Spotlight – Melody’s Key

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

Today we have a new author whose book is getting some MAJOR love on Amazon and Goodreads. I love the idea of combining original music in the storytelling! Such a unique idea and from what people are saying Dallas Coryell does it well 🙂

*****

Melody’s Key

by Dallas Coryell

Release date: June 24th 2016

AsherRain Publications

Page count: 305

Stand-alone book

Blurb:

“His eyes settled on her…piercing green embers of flame that revealed the ferocity of his pain and passion, yet still shrouded him under veils of ever deepening mystery that made every ounce of her ache to unravel him.”

Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Melodys-Key-Dallas-Coryell-ebook/dp/B01HK4DVO0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30807954-melody-s-key

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasCoryell1

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

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DallasCoryell/posts

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DallasCoryell

*****

Excerpt:

“It’s just an expression, I assume you have those in America?” This time Tegan completely intended the playful sarcasm that dripped from the comment. She even ventured a slight grin to put him on the defensive a little, but Mason was quick with his reply.

“Yes, we have them. For example, don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Mason had smiled disarmingly when he said it, but the underlying message to her was clear. Considering what happened at the pub, perhaps she had been a tad hasty in her judgment of his character. Tegan bundled the tools she had been cleaning and attempted to pick them up all at once in order to move them into the shed, but before she could take two steps they began slipping from her hands. Just as she expected to see the entire bunch go crashing to the ground, Mason’s hands appeared and encircled hers, stabilizing the load. His hands were strong, but soft, and their sudden steadying warmth took her completely off guard.

She had been careful to avoid looking directly at him during their entire exchange so far, but her discipline wavered for one instant and she allowed herself to meet his gaze. She immediately regretted it. His eyes were two fiery emeralds that seemed to have already been waiting millennia for her to find them. The depth they held was something she had not expected; there was profound suffering there, but also something wild and passionate and unbridled…like the feeling she got while walking through the estate gardens after a summer storm.

Somehow his eyes burned through the walls of her meticulously constructed defenses as if they were flash paper. She felt as though he was somehow seeing her…the real her, instead of the protective façade she normally projected to people she didn’t know. In that instant of unexpected vulnerability Tegan was surprised to find she was capable of anything. She felt the boundaries and inhibitions that normally constrained her fading like a winter sunset.

A moment after Tegan felt the hurricane begin to stir within her, she smothered it for fear of being consumed. Where in the world is this coming from? She had only been looking at him for a moment, but it felt as though they had been staring at each other for hours. She abruptly pulled her hands free, which sent the tools clattering loudly into the dirt. In truth, she had forgotten they were suspended between their interlocked hands. Grateful for the distraction, she kneeled down and began gathering the fallen load, which he immediately assisted her with. Between them, they got all the tools to the shed in one trip. As the electricity of the moment faded, Tegan began feeling silly for even thinking such ridiculous things. I know nothing about him. She made a mental note not to look into his eyes again. There was a reason so many girls went crazy over him, and he probably knew exactly what he was doing with those eyes…and that crooked smile.

*****

Author Info:

Dallas Coryell is a musician and author residing deep in the untamed wilds of Michigan, USA, where he desperately attempts to assign meaning to his world through bouts of maniacal creative catharsis and pitifully doomed hopeless romantic fantasies. All of the songs written by the characters in this novel are real and can be viewed on the author’s fledgling YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/DallasCoryell1 Selfies and other assorted randomness can be found on the author’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dallascoryell

Book Review – The Rebel’s Return

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

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

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Book Review, Red River series, The Rebel's Return, Victoria James

Gonna kick off the short work week (for us Americans 🙂 ) with sweet story about lovers who have a second chance … if they can resist letting their past control them.

*****

The Rebel’s Return

Red River #4

by Victoria James

Publication Date: August 22, 2016

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Bliss, Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Natalia Puccini has spent her entire life playing by her overbearing but well-intentioned Italian family’s rules…except the one time she took a chance on a bad boy and fell hard. She’s worked to get her life back on track so when Aiden McCann comes sauntering back into town with his heart-stopping smile, Natalia vows not to fall for him again. There’s no way she’ll let him mess with her perfectly planned life…and there’s no way she’ll let him near her heart again…

Now reformed and a self-made success, Aiden is tormented by regrets and secrets. He left Red River years ago filled with anger and resentment and a promise to never come back. But when his ill father needs help, Aiden knows it’s time to face the mess he left behind, and face the one woman he never got over. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or intriguing she is, though, because he’ll never be able to give her what she needs. As soon as his father is healthy, Aiden is leaving Red River…for good.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2b9kByF

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2b7eldH

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2bLDEk7

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bx1j7z

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bmMIuR

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bGD70N

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bcWBcS

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2bDvg2W

*****

Excerpt:

“I hate hating people. I just dislike you intensely, Aiden. Don’t mistake my being kind to your father as kindness toward you. As for being civil, I can do that, too.”

Ouch.

“Great. Well, now that we’ve cleared the air… I’m glad things won’t be awkward between us while I’m here.”

“No worries.”

God, this was going to be a long eight weeks. “Fine. So you hate me.”

She shook her head. “That’s such a negative emotion. Also, too strong of an emotion for a man I haven’t thought about in ten years.”

He crossed his arms. “You haven’t thought about me in ten years?”

“Nope. Not. At. All.”

He took a step closer to her, mostly because he couldn’t resist. “I think you’re lying.”

“And why would you think that?”

“You bring my father food every day.”

She took a step closer to him. “Because I feel bad for him, not because of you.”

“Well, you must think about me every time you walk into the house.”

She rolled her eyes. “More like a passing thought. Like if somebody puked after eating Chinese food, then every time they saw Chinese food, they made the association.” He was torn between laughing and being insulted. He glanced down at her mouth, and his stomach clenched. She still had the nicest mouth he’d ever seen. Soft, kissable lips, and he knew, remembered, exactly how she tasted. He was pleased to notice her gaze kept going from his eyes to his mouth. So maybe she thought about other things besides puking when he was around. Not that he’d let on. “When you think about me, you’re thinking about vomit?”

She nodded. “Pretty much. Welcome back to Red River, Aiden.”

And with those endearing words, the woman he’d thought he’d one day marry opened the door and walked out.

*****

Review:

This is the first in this series for me (surprise!) but luckily it seems that this is easily a stand alone. There are some hints at the next story (which looks really ah-sum), but Nat & Aiden’s story seems to be easily enjoyed regardless of whether this is your first or your fourth in this series.

Overall I really, really liked this book. The second chance romance aspect of it is well done and I felt like James handled the conflict there fantastically. We feel Nat’s confusion on having Aiden back, how she’s struggling with her old feelings (& reignited attraction) with the heartache that his leaving caused. She never got over him or his betrayal and we hurt with her over it.

James also does a great job with Aiden’s hardship at being back. How he’s torn over his feelings for Nat and his need to leave a town that reminds him of his difficult childhood. Of spending time with his sick dad, a weak man who neglected his sons and retreated into himself after the death of his wife, leaving them to fend for themselves. Your heart goes out to the hurt little boy inside the man.

The only thing I had trouble understanding is why Aiden took almost the entire book to come clean on exactly what happened when he broke up with Nat all those years ago. He can see how much it hurt her and how it is still influencing her life. He knows that she needs to hear the truth but he dances around it when he should just tell her as soon as it becomes obvious that he needs to. I can see where James tries to have him rationalize it to himself but it just didn’t work for me. Sure, it would have led to a much shorter book 🙂 but it just didn’t sit right.

But, while I would shake my head at him, I was hooked and anxious to have them figure things out. I’ll definitely be checking out what James has in store next … and checking out her back list as well!

*****

Author Info:

Victoria James is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Victoria always knew she wanted to be a writer and in grade five, she penned her first story, bound it (with staples and a cardboard cover) and did all the illustrations herself. Luckily, this book will never see the light of day again.

In high school she fell in love with historical romance and then contemporary romance. After graduating University with an English Literature degree, Victoria pursued a degree in Interior Design and then opened her own business. After her first child, Victoria knew it was time to fulfill her dream of writing romantic fiction.

Victoria is a hopeless romantic who is living her dream, penning happily-ever-after’s for her characters in between managing kids and the family business. Writing on a laptop in the middle of the country in a rambling old Victorian house would be ideal, but she’s quite content living in suburbia with her husband, their two young children, and very bad cat.

Sign up for Victoria’s Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming releases and exclusive giveaways, follow her blog for daily antics and insight into her daily life, and get to know her on twitter and Facebook. She loves hearing from readers! www.victoriajames.ca

*****

DON’T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE RED RIVER SERIES!

A Risk Worth Taking

Red River, #1

Blurb:

Interior designer Holly Carrington worked hard for her success. Then tragedy struck, leaving Holly the sole guardian of her infant niece. Now she’s swapped her designer purse for a diaper bag, and is going ahead with plans to renovate—and sell—her childhood home in Red River. But facing her past also means coming face-to-face with Quinn Manning all over again…

Quinn was the object of her girlhood crush—and heartbreak— and is more gorgeous than ever. He’s also the only person qualified to oversee the renovation. Now they’re butting heads every step of the way… and their attraction is more electrifying than ever! But once the house is sold, Holly needs to return to her real life. And falling for Quinn all over again is one risk she can’t take…

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2bmNIz5

Audible: http://adbl.co/2bsig1q

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2b7eUnE

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bsimGy

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bDvvuK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bDwfzX

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bG5JGG

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2bcXiCY

The Best Man’s Baby

Red River, #2

Blurb:

Florist Claire Holbrook has always played by the rules her entire life, but breaks them to spend one night with sexy lone wolf Jake Manning, a man she’s adored since she was a teenager. Six weeks later things get complicated when she discovers they created a bond that will last a lifetime…

Jake has never played by the rules. Getting Minister Holbrook’s daughter pregnant wasn’t part of any life plan, but he won’t run from his responsibilities. He’ll step up and be the best man he can, even if he doesn’t have a clue where to begin. The more time he spends with Claire, though, the more he wants her, and the harder it is to get close because that would mean sharing the one thing he hasn’t with anyone—the truth and his heart.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2b951jj

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2bDvHKC

Audible: http://adbl.co/2brL7kr

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2b9oGQK

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bx0SKv

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bmOlss

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2buvBsJ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bDwk6M

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2bmNDeD

The Doctor’s Fake Fiancée

Red River, #3

Blurb:

Their marriage bargain is just what the doctor ordered…

Former surgeon and self-professed life-long bachelor Evan Manning has one thing on his mind—to reclaim the career that a car accident stole from him. But when he’s forced to return to his hometown of Red River, Evan comes face-to-face with the gorgeous woman who’s haunted his dreams for the last year—the woman he rescued from the burning car that injured his hand. Now Evan needs her help. In a month, he’ll have the job opportunity of a lifetime…he just needs a wife to get it.

Artist Grace Matheson is down on her luck again…until she walks into Evan Manning’s office. When her sexy former hero hears that she needs work, he offers her a job and a home—if she’ll pretend she’s his fiancée. Grace knows she shouldn’t fall for him. Once the month is up, Evan will be back to his old life. But the more time they spend together, the more real their feelings become—and the more likely heartbreak is.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bcX8LX

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2brLfk2

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2b9lbMW

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2b7gaHr

B&N: http://bit.ly/1yRsw9s

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bLFkdq

iBooks: http://apple.co/1DkZYER

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2b85ZRE

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55495914

*****

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

Spotlight – Water Bearer

02 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 2 Comments

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Southern Skies Collection, Water Bearer, Wendi Christner

I love a good friends to lovers story, don’t you?

*****

Water Bearer

Southern Skies Collection Book 1

by Wendi Christner

Blurb:

One last summer together forever changes the lives of best friends in a small Southern community. These unforgettable characters and their moving story linger long beyond the final page.

Seven years ago, Cassidy accidentally set the fire that killed her parents. Now, she has an opportunity to move away from the tiny farming community she grew up in and leave the ghosts behind. But spending one last summer with Jared, her best friend, means leaving behind more than she ever imagined.

Amazon: https://goo.gl/4863fA

*****

Excerpt:

Jared parked the tractor next to the barn and stepped down. He had a clear view of Cassidy as she hefted a rug over the clothesline behind Gima’s house. Her dark blond ponytail swung with the effort, and her long legs extended as she rose onto her toes. The shift of her body twisted his gut and sent an ache even lower. He couldn’t imagine a day when she wouldn’t be there, but that day was coming. And coming fast.

She whacked the rug with a broom, and a cloud of dust billowed out around her.

“When’s she leaving?” Clarence asked.

Jared glanced over his shoulder. He stood taller than his father. Two years ago they’d been the same height, but Clarence’s shoulders had started to bow. The lines in his face were carved too deep, and his hair had turned solid gray. He was too young to look as old as he did.

“End of August. Week after the Corn Dance.”

“Sooner the better.” Clarence slapped him on the shoulder and started toward the barn. “Just let her go.”

“I’m going to town,” Jared called after him.

“See if Lilith needs anything.”

Jared wiped the sweat from his brow and climbed in his truck. At the end of his driveway he turned right and pulled onto the narrow rutted path that led to Gima’s.

He heard Cassidy coughing before he made it to the back of the house. If she’d heard him drive up, she didn’t let it stop her from her chore. Dirt smudged her face, and the sweat that trickled from her temples had left trails in the grime.

A familiar heaviness settled on his heart at the same time his groin tightened. She was the only girl he’d ever seen who would look beautiful if she wrestled a pig on its own turf, and she didn’t have a clue how gorgeous she was or what she did to him.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said with a smirk.

*****

Author Info:

Wendi Christner is the author of Writer’s Digest Short-Short Story Competition winner “Throwing Stones,” a fairy self-help book, and several novels written under various pseudonyms. Her gritty, emotional stories tend to have a Southern voice born of her roots in the Florida panhandle. She currently lives in Tampa with her husband, son, and their fur family.

www.WendiChristner.com

www.facebook.com/WendiChristnerAuthor

Twitter/Instagram @WendiDarlin

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Giftcard

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e4be888284/

*****

Spotlight – Last Kiss of Summer

01 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Destiny Bay series, Last Kiss of Summer, Marina Adair

We’ve seen a couple of Marina Adair’s books before and I’m excited to see that she’s got a new series out. I’m really hoping I can get to it soon and as soon as I do I’ll get a review out for everyone 🙂

*****

LAST KISS OF SUMMER

Destiny Bay, #1

by Marina Adair

On Sale: August 30, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Mass Market: $5.99

eBook: $5.99

Add to Goodreads

Blurb:

He’s one bad apple she just can’t resist…

Kennedy Sinclair never dreamed she’d own a pie shop and an orchard in a small town like Destiny Bay. But nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it’s the perfect place to cross something off her “Life’s short so eat the icing first” list and start her life over from scratch. Her shop, Sweetie Pies, is famous for its hot, flaky apple turnovers and sinfully delicious deep dish pie. For Kennedy though, nothing is more enticing than the tall, strapping slice of temptation who keeps coming back for more.

Luke Callahan is determined to make his hard cider business a success. With his beloved father’s cider recipe and the opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp, he’ll stop at nothing to get this deal done. There’s just one catch: he needs Kennedy’s apples. At first, he thinks it’ll be as easy as pie to charm those apples right off her trees. But Kennedy isn’t falling for his tender charms or his wicked ways. When the negotiations start heating up, so do the feelings they have for each other. And it takes just one kiss to seal the deal…

*****

Excerpt:

Kennedy rested her elbows on the counter and leaned forward. “You cook, clean, and make house calls? Be still, my heart.”

“I aim to please.” He dried off his hands and brought two steaming mugs of coffee to the counter. “Which is why I was trying to be quiet, so you could get another few minutes of sleep, before I surprised you in bed.” He grinned. It was a wicked grin. “Again.”

Luke had done more than surprise her last night; he’d spoiled her for other men. Sure, he was an incredible lover, but it was the tender moments in between that made her nervous.

This thing between them couldn’t last. She knew that. She also understood that if he was looking for something more permanent, she wouldn’t be the kind of woman to inspire that kind of commitment. She was unable to do it with her perfect match, or even her own mother. The one person who was supposed to love her unconditionally. Which left Kennedy painfully afraid that she was missing that elusive quality that led to forever.

Finding out that she was right, that she was unlovable, from a man who obviously had an incredible capacity to love, as she’d seen with his friends and family, would be too painful to survive. So she took the moment for what it was, committing to memory the warm aroma of the coffee, the way the sun cast a glassy haze over the kitchen, and the sleepy expression on his face that made him look softer. More relaxed. Like this was where he was supposed to be.

In this kitchen—with her.

Kennedy was becoming more attached—she could feel it. The way he treated her, the way he made her feel, even the way he looked at her, like right now, as if she were special. Which made her feel special.

*****

Author Info:

Marina Adair is a #1 National bestselling author of romance novels and holds a Master of Fine arts in creative writing. Along with the Sugar, Georgia series, she is also the author the St. Helena Vineyard series, and her new Heroes of St Helena series. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and two neurotic cats in Northern California.

As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

*****

Giveaway:

Ten (10) mass market copies of LAST KISS OF SUMMER by Marina Adair

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2358/

*****

Book Review – Family Tree

31 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Tags

Book Review, Family Tree, Susan Wiggs

Family Tree

by Susan wiggs

Often, the most poignant journey is coming home, and no one else can evoke all the uncertainty and joys of those life passages quite like Susan Wiggs. FAMILY TREE starts with a little over the top drama: Annie Rush is the creator and producer of one of America’s most successful TV cooking shows. Her life seems perfect: her husband is her leading man, their ratings are through the roof…and she’s just found out she’s pregnant. As she runs from an interview with one of the nation’s biggest weekly magazines to the set to tell her husband the happy news, everything changes in an instant. She walks in on him in a compromising position with the female star of the show. As she backs away, stunned, a set fixture topples on her, sending Annie into a coma…which lasts for a year.

When Annie wakes up, it’s to find herself in her hometown of Switchback, Vermont: Martin airlifted her there with proxy divorce papers after the accident. She retreats to her family home on Switchback’s maple farm, helping tend the generations-old maple farm and running into her former high school flame. Enveloped in the sugar-spun warmth of her mother, free-spirited brother, nieces and nephews, Annie starts to cook up a new life for herself, with the help of a discovery of a maple cookbook written by her grandmother many years past. FAMILY TREE is the story of Annie’s triumph over betrayal, coming to terms with the past to mix up a clear-eyed future. And, just as the author is in her own kitchen, the book is clear-eyed, big-hearted, funny and wise.

I have to be honest on a couple of things. First, I’m not a huge fan of authors having flashbacks in their story – I don’t normally like that back and forth between what’s happening now and what happened before without having an idea of where things are going. A lot of time I feel like it is just a way to try to create suspense when a more linear track can’t and in a poor writer’s hands I feel like the blanks are there to add length to the book. Good thing for me Wiggs is not a poor writer. Even though we jump back and forth she keeps the stories intertwined well and we got an idea of where things were going, we were just waiting to get there. Still not my favorite thing but more palatable when done well like it is here.

The other thing I had a problem with was how Annie and Fletcher keep making the same mistakes over and over again, both in the present and the past. I would have thought that at some point they would have figured things out but apparently not and I really wanted to smack them by the time we reached the end of the book. Luckily they figure things out (because this is a HEA kind of story) so I was able to control my more violent urges 🙂

Overall, I was kinda surprised at how this book went – I think that the blurb isn’t really a good indication of the story you get. Because of that I didn’t have a good idea of what to expect but Annie is recovering in the hospital for a good portion of it (I’m a little fuzzy on the exact time frame through the whole book) and for the rest she is spent trying to figure out how to get her feet under her again. And of course those flashbacks to her history in Switchback and with Fletcher, which you know going in doesn’t end happily.

While it’s not easy for Annie to figure out where she goes from here, as you can imagine (which is par for the course with Wiggs), her struggle is heartfelt and touching. There is sadness that you know is coming, but there are also high points to off set them – not a carefree read but rewarding.

Spotlight – When A Marquis Chooses A Bride

30 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 1 Comment

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Ella Quinn, The Worthingtons series, When a Marquis Chooses a Bride

We’ve already seen the first book in this series, Three Weeks to Wed, and I’m super excited that the next story is out. These two are pretty high on my TBR list!

*****

When A Marquis Chooses A Bride

The Worthingtons, Book 2

by Ella Quinn

Blurb:

Thanks to their large extended family and unconventional courtship, the Worthingtons have seen their share of scandal and excitement. But nothing has prepared them for this…

The Dowager Lady Worthington isn’t quite sure what to make of country-girl Dorothea Stern. As the granddaughter of the Duke of Bristol, Dotty is schooled in the ways and means of the nobility. But her sharp wit and outspoken nature has everyone in a tizzy. Especially their cousin, Dominic, the Marquis of Merton.

Prematurely stuffy, Dom was raised by his cheerless uncle to be wary of a host of things, including innovation, waltzing, and most perilous of all: true love. Still, there’s something about Dotty, beyond her beauty, that Dom cannot resist. But the odds are against him if he intends to win her as his bride. Will he choose loyalty to his family—or risk everything for the one woman he believes is his perfect match…

Amazon https://goo.gl/RbNQLh

Barnes & Noble http://goo.gl/NSuQtM

Kobo https://goo.gl/BxZfpW

GooglePlay https://goo.gl/Jm9pHm

Books-A-Million http://goo.gl/W4YauS

Powell’s http://goo.gl/Abnlk8

iBooks https://goo.gl/2OfDsd

*****

Excerpt:

Eunice sat perched on the sofa under a bank of windows overlooking the back garden. “Well, I suppose it does not matter. He is going about this wife business all wrong. When he sent me the list of ladies he was considering, I could have screamed with frustration. Not one of them has the will or desire to stand up to him. They will all nod and simper, happy to be the Marchioness of Merton. Worse, they will assist him in becoming more set in his ways than he already is. A stodgier twenty-seven-year-old man I have never known. His poor papa must be rolling in his grave.”

Matilda pulled a face. “I agree, but it is not entirely Dominic’s fault.”

“No, you’re right. My brother, Alasdair, never should have been named Dominic’s guardian. One could not doubt his sincerity, but he was determined to make Dominic aware of his duty and consequence. The result has been a disaster. Did you know that Worthington’s sisters call Dominic “His Marquisship?”

Matilda gave a dry chuckle. “I had heard something to that effect.”

“It is embarrassing to have such animosity in the family.” Eunice stood again. “Now that Louisa is making her come out, it cannot be hidden. I am determined he shall not remain the butt of fun to most of Polite Society. We must find Dominic a young lady who will have enough influence over him to make him rethink his views. We live in modern times. As the Marquis of Merton, he should be leading the way, not hanging behind with the older generation.”

Matilda gave Eunice a dubious look. “How do you propose to do that, pray tell?”

“It is simple. He must fall in love with a woman who will challenge his beliefs.”

“But, Eunice, you know how difficult that will be. Most girls and their parents would give their eyeteeth to marry a marquis. They will agree with everything he says just to be a marchioness.”

*****

Author Info:

Bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. She has just finished her first series, The Marriage Game, and her new series will start in April 2016.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and granddaughter, one cat and a dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and North America.

She loves having readers connect with her.

Website: www.ellaquinnauthor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor

Twitter www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor

Blog http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom

*****

Giveaway:

5 Autographed print copies of When A Marquis Chooses A Bride

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e4be888287/

Book Review – Meant to be Mine

30 Tuesday Aug 2016

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

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Book Review, Guilty Pleasures series, Lisa Marie Perry, Meant to be Mine

The second book on this busy Tuesday, with a review 🙂 Not an easy read but definitely worth it!

(Make sure you come back and check out our last book later today.)

*****

Meant to be Mine

Guilty Pleasures series #1

by Lisa Marie Perry

On Sale: August 30, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

Price: $6.99 USD (MM) / $6.99 USD (eBook)

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Series Page on Goodreads

Blurb:

Loving him was hard. Wanting him was so damn easy . . .

Sofia Mercer may have been sick as a teen, but she’s no delicate flower. And she’s proven it by making it on her own and starting a new life away from the town that turned against her, away from the boy who broke her already fragile heart. But when her aunt Luz dies unexpectedly, leaving Sofia with a mountain of regrets and the keys to a quirky boutique, Sofia has no choice but to return to Cape Cod. Only, this new life in her old town comes with complications.

Burke Wolf was Sofia’s first love—a relationship that burned bright and went up in flames. Seeing him again, Sofia can’t help but get caught up in that all-too-familiar tornado of passion and pain. He’s battled his own demons—that much is clear. But Sofia can’t afford to be careless with her heart . . . and loving Burke again might just break it completely.

*****

Excerpt:

She hid her scar behind her clothes, hid her sexual hunger behind mannequins in a window, but eventually, he would bring Sofia Mercer out of hiding.

Their lips parted and he traced a finger between her breasts, up the jagged trail of thick, knotted scar tissue. He wanted to see it, assure her it wasn’t ugly, but he’d given his word that he wouldn’t look, and he would kick his own ass before he violated that trust.

“It doesn’t feel ugly,” he said plainly. “I’ve got scars, too.”

“From fighting. This is different.”

What had she been imagining, all these years? Schoolyard brawls? A teenage fight club? Did she define him as someone so out of control that he’d gone searching for split lips, black eyes, and fractured ribs?

Yeah, it was different. Her scar was a result of a lifesaving medical procedure . . . not violence.

Laying his hand flat, he felt her heart pound quick and strong. Caught up in the moment, caught up in her, he whispered, “Losing you would’ve killed me.”

He felt her slip away from him before she moved a single muscle. When she did retreat, sliding off his lap, fixing her clothes, and raking an arm across her mouth, she said, “I told Abram we weren’t together. Was that a lie? Can we be together, Burke?”

“Casually, yeah. As friends, of course. But don’t rope me into more. It wouldn’t be good for you.”

“That’s not your call.”

“It is, though. Tell me something and be truthful about it. How many panic attacks have you had since coming back to town?”

“A few.”

“Uh-huh. And how many came on when I wasn’t near you?”

“Uh . . .”

“Sofia.”

“None.”

“That’s my point. Think it’s a coincidence that your health teeters when I’m around? I’m harmful to you. I’ve known for a long time that I’m no good.” She didn’t know all the hell he carried. He’d do anything to spare her heart the burden of his skeletons.

“Stop it,” she whispered, getting to her feet. “You’d never hurt me.”

“Not intentionally, but the fact is I trigger something in you that you can’t physically handle. I meant what I said earlier—it would kill me to lose you. As much as I want you, and damn it, you know I do, I can’t keep putting you at risk.”

“Are you sure my health isn’t your excuse to justify walking away?” she challenged. “Hold me off, resist what’s good and real and permanent, then take off on your boat. That’s your plan, right?”

“It’s worked out nicely for years. You wouldn’t be the first woman to step back because she can’t handle my career. It’s dangerous, the hours can be shitty, and sometimes I can be on the water for weeks. I’d never ask you or anyone else to shut up and like it. If you want to bail now, I won’t hold it against you.”

“That does terrify me, but I’m not bailing. A career is one thing. Escape is something else altogether. I don’t think I can love you halfway—either I’m all in or I fold.”

*****

Review:

There is so much going on with this story I don’t even know where to start and I’m afraid that in all my ramblings I may give away a few things I shouldn’t. If I do I apologize and I’ll give fair warning now that there may be some slight spoilers that I didn’t mean to include.

Sofia left Eaves and didn’t look back. She didn’t have the best history there, but she did have her aunt and Burke – both of whom she turned from when she left. Unfortunately her aunt is now gone and while back for her funeral Sofia runs into Burke again. There’s a lot of mixed up feelings, not just of having abandoned both of them, but also where she’s going now and how she can face the town that has so many negative feelings for her. Her health is also a concern and how it impacts her long term relationships. It’s a lot of things going on but she’s a fighter and gonna figure it out.

I can understand why Burke hid his abuse and turned to drugs. But I’m absolutely stunned that he somehow kept it quiet so well for so long. And that finding out about it doesn’t impact Sofia more. There are so many assumptions made about him that turn out to be untrue and so many people that could have helped him but didn’t. I feel so horribly for him but he’s managed to get and stay clean. It doesn’t wipe away those feelings of being unworthy though and that includes being with Sofia.

This is not an easy read by any means, so make sure that you are up for a layered read that will pull on your heartstrings and require time to fully digest. There’s a lot of difficult history for these two and they are still dealing with a lot of complications in their lives. They made a good pair at one point in time – at least as much as they were willing to let the other in. But all grown up now, they have to decide if they are willing to risk opening themselves up and letting the other in completely. There is no halfway here. It is definitely all or nothing and that can be an amazingly scary thing.

*****

Author Info:

Lisa Marie Perry encounters difficult fictional men and women on a daily basis. She writes sizzling, deep fiction featuring flawed heroes brought to their knees by the love of complicated women. She has received high praise from USA Today and has been nominated for an RT Book Reviews literary award. She lives in America’s heartland, drives a truck, enjoys indie rock, collects Medieval literature, watches too many comedies, has a not-so-secret love for lace and adores rugged men with a little bit of nerd.

For laughs, randomness and occasional inappropriateness, visit LMP at www.perrytalebooks.com.

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*****

Giveaway:

Ten (10) mass market copies of MEANT TO BE MINE by Lisa Marie Perry

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2353/

*****

Spotlight – Winner Takes All

30 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Champion Valley series, Erin Kern, Winner Takes All

I’m reading this one right now and I’m looking forward to sharing my review with you all! It’ll be up in the next week or so, keep your eye out for it.

(BTW, it’s going to be a busy day today so make sure you come back later to see the all.)

*****

Winner Takes All

A Champion Valley Novel

by Erin Kern

On Sale: August 30, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Formats: Mass Market & eBook

Price: $6.99 USD (MM) / $6.99 USD (eBook)

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Blurb:

Money. Fame. Endorsements. Blake Carpenter had it all—before his professional football career spiraled out of control. Determined to rebuild his life, he takes on coaching the high school team in his Colorado hometown. Despite a few fumbles, Blake knows he can lead these boys to victory. As long as he can keep his eyes on the prize and off the team’s distractingly gorgeous physical therapist.

Annabelle Turner knows all about the scandal that cost Blake his NFL career, and she’ll be damned if she’s going to let his mistakes hurt her team. What she doesn’t count on is the intense attraction that turns every heated run-in they have into a wildly erotic competition. Point by point, play by play, kiss by kiss, they try to keep things professional for the good of the team. But when the score is this close—and the passion this fierce—it’s anybody’s game . . .

*****

Excerpt:

The parking lot was almost empty as Blake left the field-house after the team’s win. He strolled toward his truck, keys dangling from one hand and his gym bag in the other. As he approached, he noticed a figure leaning against the driver’s side door.

A petite, luscious figure in a pair of tight jeans and a Blanco Valley High hooded-sweatshirt.

Just the sight of Annabelle turned his body on high alert. Over the past week, Blake hadn’t been able to get their kiss out of his mind. Not only the feel of her lips pressed to his, but how perfectly her body fit with his. Each one of her curves had molded seamlessly against his harder and bigger one, as though they were two pieces of the same puzzle.

And look at him with all the lame metaphors.

Blake approached the truck, twirling his keys around in his hand. Because if he didn’t keep them busy, he’d yank her away from the door and kiss her again.

“Hi,” she greeted when he stopped in front of her.

He tossed his bag in the bed of the truck. “Hey,” he replied. “You’re here awfully late.”

“I wanted to hang around and congratulate some of the kids. You guys played a good game tonight,” she told him.

“Thanks.” And why did her praise have to mean so much to him? The parents and the school district was what mattered. Not some hazel-eyed opinionated goddess.

Annabelle scraped the toe of her tennis shoe along the ground. And for some reason Blake found the movement endearing.

He was turning into such a pussy.

“Blake,” she said on a sigh. She pushed away from the truck and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry,” she told him. “About before.”

“For what?” he wanted to know. “The kiss or the apology?”

She blinked at him and inhaled a deep breath. “For the way I acted afterward,” she clarified. “To be completely honest, I’m not sorry for kissing you. I thought that maybe…” Her words trailed off. “I thought I had taken you off guard and acted inappropriately. I didn’t want you to think I was being too forward. The sorry just kind of popped out before I could think.”

Blake pocketed his keys. “You did take me off guard. But that didn’t mean I didn’t like it as much as you did. I think we both know I did.” She’d been pressed up against him hard enough to feel the evidence between his thighs.

As though sensing his thoughts, Annabelle’s gaze dropped down, lingering long enough to elicit a reaction. “I think it’s safe to say we both liked it. A lot,” she added. “Probably too much, actually.”

“And how much is too much?” Because that was part of his confusion.

One of her shoulders moved. “To be honest, I’m not sure. I’m still trying to figure that one out.”

“Maybe we should try it again, just to see,” he suggested.

*****

Author Info:

Erin was born in Houston, TX. but spent the majority of her life in the Bay Area. She married her high school sweetheart and began her writing career while being a stay-at-home mom to her daughter.

Her first book, Looking for Trouble, was on the Amazon top 100 for four months, and on the indiereads.com top ten for four weeks. The second book in the Trouble series, Here Comes Trouble, was also a top seller on Amazon. Erin currently lives in North Texas with her husband and two children.

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*****

Giveaway:

Ten (10) mass market copies of WINNER TAKES ALL by Erin Kern

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635ce2354/

*****

Spotlight – Run to You

29 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Rachel Lacey, Risking It All series, Run to You

king ItaWe’ve seen Rachel Lacey before with For Keeps and I know I was super excited to see she’s starting a new series! Check it out below and tell me you aren’t looking forward to meeting Gabby and Ethan…

*****

Run to You

Risking It All #1

by Rachel Lacey

Releasing August 30, 2016

Forever

Blurb:

ONE LITTLE LIE. A WHOLE LOTTA TROUBLE.

Moments after meeting the most gorgeous guy ever, Gabby Winters promptly gets stung by a zillion yellow jackets and falls-not gracefully-into a stream. Yup, Ethan Hunter is trouble with a capital “hot,” and Gabby definitely needs to keep her distance. Except in the small town of Haven, there’s nowhere to hide from Ethan’s sexy, infectious grin . . . and all the residents are conspiring against her.

At the center of the town’s matchmaking is Ethan’s grandmother, who’s convinced their relationship is a done deal. Rather than break her heart, Gabby and Ethan find themselves cornered into pretending to be falling in love. The problem: there’s serious sizzling attraction between them. And if this charade continues, they won’t fool just the entire town – they might fool themselves too . . .

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28119216-run-to-you

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/180210-risking-it-all

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

*****

Excerpt:

“I’m glad you brought me out here.” Gabby stepped over a tree root, lifting her skirt with her free hand so that she didn’t trip.

Ethan squeezed her left hand. “Me, too. The rock face is right up this way.”

They came around a corner and the path opened up to a big rock looming at least thirty feet into the air. There were some creases and cracks in it, but how anyone could scale it with only their bare hands—or why they would want to—was completely beyond her. “You can seriously climb that?”

“I can climb it. Ryan can kick its ass, though.”

“Okay then. Show me.”

With a cocky grin, he reached up and hooked his hand into a crack in the rock. He pulled himself up, his biceps flexing most impressively as he climbed. Holy shit, that was sexy. Soon she was left with nothing but a view of his very fine ass. And by the time he’d reached the top, she was so turned on, she could hardly stand it.

“So?” he called from the top. “You going to join me or what?”

“Not a chance. But I will enjoy watching you climb back down.”

“Gotta give the lady what she wants.” His fine ass reappeared over the edge as he started back down. He took his time on the descent, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he might have reached for a few hand and footholds that made him flex his muscles a little more than was strictly necessary.

“You’re a show-off,” she said when his feet were back on solid ground.

He was a bit out of breath, his bronzed skin glistening with sweat, trademark smile still in place. “No clue what you’re talking about.”

“No? You really needed to reach all the way to that notch?” She gestured above them. “Instead of the one closer to your shoulder that maybe wouldn’t have shown off your lovely biceps quite as well?”

He flexed for her. “What, these old things? And for the record, I totally needed the leverage.”

“Mm-hmm.” For some reason, she put her hand on his biceps, and oh crap, that was a mistake. His skin was hot beneath her fingers, and his blue eyes blazed into hers.

“Killing me, Gabby,” he murmured. “Killing me.”

His words sent a bolt of red-hot desire right through her, and she must have made a sound because Ethan sucked in a breath, his gaze locked on her lips. His hands settled on her hips, burning into her skin through the thin fabric of her skirt.

*****

Author Info:

Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81113/

*****

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Spotlight – The Best Friend Bargain

26 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Kisses in the Sand series, Robin Bielman, The Best Friend Bargain

I’m so happy that I get to host Robin Bielman today as she shares her newest Kisses in the Sand story with us. We’ve seen Robin’s stuff before and I’m sure lots of you are going to be super excited to see she’s got a new book out.

*****

Hey everyone! Happy summer!

I don’t listen to music while I’m writing. I’m one of those writers that like to have it quiet when I sit at my laptop to work. But music is a big part of my pre-writing ritual. I’ll listen to music to help get my head in my story (very often while I’m also running on the treadmill) and then I’ll sit down and hopefully the words flow. So, here’s the playlist for the songs I listened to over and over again while I was writing Danny and Olivia’s story, The Best Friend Bargain.

“Hold Me Up” by Conrad Sewell

“Levels” by Nick Jonas

“Sleeping With A Friend” by Neon Trees

“The Other Side” by Jason Derulo

“Ready For Your Love” by Gorgon City

“Take Me” by Rufus

“Simply Being Loved” by BT

“To The Skies” by Kaskade

Happy reading and music listening!

~ Robin

*****

The Best Friend Bargain

Kisses in the Sand #3

by Robin Bielman

Publication Date: August 8, 2016

Genres: Adult, Entangled Lovestruck, Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Olivia Lincoln has a plan guaranteed to get her life back on track. A plan that involves her best friend, Danny. And he’s on board, too…until she blurts out that they’re engaged and expecting a baby, and the news spreads like wildfire.

The problem? Danny doesn’t do marriage. Or family. And everyone knows it, including Olivia.

As irritated as he might be, protecting Olivia is what Danny does. But put best friends under one roof, add house rules begging to be broken, accidental nakedness, and pancakes in bed, and what started as a marriage between friends threatens to turn into the real deal…which would ruin everything.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aHALPZ

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2b3PQwf

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2b2Cul3

B&N: http://bit.ly/2aCk1WP

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2aCk3hp

iBooks: http://apple.co/2aqv8qA

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2aHARqO

*****

**DON’T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE KISSES IN THE SAND SERIES!**

Keeping Mr. Right Now (Kisses in the Sand, #1):

A temporary agreement neither could keep…

Brainy, organized Sophie Birch is no beach bunny. In fact, she’s totally out of her element among the sun-bronzed crowd at a film festival in beautiful White Strand Cove. When a surf lesson introduces her to Zane Hollander, suddenly she’s up close and personal with the world’s sexiest surf star. But what can a great-looking, experienced athlete possibly see in a klutzy out-of-towner who’s never set foot in the ocean?

Zane Hollander’s playboy reputation has never been a problem…until recently. Now his management team wants him on his best behavior to entice a meaningful new sponsor. Sophie Birch is the perfect girl to help reform his image. She’s genuine and respected—and their relationship is purely fictional. But the more Sophie blooms under the beachy sun, the more Zane knows he’ll just break her heart. Because nothing’s more important to Zane than following the tide.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2b4nuzT

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2aCNJwO

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2aXAysn

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aDpbFi

B&N: http://bit.ly/1vcS0hb

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DLqzgW

iBooks: http://apple.co/2aqvYDQ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2aCP4DP

Blame it on the Kiss (Kisses in the Sand, #2):

The one guy she shouldn’t want…

Honor Mitchell has lived with guilt and regret for a long time, so when she promises to do the things on her dying best friend’s wish list, she’s determined to follow through and do something right for a change. But when she’s thrown together for wedding duties with the one man who complicates her vow–just by looking at him–she has to put her faith in Bryce Bishop’s pledge to help her, no strings attached.

Bryce’s near one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend’s best friend a few months ago might have been a mistake, but helping the beautiful, free-spirited Honor with her promise isn’t. His trust in women is shot, but he can’t help but play his best man card to his advantage and help Honor tick off the items on his ex’s list, even if it puts him in a no-win situation. Because his assistance might get Honor what she wants, but suddenly being the do-good guy puts his plans–and heart–in serious jeopardy.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aDpn7f

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2aqwim5

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2aqwMZg

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aKqmQN

B&N: http://bit.ly/1F1ExIb

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1ITPgK8

iBooks: http://apple.co/2aRhH14

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2aDDJrd

*****

Excerpt:

The tail end of daylight cast a glow around her in one-of-a-kind beauty and he found himself tucking her hair behind her ear as she looked up at him with similar appreciation.

When her gaze moved to his mouth, he was a goner.

He ignored the voice inside his head reminding him she was his best friend and once they crossed this line they could never go back, and gave her two seconds to say something to change his mind.

One, two…

She took a step back.

One kiss. One kiss to get it out of his head and put it to rest. She might have placed another foot between them, but Danny saw the indecision in her eyes. He inched closer anyway, unwilling to let her go without one more try. It was a jerk move, but if he didn’t get to taste her he’d go insane wondering.

He cradled her neck in his hands.

“Danny.” He liked how breathless his name sounded on her lips.

“We have to. I’m going out of my mind, Liv.”

She half gasped, half sighed, a pleasure-and-pain kind of sound he wanted to turn into one of satisfaction. They had to get this crazy new attraction out of the way so they could go back to being just Liv and Danny. “Make it terrible,” she whispered.

He smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

“To make it awful,” she reiterated.

“Prepare yourself for the worst kiss ever.”

Her small smile made itself at home inside his chest. He lowered his mouth to hers. No tongue, he told himself. Keep it innocent. Safe.

*****

Author Info:

When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman can almost always be found with her nose in a book. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun and inspiration. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts all of her story ideas.

She loves to go on adventures, and has skydived, scuba dived, parasailed, gotten lost in the wilderness (and only suffered a gazillion bug bites for it) hiked to waterfalls, and swam with dolphins. In her spare time she also likes to put her treadmill to good use while watching her favorite TV shows, take hikes with her hubby, indulge her sweet tooth, and play sock tug of war with her cute, but sometimes naughty dog, Harry.

She dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

*****