Category Archives: blog tour

ILLEGALLY YOURS by Kate Meader – Book Blitz Review and Giveaway

 

illegallyyours_blitz

ILLEGALLY YOURS

by Kate Meader
Laws of Attraction, #2
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Loveswept

illegally-yours-cover

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2T33QbR
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2RDdmWA
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2FMsPwe
iTunes: https://apple.co/2sz1UMP

 

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SYNOPSIS

Rule #1: Never fall for your client.
Rillegally-yours-teaser-1ule #2: Never fall for your client’s fiercely protective, smoking hot sister-in-law.

I’m the kind of guy who believes that everyone deserves the best legal representation money can buy—which just so happens to be me, Lucas Wright. Give me your henpecked, your cuckolded, your irreconcilable differences yearning to break free! And if you’re the bad guy in your marriage, that’s cool too. Your green is as good as anyone’s.

Tell that to Trinity Jones. It’s my job to destroy her sister—the soon-to-be ex-wife of my a-hole of a client—and Trinity’s “big sis” instincts are dialed up to the max. I admire that. I admire her. But she won’t stop me from representing my client to the best of my ability.

Not even if my chemistry with Trinity is undeniable. Not even if we can’t keep our hands off each other. Not even if she injects life into a heart assumed to be long dead.

Because when faced with a choice between love and duty, the job will always win—or at least that’s what I thought before I met Trinity . . . and suddenly conflict of interest never felt so right.

 

REVIEW

illegally-yours-teaser-2

I read Illegally Yours to reward myself when I reached the word count goal on my upcoming novel. After crying my eyes out from writing a break-up scene, I needed the humor and the clever banter Kate Meader provided through Lucas and Trinity.

I thoroughly enjoyed Down With Love, the first book of this series, but I have a soft spot for this one as interracial romance is my jam. Add that to the fact that there’s so much about family and friendship along with romantic love in this book, I can’t help but, well, love it.

I’ve been reading Kate’s books for a couple of years now and I’ve come to expect her to deliver an engaging read. She didn’t disappoint. She never does.

Amidst the divorce proceedings of Trinity’s overly-dependent younger sister from Lucas’s douche of a client Brian, we find a slow(ish)-burn love story that skirts ethical standards (hence the title). We learn that what these two show to the world–Lucas’s loudmouth clown persona, Trinity’s dependable competence–are nothing more than masks hiding painful personal history. Neglectful parent, guilt, misplaced pride, long-held resentments, etcetera. Their slow opening up to each other matched with simmering physical attraction made their relationship work for me.

I loved the older woman-younger man scenario, the varied locations, the trivia quiz, all the pop culture references, and the fascinating side characters. Grant and Aubrey’s awesome back-and-forth in this story had me excited for their own happy-ever-after.

Illegally Yours had been a great break from writing and I must get back to it so as to add more love to the world.  Thanks, Kate, for this fantastic story. Looking forward to more of these in 2019 and beyond.

ABOUT KATE MEADER

Kate-Meader-e1434416954712

Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Reader’s Group | Bookbub | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

 

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THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW by Olivia Drake – Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Award-winning author Olivia Drake begins her new Unlikely Duchesses series with THE DUKE I ONCE KNEW (St. Martin’s Paperbacks; December 31, 2018). With compelling characters and skillful plot twists, Drake’s latest novel will take your breath away.

Duke I Once Knew_Cover.jpgFirst love is always the sweetest…

For years, Abigail Linton devoted herself to caring for her parents and her siblings’ children. Now, eager to create a life of her own, Abby seizes upon a position as a governess on a neighboring estate. Unfortunately, her absentee employer is Maxwell Bryce, the Duke of Rothwell, the notorious rake who once broke her youthful heart. But since he hasn’t set foot on his estate for fifteen years, Abby assumes she’ll never have to lay eyes on him ever again.

Then, from out of nowhere, Max appears. He is stunned to come face to face with the girl next door he fell for years ago—before he went away, and she stopped writing to him … even though Abby swears that he is the one who left her without a word. Could it be that this spirited, witty spinster has won Max’s heart all over again—and that they may have a second chance at love?

Buy this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250174376

REVIEW

The Duke I Once Knew will delight readers who are fans of historical romance novels that are light, entertaining, and simply about two people falling in love. There’s no deep angst, dark deadly secrets, or hardline stance of any kind. Just good story-telling. Sometimes that’s what I’m looking for. And it’s all right.

Abby and Max reunite after fifteen years and the return of their love for each other is utterly believable and quite obviously inevitable. The forces that are trying to keep them apart (misunderstanding about the lost letters, Lady Elise, Max’s poor example of a father) are addressed one by one and in a timely manner.

I love reading an older heroine in Abby. There are so few of them in historical romance that when I find one, I gravitate towards it right away. It was fine for me to read teenagers when I was younger, but not when I’m middle-aged and can’t relate. I also love her taking control of her own life and not letting herself be pushed around anymore. And when she and Max had their intimacy, she proved her strong will once more.

I also loved that the characters are flawed, but still sympathetic. Especially Max.  It makes the book as close to reality as it could get.

If I have minor complaints (villainess with no redeeming factor, some repetition in the PoVs, so many named characters some of whom never got fully developed), they’re overshadowed by the positives.

 

GIVEAWAY

SMP will send a paperback copy of The Duke I Once Knew to one lucky reader who follows me on social media and who likes this post. Comment here or my Facebook Author page to let me know you’ve entered. Here are my links:

1. Amazon
2. Blog
3. BookBub
4. Books+Main
5. Facebook
6. Goodreads
7. Instagram
8. LinkedIn
9. Pinterest
10. Twitter 

I’ll draw the winner on Monday, January 7 11:59 pm CST.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia DrakeOlivia Drake is the author of the Cinderella Sisterhood series (Seducing the Heiress, Never Trust a Rogue, Scandal of the Year, If the Slipper Fits, Stroke of Midnight, Abducted by the Prince, Bella and the Beast, His Wicked Wish, and The Scandalous Flirt). She has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 1981, and her novels have won the Golden Heart Award, Best Historical Romantic Suspense and Best Regency Historical from Romantic Times. She has also won the prestigious RITA award. She currently resides in Houston, TX.

Author website: http://oliviadrake.com/
Author Twitter: @OliviaDrake1
Author Facebook: Olivia-Drake

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts
SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

FIERCE, FUNNY, AND FEMALE by Marti MacGibbon – Book Blog Tour: Review/Giveaway

FIERCE, FUNNY, AND FEMALE

A Journey Through Middle America,

the Texas Oil Field, and Standup Comedy

by

MARTI MacGIBBON

Genre: Memoir / Drama / Humor
Publisher: Stay Strong Publishing
Publication Date: March 20, 2017
Number of Pages: 412 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

This book is the celebrated prequel to the critically acclaimed, nationally award-winning and bestselling memoir, Never Give in to Fear. In her raw, vivid, and unabashed style, author Marti MacGibbon delivers a sometimes heartbreaking, often hilarious, always engaging account of her passage through trauma, betrayal, and loss in adolescence and young adulthood to discover her inner badass self. As one of the first women to work as a laborer in the Texas oil field, she set off explosives and staked oil wells before realizing her childhood dream of becoming a successful standup comic. Marti introduces readers to a wide range of characters in her life: from sleazy authority figures, wannabe Sixties musicians and crazed Corn Belt cult leaders, to Texas oil billionaires and wildcatters, to wild-eyed redneck coworkers who robbed banks on their lunch hour―in the company truck. The book includes scenes with iconic comedians, Hollywood entertainment industry moguls, and a legendary bluesman, and offers insights into resiliency, courage, and self-empowerment.

WINNER, 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Humor
WINNER, 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in Women’s Studies 
WINNER, 2017 National Indie Excellence Awards in Women’s Health
WINNER, 2017 Beverly Hills Book Awards in Women’s Issues 
WINNER, 2018 Independent Press Award in Humor
WINNER, 2018 Independent Press Award in Women’s Studies 
WINNER, 2018 New York City Book Award, Women’s Studies
FINALIST, 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Memoir (Overcoming Adversity)

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PURCHASE THE BOOK
┃ Amazon ┃ Baker and Taylor ┃

Review_preview

I don’t normally read non-fiction unless it’s a craft book on writing or a cookbook and I hardly ever read memoirs, but there’s something about this book that called to me. The catchy title alone had me anticipating a good read and I wasn’t disappointed. Far from it.

The first third was quite harrowing, with Marti’s tales of abuse, drug addiction, sexual assault, hospitalization, brainwashing, and the most heart-breaking of all, her separation from her daughter. But the telling was quite fascinating in that through everything she had suffered, there was always her determination to do everything she could to get out of the bad situation. To rise and recover. To hope for a better tomorrow. 

Quotes like this had me tearing up:

“… there’s more than one way to fight. You fight by living, and working, and showing your kid how much you care, in any way possible. And you wait, and watch, and when your time comes, you’re ready.”

Marti’s storytelling is absolutely fantastic. The scenes leap out of the pages, they come alive so vividly. I especially enjoyed her adventures all over Texas, laughed at some of the  incredibly weird situations she got involved in and the colorful characters she met along the way.

She dealt with every discriminatory, sexist thing thrown at her with humor, positivity, and self-belief, proving the title of the book perfectly fitting. 

I bookmarked several pages of this book, particularly the last few chapters where Marti was receiving advice from successful humorists and the final one where she imparted some of her own. Although not a comedian, I can definitely apply some of the wisdom she shared in my writing, in my living. 

I love this advice best of all: 

“Be yourself. You are enough, right now, as you are, and if you continue the brave work, you will continue to become more, and greater, exponentially. Trust in that, build your tenacity, and continue on your path, no matter the challenges.” 

To end, I say to readers: buy this book. Read it and learn from Marti’s experiences. Be inspired. Be strong. Be Fierce, Funny, and Female. That’s what I hope to become, in my own way.

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PRAISE FOR FIERCE, FUNNY, AND FEMALE:

“Being funny is a survival skill. Fierce, Funny, and Female is not only a survivor’s tale but an inspirational story of overcoming the unthinkable, again and again…Her courage and comedy make Fierce, Funny, and Female a winner.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“An effervescently witty…chronicle of perseverance and the power to overcome the darkest of days…Perhaps the most rewarding chapter in this chatty, affecting book is the concluding one, where MacGibbon lists the tried-and-true pearls of wisdom that continue to sustain her…” — Kirkus Reviews

“Fierce, Funny, and Female is a thoroughly engaging memoir packed with witty observations, high adventure, and a glimpse of behind-the-scenes Hollywood. Highly recommended!” — Midwest Book Review

“MacGibbon is a natural storyteller, and her life story is a most interesting one. The characters she has run across during her life journey are well-drawn and absolutely fascinating, particularly the good ol’ boys in the Texas oilfields.” — San Francisco Book Review

FFF quote

AboutTheAuthor

Marti MacGibbonA compelling speaker and storyteller, Marti MacGibbon delivers high-energy presentations and writes books on overcoming adversity, addiction and recovery, and inspiration, with humor and a genuine, down-to-earth style. She’s experienced critical situations that no human being should have to face. In the past, she hit rock bottom in every possible way as a hard-core drug addict, was homeless, and was trafficked to Tokyo and held prisoner by Japanese organized crime. Her story of triumph is testimony to the power of the human spirit. Marti lives her message. She reveals simple, effective strategies that anyone can use to get back on track, build resiliency, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of humor.
Marti is a bestselling author, inspirational speaker, certified addiction treatment professional, Gorski certified relapse-prevention specialist, and member of the National Speakers Association. She’s been interviewed in Entrepreneur, Investor’s Business Daily, on ABC-TV, CBS-TV, and numerous radio shows. And she’s funny: Marti traveled all over the U.S. as a professional standup comic and performed at the Hollywood Improv and Comedy Store. She is founder, producer and host of Laff-aholics Comedy Benefit for Recovery, an annual charity fundraiser in Indianapolis featuring nationally headlining comedians. She also serves on the outreach committee of IPATH, Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Task Force. 

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram ║ 

 ║ Goodreads ║ Amazon Author Page ║ YouTube ║

============================

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

Each of Three Winners Gets a Signed Copy of the Book PLUS:

FIRST PRIZE: 
$100 Spa Finder gift card + $25 Starbucks gift card + Moroccan oil sample collection
SECOND PRIZE:
Estee Lauder Limited Edition Gift Set + $25 Starbucks gift card
THIRD PRIZE:
$25 Starbucks gift card.
DECEMBER 12-21, 2018
(U.S. Only)FFF giveaway

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

12/12/18ExcerptChapter Break Book Blog
12/12/18Author InterviewStory Schmoozing Book Reviews
12/13/18ReviewCarpe Diem Chronicles
12/14/18PlaylistAll the Ups and Downs
12/14/18Guest PostMax Knight
12/15/18ReviewStoreyBook Reviews
12/15/18ExcerptThe Clueless Gent
12/16/18ReviewThe Book Review
12/17/18Guest PostThat’s What She’s Reading
12/17/18Scrapbook PageKelly Well Read
12/18/18ReviewNerd Narration
12/19/18ExcerptForgotten Winds
12/19/18Guest PostMomma on the Rocks
12/20/18ReviewReading by Moonlight
12/21/18ReviewMissus Gonzo

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WAIT FOR ME by Susan May Warren – Book Blog Tour Bonus Review and Giveaway

BNR Wait for Me JPG

WAIT FOR ME
Montana Rescue Series, Book 6

by

SUSAN MAY WARREN

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Action / Christian
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: November 6, 2018
Number of Pages: 336

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

Synopsis
Cover Hi Res Wait for MePete Brooks can’t believe he’s waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiancé. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job have cost lives, and Pete isn’t sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward.

EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, but it seems he’s no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness—with murderous intent.

Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he’s learned to find Jess and Esme—and pray that his past mistakes don’t cost him the life of the woman he can’t stop loving.

Praise for the Montana Rescue Series
“Warren’s stalwart characters and engaging story lines make her Montana Rescue series a must-read.”–Booklist

“Faith, action, romantic tension, humor, and emotional depth.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Warren excels at creating flawed characters the reader cares about, as well as building a suspenseful adventure.”
—Christian Library Journal

PURCHASE LINKS:
Baker Book House | Amazon | Christianbook.com |
B&N | Kobo | Lifeway | Books-A-Million

Review_preview

NQ 3 Wait for MeUnputdownable, heart-pounding, action-packed romantic suspense novel revolving around not just one, but two fantastic love stories. On top of it all, it’s a Christian romance as well with the characters who were in mortal danger trusting God’s will at the same time that they try their hardest to rescue themselves.

Although I am coming into this series late (this is the first book I read and it’s the series ender), I didn’t feel lost in spite of the numerous named characters. It actually encouraged me to look up the previous five and add them to my to-be-read mountain of books.

NQ 2 Wait for MeWait For Me had me turning page after page to find out how Pete and Jess will finally end up together and how the new romance between Shae and Ned develops, especially with Shae on the verge of death and with a killer still after her. It’s all very exciting and Ms. Warren’s writing is impeccable. She really takes the reader right in the middle of the book as if we’re witnessing the action as it happens.

I love that all the characters are capable, be they men or women. I love that Felipe is an upstanding guy, that he makes it hard for Jess to choose between him and Pete. Like I already said above, although they have faith in God, they don’t just wait to be rescued. Lastly, I love the family and community coming together to help each other out. Fantastic book. I highly recommend it.
AboutTheAuthor

Author Pic Warren_SusanMaySusan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels with more than 1 million books sold, including Wild Montana Skies, Rescue Me, A Matter of Trust, Troubled Waters, and Storm Front. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers’ Choice Awards, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy, and novellas. She makes her home in Minnesota

■ WEBSITE ■ GOODREADS ■
■ FACEBOOK ■ TWITTER ■

———————
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GRAND PRIZE: All 6 Books in the Montana Rescue Series
+ $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2RD PRIZE: Wait for Me + a Bookworm Mug
3RD PRIZE: Wait for Me + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
November 12-21, 2018
(U.S. Only)

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

11/12/18 	BONUS Review 		Carpe Diem Chronicles 
11/12/18 	Notable Quotable 	Hall Ways Blog 
11/13/18 	Review 			Momma on the Rocks 
11/14/18 	Author Interview 	All the Ups and Downs 
11/15/18 	Review 			Reading by Moonlight 
11/16/18 	Playlist 		Chapter Break Book Blog 
11/17/18 	Review 			Nerd Narration 
11/18/18 	Excerpt 		StoreyBook Reviews 
11/19/18 	Review 			The Clueless Gent 
11/20/18 	Series 			Spotlight Books and Broomsticks 
11/21/18 	Review 			Missus Gonzo

LoneStarLitLife

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GRATITUDE: THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL by Vickie Phelps – Book Blog Tour Bonus Review and Giveaway

 

gratitude bbt cover

GRATITUDE:
THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL

by

Vickie Phelps

Genre: Non-Fiction / Inspirational / Devotional
Publisher: Inspire Books
Date of Publication: July 11, 2017
Number of Pages: 92, 4.5″ x 6″

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Synopsis

gratitude cover

 

This ninety-two-page gift book is a compilation of devotions, poems, prayers, and lists of things to be grateful for. The difference between having what you want and having what you need is a principle some people never grasp. In the reading of this book, you may realize you have much more to be grateful for than you were aware of. Use this little book as a daily devotional or pick it up at random times to remind yourself that you are a blessed individual.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Review_preview
gratitude xtra

I read Gratitude: The Art of Being Thankful at a time when there were too many distressing news – mass shooting, wildfires, friends of mine undergoing health crises. It was the absolutely perfect time to read it. How do you say thanks when people are dying, when you lose everything you’ve worked hard for? The booklet says you count your blessings. You focus on what you have rather than what you don’t have. You celebrate life.

Enhanced by Ms. Phelps personal anecdotes, Gratitude is an uplifting devotional that should be in everyone’s pockets and read daily. It’s a handy guide on how to say praises and thanks, on how to pray and offer thanksgiving. It’s the perfect gift and I am grateful that I received it.

 

PRAISE FOR GRATITUDE: THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL:

attitude of gratitude

 

“This little gem of a book arrived before we left on vacation, so I took it along. It became our shared devotional and ‘thought for the day’ outlook … and colored our time away with gratitude. This unique discovery is one to treasure.”
– 5 Star Review, Amazon verified purchase

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AboutTheAuthor

Vivkie PhelpsVickie Phelps writes to encourage, inspire, and influence. She has published 200 articles, devotionals, and essays in more than fifty magazines and contributed to several anthologies. Vickie is the author of the novels, Postmark From the Past, Moved, Left No Address, Waiting for Joy, and a devotional book, Psalms for the Common Man. Vickie is co-author with Jo Huddleston of the gift book, Simply Christmas,  and Writing 101: A Handbook of Tips; Encouragement for Writers.

฀ Facebook ฀ Twitter ฀
฀ Pinterest ฀ LinkedIn ฀
฀ Website ฀ Blog ฀
฀ Amazon Author Page ฀

—————————————
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1st Prize: Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful + $5 Amazon Gift Card + Simply
Christmas & Psalms for the Common Man (non-fiction themed pack)
2nd Prize: Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful + $5 Amazon Gift Card +
Postmark from the Past & Waiting for Joy (holiday theme pack)
3rd Prize:Signed Copy of The Art of Being Thankful

(US ONLY)
NOVEMBER 7-16, 2018

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

11/7/18		Author Interview	That's What She's Reading
11/8/18		Review			Hall Ways Blog
11/9/18		Review			Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
11/10/18	Excerpt			Kelly Well Read
11/11/18	BONUS Review		The Clueless Gent
11/12/18	Review			Chapter Break Book Blog
11/13/18	Guest Post		Max Knight
11/13/18	BONUS Review		Rainy Days with Amanda
11/14/18	Notable Quotable	Sybrina's Book Blog
11/15/18	Review			Forgotten Winds
11/16/18	Review			StoreyBook Reviews

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A SPARKLE OF SILVER by Liz Johnson – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

ASOS blog tour

A SPARKLE OF SILVER

Georgia Coast Romance #1

by

LIZ JOHNSON

Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: October 16, 2018
Number of Pages: 368

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Synopsis

ASOS cover

Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of a palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her great-grandmother was a real guest ninety years ago. When Millie learns of a lost diary that may contain the location of a hidden treasure on the estate and reveal the identity of her great-grandfather, she sets out to find the truth of her heritage — and the fortune she desperately needs. But it won’t be easy.

When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. Still, her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up.

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight.

Review_preview

ASOS foilA Sparkle of Silver is a delightful mix of whodunit mystery, search for family heritage, treasure hunt, and both historical and contemporary romance. Told with humor, wit, and reflective of the author’s obvious love of books, of romance novels in particular, A Sparkle is the type of book I enjoy reading. I’m thankful to Lone Star Lit for introducing me to authors I wouldn’t have found on my own. This is the first book by Liz Johnson that I’ve read and as I always say, it wouldn’t be the last.

I took to Millie and Ben right away. Their separate introductions were highly affecting. Millie’s desperate need to provide for her Grandma Joy and Ben’s altruistic desire to make things right with her mother’s victims made me root for them immediately. The slow burn build-up of their attraction to each other was laid out at a proper pace. Their eventual fall into love at the end was hard-earned and well-deserved. More than jewels or properties, love was the greatest treasure they found.

I also enjoyed great-grandmother Ruth’s adventures in the ’20s told through journal entries. They’re integral to the story and brought another dimension to what is already a fascinating novel. The historical tidbits truly enriched the story and gave the reader a proper sense of time and place.

There are actually quite a number of named characters in this book, both from the past and the present, but each is distinct, all contributed to the plot, and nobody overshadowed the main characters. Grandma Joy is, of course, adorable and so was Carl, Ben’s boss.

One other thing I appreciate is that for all that A Sparkle of Silver is categorized as a Christian romance, the discussion of faith is subtle, not preachy at all.

ASOS last pageHere are some of my favorite quotes:

“You’re not the bad choices you may have made. You’re who you are right now, and you’re the next decision you make.”

“Maybe a person’s story wasn’t like a book that became useless after the pages were too worn to read. It wasn’t about how much that person could remember. It was about how many lives they had touched. It was about making a difference in the little ways.”

“Real love isn’t love because it’s easy or always feels good. It’s love because you choose not to be self-serving.”

PRAISE FOR A SPARKLE OF SILVER:

“A mystery, a treasure hunt, and a split-time romance—all set within a beautiful chateau. What more could we want?”

~ Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and A Portrait of Emily Price

“A charming romance about real people triumphing over real problems. Add in a dash of mystery, a treasure hunt, and old family secrets, and you have a story that will warm every corner of your heart.”

~ Victoria Bylin, award-winning author of Together with You

“Lovers of history will enjoy this treasure-seeking adventure through a historic estate, and readers will appreciate a story that turns up riches of the lasting kind.”

~ Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Honeysuckle Dreams

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com ◆ Kobo ◆ Books-A-Million

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AboutTheAuthor

Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. A marketing manager for a Christian film company, she makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║

║ Instagram ║ Goodreads ║

║ Pinterest ║

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

GRAND PRIZE: Print Copy of A Sparkle of Silver, a Tin of Georgia Peach Cookies, a Handmade Wooden Treasure Box;

SECOND PRIZE: Print Copy + $25 B&N Gift Card;

THIRD PRIZE: Print Copy + $10 Starbucks Gift Card

OCTOBER 10-19, 2018
(U.S. Only)
ASOS giveaway

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/16/18     Author Interview          Book Fidelity
10/16/18     Bonus Notable Quotable    Hall Ways Blog
10/17/18     Excerpt                   Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/18/18     Review                    That's What She's Reading
10/19/18     Character Interview       Chapter Break Book Blog
10/20/18     Review                    StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/18     Playlist                  All the Ups and Downs
10/22/18     Review                    Reading by Moonlight
10/23/18     Excerpt                   Books and Broomsticks
10/24/18     Review                    Missus Gonzo
10/25/18     Review                    Carpe Diem Chronicles
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FRAGMENTS OF ASH by Katy Regnery – Happy Release Day Review

FRAGMENTS OF ASH

(Inspired by “Cinderella”)
A Modern Fairytale Collection

Katy Regnery

FoA Available Now

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a dark and twisted retelling of the beloved fairytale, Cinderella!

My name is Ashley Ellis…

I was thirteen years old when my mother – retired supermodel, Tig – married Mosier Răumann, who was twice her age and the head of the Răumann crime family.

When I turned eighteen, my mother mysteriously died. Only then did I discover the dark plans my stepfather had in store for me all along; the debauched “work” he expected me to do.

With the help of my godfather, Gus, I have escaped from Mosier’s clutches, but his twin sons and henchmen have been tasked with hunting me down. And they will stop at nothing to return my virgin body to their father

…dead or alive.

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PURCHASE LINKS

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US: https://amzn.to/2OpIfZq

UK: https://amzn.to/2mLYQtM

CA: https://amzn.to/2v31oIL

AU: https://amzn.to/2AjLaQr

B&N: http://bit.ly/2Dy3Ptq

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2LJr72c

iBooks: https://apple.co/2LXgINl

REVIEW

When Katy Regnery promised a twisted Cinderella, she delivered big time. Fragments of Ash is not your Disney-style fairy tale. There is no ball, no gown, no glass slippers. There IS a fairy godfather, a pervert stepfather, two cowed stepbrothers, and an initially-indifferent Prince Charming. It’s diverse and multilingual – Gus is gay, Mosier and his sons are Romanian, there’s a Catholic priest, the grandparents are from Wales, and the hero is half-French. It’s harrowing, angsty, heart-pounding, tragic, and sometimes all-too-real. But, it is also wonderfully sweet, especially in the slow-burn romance between Ashley and Julian.

I love the balance between good and evil with Mosier and Ash’s grandparents taking on the role of villains, while Gus, Jock, Father Joseph, and Julian are firmly on the side of the angels. I also like the ambiguity with Tig and Anders. The diary device is effectively used in having her be a big part of the book even after her death.

Highly evocative, Fragments of Ash will make you feel for the main characters. I was truly scared for Ash in a couple of early scenes. I was both disgusted and saddened by Tig’s lifestyle. And, I fell in love with Julian’s “courtship” of Ash – asking for her consent, giving her the control over their physical interactions, having confidence in her strength to face Mosier as bait, protecting her. He is the total opposite of Mosier. That is why he’s the hero. He is why we read romance.

Readers, heed the disclaimer. This is an adult story with profane language and themes that could trigger trauma: drugs, rape threat, murder. If you like light and fluffy, this is not for you. If you’re a mature reader who likes to be engaged, immersed, involved with the story, buy Fragments of Ash. Now.
fairytale

FRAGMENTS OF ASH is part of the ~a modern fairytale~ collection: contemporary, standalone romances inspired by beloved fairy tales.

The Vixen and the Vet (Beauty & the Beast) – available now
Never Let You Go (Hansel & Gretel) – available now
Ginger’s Heart (Little Red Riding Hood) – available now
Dark Sexy Knight (Camelot) – available now
Don’t Speak (The Little Mermaid) – available now
Sheer Heaven (Rapunzel) – available now
Fragments of Ash (Cinderella) – available now
Swan Song (The Ugly Duckling) – coming soon

US: https://amzn.to/2LM4MRA
UK: https://amzn.to/2NRAGtf
CA: https://amzn.to/2NTJuPz
AU: https://amzn.to/2NPp3mU
B&N: http://bit.ly/2K3tsjJ
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Lu04bP
iBooks: https://apple.co/2LLLLyS

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katy RegneryNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Forty books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled New York Times and USA Today bestselling Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other stand-alone novels and novellas, including the critically-acclaimed, 2018 RITA© nominated, USA Today bestselling contemporary romance, Unloved, a love story.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, became a New York Times e-book bestseller.

Katy’s books are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Turkish.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website/Newsletter Signup: http://katyregnery.com
Email: katy@katyregnery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/katharineregner
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL by Margaret Brownley – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

CCS BBT Cover

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL

HAYWIRE BRIDES, #1

by

MARGARET BROWNLEY

Sub-genre: Western Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: September 4, 2018
Number of Pages: 384

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Synopsis

CCS cover

When Texas Ranger Brett Tucker accidentally derails a wedding, he’s determined to bring the estranged couple back together…but he never dreamed he’d start falling for the bride!

Texas Ranger Brett Tucker hates to break up a wedding, but the groom—notorious criminal Frank Foster—is a danger to any woman. So he busts into the

church, guns blazing…only to find he has the wrong man.

STOP THAT WEDDING!

Bride-to-be Kate Denver is appalled by her fiancé’s over-the-top reaction to the innocent mistake and calls off the wedding—for good. Guilt-ridden, Brett’s desperate to get them back on track. But the more time he spends with Kate, the harder he falls…and the more he yearns to prove that he’s her true match in every way.

“Light and airy as cotton candy, this tale charms.”

~ Publishers Weekly

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Review_preview

CCS extra photoHilarious! This is my first historical western romantic comedy and I had so much fun reading Cowboy Charm School. It’s also my first book by Margaret Brownley, but will definitely not be the last.

From the first scene at the chapel to the Happily-Ever-After Epilogue, this book thoroughly entertains. With engaging characters from the small town of Haywire coming to life in the pages of the book, Cowboy Charm School is just the thing we need to take our minds off the harsh realities of life even for just a few hours. Frank is a bumbling hoot, Aunt Letty is a lovable meddler, Dusty just makes you want to hug him, and Ringo is a star.

The slow build-up of attraction between the hero Texas Ranger Brett Tucker and the heroine Kate Denver is as sweet as the candies she makes in her store. Kate is creative, kind, caring, and has a backbone of steel. Brett, with his earnest desire to seeing to Kate’s safety and happiness even if it means letting her go, is the perfect hero during these times when women are hurting and needing the assurance that there are still a lot of good guys out there. He’s why we read romance.

Original story with loads of humor, delectable candy concoctions, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lotta love – Cowboy Charm School is a five-star read for me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

AboutTheAuthor

Margaret Brownley

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, will appear this fall in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book two of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2019.

Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

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Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card
September 24-October 3, 2018
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MISTLETOE MIRACLES by Jodi Thomas – Book Blog Tour Author Interview and Giveaway

mistletoe miracles bbt cover

MISTLETOE MIRACLES

Ransom Canyon

by

JODI THOMAS

Sub-genre: Holiday Romance / Western
Publisher: HQN
Date of Publication: September 25, 2018
Number of Pages: 354

Scroll down for an exclusive giveaway from Jodi Thomas!

Synopsis

MM cover

A small-town Texas Christmas story, where hearts are lost, love is found, and family always brings you back home.

Griffin Holloway is desperate: the Maverick Ranch has been in his family for generations, but lately, it’s a money pit. He’d sooner marry one of his horses than sell the ranch. Marriage, though, could be a solution. If he can woo a wealthy bride, he might save the ranch—just in time for Christmas. Jaxon O’Grady likes his solitude just fine, thank you very much. But when a car accident brings the unexpected to his door, he realizes just how much one person can need another. Crossroads is the perfect place for Jamie Johnson: avoiding nosy questions about why she’s single, she’s happy to keep to her lakeside home. So she’s baffled when she gets the strangest Christmas present of all, in the form of a Mr. Johnson, asleep on her sofa. Who is he, and why does everyone think he’s her husband?

In this uplifting novel, three unlikely couples discover just what Crossroads, Texas, can offer: romance, belonging, and plenty of Christmas spirit. 

”Deeply poignant moments and artfully rendered characters create a rich story that transports readers to an idyllic place.”~ Publishers Weekly

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AuthorInterview_preview

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JODI THOMAS

What are some of the jobs that you’ve held and how have they impacted your writing?

I’ve had many jobs over the years and I think all of them have helped me become a better writer. I’ve checked groceries, and I’ve worked in the library. I’ve also been a counselor and I think they all impacted me and my writing because they helped me better understand people.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I plan to write more books. Of course there are ideas in my mind that I’ll never have enough time to write, but the stories will still come. There are stories that I tell myself that I don’t think I’ll ever get on paper. But one book that someday I’m going to write is a book about living the life of a writer. I think it’s interesting that writers develop in rare air, not pure air but rare air. And I’d like to write a book on that. I have a little room in my house all set up and stacked with ideas and notes, so someday I’ll get around to writing that.

What does your nightstand look like on any given day?

My nightstand has a bottle of water on it. It has a clock on it because I need to know the time even in the middle of the night. And it always has books. They’re usually stacked in the back of the nightstand and dribbling off on the floor. I have 100 books stacked up in different places in my house that I plan to read just as soon as I have time.

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals?

Yes. Years ago whenever I mailed my manuscripts in, I had to kiss them goodbye. And the postman always thought that was crazy. But, I kissed all my stories goodbye. Now today the ritual I have is when I finish a book, I usually take an extra day and curl up and read it like I’m a reader, And if it doesn’t measure up, then I’m back to rewrites.

What is something interesting, funny that most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that I do not have a sense of a right and left. That makes it almost impossible for me to back up. We share a wide driveway with the house next door and as soon as my neighbor saw me trying to back up, he now parks his car in the garage every time. I don’t think I’ll ever learn. People have tried to teach me. It never works, but I have a great husband who every night goes out, drives my car out of the driveway, turns it around. That way when I get up, ready to go, I can go forward. Thanks, honey.

AboutTheAuthor

Author Pic ThomasA fifth-generation Texan, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A former teacher, Thomas traces the beginning of her storytelling career to the days when her twin sisters were young and impressionable.

With a degree in family studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A&M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence.

Commenting on her contribution to the arts, Thomas said, “When I was teaching classes full-time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher or nurse or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place.”

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo and checking up on their two grown sons.

◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆

◆ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE ◆

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An exclusive giveaway from Jodi Thomas!

(No purchase necessary. Transportation is not included. Winner will have one year to select available dates. Limit of four people at the condo for selected dates. No exchanges.)

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A RUMORED FORTUNE by Joanna Davidson Politano – Book Blog Tour Review/Giveaway

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A RUMORED FORTUNE

BY

JOANNA DAVIDSON POLITANO

Genre: Historical Romance / Christian
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: July 31, 2018
Number of Pages: 416

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Synopsis
MyDDDxMQWelcome to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England. Tressa Harlowe’s father kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it.

Now Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn’t take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they’re really up to. She’ll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father’s fortune—before someone else finds it first.

 
Review_preview

I don’t normally read Christian Romance, finding some of them too forceful in preaching, but I made an exception for A Rumored Fortune and I did not regret it. Joanna Davidson Politano’s faith and the faith of her main characters Tressa Harlowe and Donegan Vance shone throughout the book and is essential to the growth of the hero and heroine and the development of the story.

Almost allegorical in its story-telling, A Rumored Fortune is a fascinating novel. The descriptions of the settings and characters, the dialogues, the conflicts, and the narration take the reader in a journey of intricate family relationships, class warfare, historical societal norms, viticulture, mystery, and romance.

I appreciate the deft way Ms. Politano drew her characters. They’re real and relatable. Tressa is kind, intelligent, and artistic but she has prejudices too. Donegan is forthright, but is also deceptive. Even the secondary characters are rounded out: Lucy, Tressa’s mother, Andrew, Margaret, Dr. Caine, Neville and Ellen, Mr. Prescott. They’re not caricatures and have reasons for their behaviors.

With its unpredictable twists and turns and affecting lessons in the practice of trust and acts of charity and sacrifice to demonstrate faith and love, A Rumored Fortune is a highly engaging read.  I give it four stars. ✩✩✩✩

 

PRAISE FOR A RUMORED FORTUNE:

7ZN2R6-w“Everyone loves a treasure hunt—pair it with a heroine you can’t help but love, a hero you can’t help but swoon over, and a family mystery that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, and you end up with A Rumored Fortune. This book is a treasure in itself and one you won’t be able to put down!”—Roseanna M. White, bestselling author of the Ladies of the Manor series and Shadows Over England series

“Politano combines romance and mystery with great skill to create plot twists that will keep readers captivated until the very end.”—Publishers Weekly

“The author has done a great job, offering up a plot filled with wit, charm, action, and a lot of female strength.”—Suspense Magazine

 

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AboutTheAuthor

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Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears. She freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her.

WEBSITE     FACEBOOK     TWITTER

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE     GOODREADS

 

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GRAND PRIZE: Copy of A Rumored Fortune + Novel Teas (box of 25 tea bags) + $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
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September 11-20, 2018

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9/13/18		Author Interview	The Clueless Gent
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9/15/18		Review			StoreyBook Reviews
9/16/18		Notable Quotable	All the Ups and Downs
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