Spotlight – A Santini Takes the Fall

10 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest

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A Santini Takes the Fall, Melissa Schroeder, The Santinis series

Put some sizzle in your summer vacation with A SANTINI TAKES THE FALL by USA Today Bestseller Melissa Schroeder!

The latest Santini is here! Some of you may remember Elena Santini from Falling For a Santini, now it is time for one of her brothers. Can Anthony keep that “Santini curse” at bay or will the sexy dancer, Lalani Hawkins, bring him down?

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A Santini Takes the Fall

by Melissa Schroeder

Blurb:

A man avoiding his destiny.

Anthony Santini is happy with life. The former Marine is now working a dream job for NCIS in a dream location: Hawaii. He’s watched his cousins and now his siblings fall into the Santini Curse and that is not for him. Not yet. He’s happy to play the field and enjoy life. It still doesn’t stop his cousin’s wife from trying to fix him up.

A woman avoiding love.

Lalani Hawkins has had enough heartache to last a lifetime. The professional dancer isn’t looking for love and she definitely doesn’t need a man like Santini in her life. After the worst blind date in history, she thinks she’ll never see him again.

For two people who want to avoid each other, Lalani and Anthony can’t seem to achieve that. Each time they meet, Lalani falls a little more under the Santini spell, and for Anthony, he is drawn to the vivacious dancer. But when Anthony senses her hesitation to commit, he starts to formulate a plan. Because when a Santini man decides he’s found his mate, there is no stopping him.

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All buying options | Goodreads

For more information on all the Santini’s, including novellas and excerpts, please visit the Santini’s page on Melissa’s website!

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Some fun behind the scenes look at Melissa’s inspirations:

Melissa was inspired to write a ballerina after watching Misty Copeland perform.

Tim McGraw’s Shotgun Rider was the love song for Lalani and Anthony. She even used it in a scene where Lalani is singing.

Anthony Santini is the oldest of six siblings and second oldest in the extended Santini family. Vicente (book 4) is the oldest.

His parents are Marcella and Tony Santini. Tony is the second oldest in the brothers.

Lalani Hawkins is an only child and a Marine brat. She is African American/Hawaiian.

Lalani dances to Take Me to Church in a performance in the book.

Main Soundtrack for the Book

Shotgun Rider – Tim McGraw

She’s My Kind of Rain – Tim McGraw

One of Those Nights -Tim McGraw

Take Me to Church – Hozier

She’s Music to Me – Ekolu

There’s No Place Like Home – Michael Giacchino

Perfect – Darious Rucker

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Beating Heart – Ellie Goulding

The Woman I Love – Jason Mraz

I’d Come for You – Nickelback

Until I See You Again – Wiz Khalifa

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Author Info:

From an early age, Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.

Since the publication of her first book in 2004, Melissa has had over fifty romances published. She writes in genres from historical suspense to modern day erotic romance to futuristics and paranormals. Included in those releases is the bestselling Harmless series and her USA Today Bestselling series The Santinis.. Along the way she has garnered an epic nomination, a multitude of reviewer’s recommended reads, over five Capa nods from TRS, eleven nominations for AAD Bookies and regularly tops the best seller lists on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Since she spent her childhood as a military brat, Melissa swore never to marry military. But, as we all know, Fate has her way with mortals. She is married to an AF major and is raising her own brats, both human and canine. She spends her days giving in to her addiction to Twitter, counting down the days until her hubby retires, and cursing the military for always sticking them in a location that is filled with bugs big enough to eat her children.

Connect with Melissa: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

Win a $20 Gift Card!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef2992/

*****

Book Review – Falling For a Santini

04 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Book Review, Falling for a Santini, Melissa Schroeder, The Santinis series

A crush that turned into love.

Being the only girl in a family with five Santini brothers was never easy on Elena Santini. She always tried to be faster and smarter to make sure they always took her seriously. They were always trying to tell her what to do, and worse, who she could date. That’s why falling for her oldest brother’s best friend wasn’t smart especially when he treats her like a sister. That is, until she gets him alone in her apartment one night.

One night in Heaven.

NCIS agent Jethro Thomas, known to everyone as JT, has always played it smart. When his admiration turned to attraction a few years ago, he started avoiding Elena. A guy wasn’t supposed to have those kinds of thoughts about his best friend’s little sister. After returning from an undercover assignment, and about to go on another one, he can’t seem to resist the temptation. One night with her and he knows he’s lost, but he has a job to do.

A changed man.

JT returns from the assignment with a few more scars, both physical and emotional–but he survived for one reason. He’s ready to start a new life with Elena, but a dark cloud hangs over the new love. When small incidents evolve into near death accidents, JT realizes someone from his past is ready to destroy his happiness, even harm Elena to make him pay.

Here we have another series that I joined in progress but luckily another one where it didn’t matter – Schroeder does a fantastic job of keeping you up to date on the pertinent details without actually overloading you with extra story. I love her mix of romance and suspense – mostly romance here but just enough suspense to keep you on your toes.

Elena is a wonderfully self-assured woman who goes after what she wants – and what she wants is JT (poor man never stood a chance). She’s strong, thanks to a houseful of brothers, and smart. She’s also loyal and sassy and a perfect match for JT. Unfortunately she’s also his best friend’s little sister so he’s been keeping his hands to himself … now she’s tired of waiting for him 🙂 JT is also strong and caring and has been fighting for a long time to hide his attraction to Elena. When she decides enough is enough, he can’t resist.

My only complaint is with the blurb. It makes a big deal about how JT comes back changed but it isn’t quite the way that the book makes it seem … or at least Schroeder didn’t play it out that way. They pretty much pick up where they left off, only with some time to realize how much they mean to each other. I think that if that part had been left out and it just went straight to the danger that comes from JT’s past then it would have made a little more sense. In the context of the story, the plot flows very well and it is engrossing. But if you are going off the cover then it doesn’t quite match up.

The best part though is the Santinis themselves. This rather large group of people is fantastic – they are funny and sassy and nosey and loving. They are right in each other’s business but they do it with a HUGE heart. I love the idea of a series surrounding this family and I’m definitely going to have to find some of the other books. I’m already looking forward to seeing Elena’s brother (and JT’s best friend) Anthony meets his match, especially after the hard time he gives them when he finds out about their relationship!

With a huge dose of humor, quite a bit of heat, a lot of heart and just that magic touch of danger, Falling for a Santini is a hit on so many levels. If you’ve never read one of Schroeder’s books, pick this one up and give it a try. You’ll be looking for more as well.