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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Weekly Winners

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

Karen
To All The Rakes I've Loved Before by Anne Barton

Lori Ha
Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman

Emilia
Terrie
Maria
MsChris
Anne
Maggie's Man by Lisa Gardner


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

ARC Review: Beautiful Broken by Nazarea Andrews


I was really excited to read Beautiful Broken after having read and loved This Love by Nazarea Andrews. Beautiful Broken is the story of Scout and Dane, both of which are introduced in This Love. Scout is Atticus's little sister and Dane is his best friend. I have to admit I wasn't sure how much I was really going to like either character after the first book, but I really enjoyed getting to know these two better. Seeing them fight their feelings was frustrating at times, but they kept me interested and I am so glad that they got their HEA after they finally gave in to what they were feeling.

Dane has always been there for Scout. He has always been the one to help and support her even when her brother Atticus hasn't been. But Dane is also very attracted to her and he knows that for many reasons he can't let himself go there. Scout has just been released from rehab and is in need of a place to stay. With her brother off finishing his book, Dane is left as the only option for her to stay with. Dane has always been her safe place and he is her best friend. Even though Scout is attracted to Dane she has never let herself go after him because she knows that one night with him is not enough to risk their friendship. But while Dane helps her to stay sober, the feelings they both have been fighting become impossible to keep under control any longer. There are many reasons that they shouldn't be together and probably won't work, but when two people have a connection as strong as theirs they both start to wonder if the chance at love isn't worth risking all for.

I really ended up liking Dane. I was honestly worried when I started this book that I wouldn't. After all he is the same guy who threw coffee all over Avery in This Love. But he really won me over. He was sweet and patient with Scout. I loved how he really took care of her and not just because his best friend asked him to. It was very clear how much Dane cared about Scout right from the start. I will admit that it took me awhile to warm up to Scout. At first she comes off as this really bratty girl who jumps to conclusions. But after being set straight a few times, she really begins to change and that is when I really started to like her. After everything that she has been through, she has come out so much stronger and very determined. I loved that she was willing to get herself help and really put herself out of her comfort zone in order to move on with her life. I also really loved how she would call Dane out when needed. She didn't let him get away with his normal crap and refused to be just another notch for him. These two had a ton of chemistry and they were very hot together! I really enjoyed watching them grow even closer than they already were as they opened up to each other and finally allowed their feelings the chance to turn into a relationship even though it scared them both.

Overall, this book was a very enjoyable follow up to This Love. It took me awhile to warm up to these characters, but once I did they were very interesting and I really started rooting for them both. I think that Dane and Scout were perfect for each other and I loved that they didn't let everything stand between them. Once they knew they wanted to be together, they were determined to make it work. They were really sweet together, but they also generated a ton of steam. I am really enjoying this series, and Nazarea Andrews is a great writer! Her characters are interesting and deep and they grab your attention in a way that keeps you turning the pages until the book is finished. Andrews is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future. Beautiful Broken does deal with some serious issues, but they are handled very well and I was glad to see that they didn't bring the story down to the point that it was completely dark and angst filled. I would definitely recommend this book and series if you haven't already read it. This is the second book in the University of Branton series and can be read as a standalone, although I would really recommend that you read This Love also. These books are filled with flawed but likable characters and they draw you in so much that you just can't help but become invested in them and really fall in love right along with them.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |



Guest Post with Author Molly Harper and Giveaway

Meet Molly Harper, author of Rhythm and Bluegrass.

When Molly Harper was eight years old, she set up a “writing office” in her parents’ living room, complete with an old manual typewriter and a toy phone. And she (very slowly) pecked out the story of her third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city. She had a dark sense of humor even then.

When Molly was considerably older, she headed for Western Kentucky University, where she majored in print journalism. After graduation, she landed a job with The Paducah Sun and married her high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. After six years at the newspaper, Molly took a more family-friendly secretarial position at a local church office.

Her husband worked nights and Molly was alone with their small child in the “The Apartment of Lost Souls.” A big fan of vampire movies and TV shows, she decided to write a vampire romance novel. Molly created Jane Jameson, a bit of an accidental loser. Jane is single, almost 30, and a librarian working in Half-Moon Hollow, Ky. She has become a permanent fixture on her Mama’s prayer list. And despite the fact that she’s pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. Jane drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar. On her way home, she’s mistaken for a deer and shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire. The three-book Jane Jameson series–which includes Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs,Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men and Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever—was released in 2009. A fourth and final installment, Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, was released in 2012.

Molly continues stories in the Jane Jameson universe through her Half-Moon Hollow series,Driving Mr. Dead, The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires, Undead Sublet, and A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses. Undead Sublet is a short story in The Undead in My Bedanthology. A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses will be released in June 2013.

Molly will update her popular Naked Werewolf romance series in 2013. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, was released in February 2011, quickly followed by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf.

Molly will launch her first-ever contemporary romance series with My Bluegrass Baby in December 2012.

Molly’s books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. They are available in print, as e-books and audio books at major book stores and on Amazon. Molly is a native of Kentucky. She lives in Paducah with her husband and children.

Places to find Molly:

Guest Post with Author Nazarea Andrews and Giveaway

Please welcome back Nazarea Andrews, author of Beautiful Broken.

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Places to find Nazarea:

Friday, October 11, 2013

ARC Review: Dangerous Desire by Annie Seaton


I’m a romantic suspense ‘ho and I’m foreign, so romantic suspense + exotic foreign setting (in this case, Australia’s Coral Sea) = winning setup. DANGEROUS DESIRE was my first read by Aussie author Annie Seaton, and it won’t be my last: it’s a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced read that mixes the right amount of danger & deceit and smouldering romance to keep you guessing and reaching for a fan.

Schoolteacher-from-the-Outback Gracie James finds herself in the yachting capital of the Great Barrier Reef looking for her missing sister, who was last seen working aboard the Midas, the luxury yacht-slash-hedonistic-playground of a dodgy Brazilian businessman. Forcibly medically-retired former Queensland Police officer Jake Alexander is keeping an eye on the Midas for a (purported) insurance surveillance assignment, getting a nightly eyeful of the sexual exploits on board that only fuel his frustrated libido. When Gracie stumbles onto Jake’s boat dressed to kill in an attempt to get onboard the Midas and find her sister (and nearly blows the cover on his surreptitious surveillance), the two of them form for an uneasy alliance to figure out what’s going on—whilst trying to outmanoeuvre the bad guys and keep their hands off each other. The plot is not incredibly original (there are only so many permutations of criminals, hot blokes with guns, and women getting themselves into potentially deadly situations, after all!), but Ms. Seaton does a great job keeping the tension taut and the sense of danger palpable without going overboard into ridiculously unrealistic territory. And when you think you’ve sorted out the half-truths everyone is telling and have figured out what’s going on, she throws a nice twist at the end to keep you on your toes [albeit, admittedly, I foresaw it… but I read a LOT of romantic suspense]. The story is fairly short, which is usually a drawback for me, but Ms. Seaton does a great job with the length and delivers a complete story that never drags (there’s no time for it with so much going on!) but that doesn’t feel rushed. And I thoroughly enjoyed the lush, tropical setting—I could practically feel the oppressive humidity and the volatility of the weather.

I have to say that my favourite part of the novel was Jake. I absolutely loved him as a hero—he’s a little wounded, a lot frustrated with the injury that destroyed not only his police career but also his sense of self, and plenty sexy. The best part is that, while he’s undeniably strong and alpha and has a protective streak a mile wide, he’s not overbearing. He wants to keep Gracie from harm, but once he realises she’s Hell-bent on doing things her way and getting on board the Midas to see about her sister with her own eyes, he works hard at keeping her safe rather than stopping her. Because there really is no derailing Gracie from her set course. Though she initially comes across as vulnerable and naïve, she can be quite willful and reckless in her single-minded determination to find her sister, and she’s quite distrustful of Jake. There were times I wanted to smack her upside the head for putting herself (and by extension, Jake) in unnecessary danger, and for continuously wondering if Jake was in on the criminal activity despite giving her absolutely no reason to think so. Other than the gorgeous house no former cop should be able to afford. Seriously, hot, rich (with a house in the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!), AND alpha but not autocratic? Jake can be my book boyfriend any day. There’s also great sexual tension between Gracie and poor Jake, who has nowhere to put all the pent-up sexual frustration accrued from watching the sexcapades on the Midas whilst by his lonesome. All that tension and scorching attraction makes for some fun dialogue and hot love scenes when it’s finally decanted, and Ms. Seaton does a great job balancing the action/suspense and the romance/sexytimes. And the epilogue is the cutest thing ever.

So far, I’m really enjoying Entangled’s Ignite imprint of category-length romantic suspense. If you like your romantic suspense fast-paced and weighted toward the romance and want a great read set in an exotic-but-not-remote location, definitely give DANGEROUS DESIRE a try. I really look forward to seeing what else Annie Seaton puts out in this genre, and how she can fine-tune her already-excellent romantic suspense voice.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |



Feature and Giveaway: Torn by Kim Karr


Rock star River Wilde brought Dahlia London back from the brink of hopelessness with his unwavering love and devotion. But their entwined history is about to test the strength of that love…

Dahlia was certain she had found true love and met her ‘Once in a Lifetime’ when she reconnected with River. But Dahlia’s world comes crashing down when someone from her past resurfaces, and all of River’s carefully hidden secrets are exposed.

River wants to show Dahlia that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about dancing in the rain! But how many times can one broken heart be mended? Will River and Dahlia be able to face the turmoil together or will they be torn apart?

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes |

Guest Post with Author Angela Stephens

Meet Angela Stephens, author of One Last Dance.

Angela Stephens is the author of the Beautifully Broken series and the soon to be released New Adult novel "One Last Dance". Angela enjoys reading stories about bad boy heroes falling for funny heroines with big hearts.

In her spare time, she can be usually found baking, knitting or curled up with her e-reader at the beach.

Places to find Angela:
| Facebook

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Guest Post with Roxanne Snopek and Giveaway

Please welcome Roxanne Snopek, author of Fake Fiance, Real Revenge.

Roxanne Snopek is the author of ten books, more than 150 articles, and has had short fiction published in several anthologies. She is currently serving as Vice-President of the Romance Writers of America Greater Vancouver Chapter. She and her family live in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s at work on more love stories for Entangled Publishing.

Places to find Roxanne:

Feature and Giveaway: Let it be Me by Toni Aleo


Do you see that woman there?
The one with long, wavy blond hair and blue eyes that used to sparkle?
That’s me, Violet Moore.
Do you see those men over there?
One is my husband, Rob.
A man who claimed he loved me, but proved his fist loved me more.
The other is Tucker McCloud, my savior and confidant.
I'm torn between what's right and my own fear.
But not anymore.
I’m taking my life back now.
I will fight back.
I will be happy.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

ARC Review: Accidental Cowgirl by Maggie McGinnis


I thought this was a cute story by Maggie McGinnis. Our heroine Kayla Bennett heads to Whisper Creek Ranch in Montana for some physical and emotional healing. Kayla had a bad accident; she was in a coma, woke up to find her fiancé had stolen her money and married someone else. Although she has an MBA from Princeton, these misfortunes have led to her losing her job. With persuasion from her friends, Jess and Hayley they leave Boston and head to Whisper Creek Ranch.

Whisper Creek Ranch is owned by Decker Driscoll’s mom. Decker lives in LA although he grew up as a cowboy in Montana. Because of financial problems that his mom is facing he goes back to Montana for the summer to give her a hand and help her get back on her feet, with the help of his brother Cole. Cole and Decker both discover that their father left a big gambling debt when he died and they try to figure out how they can save the ranch and pay off the debt. Decker and Cole play up the image of Montana cowboys to attract tourists although Decker has a successful architect business in LA. Although Decker is only at the ranch to help his mom he starts to feel more at home in Montana and realizes that there is not much for him to go back to in LA. Decker is also dealing with the guilt that he feels for the death of his younger sister. Although his mom and brother don’t blame him, his father who is now deceased did. Decker confides in Cole that their father practically drove him out of Montana because of his sister’s death.

When Decker and Kayla meet there is an instant attraction on both their parts. Both, however, are not ready to deal with their emotions. Kayla feels unsure of herself after getting conned by her ex-fiancé. She also has a hard time learning to trust Decker once she realizes that he is playing up the cowboy image to help his mom attract tourist to her ranch. Decker is ridden with guilt over the death of his sister and has not had any emotional attachments since he left for LA-other than the occasional fling. Despite their baggage Decker and Kayla ultimately learn to let themselves become vulnerable with one another. Kayla uses her MBA to come up with a plan that will save the ranch. Decker learns to forgive himself and realizes that if his father had not driven him out of Montana he would have stayed and feels happy to be home. They both decide that Montana is where they want to stay and build a new future for themselves.

My only issues were: 1) all this happens in two weeks. Doesn’t really seem like enough time to get to know each other and have so many emotional issues unfolded. 2) Even though Decker keeps telling Kayla that she should give him a chance when they do end up spending the night together he tells her is it was a mistake. Not the finest hour for our hero. I do recommend this story because it is a sweet and even fun read as the city girls go on little adventures. Along with Kayla and her friends there are other characters that provide a little more conflict between Decker and Kayla and provide some mischief along the way. The story was interesting as more secrets unraveled and the pace was good. Decker’s mom and brother are great characters that bring warm and even some funny moments to the story. Kayla’s two friends are supportive in her quest to heal from her past mistakes. Overall, this was a very heartwarming story.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes |


Feature and Giveaway: The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love by Erin Quinn


Roxanne Love has died and miraculously recovered not once, not twice, but three times. She’s a miracle by any standards. A miracle the media has turned into a furor of public opinion that exposes Roxanne to fanatics, cultist and other dark elements. Roxanne doesn’t understand why she is the way she is. All she wants is to be normal—just another young woman trying to find her way in the world. But her twin brother seems just as determined to keep them both in the spotlight.

Unknown to either one of the twins, their survivals have drawn the attention of a reaper who thinks he’s been cheated and refuses to let it happen again. On the eve of Roxanne’s fourth death, the reaper takes over the body of a suicidal cop, Santo Castillo. Masquerading as human, the reaper has one goal: track down Roxanne Love and reap her once and for all. But the reaper never expected the body to come with emotions. Now he’s in deep and falling deeper….in love that is with a human woman he can never have.

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

Feature and Giveaway: Lovely by Beth Michele


A moment can change everything…

Ashton Taylor. Six foot one, Dark hair, chiseled jaw, riveting hazel eyes, and a body cut in all the right places. He’s a natural. Things just come easy to him. He’s used to getting everything he wants, excelling at everything he does. The grades, the recognition, the beautiful women.

His path was set. A girl, a full scholarship to UC San Diego, and a bright future. To others, his life seemed perfect. But, things are never what they seem, and life, well, at any moment, something or someone can come along and turn it upside down.

That something…the death of his father.

That someone… Cara Hayward. The girl with the hypnotic eyes, melodic voice, enchanting smile, and lips sent straight from heaven.

The girl who doesn’t want to be seen.

So what happens when a guy who everything comes easy to, meets a girl who doesn’t come easy?

Can he crawl through all the broken glass to find her? Will the girl he discovers deep down be able to see past his perfect exterior?

Together, do they have the power to heal one another? Or, could the very thing that brings them together, be the one thing that tears them apart?

Purchase: | Amazon |

Interview with Author Naima Simone and Giveaway

Please welcome back to RFTC Naima Simone, author of Secrets and Sins: Malachim.

Naima Simone is a multi-published author in contemporary and erotic romance. She’s a member of RWA’s Southern Magic chapter, mother of the Dynamic Duo, lover of everything Vin Diesel and wife to the fabulous husband who tolerates this affair.

Places to find Naima:

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

ARC Review: Everything For Us by M. Leighton


Everything For Us is the third novel in M. Leighton's Bad Boys Series. This book is Marissa and Nash's story, and should be read after reading the first two books. Although this story is about Olivia's cousin Marissa, there is so much back-story that is needed to understand what is happening in this book that this story cannot be read as a stand-alone. I honestly wasn't sure if I would enjoy this story. If you have read the first two books, then you will understand how i could be a little apprehensive about Marissa getting her HEA. But I am very glad that I read this, and I really did enjoy reading about not only Nash but also Marissa.

Marissa is used to doing everything to please her dad. Anything he asks, she automatically does. She has become so used to her privileged life and her rich friends that she doesn't realize what kind of person she has become. But after being mistaken for her cousin and kidnapped, she quickly realizes that her life as she has known it is over. Nash has been living a life full of hiding out and doing whatever he has to in order to survive. But when he rescues Marissa, there is a connection between them that not only makes him think about much more than he should, but also makes him want to be better for her. Marissa and Nash begin to spend more time together while they work to bring down those responsible for the tragedy that the Davenport's have suffered. Marissa knows that Nash can wreck her heart, and Nash knows that he is no good for Marissa. But as the attraction and connection between them strengthens, will they end in heartbreak or figure out a way to let the other in and find their happily ever after?

I really liked Nash! He is sexy and dirty, and one of those rough around the edges guys that you just can't help but be drawn to. I found his character so interesting since he was supposed to be the one who would go to law school and had everything going for him before fate stepped in and changed everything for him and his family. He ended up turning out more like his brother than what he ever expected. I really liked seeing him go from struggling with his feelings for Marissa to coming to terms with the fact that he was falling in love with her. Marissa turned out to be a very likable character. It is sad that it took her being kidnapped to realize what she was like and that she wanted to change, but i'm glad that she was given a second chance. I loved that Marissa stood up to her father and decided to live her life the way she wanted and went after the things that she believed in. I thought that she was great for Nash. They were both exactly what the other needed. Where he was rough she would sort of round out the edges. These two were off the charts hot together also! I loved reading their steamy scenes!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed reading this story. Marissa and Nash were a great couple, and I was right there with them experiencing every high and low they shared. Marissa and Nash really drew me in to their story and made me fall for them. It was also really great to see more of Cash and Olivia. I was really glad that we got to see more of their story and the story of their family. A lot of questions that were brought up before were answered and I feel like the characters were able to get the closure that they needed in regards to the awful past that they had suffered. This series is great, and is filled with well written and interesting characters. I would highly recommend this series to fans of romantic suspense stories that really steam up the pages. This series will keep you turning the pages until you reach the end.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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



Guest Post with Author Jennifer McQuiston and Giveaway

Meet Jennifer McQuiston, author of Summer Is For Lovers.

A veterinarian and infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer McQuiston has always preferred reading romance to scientific textbooks. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, their two girls, and an odd assortment of pets, including the pony she promised her children if mommy ever got a book deal. Jennifer can be reached via her website at www.jenmcquiston.com or followed on Twitter @jenmcqwrites.

Places to find Jennifer: 

Guest Post with Author A.M. Hargrove and Giveaway

Meet A.M. Hargrove, author of Tragically Flawed.

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include the following: Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge and Kissing Fire (The Edge Series); The Guardians of Vesturon series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent and Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Tragically Flawed.

Other than being in love with writing about being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.

Places to find AM:
| Site | Facebook | Twitter

Monday, October 7, 2013

ARC Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers


Wow, I really loved this book. This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. I honestly feel as though I cannot fully put into words everything that I want to say about this book, and that might be a first for me. This story was beautiful and emotional, and the struggle of the characters and their feelings was something that I know will be on my mind for a very long time. Most times when I finish a book, i'm pretty eager to move on to the next story. After all, my TBR list grows by the day. But after reading A Little Too Far, I found myself simultaneously wanting to read the next book in this series and wanting to start this one all over again! Talk about a major book hangover, I am absolutely not ready to leave these characters behind yet, and I doubt I will be anytime soon.

After finding out that her boyfriend and man she thought she would marry has been cheating on her, Lexie is on the rebound and looking to get away. She decides that she will participate in the study abroad program at her school and is only a few days away from leaving for Rome. Her stepbrother Trent is also her best friend and confidant, but there has always been attraction and chemistry there. Her dad married Trent's mom, but Lexie and Trent had a strong connection to each other from the start. Right before she leaves for Rome, Lexie and Trent give in to the attraction that they both feel and end up sleeping together. Afraid of ruining what they have, they are both quick to say it is a mistake and try to move on, but that is easier said then done. Once in Rome, Lexie meets a handsome Deacon (almost a priest) and the two begin a friendship. As they spend more time together though, feelings begin to develop and they begin to wonder what to do about the other. But Lexie is still in love with Trent and is now torn between the two forbidden men she loves and what she should do. The more time that goes on, Lexie begins to figure out where her heart truly lies.But even with that knowledge, she begins to wonder if it is possible to turn the forbidden into forever.

I really loved all of these characters! Each one was different and unique, and they all had a depth that made them extremely interesting. I found myself extremely invested in each and every one. Even though I was definitely on a certain team as far as who I felt Lexie should be with, I was genuinely interested in where all of them would end up, because even if I didn't feel one was right for Lexie, I still wanted him to get his HEA. Trent was sexy and sweet, and everything you could hope for in a boyfriend. He was always there for Lexie, supporting and loving her while never judging. He sang to her, held her while she talked and cried, and was her strength and rock whenever she needed it without even being asked. Lexie was a great heroine, she was funny and wasn't afraid to take a risk. I loved that she was true to herself and could be so honest about what she was feeling. Alessandro was such a great guy. He came from a troubled background and turned his life around for the better. I loved how easy his friendship with Lexie was and that he got her to do things that she was afraid of or wouldn't have normally done. He was exactly what Lexie needed and their friendship was very natural to me.

This book will not be for everyone. There are two forbidden relationships in this book, and that will be something that might make some kind of shy away from this story. I will say that these forbidden elements didn't bother me. Trent is in no way other than marriage actually related to Lexie, and Alessandro is not actually a priest but rather a bad boy who has chosen a different path and thinks that his way of helping others is through the church. Without spoiling this story and the ending, I will say that I loved how things turned out. I was so glad that Lexie ended up with who I believed was the right choice for her. Some relationships don't always make the most sense and some people will always judge others, but there are also some connections that are so strong that they cannot and should not be fought. This story is at it's heart a story of all-consuming love and two people who are fated to be with each other. It was beautiful and funny and at times heart-breaking, but I loved every word of it and read this entire book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. I absolutely fell in love with these characters, and I was left wanting so much more of them. I need to see how everything pans out and I want to read more about all of their futures. This book has an ending, and Lexie does make her choice which I found so refreshing in a genre that loves to leave you hanging. I am so anxious for the next book A Little Too Much, which will feature the man that Lexie did not choose. I am very excited to read more about him, and I also hope to get more of Lexie and her man as well. After reading this book, I am definitely a fan of Lisa Desrochers and I cannot wait to read more from her. I really loved her writing style and the depth and growth of her characters. This book for me was easily one of my favorites that I have read this year, and I know this will be one that I will be thinking about and re-reading in the future. I think that romance fans will really enjoy this story, as long as you can get past the idea that these relationships are so forbidden. I really recommend that even if you are on the fence about this one, that you give it a try because this is one of those books for me that is an absolute must read.

**ARC provided by Edelweiss**

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



Feature and Giveaway: Worth the Fight by Vi Keeland


It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Guest Post with Author Sarah Ballance and Giveaway

Meet Sarah Ballance, author of Her Wicked Sin.

Sarah and her husband of what he calls “many long, long years” live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they’re asleep.

She never dreamed of becoming an author, but as a homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes fiction because if she wants anyone to listen to her, she has to make them up. (As it turns out, her characters aren’t much better than the kids).

When not buried under piles of laundry, she may be found adrift in the Atlantic (preferably on a boat) or seeking that ever-elusive perfect writing spot where not even the kids can find her.

She loves creating unforgettable stories while putting her characters through an unkind amount of torture—a hobby that has nothing to do with living with six children. (Really.) Though she adores nail-biting mystery and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Sarah writes in many genres including contemporary and ghostly paranormal romance.

Her ever-growing roster of releases may be found on Amazon , Barnes & Noble, Kobo, For the Muse Publishing, and ENTANGLED PUBLISHING.

Places to find: 
| Site | Facebook | Twitter

Guest Post with Author Lizbeth Selvig and Giveaway

Meet Lizbeth Selvig, author of Rescued By a Stranger.

LIZBETH SELVIG lives in Minnesota with her best friend (aka her husband) and a hyperactive border collie. After working as a newspaper journalist and magazine editor, and raising an equine veterinarian daughter and a talented musician son, Lizbeth entered Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® contest in 2010 and won the Single Title Contemporary category. That book, The Rancher and the Rock Star, became her debut novel with Avon Impulse. In her spare time, she loves to hike, quilt, read, horseback ride, and play with her four-legged grandchildren, of which there are nearly twenty, including a wallaby, an alpaca, a donkey, a pig, two sugar gliders, and many dogs, cats and horses. She loves connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.lizbethselvig.com.

Places to find Lizbeth:
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Sunday, October 6, 2013

ARC Reviwe: By Proxy by Katy Regnery


This one’s a tough one to rate for me… I just overdosed on wholesome sweetness, but not necessarily in a good way. Not that there is anything really wrong with debut author Katy Regnery’s BY PROXY, which kicks off her Heart of Montana series of small-town heartwarming romances—it’s a perfectly fine big-city-boy-meets-small-town-gal super-chaste Christmas romance—but it just wasn’t for me. The blurb sounded like a lot of fun, with the hero and heroine meeting for the first time in a tiny Montana town to exchange vows so their close friends serving overseas could be married by proxy, but it just had too much of a New Adult and inspirational vibe layered atop the sweetness for my tastes, and I never really connected with either of the protagonists.

The virgin heroine rarely works for me outside of historicals. I find it an especially hard sell in contemporaries because most authors seem to equate a lack of sexual experience with the absence of cognitive ability, as if the hymen were an impediment to intelligent thought. Ms. Regnery falls prey to this at times with heroine Jenny Lindstrom, a twenty-four-year-old teacher in her one-horse Montana hometown raised in a very conservative family and with three burly, overprotective brothers. Jenny’s about as traditional as they come (those Christian values really hit you upside the head!) and all refreshing small-town innocence to world-weary city-slicker hero Sam Kelley. One look at his handsome face in the courthouse after he is late for their scheduled proxy wedding and inexperienced Jenny is sunk, especially after Sam has to stay the weekend so they can fulfill their duties. Forced proximity is one of my favourite contemporary tropes, but, unfortunately, I found myself not really liking either protagonist in this one! Jenny felt overly provincial and in the beginning came across as staid and a bit of a coward, giving up her dreams of city life for the safety of home. I understood her a bit better after learning her backstory and why she returned to tiny Gardiner after attending university in vibrant Great Falls, and I liked how she learnt to go after what she wanted (namely one Sam Kelley) instead of what she thought was expected of her… but I still found myself wanting to reach through my Kindle and telling her to grow a pair. Except for the breakfast scene—that made me chuckle and want to high-five her, even if she was incredibly judgmental in her assumptions and behaviour.

Hero Sam Kelley I found to be quite the wanker throughout. On the fast track to the high life as a successful investment analyst, Sam wants nothing more than to take the vows for his cousin and get back to the glitter of the party life in Chicago. Those plans are derailed when he meets—and inevitably falls hard for—fresh-faced Jenny, who couldn’t be more different from his latest smoking hot but self-centred and ridiculously shallow ex. I’m all in favour of the heroine edging out the ex (because, hey, it’s romance!), but I felt the constant comparisons were a bit much and there wasn’t a single redeeming feature for the ex. What does it say about Sam as a hero that he spent a year practically living with someone whose only virtue were her looks and whom he knew from the get-go wasn’t one for the long haul?? With Jenny, he’s all tender and sweet, which was adorable and “awww”-inducing, but when it came to the end of the weekend, he was an uncompromising hardass: go with him to Chicago to see where the relationship goes (when he knows Jenny’s ties to her family and tiny Gardiner are incredibly strong) or nothing, because how can HE live in a one-horse town? Though he does grovel like a champ and I could relate to how he doesn’t know what he wants out of life anymore (and root for him when he does sort it out), I couldn’t get past the wankerdom enough to like him. I appreciate that he’s not the über-alpha billionaire Christian Grey clone that populates much of romance lately, and he’s a nicely written, three-dimensional character… but he just didn’t work for me.

I really enjoyed the small-town setting and thought Ms. Regnery did an excellent job portraying the sense of community and closeness in Gardiner. She also does a great job introducing the secondary characters that make up the rest of the series—chiefly, Jenny’s big, burly Swedish brothers. I love Christmas, and though I always find it a bit odd to read Christmas stories in autumn, I definitely felt and enjoyed the Christmas cheer in the book and was even tempted to wish for some snow before I regained my senses. Ms. Regnery’s light, breezy writing style worked well for the sweetly romantic story, but I thought that we spent a bit too much time inside the characters’ heads being told about how they felt/acted/overreacted/didn’t act rather than shown. Ms. Regnery will likely work out these kinks as the series proceeds and she grows as an author, but I found that being told rather than shown took me out of the story this time around.

Though I’m clearly not the target audience for this story, BY PROXY should make a quick, enjoyable read for anyone looking for a wholesome, heartwarming, and super-sweet story with traditional Christian values. I’m a series completionist, however, so I may revisit Gardiner to learn Erik’s, Lars’s, Nils’s, and Paul’s stories in the future.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords |



Guest Post with Author Jacelyn Rye and Giveaway

Meet Jacelyn Rye, author of Surrender to Fate.

Jacelyn spent her childhood growing up in the mountains of Colorado. After graduating from college, she moved to Southern California, where she still resides with her husband and two young sons.

Places to find Jacelyn:

Interview with Author JC Emery and Giveaway

Meet JC Emery, author of The Switch.

As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor's degree in English. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can't imagine a climate more beautiful.

JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories-- and everything has at least a splash of romance.

Places to find JC:
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Interview with Author Lisa Swallow and Giveaway

Meet Lisa Swallow, author of Because of Lucy.

Lisa was born in the UK and she moved around Europe with her military family before completing a BA (Hons) in English at the University of Leeds. Her home is now in Perth, Australia with her husband and three children.

In between running her home based craft supplies business, looking after her family, and writing, Lisa sometimes finds spare time to do other things. This often involves swapping her book worlds for gaming worlds. She even leaves the house occasionally, enjoying walks with her dog and time with her family. She loves all things from the Whedonverse and preferred vampires before they sparkled.

Places to find Lisa: