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers.

“How many boys have you kissed while you waited for me?” He knew asking wasn’t fair, yet he couldn’t stop the words.

“I’ve kissed only one boy. You. Is it so obvious?”

He made no answer other than to place a trail of kisses down her face, stopping at the corner of her mouth.

“More, Colin. I want more.”

Seconds turned to minutes as the kiss heated, their arms tightening around each other. His hands moved to her hair, threading silken strands through his fingers as he positioned her for better access. Tracing her lips with the tip of his tongue, he encouraged her to open as his hands moved to her hips.

An intense shudder heated her body, her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she squirmed to get closer. The force of the desire she felt shocked her.

Feeling his hands tighten on her hips, sending an involuntary tremor through her and a strange aching in her limbs, she moaned against his mouth.

Breaking the contact, Colin pulled back, his breath coming in deep gulps. “We need to stop, lassie. We cannot continue like this.”

Her grip on him tightened, confusion replacing the passion he saw moments before.

His strong hands cupped her face as his eyes locked on hers. “If we don’t stop, we may do something you’ll regret.”

Her flesh tingled as his warm breath fanned her face. “Do you not want me, Colin?”

He mumbled a soft curse, realizing she thought his actions were a lack of desire.

“Nae, lassie. I’ve never wanted anyone more.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, her brows furrowing at his words. “I’ve waited five years for you, Colin MacLaren. I’ll not wait a minute longer.”

*****

Author Info:

Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a gift card and great books

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*****

Tour Schedule

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November 30^th

CBY Book Club

http://www.cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk

Spotlight

December 1^st

CD Yess Writes

http://cdyesswrites.blogspot.com

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December 2^nd

Boom Baby Reviews

http://www.boombabyreviews.com/

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December 3^rd

Lola White

www.lola-white.com

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December 4^th

Hyper Ashley

http://www.hyperashley.com/

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Babs Book Bistro

http://www.babsbookbistro.net

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December 7^th

Kristy Centeno

http://booksbycenteno.com/

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December 8^th

Teatime and Books

http://www.teatimeandbooks76.blogspot.com

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December 9^th

Apocalipstick the Book

https://apocalipstickthebook.wordpress.com/

Spotlight

Kelly Smith Reviews

http://kellysmithreviews.blogspot.com

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December 10^th

Books are Love

www.hello-booklover.tumblr.com

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Romantic Reads

https://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

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December 11^th

Deal Sharing Aunt

http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

Spotlight

Spotlight – A SEAL Forever

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A SEAL Forever, Anne Elizabeth, West Coast Navy SEALs series

Moving away from Christmas to something a little … hotter!

*****

A SEAL Forever

West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3

by Anne Elizabeth

ISBN: 9781402268960

Release date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Blurb:

Even a hero needs someone to believe in him…

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she’s seen his revolving door of women and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn’t the one she thinks she knows—he’s Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura’s heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever…

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MAFrDB

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1O3JffD

Apple: http://apple.co/1M6H7Dj

Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1M6Hrlt

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3JEPe

*****

Excerpt:

Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five rolled over the side of the Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat and slid soundlessly into the Pacific Ocean. The RIB took off without even a comment from the operator, leaving Declan to sink farther into the drink.

The temperature cooled as he swam away from the surface. Fish skirted the edges of his thighs, small shimmers of movement against his skin. He scissor-kicked his way forward. The ocean currents caught him, dragging him in the direction they wanted to go, toward shore. He lay with his arms at his sides, frog-kicking only. Above him, he could see the afternoon sunlight glistening and frothy foam chasing away the glassy surface. Down here things were different…calmer. Peaceful, in a way few souls would understand, and yet he knew that even he would have to surface soon.

His lungs would start to ache and burn, his gut would begin to feel as if it would cave in, and that would force him to either head topside or drink in the salt water. But there was still time. This was the water in front of Imperial Beach and the apartment he lived in. He knew it very well.

Scanning the ocean floor, he gauged it would be about thirty seconds until he reached one of the many rocky sandbars out here. He’d have to pull up before then, or the force of the current would smack him against the side.

As his body began to complain, he used both arms and legs to draw himself upward. Breaking the surface, he opened his mouth and drew in air like a thirsty man would gulp water.

The waves bounced him like a buoy. The tide was coming in and the wind was picking up momentum. Looking at the sky to the east, he could see that there would most likely be a storm today. Over his should, to the west, he spied a wave coming his way large enough to take him to shore. It would reach him in about thirty seconds.

Dec took a long, slow breath and appreciated the sun dropping into the horizon. The colors were extraordinary; orange and gold dappled the horizon as the blazing ball of light attempted to sink before the moon lifted higher in the sky.

His hands flexed, cupping the water. It had been a hot day, and the sun’s rays had heated the top of the ocean, making the surface feel like a warm bath, loosening his muscles. Three months ago, he’d been in waters so frigid, with actual ice caps—the memory still made him cold. But here, the Pacific Ocean off California’s Imperial Beach, was a slice of heaven.

Coming in from the east were some nasty-looking cumulonimbus clouds. Seeing the lightning arc way off toward the distant desert, he decided it was time to go in, and right on cue, here came a perfect wave.

Swimming at top speed, Declan pushed his way through another changing current, one that sought to drag him into faster-moving waters. He went over a higher sandbar, having no intention of going to Mexico today, and increased the reach of his stroke. With single-mindedness he worked his way into the more placid surf as he homed in on a large stretch of beach.

The SEAL felt a few sea lions swimming around him, and one nosed him in the gut and another in his back a few times, assessing whether or not he’d play. Not this time, my friends. He continued swimming without engaging. If he stopped to play, he’d be out there for hours.

Switching to the breaststroke, his arms protested. His platoon had switched their training this month to desert-warfare techniques, and he’d been sweating his balls off in the heat. He managed to learn a thing or two, even now, after all of his years in the Teams. But it felt good to be back in the ocean, his element. He’d live in the deep blue like a Jules Verne character if he could.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Website: http://www.anneelizabeth.net/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aeanneelizabeth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/732316.Anne_ Elizabeth

A Navy SEALs Fun Fact from Anne Elizabeth

Be present. When you’re home—be home. When you’re in combat—be in combat.

*****

Giveaway:

Win a copy of Anne Elizabeth’s SEAL at Heart

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7238/

*****

Spotlight – Do You Believe in Santa?

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Do You Believe in Santa?, Evergreen Lane series, Sierra Donovan

So tell me – do you believe? 🙂

*****

Do You Believe in Santa?

Evergreen Lane #1

by Sierra Donovan

Released September 29, 2015

Zebra

Blurb:

Miracles don’t just happen on 34th Street. They can happen right in your living room—if you’re willing to believe…

What grown woman claims to have seen Santa Claus? Mandy Reese, for one—on a very special Christmas Eve when she was eight years old. These days, Mandy works at a year-round Christmas store in Tall Pine, California, where customers love to hear about her childhood encounter with Saint Nick. But when Jake Wyndham arrives in town—charming, gorgeous, extremely practical—Mandy faces a dilemma. Deny what she saw, or let Jake think she’s sugarplum crazy?

Jake scouts hotel locations all over the country, but he’s never met anyone quite like Mandy before. Her warmth and sparkle are irresistible, but…meeting Santa? Really? Jake’s no Scrooge but he’s definitely skeptical. Then again, there are all kinds of things Jake never experienced until he came to Tall Pine. Like autumn snow. Mind blowing kisses. And the magic of falling head-over-heels, madly in love…

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18938931-do-you-believe-in-santa

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/158558-evergreen-lane

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

*****

Excerpt:

When Mandy Reese was eight years old, she saw Santa Claus.

She slipped out of her room on Christmas Eve after her mother went to bed. As Mandy tiptoed down the hall, trying to be silent, she thought of the poem: Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. . . .

The Christmas tree was still lit up in the living room, as if it, too, were waiting. The nighttime cold of the house bit through her flannel nightgown, and Mandy wished she’d grabbed her robe and slippers. But she didn’t want to risk going back down the hall and waking her mother.

So she pulled a heavy blanket down from the back of the sofa and curled up under it. She laid her head on the arm of the couch to get a good view of the tree at the end of the room near her head, and the fireplace at the other end, down by her feet.

Barely daring to breathe, she waited.

The lights from the tree were bright enough to show the time on the clock over the mantel: almost eleven-thirty. Mandy’s vigilant eyes drifted from the fireplace to the tree and back. She knew there was no way she’d fall asleep.

But it felt as if some time had passed when something made her sit up.

The only light in the room still came from the tree, yet somehow it seemed brighter in here. Her eyes darted to the fireplace. And he was there.

He did wear a red suit, although it was a darker red than she’d seen on the Santas at the store—the ones she’d always been told were just helpers for the real Santa. His beard was full and white, his eyebrows were bushy, and his eyes were blue. Not quite twinkly, a little more serious than that, but warm and friendly as they met hers. She’d heard that watching for Santa could make him pass you by, but that hint of a glimmer in his eye told her she wasn’t in trouble.

Mandy opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t think of a single word to say. The whole room felt hushed, as if time were standing still.

She couldn’t be dreaming because her heart was beating so fast. But she remembered to pinch her forearm, hard, just to be sure. It hurt, all right.

He took a step backward, toward the chimney, and raised a black-gloved finger. At first Mandy thought he was going to put it to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. But he rested it alongside his nose, just like the poem, and nodded.

The room brightened, and Mandy had to shut her eyes against the glare.

When she opened them, the light in the room had returned to the normal Christmas-tree glow, and he was gone. She heard the clock on the mantel ticking; she didn’t remember hearing the sound while Santa was in the room. The hands showed it was just after midnight, although she knew for certain she hadn’t heard it chime.

She pinched her arm again. Once again, it hurt. When she looked down, she saw a small red mark forming right next to the spot she was pinching now.

Under the tree, she couldn’t see any difference in the number of presents. But she remembered what her mother always told her: Santa Claus was about more than presents.

“I saw him,” she whispered.

When Mandy told her mother about it the next morning, her mom checked the doors and windows and counted the presents under the tree.

“I thought you believed in Santa Claus,” Mandy said.

“I do.” But the worried look didn’t quite go away.

The memory of her mother’s reaction kept Mandy from mentioning Santa when school started again in January. If her mom didn’t believe her, the other kids surely wouldn’t, and Mandy didn’t want to fight about it. So she kept it to herself, like her own special secret. Until the next school year.

It was mid-December, and she was leaving school Friday afternoon to catch the bus. There hadn’t been any snow for a couple of weeks, but there was a snap to the air as she walked. Mandy was so busy looking up at the sky for signs of snow, she didn’t see the crowd outside the gate until she was nearly there.

Students clustered around an auburn-haired woman who held a microphone. A man stood nearby, aiming a video camera at the woman. Then it clicked. Mandy had seen her on the television news.

As the kids crowded around the reporter, she held a microphone in front of some of them, one at a time. Most were younger than Mandy. Older kids jockeyed behind the TV reporter, trying to poke their heads into the picture.

“I believe he’s real,” a little blond boy, probably a second-grader, said.

“He always eats the cookies we leave for him,” a fair-haired girl, who looked like his sister, said.

Mandy joined the group as if drawn by a magnet. Since many of the children were shorter, she could see over their heads.

“What about you?” The reporter aimed her microphone at a brown-eyed girl with short black hair.

“I don’t know.” Her voice was very soft. “I think so.”

“I used to believe in Santa, but I know better now.” That was Julie Ashman, from Mandy’s own class. Mandy felt her blood start to simmer. Being wrong was one thing, but saying things like that in front of these little kids . . .

“Santa Claus is a fake!” one of the taller boys behind the reporter shouted toward the microphone.

“No, he’s not!” The little blond boy looked faintly horrified, and Mandy could see uncertainty creeping into his face.

The reporter tried to regain control, turning her microphone toward the smaller boy again.

“Oh, yeah?” the big boy jeered. “Have you ever seen him? Not in a store. That doesn’t count.”

She couldn’t stand it. Mandy shouldered her way in. “I saw him.”

Everyone turned in her direction. Mandy’s face felt hot, but she was determined to set them straight. “He was at my house.”

“Not your dad, all dressed up,” the older boy scoffed.

“My dad doesn’t live with us anymore,” Mandy said, “and I saw Santa Claus in my living room last year.”

Suddenly the microphone and the camera were pointed at her, and Mandy felt the words rush out, spilling the details she’d played over and over in her mind. The story she’d kept bottled up for nearly a year.

*****

Author Info:

Sierra Donovan is a wife, a mother of two and a writer, though not always in that order. Her greatest joy is helping people find true love on the printed page. She is a firm believer in Christmas, classic movies, happy endings and the healing power of chocolate. Sierra’s first novel, Love On The Air, was a Holt Medallion finalist. Her 2014 Kensington debut, No Christmas Like The Present, won the Golden Quill Award for Sweet Traditional Romance. Her 2015 novel, Do You Believe In Santa? marks the beginning of Sierra’s new Evergreen Lane series. You can email Sierra at sierra_donovan@yahoo.com, or visit her website at http://www.sierradonovan.com.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

3 Paperback copies of DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA?

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8849/

*****

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Book Review – Wyoming Rugged

07 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Review, Diana Palmer, Wyoming Rugged

Some of you are going to recognize today’s author right away. If the name isn’t familiar to you, you may have just found a new author with a LOT of books for you to read 🙂

*****

Wyoming Rugged

by Diana Palmer

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: HQN Books (November 24, 2015)

Blurb:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer is back in Wyoming with a tale of love born in Big Sky Country…

Billionaire oilman Blair Coleman has always taken care of his business. After having been used and cast aside by a woman he thought he loved, his personal life is far from his first priority. He knows only one has ever truly cared for him—but the irresistible blonde beauty is the daughter of his best friend.

Niki Ashton has seen her father’s friend wounded and she’s seen him fight. Blair is the strongest—and most stubborn—man she’s ever known. That very heart and passion makes him the man of her dreams, but whenever they’ve been in danger of getting close, Blair has always pushed her away.

It takes a possible tragedy to strip away all of Blair’s misgivings. Now it’s all or nothing: marriage, baby, family, forever. But will the choice be too much for Niki…or too late?

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Wyoming-Rugged-Men-Diana-Palmer/dp/0373779739

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25181069-wyoming-rugged?from_search=true&search_version=service

*****

Review:

When I think of western romances, I almost always think of Diana Palmer. I definitely haven’t read them all but I’ve read a few over the years. To be that successful for that long, you know she’s good at what she does 🙂

It’s mentioned in the blurb that Niki is the daughter of Blair’s best friend, but it isn’t as clear that the age difference between the two of them is the big issue of the book. I got the idea that it was his heartbreak that was going to be the trouble spot but it turned out not to be the deal breaker.

A May/December conflict isn’t seen as much as it was a few decades ago, but Palmer does a good job of explaining Blair’s concerns. He’s a powerful, rich business man who has traveled the world and he’s got a strong sense of duty. Dating someone so much younger isn’t something he’s comfortable with, even if he has trouble avoiding that attraction.

I’ve seen some complaints in other reviews about Niki’s innocence. She is awfully young when the book starts, and falls for Blair, but she’s definitely old enough that by modern standards she should be more worldly than she is. And while it was a little bit much for me at the very beginning, she grew on me and I started seeing that as just a part of her personality. She did grow up with just her dad on their ranch, even living there while going to college, and she is a good church goer, so it does seem possible that she avoided some of that. Once the book gets going, it stops being an issue for me so I think that is just going to be a personal thing for each reader.

Overall, I enjoyed Wyoming Rugged. There were a couple of places that I shook my head – there were some conversations that would have definitely benefited both Niki and Blair … but then the book would have been a whole lot shorter. And I’m not sure that I would have been as quick to forgive as Niki after Blair does the hot/cold routine more than once, but she’s not a thing like me. I definitely thought things were going to go in a different direction and if I’d been Niki there would have been some words. Good thing for Blair he got her instead 🙂

It’s not going to be for everyone – between the age difference (which some found kinda icky because Blair tries to treat her like a kid when he first figures out that he’s attracted to her), Nikki’s innocence, and the old-fashioned feel that these things give the story. But I do think that there are a lot of people out there who will enjoy it. There are Palmer’s fans, but also those that like that kind of book. (If you are iffy I recommend checking out a couple of reviews on Goodreads, both good and poor – you’ll figure out quick enough if you are going to like it.)

*****

Author Info:

An icon in western romance, Diana Palmer has been writing with Harlequin since 1980 and has published over 180 titles, with over 61 million books sold! When not writing, Susan’s hobbies are gardening, knitting, crocheting, astronomy, archaeology and animals. She also has dogs, cats, birds and lizards.

Learn more about Diana at her website http://www.dianapalmer.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FansOfDianaPalmer/

*****

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Spotlight – The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway

06 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Dukes of War series, Erica Ridley, The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway

We’ve seen a few of the Dukes of War before (I’ve got links below) and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be sharing Ridley’s latest. I love a dashing pirate and I have to say that Captain Blackheart seems like quite the rogue … just my type 🙂

*****

The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway

Dukes of War series

by Erica Ridley

Release Date December 1, 2015

Publisher Intrepid Reads

Length 200 pages (40-45k)

Genre Historical Romance

Blurb:

Captain Blackheart leads a simple life of roving the seas, wenching and treasure-hunting. He steers clear of romantic entanglements that could tie him to land. He shouldn’t have any trouble keeping his hands off the gently-bred lady he’s commissioned to abduct—except his cargo turns out to be feisty and passionate! She’d be a prize worth treasuring, if having her aboard didn’t jeopardize everything…

Clara Halton thought the worst loss she could suffer was to be stripped of her family, stricken with consumption, and left to die alone. Then she meets Blackheart. Their attraction is ruinous…and irresistible. When he delivers her like so much plunder, his mission is over — but hers has just begun. She’ll force him to acknowledge their connection, even if she must storm his ship to do it!

The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway is a standalone story in the Dukes of War regency romance series, featuring roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

The Dukes of War romance books in Series Order:

#1 The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation Nov. 2014

#2 The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower Dec. 2014

#3 The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress Mar. 2015

#4 The Major’s Faux Fiancée Jun. 2015

#5 The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride Sept. 2015

#6 The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway Dec. 2015

#7 The Duke’s Accidental Wife Mar. 2016

*****

Author Info:

Erica Ridley is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Get free stories and 99¢ discounts: http://www.EricaRidley.com/club99

Website: http://www.EricaRidley.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EricaRidley

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/EricaRidley

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Erica_Ridley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ericaridley

Street Team: http://www.ericaridley.com/street-team