Spotlight – Passion, Poison, & Puppy Dogs

07 Saturday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery, Jean Steffens, Passion Poison & Puppy Dogs, Sally S. Smith

I love these fun mysteries that Gemma Halliday Publishing puts out … and this one has dogs and a sexy man in uniform for added appeal!

*****

Passion, Poison, & Puppy Dogs

A Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery

Sally S. Smith & Jean Steffens

Gemma Halliday Publishing

ISBN: 9781943587469

Blurb:

In this dog eat dog world, it’s people you have to keep your eye on.

When Lizzie Jones, pet sitter extraordinaire, is asked to watch over her best friend’s two spoiled dogs at the posh gated community of Craggy Hill Estates, the last things she expects is to wind up in the middle of a homicide. But that’s exactly what happens when she finds her best friend’s cheating husband and Danger Cove’s celebrity bodybuilder champ, Mr. Jupiter, floating face down in his hot tub. To make matters worse, the police aren’t looking any further than the wife for a suspect—isn’t it always the wife? Well, not in this case—at least Lizzie refuses to believe it.

Between dealing with Craggy Hill’s hot security guard, Tino Morales—who also just happens to be the man who broke Lizzie’s heart in high school, caring for her grieving friend, and watching three rambunctious dogs, Lizzie has her hands full. So she recruits her famous granddad, retired network field correspondent, Jimmy John Jones, to help her put two and two together to find the real killer. Was Mr. Jupiter murdered by one of his women on the side? A jealous, disgruntled employee? Or someone with a bitter and deep-seated hatred of the superstar? It’s up to Lizzie, Jimmy John, and Lizzie’s own pug, Vader, to crack the case before the killer claims another victim…this one much closer to Lizzie’s own heart!

Visit the Town of Danger Cove official website!

Buy Links: Gemma Halliday Publishing Amazon Nook

iBook Kobo Smashwords Print

*****

Excerpt:

“I was thinking about you too,” I said. “I had a terrific time last night. Dinner, dancing. What more could a girl ask for?”

He smiled down at me, lifted my hand over my head, and led me to circle beneath our arms. Humming softly, he pulled me into a slow dance and whispered in my ear, “There are all kind of rhythms to the bachata. You like this one?”

Whew. When exactly had his cute-and-cuddly factor flipped the switch to hot and sexy? I was so caught up in the nearness of him that I actually made it a few beats before stepping on his toes and causing him to flinch in pain.

Dang. “Sorry, Tino. I guess I should have warned you that I’m a notorious klutz.”

He was all dewy-eyed and cuddly. “But the cutest klutz I’ve ever seen.” And before I realized what he had in mind, he bent his head, pulled me in at the waist, and planted a kiss on me. Our lips met softly, then tightened as we pushed against each other, caught by surprise at the heat we were generating.

I stepped back, breathing hard. He blinked a few times and ran his hand through his soft dark hair.

“Oh my,” I said.

“Caliente,” he said.

“Yes.” I shook my head to clear it. “You can say that again.”

“Caliente.”

*****

Author Info:

The international best-selling writing team of Sally J. Smith (right brain) and Jean Steffens (left brain) make up equal halves of one totally functional writer’s mind. Creative and intuitive and organized and systematic? What could be better than that?

The two desert dwellers work together side-by-side, literally finishing each other’s sentences, putting together their novels faster and more efficiently than they ever could individually.

When their heads aren’t together over a manuscript, you’ll find them with their families, at a movie, the yoga studio, the mall, or out-to-lunch—in the food sense, not the spaced-out sense, well…most of the time. Their current series include Jordan Welsh & Eddie Marino Novels, Mystic Isle Mysteries, Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mysteries, and coming soon, Aloha Lagoon Gabby LeClair Mysteries, and Digby Sloan Mysteries.

Visit our website, look around, and sign up for our newsletter. We love hearing from our readers and always answer our e-mails: smithandsteffens@cox.net

Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens, are partners in crime—crime writing, that is. They live in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona, awesome for eight months out of the year, an inferno the other four. They write bloody murder, flirty romance, and wicked humor all in one package.

Website: http://www.smithandsteffens.com

Email: smithandsteffens@cox.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smith-and-Steffens/406147242823342?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=SmithSteffens&src=typd

Youtube: Passion, Poison, & Puppy Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fWMwPCldt0

*****

Giveaway:

2 great giveaways!!

$25 Amazon Gift Card, Valid tour wide (US & Intl)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c7458f4383/

– and –

The Passion, Poison & Puppy Dogs Give-Away: A Digital or print copy of the book, a coffee mug of adorable Vader, and a bib apron with our celebrity pug

Go to our Smith and Steffens, International Best-Selling Authors FB Page by May 12th. Comment under Vader’s picture to enter and win a bib apron and coffee mug starring Vader, our celebrity pug, & your choice of a digital or paper copy of the book.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=830931697011559&id=406147242823342

*****

Click the banner to check out the rest of the tour

Book Review – Extreme Honor

06 Friday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Extreme Honor, Piper J. Drake, The True Heroes Series

Extreme Honor

The True Heroes Series

by Piper J. Drake

HONOR, LOYALTY, LOVE

David Cruz is good at two things: war and training dogs. The ex-soldier’s toughest case is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. Nobody at Hope’s Crossing kennel can break through the animal’s grief. That is, until dog whisperer Evelyn Jones walks into the facility . . . and into Atlas’s heart. David hates to admit that the curvy blonde’s mesmerizing effect isn’t limited to canines. But when Lyn’s work with Atlas puts her in danger, David will do anything to protect her.

Lyn realizes that David’s own battle scars make him uniquely qualified for his job as a trainer. Tough as nails yet gentle when it counts, he’s gotten closer to Atlas than anyone else—and he’s willing to put his hard-wired suspicion aside to let her do the same. But someone desperate enough to kill doesn’t want Lyn working with Atlas. Now only teamwork, trust, and courage can save two troubled hearts and the dog who loves them both . . .

You really have to like Alphas to get into David. He’s sexy in an in-charge kind of way. He’s military through and through, willing to take on the bad guys and kick some butt. It also tends to make him think he always knows best and to be the strong-silent-type.

Lyn grew up with a career military man for a stepfather and it’s left her with some issues. He’s not a caring man, hard and tough – his way or the highway kind of thing. She’s spent her whole life trying to prove something to him. Unfortunately that bleeds over into her first interactions with David. Luckily they quickly find a middle ground that works for them … and that over time develops into something more.

This one reminded me a lot of Lynn Rae Harris’s HOT series, where you get romance mixed with suspense but not a lot of lightheartedness. Which is fine – there are those kinds of books and then these kinds of books (and other kinds of books :)) but if you were expecting something with cutesy interactions you aren’t going to get it. Instead you get a strong hero, a heroine that can keep up with him, and a bit of intrigue to keep them guessing.

I will warn you now that while we get some answers, we don’t get them all so there is sure to be a continuation of the mystery in future stories. And I have to say that I’m glad this is the start of a series because I didn’t get all of the answers I needed about the guys running the Hope’s Crossing kennel. I can’t wait to get to know David’s friends better 🙂 And to find out more about the group who caused them a bunch of trouble here.

Book Review – A Wild Ride

05 Thursday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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A Wild Ride, Book Review, Thompson & Sons, Vivian Arend

A Wild Ride

Thompson & Sons series

by Vivian Arend

He’s the golden boy with a secret past

When Nicole Adams abruptly cancels their secret fling, Troy Thompson is stunned. The sex between them is sizzling, but she’s ready to move on—find a reliable guy, settle down, pop out a few babies. The thought of Nic in another man’s arms is maddening. And while her agenda freaks him out, Troy knows there’s no one in town nearly good enough for her. No one, that is, except him.

She’s his redemption and his future

Nicole doesn’t regret her sexual romp with Troy, but when he insists on taking the next step with her—marriage and parenthood—she figures he’s out of his mind. Troy? Husband and daddy material? Oh, he’s sexy beyond belief, with the ability to melt her panties with a single command, but the man’s not known for being responsible. Trying for forever with Mr. Frivolous? Everyone thinks it’s a fool’s game.

Everyone except Troy, who’s determined to make Nicole see the real him under the shiny exterior.

I’ve only read one book in this series, One Sexy Ride, but I remember really enjoying it and loving the Thompson family. After reading Troy’s story I’m going to have to go read the entire series so that I can see him with the understanding of his character that we get here 🙂

Troy’s problem is that there is so much more to him than anyone recognizes and I find that kinda sad. He’s so in tuned to everyone around him but those same people miss so much about who he is and what he does for them. And unfortunately that includes Nicole. But that’s going to change with Troy’s full on attack once he decides they are perfect together.

I really enjoyed the fact that once again I get to enjoy a mostly drama free read. The troubles they experience are believable and realistic, and even better they handle them in a logical way. None of it is over the top or drags on too long. The conflict is pretty straight to the point – Nicole has to decide if she is willing to take a chance on Troy, regardless of what kind of reputation he has. It’s full of touching moments and wow-baby heat, with a sexy, cheeky hero and the heroine he’s set his mind on winning. We should all be so lucky!

Book Review – Welcome Home, Cowboy

04 Wednesday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Annie Rains, Book Review, Hero's Welcome series, Welcome Home Cowboy

On Monday I posted the review for book 1 – Welcome to Forever – and as promised here is book 2!

*****

Welcome Home, Cowboy

A Hero’s Welcome #2

by Annie Rains

Releasing April 26, 2016

Loveswept

Blurb:

With its thriving military base, Seaside, North Carolina, is teeming with heroes of all stripes. But, as the Hero’s Welcome series from Annie Rains continues, it takes a cowboy to rescue the town’s newest resident from heartache.

After a bad breakup leaves Julie Chandler completely devastated, she comes to Seaside seeking a fresh start. A talented, compassionate yoga teacher, she has developed a program to help alleviate the effects of PTSD, but getting a bunch of bullheaded Marines into downward facing dog might be impossible. So Julie’s shocked when one of her first students dives in headfirst—and almost tempts her to take down her walls with his easy smile and electrifying touch.

Ever since Texas cowboy turned Marine pilot Lawson Phillips lost a crew member in a helicopter accident, he hasn’t been able to fly. When a psychologist orders him to attend, of all things, a yoga class, Lawson’s outraged—until he finds out Julie is the instructor. She’s beautiful, graceful, and completely guarded when it comes to his advances, but he’s determined to find out what makes her tick. Because underneath Julie’s hard shell is a woman Lawson knows he could fall for—and he’s not ready for the ride to end.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25893437-welcome-home-cowboy

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

*****

Excerpt:

“Come ride with me anytime,” he said, helping her dismount from the horse when they were back at the barn. He didn’t place his hands on her ass this time, which was both regrettable and a relief. Instead, he steadied her waist with his hands. She turned to face him after he helped her to the ground, and was surprised to find how close they were standing. Close enough that the brim of his hat on her head nearly touched his chin.

“This belongs to you.” She took off the hat and went up on her tiptoes to put it back where it belonged. Their eyes locked as the movement brought them even closer together. Her heart bucked again, like a wild horse ready to bolt.

Returning to flat feet, she started to step away. Needed to step away. Too bad Bon-Bon was still behind her, blocking her escape.

“Julie?” he said, making her feet pause and her heart stutter. She liked the sound of her name on his lips. Low, deep.

“Yes?” she asked breathlessly.

He reached out his hand to tame a strand of her hair brushing against her cheek. “You have what I call hat-hair.” He took his time smoothing the hair around her ear, awakening every nerve in her body. Then he slowly dipped, keeping his blue-as-the-ocean eyes on hers, and kissed her.

She melted into him instead of stepping away. The side of his cheek on hers was warm and inviting, intoxicating. His tongue tapped softly against hers, just once, as he swept his hand behind her neck, pulling her gently toward him.

A soft moan escaped her throat, betraying her. She parted her lips for him, inviting him in, begging him to stay, which he did for just a moment longer. Then he broke it off, keeping it sweet. The kiss had threatened to be more, though. It had threatened to take her inside that barn, lay her down on a blanket of hay, and be a whole hell of a lot more.

“See you later, Lawson,” she said, forcing herself to step away from him, away from the horse and the barn. She turned toward her car and didn’t look back. Otherwise, her hormones were going to win and drag this cowboy into the barn and slam the stall doors behind them.

“See you later, Julie,” he called after her.

*****

Review:

We actually saw the first book in this series earlier this week and I was so excited to see Julie & Lawson’s story. It’s not an easy series to read – things are light and it doesn’t go by fast. It’s something you have to digest because it is full of emotion and requires a slower pace to really appreciate it. (And even though this is the second story, it can stand on its own.)

Neither Lawson nor Julie are really ready for a relationship because both of them have issues they need to work through. But what the mind knows is right isn’t necessarily what the heart wants. They do take their time, spending time together and getting to know one another better. It’s a slow build and a sweet one. And you’ll find yourself hoping that they find a way to work things out.

I did feel like maybe Lawson didn’t address his survivor’s guilt as much as he should have. Of course, we got the resolution of his issues with flying but I think there was more there that could have been explored. I did like that Julie did resolve things with her ex. That was an important step for her to make.

Even though this series take a little more effort than I’m used to because of its depth, I’m definitely enjoying it and I’m looking forward to seeing what Rains brings us next. She has options (and I’m really hoping one of them is the guy who lost his leg in the crash that grounded Lawson).

*****

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.

Author Links: Website | FB | Twitter | GR

*****

Giveaway:

$25.00 Amazon eGift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81009/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Book Review – Her One and Only

03 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

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Becky Wade, Book Review, Her One and Only, Porter Family series

I’m so excited to be able to share this one with everyone. It releases today 🙂

*****

Her One and Only

Porter Family series

by Becky Wade

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 3, 2016)

Blurb:

Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker, so his team hires a protection agency to keep Gray under the watch of a bodyguard at all times. When Gray meets Dru Porter, an agent assigned to him, he’s indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him?

But Dru’s a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She’s also ferociously determined to uncover the identity of Gray’s stalker. And she’s just as determined to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past. But the closer they get to finding the stalker, the closer they grow to each other. As the danger rises, can Dru and Gray entrust their hearts–and their lives–to one another?

“Down-to-earth, in-depth characters give the story an authentic feel. Dru, being the youngest Porter, is headstrong and sympathetic, and when she matches wits with Gray, their connection is as electric as their budding romance is sweet. A delightful read.”—RT Book Reviews

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Her-One-Only-Becky-Wade/dp/0764211102

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26974629-her-one-and-only?from_search=true&search_version=service

*****

Review:

This is only the second one of this series I’ve read (the other was A Love Like Ours) and I’ll definitely be looking up the rest 🙂 It’s a contemporary Christian novel so it is very low on the heat scale and the characters’ religion does play an important role. However it isn’t overly preachy so if that isn’t your thing then I think you’ll still enjoy it.

Dru is a little harsh at first – one of those girls who feels like she has to prove that she is as good (or better) than any guy, but once you get to know her she proves to be much more complicated. Gray has some scars from his childhood, which led to a distance between him & God and a difficulty to commit to a woman. Thrown together by the threat of a stalker, the two quickly find themselves growing closer and challenging each other’s beliefs.

Speaking of the stalker, I thought that Wade handled the suspense portion really well. The way it went didn’t come out of left field but it wasn’t overly obvious either. It fit well into the story and left me satisfied with the ending.

Returning readers will be pleased by updates on Dru’s siblings but new readers will be fine meeting them for the first time. And likely looking forward to going back and reading their stories – I know I am 🙂 Her brother Bo and sister-in-law Meg play a pretty important role but it’s just a footnote to their story, not a continuation so starting here is fine.

Even though this is the last of this series, I hope that Wade plans on starting a new one with Gray’s teammates. I think that a team full of manly football players could give her a lot of material to work with.

(This story is part of the Porter Family novels but can be read as a stand alone.)

*****

Author Info:

Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction. Becky is a Carol Award winner and a finalist for both a RITA and an INSPY Award.

Author’s website: http://www.beckywade.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckywadewriter

*****

Giveaway:

The prize is two packages of 4 new releases from Bethany House.

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4664b0495/

*****

Tour Schedule:

Wednesday, April 27th: Reviews from the Heart

Friday, April 29th: Reading is my Superpower

Monday, May 2nd: Romancing the Book

Monday, May 2nd: Books a la Mode – author guest post

Tuesday, May 3rd: Romantic Reads and Such

Wednesday, May 4th: Luxury Reading

Monday, May 9th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Tuesday, May 10th: Write Read Life

Thursday, May 12th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, May 16th: Mom in Love with Fiction

Tuesday, May 17th: Just Commonly

Wednesday, May 18th: Book by Book

Book Review – Welcome to Forever

02 Monday May 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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

Welcome to Forever

A Hero’s Welcome Novel

by Annie Rains

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.

(We’ll be seeing book 2 of this series later this week so I wanted to get this in first .. I read this one ages ago but somehow missed posting the review 😦 )

Rains delivers a wonderfully realistic look at two people whose history makes getting involved quite complicated. Micah is an amazing dad and works really hard to give his son the best life he can (and I have to say Ben is such a bright spot in an already enjoyable book – so sweet, spunky and positive, I think he was my favorite character). Kat has already suffered heartbreak once and isn’t looking to be involved with a marine ever again, but meeting such a devoted dad and stand-up guy as Micah makes it hard to resist.

I loved seeing these two become friends and then more. There’s the required troubles between them but they are all handled in a believable manner and never seem to overpower the story. I can’t wait to see what Rains brings us next 🙂