Guest Post – One Sweet Christmas

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

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

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Today, Darlene Fredette (author of One Sweet Christmas) stops by to share with us why she writes romances and to give us a sneak peek at her new book. Just like its title, it’s a sweet little story about second chances and lost love. At under 100 pages, it’s the perfect size to give you a little break from all of the holiday madness and relax.

Check out the details below!

*****

One Sweet Christmas Excerpt:

She let her guard down and he swooped in like an eagle after its prey. She should have pushed him away, told him to stop, but she couldn’t. The man she loved with every inch of her being was kissing her. Making her toes curl with desire she never knew existed.

Why I Write Romance

by Darlene Fredette

“Why do you write romance?”

“Have you thought about writing another genre?”

I’ve been asked those questions several times and while my answer now comes easily, at one time I had to think about a response.

I’ve been reading romance books since I was in high school (a long time ago), and wanted to write stories just as good as those books I couldn’t put down until the last page.

Every young girl wants to find that perfect someone—a hero who sweeps them off their feet and makes their dreams come true. There’s so much evil intent in this world, I don’t want to read or write about more of it. We need to embrace love and romance, and find happily-ever-after.

As an author who writes romance stories, be it contemporary, historical, or western, I want my readers to be immersed in my captivating characters, breathtaking settings, and engaging story lines. I want my readers to laugh and cry, while reading into the wee hours of the morning.

Romance and love are the ultimate emotions. They make you smile, your pulse race, your heart skip a beat, and your toes curl. That’s why I write romance!

*****

One Sweet Christmas

by Darlene Fredette

Blurb:

It’s going to take more than a few pieces of chocolate to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer. Luckily Candice Cane has a whole shop full…

Candice Cane is not proud of the way she acted after her last encounter with Jackson Frost. Sure revenge was fun, but it’s left Jackson standing, angry and looking for answers, on the welcome mat in her chocolate shop. Now he’s after some revenge of his own.

Jackson returned to his small hometown for one reason and one reason only…so he’s not sure how he’s ended up in a Santa suit in the middle of a chocolate shop, at the behest of its beautiful owner, instead of high-tailing it back to the city as fast as he can.

Buy Links:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Christmas-novella-Darlene-Fredette-ebook/dp/B00G2UXCNE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385984218&sr=8-2&keywords=one+sweet+Christmas

B&N. – http://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-sweet-christmas-darlene-fredette/1117368711?ean=9780857991058

Escape Publishing – http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/product/9780857991058

*****

Excerpt:

‘You’re late.’ She shoved the bag at him. ‘Here’s your suit.’

He stepped back. ‘Wait, you don’t actually think I’m going through with this.’

‘If you ever want to be single again, you’ll take this bag and get changed in the washroom — now.’ The children were waiting, and lack of sleep made Candi in no mood to argue.

He stood still for several seconds and then, without warning, he closed the door behind him. Jackson grabbed the bag from her hands and tossed it on the counter.

Candi held a breath.

His eyes filled with longing. His chest expanded, as if he attempted to control his breathing. Every nerve in her body tingled in anticipation. The voice in her head demanded she flee, yet her feet remained cemented to the floor. She waited — hoping Jackson would pull her into his arms.

Children’s laughter echoed from the shop and broke his advance.

‘You and I need to clear a few things that are screwy in my head but, apparently, I have a job to do first.’ Jackson shrugged out of his coat and unzipped the bag.

‘You can change…’ Candi stopped. Did he have no modesty? Jackson whisked his blue, long-sleeved shirt over his head and stepped from his dark trousers. He stood in front of her in only a black T-shirt and matching boxers.

Candi’s cheeks burned, but she couldn’t look away. He was beautiful, even more than she remembered. The thin T-shirt stretched across the planes of his chest. His legs were long and muscled. If Jackson meant to embarrass her, his plan worked. Unable to tear her gaze away, she watched as he stepped into the red pants and slipped his arms into the coat. He strapped on the pillow-stuffed belly bag and fumbled with the buttons through the fake fur trim.

The pants were a bit short, but nothing the boots wouldn’t hide. The coat fit snug across his broad shoulders and the pants clung nicely to his butt. Candi sucked in a breath and passed him a wig and fluffy, white beard. Jackson rolled his eyes, donning the fake hair, and topped off the disguise with a floppy red hat.

‘How do I look?’

He would definitely win over the children, but a sinking feeling washed through her stomach when she envisioned the youngsters fighting their mothers to see who first sat on Santa’s lap. ‘Just like jolly old Saint Nick,’ she said. But much hotter!

*****

About the Author:

An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to put a pencil to paper and plot out stories of her own. Her writing is a combination of contemporary romance with chick lit flare, and a main focus as a plot-driven page-turner. When Darlene isn’t writing, editing, or reading she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and Yellow Lab.

Web Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarleneLF

*****

Giveaway:

Darlene will be giving away a piece of Homemade Jewelry and a free PDF copy of her title One Sweet Christmas. Enter at:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c7458f10/

*****

While One Sweet Christmas is short, it tells a complete story in its small number of pages. I thought Jackson and Candice were cute together, and I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other again … and of course fall in love all over again. I’ve said it before – I absolutely love these childhood-friends/second-chance-at-love stories. Add in a little Christmas miracle/Scrooge storyline and I’m hooked.

Although some might find One Sweet Christmas a little cheesy or predictable, that’s one of the things I like best about holiday romances. You can get away with being overly sentimental or emotional or sappy – that’s the kind of mood I get in at the end of the year (I embrace it whole heartedly) and I’m sure I’m not alone. It’s why those Hallmark, made-for-tv Christmas movies are so popular, right? And Fredette’s latest is the perfect choice for those who are looking to take just a short break and enjoy a little of that romantic holiday cheer.

Book Review – Some Like It Sinful

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Perfect Recipe series, Robbie Terman, Some Like It Sinful

Review Time!

*****

A struggling business and one act of vandalism may have brought them together, but bakery owner Chloe Nelson and professional hockey player Griffin Lange get along like chocolate and pickles. Chloe needs the famous (and famously unattached) Griffin to attract people to her pastries, and Griffin needs the curvaceous and fiery Chloe to keep him out of trouble. A fake relationship to keep the media interested seems like the perfect plan.

But when temptation throws them into bed together, a new plan arises. Why not make the fake real? Griffin’s winning every home game, and Chloe’s business has never been better. Both know it’s only physical—and only temporary. But can they drop their defenses for love, even if it means getting a little bit sinful?

Some Like It Sinful is part of Robbie Terman’s “Perfect Recipe” series, but don’t let that stop you because it can definitely stand alone. Ty and Ashton from the first novel do make a lot of appearances in this one, though, so for those of you who have read their story you get a nice little update and for those of us who haven’t …. well, I’m ready to go read Some Like It Spicy as soon as I can. Terman has a delightfully smooth writing style and the story flows nicely – I never felt that the pacing was off and the characters are very entertaining.

Griffin is your typical commitment-phobe. As a professional athlete, he has the world by the tail so why would he settle down? And then he meets Chloe. Striking out on her own, Chloe is under a lot of stress and her unwanted attraction to Griffin isn’t helping. But she’s got the grit and determination to make her business work … and find a way to handle Griffin too. I love her sass and the way that the two play off each other is definitely entertaining. They make a fun (and snarky) couple and I loved watching them fall in love, while fighting it most of the way.

We also get a little bit of a sneak peek at the next story with Chloe’s friend, Jenna. If it is anything like Some Like It Sinful, I’ll be the first in line. Not just because Terman writes engaging romances but she also gives the three women a wonderful friendship that I’d like to see more of.

Although Terman doesn’t really go outside of the box with her sports-star/normal-girl romance, the journey to Griffin and Chole’s HEA has enough zing and passion to keep readers quickly turning pages. With the perfect mix of humor, sexiness and emotion, Some Like It Sinful showcases Terman’s writing talent.

Guest Post – Unleashed Under the Mistletoe

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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

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Book Review, Isabel Winsor, Unleashed Under the Misteltoe

This morning we get to visit with Isabel Winsor, author of the OH-SO-HOT Unleashed Under the Mistletoe. And make sure you enter her contest to win your own copy of this sexy read.

*****

Romance Novels As Random Acts of Kindness

By Isabel Winsor

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no end.” -Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert

You have to be a little crazy to write romance novels. We live in a world that at minimum ridicules “those silly women’s romance books,” but at the worst, assassinates an artist like John Lennon for singing, “all you need is Love.”

But when I read about teenage boys playing the “knock out” game on innocent people walking down the street, or studies that report couples are having less sex under the pressures of jobs and finances, I think, “Damn it, we need more love in this world!” What better way to deliver it straight into the hands of perfect, wonderful strangers than a romance novel?

I began reading romance novels in my second year in college, when I was suffering under the weight of a pre-med degree and a busted up relationship. My friend lent me Captivated by Nora Roberts and it was like finding a one-hundred dollar bill in the street … but better! Maybe it was the fearlessness of its heroine, Morgana Donovan, or Nora’s lyrical but earthy voice, but soon after I began a steady reading diet of her books, on February 10, 1994 I realized my destiny wasn’t medical school. My destiny was to write books like Nora’s that made people feel good. I’ve withstood many eye rolls from those who think romance are beneath them. But the delight of a romance reader is worth tenfold!

Remember last December when Starbucks’ customers were buying coffees for the person behind them in line? All it took was one person who was brave enough to withstand disbelief and surprise to make that first offer. The “paying it backward” phenomena started somewhere in Maryland and personally, all the way in Yorba Linda, California I happened to pull into a Starbucks drive-thru window to be told, “The guy in front of you bought your coffee. What would you like?”

After I got over the surprise, it reminded me of how I felt when I read that first Nora Roberts’ novel. So when I think of readers who find my book on Amazon and take a chance on a new erotic romance author by downloading it, I hope they feel, at the very least, that the characters and story take them to a beautiful place where bravery and love prevail. Maybe when they get to the end, they will speak a bit kinder or look with more love on the people who cross their path. Ultimately that’s we romance writers do: we remind each other that all we need is love and love is all we need.

Oh and yes, I bought a latte for the mini van driver behind me.

*****

Unleashed Under the Mistletoe

by Isabel Winsor

Blurb:

The pretty girls never say yes to a guy like him.

But when Leo overhears the ladies in the office laughing at him behind his back, he does the unthinkable: he accepts a mysterious invitation to a secret group known as The Grove.

Thinking he’s at an exclusive holiday business party, Leo is shocked when leather clad beauties order the guests to strip!

The moment Evie lays eyes on Leo, she’s drawn by his dark, exotic good looks. Once she gets his clothes off and sees him for the shy but sexy guy he is, she’s tempted to shed her Domina persona.

Can an office geek wake up and see that this free-spirited woman might want more than to tie him up and make him beg

Savor your first taste of the Pleasure Grove.

Buy Links

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1ahXdni (Available exclusively as a Kindle Select)

*****

Excerpt:

“We will begin in fifteen minutes, Leo,” Boyd said, sliding open the double pocket doors to a large, two-level room. A wall of narrow, wood-framed windows overlooked the tops of cypress trees and the restless silvery ocean.

“It is a pleasure to have you here,” he said and then walked off.

Leo couldn’t help but gawk at the authentic Arts & Crafts architecture and wood work. His attention snagged on one woman who licked her crimson lips as if she could taste him from where she stood. Leo self consciously ran his hand down the front of his pin-striped vest. She whispered to the man standing beside her. He glanced at Leo. A seductive grin lit his face.

He, the bartender and the couple were the only people in the room.

Leo nodded to the couple and went to the bar for liquid courage. He wished he had a date to bring to this thing. It would be another holiday season during which he made the rounds of parties solo; another New Years without someone to kiss.

“Will this be acceptable, sir?”said the bartender as he presented the bottle of 2002 Hourglass Cabernet. Leo tried to keep his mouth from dropping open. The last he checked, it was more than $100 a bottle.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Of course.”

He poured just enough for Leo to taste. This Cab would have knocked Bacchus on his ass. When Leo nodded, the bartender expertly poured and then wished him a good evening.

Leo should socialize, make some valuable connections; or at the very least, find out what this whole Grove thing was about. But the purring ocean lured him to the open windows. He hoped for the chance to explore the house. He’d seen it peeking through the trees when he jogged up and down Scenic Drive.

Chimes sounded in the room, cutting off the murmur of conversation. The bartenders and servers stopped what they were doing and filed out through a side door. Leo turned back to the crowd for some clue as to what would happen next. The doors opened and in marched two men, both dressed in black leather.

The long-haired Latin lover type strode up to the woman and tipped up her chin with a riding crop. Leo thought he was going to hit her but instead he did something even crazier and ripped her dress down to reveal her tea cup breasts.

He should put a stop to this. But the muscular Asian man boldly kissed the other man.

Leo turned, his instincts screaming to bolt for the door and fast. But then he saw her and all thoughts of escape vanished.

She stood in the center of the room, her brown hair curling down her back. Her innocent white dress was embroidered in the Mexican style with pink and red roses. Her arms and legs were lean and tan; feet bare and toes unpainted.

Raw need poured through Leo, filling in the hollow corners that had been carved open by too many failures with women. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in real life. Experience taught him woman like her would never notice a guy like him. She watched the kinky goings-on with the calm gaze of a lioness.

“Good evening,” she called out, her low, honey-toned voice sent shivers up his spine. “I see you have things in hand.”

Leo’s heart thundered and sweat beaded down his back. What the hell was this? He felt someone staring at him and pulled his gaze from her to find the Asian man’s dark eyes flick from Leo to the woman in white and then back; sizing him up as if he questioned Leo’s right to be here.

Leo couldn’t make himself move. This wasn’t real. He must have crashed his bike somewhere on the winding, bumpy streets of Carmel. In reality, he was probably splattered on the sidewalk as his mother and sisters had warned. All of this was happening in his coma-ridden head.

“You must be our third initiate,” she said.

Her brown eyes, slightly tilted at the corners stared into his, probably seeing his thoughts scrambling around in panic. His mouth hung open. But hell, it wasn’t every day a woman more beautiful than a Victoria’s Secret model stood before him.

But she was and she was talking to him.

“I-” He choked on his suddenly dry throat. “I what?”

“Do you have a red or black envelope?”

“Black.”

He breathed in the honey and vanilla smell of her. She wore no make-up. That voice coming from those full pink lips, made his nerves scream.

“Then you need to undress.” Her eyes travelled down to the uncomfortable bulge behind his zipper.

“But-”

“Or not. It’s entirely up to you.”

His mouth opened but no sound came out.

“You were invited for a reason. It’s your choice to stay or to leave,” she said, her gaze flicking back up to lock onto his. “But you need to make it now.”

*****

Author Information:

Website: www.IsabelWinsor.com

Blog: http://isabelwinsor.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsabelWinsor

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360521.Isabel_Winsor

*****

I have to say that this is quite a steamy, hard-to-put-down book. The writing was smooth and flowed nicely, and I really liked both Evie and Leo. I found them to be engaging, with their own insecurities and strengths, and I really liked the way they interacted together. My only complaint is that we didn’t get to be a part of how they come to terms with her history and the way they met. It’s a big deal for him and could easily be the breaking point for their relationship, but it happens off-page. I’d have liked to have heard more of her past and how they plan on moving forward.

If you are looking for a story that will heat you up on a cold winter night, Unleashed Under the Mistletoe is definitely it. With interesting characters and burn-up-the-sheets sexiness, it’ll keep the pages turning.

*****

Giveaway:

Isabel is giving away five copies of Unleashed Under the Mistletoe, enter here –

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/84db5127/

Guest Post – Dirty Tricks

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Dirty Tricks, Xandra James

I am so pleased to be able to host Xandra James. She’s going to talk a little bit about her inspiration and her newest book, Dirty Tricks. Best of all, right now you can get it free! Check out all of the details below.

*****

People always ask me my inspiration for writing and, I have to admit, I draw a blank usually. It’s not that I don’t get inspired by the books I read, or the stories I see in the newspaper etc, I just couldn’t absolutely pin point where some of my ideas start from.

Take my newest release, Dirty Tricks. I have a slightly desperate woman called Cat who’s pretending to be a ghost, a real orange cat called Elvis, and an alpha hero who likes play pranks. The only thing I can say without a shadow of a doubt is that Elvis the orange cat is an amalgamation of several of my kooky cats.

Of course, there’s the book I’m currently writing for NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month where you write 50k in 30 days). It’s a mash-up of Mary Poppins and James Bond, with a sprinkling of magic and a healthy dose of romantic adventure. Now who in their right mind comes up with characters/plots like that? LOL.

So, if I’m being honest, I guess my real inspiration is life and the odd people that surround me. If everyone I knew was normal, then life would be very boring indeed. And I wouldn’t have any nutballs to base some of my characters on…

Thanks for allowing me to take over your blog, today – it’s been fun!

If anyone wants to check out my latest release, it’s currently FREE at Amazon.com, All Romance eBooks, Apple, Kobo, or Smashwords.

*****

Dirty Tricks

by Xandra James

Blurb:

She wanted revenge. He wanted her.

Cat was desperate, but pretending to be a ghost to stop the renovation on the neighbouring manor house was a new low even for her. All she needed to do, though, was slow down the renovation and figure out a way to make the owner pay for stealing her family home years before. Simple.

Everything was perfect until a new guy arrived on site, turning her plans for revenge upside down, and her body to a puddle of lusty mush. But when she finds out the secret he’s been keeping, will their attraction be strong enough to hold them together? Or will family ties tear them apart?

Warning: This story contains a large orange cat called Elvis, a fake ghost called Cat, a sizzling hot romance, and may cause you to crack a smile.

*****

Excerpt:

Elvis, her cat, nuzzled her foot once more and sat staring at her expectantly. She reached over and stroked him, knowing exactly what he wanted. The cat, bless all his fifteen pounds, was a water critter. If she was in the bath, he wanted in. If he wasn’t such a scaredy cat and realised there was a world outside the back garden, he’d have loved the sea just a couple of hundred metres from the end of her long garden. Yesterday he’d already jumped in to the pool, swimming around the two foot deep plastic expanse.

“Come on, baby.” Her orange monster jumped into her arms and she gently placed him in the water. He was probably as hot as she was. She splashed water over him, enjoying his enthusiasm.

“You do realise there’s a giant hamster in your kiddie pool, right?” The voice startled her and she scrambled around to see a man, standing not a couple of metres behind her, next to her petunias, dressed in a suit. Then all hell broke loose.

Elvis didn’t like men’s voices. The beast jumped up, scrambling to climb the two foot tall wall of plastic, looking like a drowned rat with his long, wet fur clinging to his body and claws that would rival Wolverine’s.

She heard a rip and then she was in a rush of water sliding the couple of metres across her lawn and towards the feet of the newcomer. Cat finally stopped, her ass up in the air and her thick hair, unclipped and around her face.

Catherine sat motionless for a few seconds, not quite believing what had just happened. Elvis mewed at the backdoor to be let in, and a soft, deep laugh began behind her. Cat didn’t know whether to cry at losing her pool, or come out swinging when she listened to that sexy sound coming from the mystery stranger standing above her.

Collecting herself and adjusting the strap to her too tight swim suit, she sat up and turned, staring at the stranger who was now belly laughing at her, his hands braced against his thighs.

Temper rising, she impatiently waited until the laughter subsided. Cat pushed her hair back from her face and adjusted her skewy sunglasses until she could actually see properly. Ignoring the fact he was a blond God, she narrowed her eyes. “Just who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing in my garden?”

His grin widened and Cat told herself not to be distracted by the very attractive laughter lines around his eyes. “I’m visiting next door.”

That calmed her anger down a little. She looked at him with more curiosity now. “Do you work for Marshall Senior?”

He considered her for a second before answering. “I’m here to try and get the house completed on time and on budget.”

“Well, I guess you’ve heard all the rumours about the house?” Cat said it conversationally, trying to gauge exactly what this guy knew and how she could play on it.

“Ghostly happenings, you mean?” His smile didn’t quite meet his eyes now and Cat felt completely exposed as his gaze travelled down the length of her, still sitting on the floor. “I can assure you, Miss—?”

“Wakely. Catherine Wakely.”

“Miss Wakely, I intend to get to the bottom of whoever is trying to discourage the build.” His blue eyes sparkled as he stared her down and Cat could’ve sworn he already knew the cause of all the mischief, despite her being a careful saboteur. His eyes narrowed a little as their gazes locked and held for a few moments. He wasn’t buying in to all the spooky stuff, apparently.

Well, she might have embarrassed herself in front of him, but the war wasn’t lost just yet.

“There’ve been sightings of a woman in white over at the manor for years. But if you’re convinced you can get to the bottom of it, good luck, Mr—?” Cat made sure to stick her nose up in the air, despite her disadvantaged state.

“Just call me Jay. And I think I can handle the woman in white—whoever she may be.”

“Well, good luck, Jay. I think you’re going to need it.” Cat climbed to her feet, slipping slightly on the sodden grass. His hand reached for her but she dodged it, straightening herself on her own. “Now if you’ll excuse me?” She walked tall towards her house, well aware that her new sexy enemy was watching her every move and was probably seeing her old swimming costume ride high into her curvy backside, too.

“Come along, Elvis,” she whispered as she bent to pick up the soaked animal. “We need to up our game, don’t you think? The mean man doesn’t know what’s gonna hit him, does he, baby?” The animal gave a short, sharp meow in response and she bent to kiss his bedraggled head.

“You need to keep that cat under control. He’s a menace to polite society.” Catherine wanted to ignore his taunt as she opened the back door, stepped inside and almost slipped on the kitchen tiled floor, but she couldn’t.

“Piss off out of my garden!” Cat shouted back at him before she slammed the door, putting the cat down on the cool tiles.

Oh, she was going to enjoy tormenting him. And Cat was going to take a whole lot of pleasure in doing so.

A mazon SMASHWORDS All Romance Ebooks Barnes & Noble Ap ple

*****

Author Info:

Multi-published author, Xandra James, has always wanted to write romance books. Even when she was sneaking peaks at the hot bits, too young to fully appreciate them, she dreamt of writing her own.

Now, older and wiser, she’s got the opportunity to project her slightly dark and wacky, British sense of humour onto others, whilst still writing the hot bits – bonus!

When not writing, Xandra is thinking of excuses as to why she shouldn’t be doing the housework, looking after a husband and cats that refuse to pick up after themselves and climbing the mountain in her house that’s affectionately called her tbr pile.

She currently holds the crown for Queen Procrastinator – something she’s very proud of – so you can usually find her online, somewhere, when she really should be writing.

Adventure…with a dash of romance

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Wattpad

*****

Tour Schedule:

12/2: Guest blog – Romantic Reads and Such

12/3: Interview – A Passion for Romance

12/4: Spotlight – Reading Fiction Forever

12/5: Spotlight – My Erotic Notions

12/6: Spotlight – In Shadows

12/9: Guest Blog – Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

12/10: Interview – Becky on Books

12/11: Spotlight – http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/

12/12: Interview – You Gotta Read Reviews

12/13: Guest blog – Lunar Haven

Book Review – His for Christmas

01 Sunday Dec 2013

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Book Review, His for Christmas, Jennifer Haymore

New review is now up.

*****

Lady Amelia Witherspoon simply must get home to her beloved family on Christmas Eve. So when a terrible storm threatens to leave her snowbound, she refuses to admit defeat-even if that means sharing a carriage with Evan Cameron, the last man she ever hoped to see . . .

Evan can’t fathom why his oldest friend is as icy to him as the winter wind. All he does know is that Amelia is still the loveliest, most tempting woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Their only option is to take refuge together at a nearby inn, sharing the one remaining room. Evan promises to be a gentleman . . . but it’s a promise neither of them wants him to keep.

I found His For Christmas to be super sweet and a wonderful choice for getting into the holiday spirit. It’s got a lot of my favorite romance elements: Christmas (perfect for a love story), childhood friends, and a misunderstanding. I’ll add that last one with a caveat – I think that writers have to be very careful with stories containing misunderstandings as a major plot point. There is a chance they can err on either end, being too heavy handed or too simplistic, so that it isn’t believable. But with this one, Haymore does a wonderful job of creating believable troubles between them – readers can easily understand how it might happen and cause such havoc – and she handles the resolution with the same amount of care and heart.

The characters are well-developed (especially for a novella) and the writing is crisp, which makes for a fast and easy read. And even if you aren’t very big on historical romances, you’ll still find something to love about these two. There isn’t a lot of Lord-this and Lady-that, mostly it is just about two people having to come to terms with a past confusion, that caused a lot of hurt, and figure out if they can move forward together.

Book Review – Single Dad’s Christmas Miracle

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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Book Review, Single Dad's Christmas Miracle, Susan Meier

Time for a new book review.

*****

Single Dad’s Christmas Miracle

by Susan Meier

He needs a helping hand…

Having recently lost his wife, Clark Beaumont is trying to make it through the holidays for the sake of his kids. But with his son failing at school and his little girl talking only in whispers, he needs nothing short of a miracle.…

…when one arrives on his doorstep!

Althea Johnson is only meant to tutor Clark’s son. But with her help the Beaumont family begins to come alive again, and against the odds Althea hopes that when Christmas morning arrives there will be four stockings hanging over the fireplace.…

Both Clark and Althea have troubled pasts and need a little help learning to move on. Clark is devastated by the death of his wife …. and all of the secrets she left behind. To cope he’s holding on to his children a little too hard and it’s manifesting itself in their behavior. He has to figure out how to let it all go or he’ll be stuck forever and maybe even lose out on a close relationship with his kids.

Althea had a horrible childhood and she’s trying her best to find a way to lead a normal life …. but she doesn’t know what a normal relationship or family looks like and as much as she wants that with Clark and his kids, it is tough. She has to reconcile what her father did to her with her wants for a future or she’ll never be free.

There are some tough issues addressed in this book and the two have to make difficult choices. The family starts to change pretty quickly but I think mostly because they’ve never opened up to someone new before. And once that starts it quickly leads to healing and forgiveness.

Single Dad’s Christmas Miracle is a sweet story about letting go of the past and looking to the future. It’s a lovely feel good story that is perfect for the holiday season.

Cover Reveal – Harper’s Wish

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Sneak Peek

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Harper's Wish, Krista Ames

Check out below for a sneak peek at the new book from Krista Ames, Harper’s Wish.

*****

Harper’s Wish

A Montana Series Christmas Novella

By Krista Ames

Blurb:

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day. Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a single good memory of Christmas.

But, when a Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter to Santa.

Could he bring her the family she’d always wanted?

** Coming soon (tentatively Dec 20th) to Roane Publishing **

*****

Author Info:

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan. She is married to a very supportive man who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours. Krista is also a mother of 4 ornery children who keep her plenty busy. With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and a playful kitty, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household.

Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished. She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world.

She loves to communicate with her readers so please feel free to drop her a line anytime at krista@kristaames.com or visit her at http://www.kristaames.com or http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/author-krista-ames

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kristaames

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/kristaames

The Ladies’ Cave www.theladiescave.blogspot.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Krista-Ames/e/B004FLQ9XM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

TRR Author Page: http://www.theromancereviews.com/kkames

Book Review – Up To The Challenge

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Anchor Island series, Book Review, Terri Osburn, Up To The Challenge

New review and check out the review for the first book in the series here.

*****

When the Dempsey patriarch suffers a heart attack, Lucas Dempsey steps up to keep the doors of the family restaurant open. The proverbial prodigal son returns home to Anchor Island—putting family first and his quest to make partner at his high-powered law firm on hold. Sporting a bruised ego after losing his fiancée to his older brother, Lucas would rather walk on glass than spend six weeks within spitting distance of the happy couple. But family duty calls. And that duty includes working side-by-side with a tantalizing spitfire intent on driving him mad.

Tough-as-nails boat mechanic Sid Navarro is happy to trade her tools for an apron to help the Dempseys in their time of need. That is, until she realizes she’ll be working alongside Lucas, the man she’s loved from afar since she first laid eyes on him in high school. Lucas could charm the paint off a schooner, but Sid knows she doesn’t fit his girl-next-door type. To show her true feelings would mean certain heartbreak, but the temptation of Lucas in her bed might be more than she can resist.

After a rocky start punctuated by verbal barbs and exasperating arguments, things heat up between them—big-time—but their steamy affair turns more than casual in a matter of weeks. Sid’s life has become the dream she’s always wanted, and Lucas has fallen hard for the last woman he ever expected to love.

But this affair has an end-date, as Lucas must return to his life and career in the big city, a place where Sid would never fit in. When the end comes earlier than expected, walking away turns out to be a challenge neither of them wants to win.

I read the first “Anchor Island” novel, Meant To Be, earlier this year and liked it a lot more than I expected to. I couldn’t figure out how Osburn was going to make it ok that a woman fell in love with her fiance’s brother, but she did …. And now we get the fiancé’s story.

Both Lucas and Sid appeared, and played a big part, in Meant To Be. Sid works with Joe (Lucas’s brother) and reluctantly became good friends with Beth (Lucas’s fiancé), a very stressful thing for her since she’s loved Lucas for a decade. Now thrown into close proximity to Lucas and his very bruised ego, Sid finds it hard to ignore the attraction. Lucas, though, in typical male fashion is completely clueless to her long-standing feelings but he isn’t so clueless to his own attraction to Sid. She may not be the type of woman that he usually goes for, but he quickly finds himself drawn to her high energy and can-do spirit. And even though she may be rough around the edges, her soft curves are hard to miss.

Although a story about both Sid and Lucas, for Sid the book is mostly about her deciding if she can do casual with Lucas since he’s been very vocal about his stay being short-term. Instead the focus is really on Lucas as he looks at himself, his life and his goals after being dumped by Beth. All those years ago, he couldn’t wait to get off Anchor Island and has worked very hard to become partner in his law firm. We’re along for the ride as he tries to decide if what’s he’s always thought he wanted is really what he needs … and as he falls head over heels for a woman who doesn’t fit into that life.

I definitely think that Sid and Lucas are one of my favorite couples of all time. He hides a fun-loving guy underneath a starched shirt and she’s unknowingly got The Sexy under grease stained denim. Together they discover a happiness they didn’t imagine they could have, but it quickly gets smothered as they are led by their heads and not their hearts. You know that Lucas is going to end up staying and becoming the island’s lawyer, but it is still fun to sit back and watch him fight it as long as he does.

With Up To The Challenge, once again Osburn brings readers a touching story and engaging characters in a funny, sassy, touch-your-heart romance that will have you cuddling up and reading long into the night.

Blog Tour – Wild Card

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Jamie Wyman, Wild Card

It’s going to be another fun day because Jamie Wyman, author of Wild Card, has stopped by to introduce us to her new book!

*****

Be they in books, television shows or our favorite movies, we’ve all seen those couples. You know…the ones who bicker and fight and swear they will never have anything to do with the other. The ones we yell at to, “JUST KISS ALREADY!” It’s going to happen, you know it, but they don’t seem to get it. They’re the couple that fits the classic trope of Enemies-to-Lovers.

In my book WILD CARD, Catherine Sharp and Marius are the latest in this honorable tradition. With all their bickering and snarking, they push each other’s buttons to the point of madness. But they also share other moments. Moments of powerful truth. You’re certain that at any moment they might fall into one another and never look back. Cat and Marius are perfect enemies…but it remains to be seen if they’ll survive each other to make it to lovers.

So, to celebrate Cat and Marius joining the world, I am going to share with you my 5 favorite enemies-to-lovers couples.

5. Tristan and Yvaine – Stardust (film version) He wants her—but as a gift to the vapid woman he loves. She’s rather put out by that, as you can imagine, so the two definitely don’t get started on the right foot. But these two characters are rich in detail and their fights shine as much as their love. They’re a couple you’re rooting for from the get go.

4. Ron & Hermione – Harry Potter Who didn’t go to school only to have her hair pulled by the boy sitting behind her in class? And, of course, you were always told, “It’s because he likes you.” Well, with Ron & Hermione, we see that in their first years. They have their squabbles. Ron is like an alien to Hermione. But they know they can count on one another in a jam. Eventually, that misunderstanding fades away and we see two people whose relationship can survive just about anything life has to throw at them.

3. Mal & Inara – Firefly/Serenity This is one of the places where Joss Whedon shines: characters who breathe and live. And with Mal & Inara we have unfinished business. They hinted at it in the series, and in the film Serenity we almost got some hint that these two will finally—FINALLY!—admit that they are ridiculous for one another. But no. Mal and Inara have this delicious tension. As a Companion (courtesan, for those unfamiliar with the show), it is her job to be a master of the sensual. However, Mal just sees her profession as “whoring”. But when lives are on the line, these two pull together because they love one another. We all know it, they just refuse to get on with it and make out already!

2. Kate and Patrucchio – Taming of the Shrew You can’t go wrong with Shakespeare. By proxy I count Kat and Patrick from 10 Things I Hate About You (since it’s directly based on Taming of the Shrew) under this same heading. When these two are played well you will believe that at any moment Kate will have Patrucchio’s throat! And half the time, he deserves what comes to him. And yet, in the end, their fiery passions turn from hate to the other side of the coin.

1. David & Maddie – Moonlighting This is the couple that started it all for me. For those who don’t know, Moonlighting was a tv series back in the 80s. David and Maddie were business partners. In between their heated, door-slamming arguments, they would solve mysteries as private detectives. And yet—with all that sleuthing going on—neither of them could see that they were hot for each other. It took a few seasons, but they eventually caught on. The fireworks continued until the show was eventually cancelled. But I remember these two. It was my first exposure to this crazy bickering, this glorious banter between two evenly-matched wits. Hell, it was the first time I saw Taming of the Shrew! (There’s an episode where they parody it and it’s glorious. Look it up.) David Addison and Maddie Hayes are the great-greatgrand parents of Cat and Marius. To them, many thanks.

And to you, I say thank you as well. Thank you for sharing your blog with me today. I hope you and your readers all have a chance to check out WILD CARD and enjoy the torrential affair that is Marius and Catherine Sharp.

*****

Wild Card

by Jamie Wyman

Release Date: 11/25

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb:

It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.

But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem’s weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.

Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don’t kill each other or fall in love first.

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18716477-wild-card

Amazon Buy Link:http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Card-Entangled-Jamie-Wyman-ebook/dp/B00G8BTSZS

Barnes & Noble Buy Link:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-card-jamie-yman/1117252913

*****

Author Info:

After a misspent adulthood pursuing a Music Education degree, JAMIE WYMAN fostered several interests before discovering that being an author means never having to get out of pajamas. (However, she can eat/spin fire, tell you a lot about auditioning to be a Blue Man, and read/write in Circular Gallifreyan.) As an author, Jamie’s favorite playgrounds are urban fantasy, horror and creepy carnival settings. When she’s not traipsing about with her imaginary friends, she lives in Phoenix with two hobbits and two cats. She is proud to say she has a deeply disturbed following at her blog.

Jamie’s debut novel, WILD CARD, will be coming to an e-reader near you November 2013 thanks to Entangled Publishing. You can also find her short story “The Clever One” in the anthology WHEN THE HERO COMES HOME 2 (Dragon Moon Press, August ’13).

Website Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

ThinkGeek Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554211/

*****

Tour Schedule:

11/25: Guest blog – Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

11/26: Guest blog – Romantic Reads and Such

11/26: Spotlight – Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

11/27: Interview – Lusty Penguin Reviews

11/28: Interview – A Passion for Romance

11/29: Guest Blog – Bea’s Book Nook

12/3: Interview – You Gotta Read Reviews

12/4: Spotlight – In Shadows

12/5: Spotlight – Becky on Books

12/6: Spotlight – Melissa Stevens

12/9: Interview – Books-n-Kisses

12/10: Spotlight – Must Read Faster

12/11: Spotlight – Book Reviews and More by Kathy

12/12: Interview – Diane’s Book Blog

12/12: Spotlight – Snifferwalk Books

12/13: Spotlight – My Erotic Notions

12/13: Spotlight – Books to Get Lost In

Blog Tour – Underneath It All

25 Monday Nov 2013

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

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Cassandra Carr, Storm series, Underneath It All

I’m so excited for this one. Not only do we welcome Cassandra Carr and two of her newest creations, Rob D’Amico and Alaina Rossa from Underneath It All but I was lucky enough to get an early copy and my review can be found below.

But first, take it away, Cassandra!

*****

Cassandra: Creations. Huh. I like it.

Rob: Well, we are your creations. Unless we just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Alaina: *smacking Rob* Be nice.

Rob: Ow! Careful with the shoulder!

Alaina: *snort*

Cassandra: *shaking her head and smiling* I guess creations is a good word for it. So Rob, tell us what you thought the first time you laid eyes on your lovely lady.

Rob: I thought she had a stick up her-Ow!

Cassandra: I don’t think you want to finish that sentence, bud. You keep talking and you’re gonna end up with a bruise.

Rob: She’s MEAN.

Alaina: I can keep sixteen five-year-olds in line, hon. You’re no match for me.

Rob: *muttering*

Cassandra: Let’s turn the tables. What did you think of Rob?

Rob: Yeah, hon. What did you think about me?

Alaina: I thought he was a typical entitled athlete. And really hot.

Rob: Boy, I bet that last part really ticked you off, didn’t it?

Alaina: To no end. I didn’t want to like you.

Rob: I’m irresistible.

Alaina: Modest, too.

Cassandra: Has your opinion of athletes changed since getting to know Rob?

Alaina: It’s done a 180. I don’t know if athletes in other sports are like this, but hockey players are some of the nicest, most generous people I’ve ever met.

Rob: Best-looking, too.

Alaina: When you have your teeth in, yes.

Rob: Hey, I have all my teeth.

Alaina: You do, but some of your teammates do not. *shudder*

Rob: With a lot of their faces, that’s an improvement.

Cassandra: You’re on a roll today.

Rob: You made me funny. So I’m being funny.

Cassandra: There is that…

Alaina: Don’t forget modest.

Rob: I am the very picture of modest.

Cassandra and Alaina: Right…

Cassandra: On that note, we’ll let these two crazy kids go so they can plan their next fundraiser for school supplies.

Rob: Bye!

Alaina: Thanks for having us.

Cassandra: Yes, thanks!

*****

UNDERNEATH IT ALL

by Cassandra Carr

Blurb:

Professional hockey player Rob D’Amico is confused when he’s chosen to take part in a reading program for inner-city students. While athletes are role models, he tends toward the gregarious and playful side, rather than a studious bent.

Despite the lack of funding plaguing her inner-city district, every day kindergarten teacher Alaina Rossa ensures her students learn something to prepare them for life. At first she’s unsure how a hockey player will help her achieve that goal.

When Rob visits Alaina’s class for the first time, they welcome him with open arms, despite the lack of even the basic supplies for their education. He takes it upon himself to get the students what they need, sweeping Alaina up in the excitement.

As time goes by and she learns more about Rob, Alaina finds her heart opening to him. Is it possible her soul mate could be found in a world so different from her own? And for Rob, the last person he thought he’d find forever love with was an elementary school teacher wearing clothes permanently stained with finger paint. But when you’re playing for keeps, sometimes you have to get a little dirty.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G4C4AEA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G4C4AEA&linkCode=as2&tag=amanshubpwebs-20

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-It-All-Storm-Series-ebook/dp/B00G4C4AEA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382545895&sr=8-1&keywords=underneath+it+all+carr

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/370148

*****

Author Bio:

Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning erotic romance writer with Ellora’s Cave, Sybarite Seductions/Twenty or Less Press, Decadent Publishing, Siren Publishing, and Loose Id. She lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra is the co-founder of two successful group blogs, Romancing the Jock and Dirty Birdies, and participates in several others as a contributor. Currently Cassandra also serves as president of Western New York Romance Writers.

For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www. booksbycassandracarr.com, “like” her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/ AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ Cassandra_Carr.

Links:

Website: http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cassandra_carr
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/booksbycasscarr/

*****

Review:

I enjoyed this one, but it’s not quite what I’m used to … there was almost no conflict in the story – one smallish argument and that’s it. There was some opportunity for more problems with the differences in their lifestyles – he’s a professional hockey player with the corresponding large salary and she’s a teacher in a very poor school district – but that didn’t really go anywhere, just that one little tiff. There were no jealous exes or misunderstandings with puck bunnies. No real issue with the fact that she’s just a normal person dating a hottie athlete. Even his career didn’t really cause any trouble.

It is a nice, sweet story about two people who meet, start to date, raise money for charity, have a little trouble at work, and go about the business of falling in love. I’m not really complaining, it is just different … and considering how much I do complain about some books with their unending strife, perhaps that’s a very good thing.

So, if you’re looking for a glimpse into the Happy Ever After of two realistic and engaging characters, without a lot of tension or soap opera-y drama, then Underneath It All is the book for you.

*****

Tour Schedule:

11/14: Spotlight – Erzabet’s Enchantments

11/15: Spotlight – Books to Get Lost In

11/18: Spotlight – lovetoreadforfun.com

11/19: Interview – Diane’s Book Blog

11/20: Spotlight – A Passion for Romance

11/22: Spotlight – Becky on Books

11/22: Spotlight – Inner Goddess Forum

11/23: Spotlight or Interview – You Gotta Read Reviews

11/25: Character Interview/Review – Romantic Reads and Such

11/26: Interview – Lusty Penguin Reviews