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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from the past week.

Natasha
Book of Choice from Victoria Vane

Kim B
Ineligible Bachelor + $10 Gift Card from Kathryn Quick

Lori
Texas Wide Open by KC Klein

Lily
If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen

Rebe
Out in Blue by Sarah Gilman

Cynthia B
Charm Bracelet from Tracy March

Laurie
The Valentine Challenge by Marisa Cleveland

Cynthia B
Book of Choice from Julie Bale

Jeanne
A Bride by Moonlight by Liz Carlyle



All winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

Guest Review: Reckless by Allison Brennan

I must confess that I’m generally not a big fan of novellas—especially in romance. While I recognize and admire the incredible amount of skill it takes to write a complete story with a plot and character development in a few thousand words, I generally finish these stories with a vague sense of dissatisfaction. And in romance novellas, I usually find the development of the hero and heroine’s relationship from “I barely know you” to “you’re the love of my life and I can’t live without you” incredibly rushed and unrealistic given the time frame.

But when Allison Brennan announced that she would be releasing a digital-only story in her incredibly successful (and deservedly so!) Lucy Kincaid series during the wait time between last October’s STALKED (the best in the series yet) and this June’s STOLEN, I was stoked to read it. Brennan is a master of dark romantic suspense and edgy romantic thrillers, writing both bone-chillingly depraved villains and the good guys who hunt and thwart them with equal depth of characterization, skill, and aplomb. Not for the faint of heart or for any reader uncomfortable with hard-hitting topics and the violence humans are capable of inflicting on each other, the Lucy Kincaid series is gritty and raw and the epitome of well-written dark romantic suspense. Lucy is the type of heroine I love to read about: rebuilding her life after a brutal assault whilst in high school, she is smart, tough, with an unfailing sense of right and wrong that often drives her to bend the rules, and the right amount of emotional baggage to make her a multi-layered, complex character that can carry her own series. Cyber-investigator extraordinaire Sean Rogan is her romantic counterpoint: laid-back, almost lackadaisical, with hints of a wild past and a distrust of authority, and a protective streak a mile wide when it comes to Lucy. He’s almost too perfect—seriously, there’s nothing the man can’t do!—but he works perfectly for Lucy, balancing out her darkness and bringing her outside of herself. When it comes to a multi-book series featuring the same couple, both the hero and heroine must grow individually and as a couple with each new book, and watching that growth is one of the most satisfying aspects of reading. Brennan manages it with Lucy and Sean almost as well as J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts does with Eve and Roarke in the IN DEATH books.

RECKLESS, the latest instalment in the series after 5 full-length novels, sees kickass heroine and FBI New Agent in Training Lucy Kincaid and her P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan camping in the mountains during a much-needed weekend off together. Nothing is ever simple with these two, who manage to find trouble wherever they go, so their romantic getaway quickly turns into much more. Brennan manages to pack an incredible amount in under 100 pages, with a fast-paced plot that grabs you from page one and keeps you holding on for the ride until the very end, and Brennan’s trademark tight, crisp writing. With a relationship developed over the 5 previous books, the focus of this novella is more on the suspense than the romance, but we still get glimpses of the chemistry that makes Sean & Lucy such a compelling couple to read. Fans of the series will surely enjoy this short but enjoyable addition—and appreciate the humour in Sean and Lucy’s inability to go away for a holiday without murder and mayhem—but Brennan includes enough background information (without major spoilers) that it can be read as a standalone without feeling completely lost. Lucy Kincaid neophytes beware: because this is a novella featuring an established couple, the romance arc isn’t the same as in more traditional strangers-to-lovers romance novellas. If you’re looking for that traditional arc heavy on the romance, look elsewhere; but if you like your suspense with a dash of romance, you can’t do much better than an author who does short- and long-form romantic writing so well. I cannot wait until STOLEN (Sean’s story) in June, and if you like your romantic suspense dark and of the depraved-serial-killer variety, I cannot recommend this series (or any Allison Brennan book) enough!

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |



Guest Post with Author Karina Cooper and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome back to RFTC author, Karina Cooper. Karina is celebrating the recent release of Wicked Lies and has stopped by to chat. Please give Karina a warm welcome.

Born from the genetic mash-up of lesser royalty, storytellers, wanderers and dreamers, KARINA COOPER was destined to be a creative genius. As a child, she moved all over the country like some kind of waifish blonde gypsy and thrived in the new cultures her family settled in. When she (finally) grew up, she skipped the whole genius part and fell in love with writing because, really, who doesn’t love making things up for a living?

One part romance fanatic, one part total dork, and all imagination, she writes dark and sexy paranormal romance and urban fantasy. When she isn’t writing, Karina is an airship captain’s wife and Steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful and rainy Pacific Northwest with a husband, four cats, two rabbits, the fantasy of a dog, and a passel of adopted gamer geeks.

Places to find

Friday, March 22, 2013

Feature and Giveaway: Jilted by Kelly Jamison


The wedding’s off but the honeymoon is on...

Devon can do this. She can show up at her ex-boyfriend Josh’s wedding, even though he’s marrying her ex-best-friend. She can show everyone she’s happy with her fabulous life in Boston, her great career, her amazing shoes — and she can show everyone she’s over him.

Truth is, her life isn’t so fabulous. She’s just been downsized out of her job, her Jimmy Choos won’t pay her rent, and...she’s still heartbroken that Josh chose family over her. The real reason she’s enduring this wedding is that her next stop is nearby Greenbush Island, her last hope of finding a new job.

Josh knows marrying long-time friend Allie will make everyone happy after the rough time their families have been through, and since the woman he really wanted to marry chose her career and big city life over him—why not?

But the perfect wedding turns into a perfect disaster when Allie leaves him at the altar for another man. He never saw that coming! But hey, Devon’s there, offering to help him look for Allie on Greenbush Island, where he’d planned their honeymoon. Only, all they find are their old feelings for each other and a temptation to risk their hearts one more time...

Warning: This book contains a firefighter hot enough to ignite flames, a woman who doesn’t want to get burned again, a honeymoon suite but no honeymoon, and sex not on the beach (sorry).

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Guest Post with Author Mina Khan and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Mina Khan to RFTC. Mina is celebrating the year anniversary of her book A Tale of Two Djinns and has stopped by to chat about some of the inspiration behind the book. Please give Mina a warm welcome. 

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns (pronounced "gins"), ghosts and monsters. These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as tales of romance and adventure.

Her first published work, The Djinn's Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest.

Places to find Mina:

Guest Post with Author Roxanne Snopek and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome back to RFTC author, Roxanne Snopek. Roxanne is celebrating the recent release of her book His Reluctant Rancher and has stopped by to chat. Please give Roxanne a warm welcome.

Roxanne Willems Snopek is an award-winning freelance writer of everything from corporate newsletters to personal essays. Author of the Amazing Stories series of true life animal adventures, she now focuses on fiction. Snopek grew up in Saskatchewan and now lives in British Columbia.

Places to find Roxanne:

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Interview with Author Elisabeth Naughton and Giveaway

Today I would like to once again welcome back to RFTC author, Elisabeth Naughton. Elisabeth is celebrating her upcoming release of Bound and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Elisabeth a warm welcome.

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Elisabeth Naughton writes sexy romantic adventures and paranormal novels full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards, including the prestigious RITA© awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, the Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures.

Places to find Elisabeth:

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Interview with Author Jessica Scott and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Jessica Scott to RFTC. Jessica is celebrating the recently released Anything For You and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Jessica a warm welcome.

Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

Oprah has called her. True story.

Her debut novel BECAUSE OF YOU launched Loveswept, the first Random House digital imprint.

She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.

Most recently, she's been featured as one of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.

Places to find Jessica:

Guest Post with Author Christine Bell and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to RFTC, author Christine Bell. Christine is celebrating the recent release of her book Down and Dirty and has stopped by to chat. Please give Christine a warm welcome.

Christine Bell is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.

Places to find Christine:

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Guest Post with Author Samanthe Beck and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Samanthe Beck to RFTC. Samanthe is currently on tour celebrating the release of her book, Private Practice and has stopped by to chat about Bad Boys. Please give Samanthe a warm welcome.

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.

Places to find Samanthe: 

Feature & Giveaway: Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton


She thinks she knows this player—but he has a few surprise moves.

For Alicia Riley, her job as a sports therapist for the St. Louis Rivers baseball team is a home run—until she becomes the primary therapist for star pitcher, Garrett Scott. Out of the lineup with an injury, he's short-tempered, hard to handle, and every solid inch, a man.

Right now, the only demand he's making on Alicia is that she get him ready to pitch in time for opening day. Except the sexual chemistry between them is so charged, Alicia's tempted to oblige Garrett just about anything. But both their careers are at stake—one bad move and it's game over for both of them.

Garrett also feels the hot sparks between them, and the way he figures it, what better therapy is there than sex? Now all he has to do is convince the woman with the power to make the call.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Monday, March 18, 2013

Review: Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton


I'll admit that Thrown by a Curve took me awhile to warm up to it. I liked it and really enjoyed it, but it was until the last quarter of the book that things really picked up for me and I fell in love.

First let me say that the chemistry between Alicia and Garrett is hot! Seriously, explosive! There were a few scenes that I had to put the book down because I couldn't stop blushing. I really liked these two together and I loved that they treated each other as equals. Garrett was such a great hero and honestly at first I wasn't so sure about him. When we first meet him, he comes across like a spoiled athlete with an attitude problem. He's injured and in rehab for his arm and he is in the mainframe that it's never going to get better. I liked that Alicia tells him like it is and flat out tells him to stop acting like a petulant child.

As the story progresses and we get to know Garrett a bit better you see that his attitude is just a front and that he's really afraid that he will never pitch again. He's being faced with the possibility of never being able to  do the one thing that means the most to him and I get his attitude. I like that once we get to know him, we see that he's really a great guy. He's funny and charming and wicked hot.

With Alicia, I really liked her. I like that she's so career driven and independent. She has worked hard to get where she is and she's not about to let some man (no matter how sexy) mess things up for her. With a character like Alicia it's easy to come across as bitchy but that was not the case at all with her. She's down to earth and sweet and I really enjoyed her.

I loved the relationship between Alicia and Garrett and I loved that things didn't just happen over night with these two. There was a slow burn to their relationship that I quite enjoyed. Alicia, not wanting to put her career in jeopardy is the one that is constantly putting a stop to the growing attraction between her and Garrett. I liked that Garrett is the pursuer of the two yet he never pushing Alicia too far or comes across domineering.

This was another great book in the Play by Play series by Jaci Burton. We were introduced to a few new characters that I am sure will act as heroes in future books and I can't wait. Thrown by a Curve was a great read and it definitely left me wanting more.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |



Feature & Giveaway: Night Demon by Lisa Kessler


Gretchen Finch's job would be much easier if she weren't alone in the jungle with a brilliant recluse whose every glance sets her on fire. But the more she focuses on her work, the closer she gets to unlocking the mysteries of a terrible creature—the Night Demon—that threatens the world as she knows it. Though her scientific mind tells her it's impossible, she's beginning to believe the ancient Mayan tales as the sinister jungle comes alive around her.

Lukas Smith has spent hundreds of years searching for answers to his immortal Night Walker nature. As a series of ancient glyphs become clear, he's about to find out more than he'd ever hoped, but the more he learns, the more his fate intertwines with the Night Demon, and the harder it becomes to hide his immortal secret from the beautiful, intelligent Gretchen.

Together, they must find a way to stop the inexplicable violence and mass destruction surging across the earth before the Night Demon destroys more than just mankind.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Guest Review: Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt


It is hard to explain how much I loved this book and why. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the previous books in the Maiden Lane series. Hoyt does a very good job of making each book its own unique story within the context of the series. Lord of Darkness (#5 in the series) is absolutely my favorite. The best reason why is that it touched me (OK, I cried, a lot).

Godric St. John and Margaret (Megs) married under difficult circumstances. She was pregnant by a lover who had been killed so her brother arranged the marriage to save her from shame. Godric and Megs immediately went their separate ways - she to the country where she lost the baby, he to London. Their only communication for two years is through letters. Suddenly Megs (with relatives in tow) returns to London with two agendas - to have a baby by her husband and to avenge the death of her love who she believes was killed by the Ghost of St. Giles. Little does she know that Godric is the Ghost of St. Giles, at least one of them. Godric has lived the life of a monk since the death of his beloved wife. Can these two turn loose of their past and find a new love?

Elizabeth Hoyt is very good at creating complex, interesting characters. These two don't seem to go together, but somehow it works. Megs is young, bubbly and enthusiastic. Godric is older, serious and scarred. This is definitely a nice girl/nice guy story. I love that she is won over by his intrinsic goodness. I love that Hoyt lets them have complicated, not-so-good sex. It's interesting to see the characters from previous books return. And, as with the other Maiden Lane books, Hoyt offers an intricate setup for the next book, coming in October.

Just to clarify, I am a sentimental sobber. When I love the hero and heroine, and they make a connection that rings genuine and true, I blubber like a baby. In Lord of Darkness I started blubbering long before the last page. These two characters with their sad histories just ripped at my heartstrings. It was when they began to realize that they could love again that I lost it. Oh, and I failed to mention that the beginning of the book was really funny. Sure way to get a great review from me? Making me laugh and make me cry. This one did both, in spades! Loved, loved, loved it.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |




Guest Post with Author Eliza Knight and Giveaway


Today I would like to welcome back author Eliza Knight to RFTC. Eliza is celebrating the release of The Highlander's Warrior Bride and has stopped by to chat. Please give Eliza a warm welcome.

Eliza Knight is the multi-published, award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor.

Places to find Eliza:

Guest Post with Author Mandy Harbin and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Mandy Harbin to RFTC. Mandy is celebrating the release of her book Surrounded by Secrets and has stopped by to chat. Please give Mandy a warm welcome.

Mandy Harbin is the author of several books across multiple romance genres that range from contemporary to paranormal erotic romance. Her books include the award winning Darkest Sin, an erotic romantic suspense and first in the new Darkest series. Mandy also continues to work on her Possession series, which explores BDSM elements with Digital Possession being the series starter, and the ever popular Woods Family series, which began with the best seller Surrounded by Woods. She lives in a small Arkansas town with her family and can be

Places to find Mandy: