A Historical Christmas Event with Heather Grothaus

Best-selling author Heather Grothaus fell in love with historical romance after reading a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel when she was far too young to be doing so and has never looked back, building a reputation for crafting twisting medieval adventures, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and heart-wrenching emotion. When she’s not writing, she loves hanging out with her (brilliant and gorgeous) children, reading, and watching every BBC mystery and crime show available. She lives on a small farm in Kentucky.

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Sealed With a Kiss Event with Maggie Robinson

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adjectives and adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances. A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee, her books have been translated into nine languages.

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Feature and Giveaway: Lucky Charmed by Sharla Lovelace

Carmen Frost hates honey. And bees. And in her hometown of Charmed, Texas, which practically invented the stuff, that’s a problem. The good news is that the summer Honey Festival is finally over. Even better, so is the annual Lucky Hart carnival, a road show that made off with her dreams years ago—including the boy she loved. Now she’s got a divorce behind her, and a successful law career in front of her, but in a tiny town, big memories die hard. Or they don’t die at all—as Carmen discovers when she runs into an all too familiar pair of eyes—older, wiser, and just as heart-melting as ever . . .

Sully Hart has had enough of the nomad lifestyle. Travelling with his father’s carnival gave him adventures, but it cost him much more. Now he’s home to stay, contracted to create an entertainment complex in Charmed. He wants roots, a house with a yard and all the mundane pleasures that go with it. But the girl he loved has become a woman who still wants freedom. Can she still want him? It seems he and Carmen are at each other’s throats one minute—and on each other’s lips the next. Someone’s gotta give . . .

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Guest Post with Author Maggie Robinson and Giveaway

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adjectives and adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances. A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee, her books have been translated into nine languages.

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Feature and Giveaway: To the Studs by Roxanne Smith

No one says no to fiery but talented home designer Neve Harper—which is how she convinces her elusive neighbor, Duke Kennicot, to help out with her latest renovation job. Not only is Duke a design aficionado, he’s got the inside scoop on the cabin’s owner. And since Neve’s ulterior motive is a romance with the boss, Duke is her ideal wingman. Except from the moment they’re alone in the remote Ozark mountain location, Neve discovers Duke is just as headstrong—and a whole lot sexier—than she ever realized. Duke has always made it clear she’s not his type. Yet the simmering tension between them says otherwise….

Duke had been warned to steer clear of hot-tempered Neve, but his resolve is lessening with every heated exchange—and every smoldering touch. By the time Neve unearths a dangerous, age-old mystery buried on the property, Duke is ready to do just about anything to keep the brazen beauty safe….

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Sealed With a Kiss Event with Maggie Robinson

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adjectives and adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances. A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee, her books have been translated into nine languages.

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Feature and Giveaway: Sweet Southern Hearts by Susan Schild

Susan Schild welcomes you back to the offbeat Southern town of Willow Hill, North Carolina, for a humorous, heartwarming story of new beginnings, do-overs, and self-discovery…

When it comes to marriage, third time’s the charm for Linny Taylor. She’s thrilled to be on her honeymoon with Jack Avery, Willow Hill’s handsome veterinarian. But just like the hair-raising white water rafting trip Jack persuades her to take, newlywed life has plenty of dips and bumps.

Jack’s twelve-year-old son is resisting all Linny’s efforts to be the perfect stepmother, while her own mother, Dottie, begs her to tag along on the first week of a free-wheeling RV adventure. Who knew women “of a certain age” could drum up so much trouble? No sooner is Linny sighing with relief at being back home than she’s helping her frazzled sister with a new baby…and dealing with an unexpected legacy from her late ex. Life is fuller—and richer—than she ever imagined, but if there’s one thing Linny’s learned by now, it’s that there’s always room for another sweet surprise…

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ARC Review: Beauty and the Bull Rider by Victoria Vane

The third installment in the Hotel Rodeo Series left me wanting more. This book was full of wonder from start to finish. While I absolutely loved Ty and Monica from the first two with their explosive chemistry, Delaney and Zac are so sweet they made me ache! Zac, whom we know as Ty’s oldest friend (despite a fallout, until recently in the previous book), is at the end of his Bull Riding days. He is back in Oklahoma as the head of the Circle B Ranch, and he is ready to fight for Delaney.

She is stubborn, beautiful, and innocent with an independence that I found truly loveable. She is also obsessed with having a baby, but what she doesn’t realize is that she is also in need of the right man to help her achieve it. Prior to this, Zac became aware of Delaney’s dilemma, and her attempt at gaining Ty as a sperm donor. Fear of losing her heart to another man, and being left by one, caused her to close herself off from romance. Ty broke her, and Zac wants to fix her.

Victoria did an amazing job as painting Delaney as a troublemaker in the previous books, but it was obvious that there was more to her story. Due to the way she so wonderfully weaves her tales, it was easy to be intrigued with the Delaney we thought we knew, and the Delaney that could be known to us. I enjoyed her so very much! This is just one more reason I love reading Victoria’s books: Her female leads are always kick-ass, and her heroes always take my heart with them on the journey from start to finish.

Like the all or nothing man Zac is, he’s betting on making a baby with Delaney. What he doesn’t count on, however, is that Delaney only wants his little swimmers. He may have been warned, but he is bound and determined to convince her they’d be better together than she would be alone. She wants artificial insemination, he wants old fashioned. They collide, but Zac goes all the way, showing Delaney that he is in for the long haul, and that she needs more than just a baby to fill the hole in her heart.

Zac fulfills every promise to her. Though he has been waiting for a chance at her for eight years, he has no idea just how much he’ll risk. This book was funny, sweet, romantic, and beautiful. There were scenes that made me laugh, and I learned interesting facts about bulls, breeding, and the like between what happens in a fertility clinic. I love the passion with which Victoria writes. She researches quite a bit, and I’m always learning neat facts while also enjoying the chemistry between her characters as the plotline unfolds.

When these two get together, they become partners in everything. They learn how to cooperate and how to take a chance on one another. Delaney learns that leaning on someone for support doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. Zac realizes that love encompasses everything and that one has to believe in the possibility of dreams. From beginning to end, Zac and Delaney brought me a smile. They are going to help ensure that the Hotel Rodeo is brought back to life with a vengeance, and that they have their prime stock in Delaney’s own venture. Furthermore, I bet they’ll have adorable little babies in the future.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Wild Hearts by Melissa West

In the lush heart of Kentucky, horse racing is king, and the Hamilton family is royalty, born to produce champions. Maybe that’s because they understand wildness better than most…

Charming, reckless, and restless, youngest brother Alex Hamilton has a reputation for sweet talking his way into any woman’s arms—and failing at anything to do with the family business. So when he commits to managing their new breeding operation, it’s under one condition: he’ll focus on work and nothing else—no distractions, no fun…no women. But just when Alex has promised to keep his hands to himself, sweet, sexy Kate Littleton gallops away with his heart…

Kate knows Alex isn’t the long-term type—he proved that in a lot of delicious ways when they first met more than a year ago. But seeing him blazing with new dedication to Hamilton Stables, she can’t deny that he’s miles ahead of any other man who interests her. The attraction between them is electric right out of the gate, but it will take an unexpected loss to put them back in the race and headed for a passionate future together…

This book is a standalone novel in a series of standalones.

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ARC Review: Two to Wrangle by Victoria Vane

The fun continues in the second installment of the Hotel Rodeo Series, and it doesn’t get much sweeter. Two to Wrangle begins where Hell on Heels ended, with Ty Morgan and Monica Brandt trying to pick up the pieces after tragedy leaves them emotionally strangled in its wake. Amidst the sadness, can two very different souls find peace in one another? As a reader, I was beyond excited to see if it was possible! The chemistry between Ty and Monica has been sexy and explosive since the beginning.

As Monica comes to terms with her loss, she realizes just how much is at stake. Upon finding that the terms regarding her ownership of Hotel Rodeo have changed, she finds herself on a cliff facing the unknown. Unwilling to jump and take a risk, we see her questioning herself, and the truth behind Ty’s actions more often than not. Can she trust Ty? What about Evan who clearly wants her back? Furthermore, what is the motivation behind Evan’s blatantly mischievous business savvy? Will there more trouble in the future if Monica stays involved?

The twists keep on coming, yes they do! Once Ty and Monica realize belatedly that they either need to partner up, or jump ship, we really have no clue where the story is going. Ty needs financial stability, but Monica is fearful of defeat, deception, and heartbreak. She is confused, and it drove me crazy at times. I found myself mentally berating Monica, knowing that if I could meet her, I’d tell her to trust her heart. So naturally, watching her grow throughout the book and finally risk love was a whirlwind of frustration followed by giddy delight.

Then, there is Delaney. All I can say is, “Wow,” because she is one intriguing, unique character. She also wants a piece of Ty, and she has no qualms about the unusual deal she presents him with. Perhaps even more exciting is the knowledge that Delaney and Zac (Ty’s best friend) are the focus of the upcoming third installment. I am definitely going to be reading that next! Ultimately though, I just cannot get over what Delaney is currently after! Her addition to the bits and pieces of potential milestones in which Ty and Monica have to overcome couldn’t have worked out better.

My favorite aspect of this book though was Ty’s character development. While I truly enjoyed watching Monica come into her own, and take control, I loved Ty’s ability to leave everything on the table. Despite his misgivings involving commitment and love, he never gave up and he never sacrificed any part of himself in the process. The author gave us a strong female lead and an impossibly perfect hero in Ty to love, providing us as readers with a wonderful book to immerse ourselves in. Seeing how the story unfolds, experiencing Ty’s final play to win Monica as a partner in more ways than one gave me one hell of a happy ending to enjoy.

I loved seeing Monica stand up for herself. I loved seeing Evan being taken down a notch. I loved learning a bit more about Zac and Delaney. I loved learning about the potential for Hotel Rodeo and how our couple will make it a success. I loved the tender moments, the heated ones full of sexual ecstasy, and the ones full of sharp tongues with innuendo. More importantly, I loved both Monica and Ty. Even better, I cannot wait to see how their partnership will feed into the future novels, the other characters, and the ultimate fate of Hotel Rodeo!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Hell on Heels by Victoria Vane

Yeehaw! Victoria Vane has another sexy cowboy thrill ride that I could not put down from start to finish! Unlike her Hot Cowboy Nights Series, however, we get a taste for the wild side, with the backdrop of Las Vegas. This is definitely a change, but if anything, it made the plotline that much more intriguing. After all, what is a cowboy doing in Sin City?

Ty Morgan, the partner of Tom Brandt, is focused on saving Hotel Rodeo, despite its years of being in the red. He has plans that will provide the hotel with a fresh side of retro in old Western that will bring the patrons full force, but needs his partner to back him personally, and financially. As the owner, Tom Brandt knows Ty Morgan can pull this off, even if he has doubts out of fear. He believes in Ty because he is smart, and his drive could pull the heaviest load to the front line, but also because Tom considers Ty as a son.

Unfortunately, an accident leaves Tom unable to fulfill his end of the agreement, forcing Ty to work with, or for, Monica Brandt (Tom’s daughter). The problem is that Monica has brass balls for such a sexy city girl, and she doesn’t trust Ty. Not one bit. She shows up to care for Tom, and to take over the dealings with his business until further notice. Ty though, is in her way, and he isn’t budging. Sparks ignite, and insults fly. Talk is cheap though, once one rises to the challenge, and Ty is not one to back down!

To say that I loved this book would be an understatement! I read it in a day, just whipped on through it! Ty is stubborn, sexy, and kind of dirty (if you know what a mean, ladies). Monica, she is such a strong female lead. Hell, she isn’t even aware that she is as tough as she is, which makes her that much more enjoyable. The circumstances that bring these two together are unfortunate, but love can heal all, and I believe the story will continue to grow on into the next installment.

I really enjoyed Ty and Monica, not only because they are both great characters, but because their chemistry is epic! The two of them battle each other with wit and cheeky comments that made me laugh out loud, and provided so much heat between the lines that I loved reading about their escapades. This is what makes a perfect couple for me; intrigue, lust, love, and a good fight. Even better, the interfering forces from both sides make for more curiosity as to how the story will play out.

Monica had me loving her from the beginning because of her display of self-worth and dignity. Despite feeling abandoned until her experience with Tom as a father later in life (once he became aware she existed), she has respect for herself. Though she has insecurities, she takes control, and I enjoy a heroine who can rely on her own instincts, and believe in herself. She has little faith in men, and is afraid of being alone, resulting in her constant difficulty with Ty, but it’s clear that Ty and her are truly meant to be.

Ty is just as disbelieving of the concept of happily-ever-after, but his misgivings of having faith in a faithful relationship (after his disturbing past with his ex-wife), won’t be able to suppress his feelings toward Monica for long. With that said, these two have a lot to figure out! Ty is trying to find a way to buy out Hotel Rodeo from under Monica, and she is on the verge of selling out from under Ty prior to his chance at securing funding. Holy smokes, talk about some serious head-shaking-don’t-do-that possibilities!

Deceit, confusion, and heartache accompany two souls who have been awaiting the chance to find their mates. Not to mention, two exes who have some shady involvement plotting in the darkness. How will they come together after loss and betrayal? One will have to read the first in the series, followed by the next installments to find out! I, for one, cannot wait! Victoria Vane always grabs me from the beginning of each read, and gives me a thrill I hardly recover from while awaiting the next!

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold

The Fair Five. Misty Lake NY's clique made up of beautiful, flirtatious girls that were always more concerned about wearing the latest fashion than acknowledging the average people on the street. Then the accident happened. Four of the friends were killed in a wagon accident. Strike that. The day after the town doctor proclaimed her dead, M Sutton awoke from the coma she had been in.

Waking with terrible injuries, Maddie was told she would never walk again. But her determination and her newly manifested healing ability got her on her feet again. Maddie's strength made me appreciate her from the beginning of the story. She never seemed to blame anyone even if she had just cause. Overnight, Maddie went from being a member of the youthful Fair Five to a young woman who was forced to grow up before she was ready. Good thing. I have little interest in reading about immature characters. So I liked Maddie. She is not totally grown up though, so expect some behavior that is not well not thought out. To make the story interesting.

Maddie's new found strength doesn't get her very far with anyone except her grandfather. Grandfather did not have a huge role in this book, but he was inspiring and pivotal to Maddie's story. But to the rest of the residents of Misty Lake, the sole survivor of the town's greatest tragedy is both blamed for the accident and considered an abomination.

Enter the new town doctor. Though anxious to establish himself and fit in, Dr. Jace Merrick still defends Madeline against Misty Lake's narrow mindedness. He is disgusted with their attitudes and does everything he can to help her to become a part of the community again. Including masquerading as her fiance' so she can attend her friend's wedding.

I really tried to like Jace. He was great when he was defending Maddie. But his arrogance and lack of interest in Maddie's opinions really irritated me. Yes, I get the whole 'I'm a Doctor. I am confident and arrogant.' thing. But his attitude really made me wonder what Maddie saw in him. Jace's mindset prevents Maddie from telling him about her special healing talent. There is no way he would ever understand. Jace's arrogance makes him as close-minded as the Misty Lake residents that anger him when they misjudge Maddie.

However, since Jace does stand up for Maddie – a lot – I finally decided he was okay. Besides, it is a romance. If Maddie is going to like him and even fall in love with him, the least I can do is give him a chance.

Other characters in the book are just as easy to like or dislike. On the like list is Dolly whose physical demeanor enables her to appreciate the unfairness of Maddie's treatment. On the dislike list is Pastor Hogle who encourages the town's attitude toward Maddie. The Lady Who Lived Again is comprised of uncomplicated characters. They make it easy to draw the line between the good guys and the bad guys. The question is, will any of the good guys be redeemed. Or should they be?

I was actually looking for a bit more complexity to the story, but the plot of The Lady Who Lived Again is as straightforward as its characters. Maddie's paranormal ability is not so much of a plot device as it is a character motivation.

The story moves along and can be read in one quiet evening. I enjoyed it, though not enough to continue with the series. It appears that each story in the Sole Survivor series will stand alone. If you enjoy a little bit of the paranormal combined with your historical romance, you might enjoy The Lady Who Lived Again.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Making A Comeback by Kristina Mathews

Kristina Mathews is a new to me author, but one look at the cover and the blurb for Making A Comeback had me interested in reading this one. This book is the third book in Kristina's More Than A Game Series, with each book being an interconnected standalone. You do not need to read these in order, and I had no problems diving right into this one. I will say that after reading Cooper and Annabelle's story though that I want to go back and read the others since I enjoyed this one so much. 

Annabelle Jones is moving forward with her life. After years of living with her husband though not being happy, she has finally started the divorce process and is trying to get her modeling career back in order to provide for her two young twin daughters. But when an accident forces her to rely on her handsome neighbor, the future she was planning suddenly begins to look a lot different. Nathan Cooper is paying for a mistake he made while trying to revive his own career as a profession relief pitcher. He knows that he needs to focus on getting back in the game, but he can't stop himself from helping out Annabelle and her daughters. As much as these two try to stay away from each other thinking that it is best to keep one another at arm's length, they find themselves wanting a life together that they never expected. 

I really liked Cooper and Annabelle. I will admit that these two both frustrated me at times, but I did understand why the did some of the things that annoyed me. They were both focused on getting their careers back and thought that they couldn't have a relationship as well as their careers, but yet they were better when they were together than apart. I loved Annabelle's little girls, and I thought that they were so cute. They immediately took to Cooper, and I loved seeing him with them. He was so sweet and kind, and I love how natural he was with them. These four were so good together that it was really hard to believe that they hadn't been a family all along! I loved Cooper and Annabelle as a couple, and they had a clear connection and great chemistry. But it really was the four of them that made this book so special.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I liked all the characters. I loved Cooper and Annabelle, and I enjoyed seeing them interact with Annabelle's friends from the previous book. I am curious to go back and read their story and see how everything happened that led up to this story and Cooper's being traded. If you are a fan of contemporary or sports romance stories, I would recommend giving this one a shot. I enjoyed Kristina's writing style and I felt invested in these characters right away. I will definitely look for more stories from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Tasty Book Tours**

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Guest Post with Author Kristina Mathews and Giveaway

Meet Kristina Mathews author of Making a Comeback.

Kristina Mathews doesn't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Or in her head. But it wasn't until she turned forty that she confessed the reason the laundry never made it out of the dryer was because she was busy writing.

While she resigned from teaching with the arrival of her second son, she's remained an educator in some form. As a volunteer, parent club member or para educator, she finds the most satisfaction working with emergent and developing readers, helping foster confidence and a lifelong love of books.

Kristina lives in Northern California with her husband of more than twenty years, two sons and a black lab. A veteran road tripper, amateur renovator and sports fanatic. She hopes to one day travel all 3,073 miles of Highway 50 from Sacramento, CA to Ocean City, MD, replace her carpet with hardwood floors and serve as a “Ball Dudette” for the San Francisco Giants.

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