Author: Empress DJ

Empress DJ AKA Honolulubelle is a Rabid Reader, Unabashed Reviewer, and All-Purpose Goddess
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Book Review, Giveaway: A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall by Jane Linfoot

 

 A Cosy Christmas in Cornwall

by Jane Linfoot

 Amazon US / UK / AU / 

B&N / Apple / Kobo / GP

 

A December to remember…

Christmas in a Cornish castle? Sign Ivy Starforth up! Hired to kit out the holiday rental as the world’s most Instagramable festive dreamland, there’s only one thing standing in the way of her hefty paycheque – the lord of the manor.

Bill Markham could give Scrooge a run for his money but Ivy is firmly #TeamChristmas…even if her handsome host seems to be doing everything he can to sabotage her staging. Maybe she shouldn’t have stumbled in on him starkers in the hot tub?

As the temperature outside cools, things inside the castle heat up. It’s been a long time since Ivy allowed herself to give in to temptation…surely one little kiss under the mistletoe won’t hurt?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

… buying your own present might mean you forfeit those two seconds of amazement when it arrives. But the plus side is you get exactly what you want and you’re never disappointed.

 

And then there was a clatter of the phone being dropped, Fliss was telling Oscar not to lick his mango yogurt off the TV screen, and we got cut off. I must admit, conversations like this make me view the super-cute baby clothes in Daniels in a whole different light – the kind that has me whooshing off to Pet’s Corner. Five seconds listening to life on Fliss’s sofa is enough to remind me crooning over the tartan velvet coats and diamanté dog collars is a whole lot safer. Even if they cost ten times more than the human versions they’re cheap at the price when you consider what they’re saving you from.

 

It’s what my dad would call a FISH moment – frig it, shit happens.

 

Let’s face it, given the choice between teensy trousers or buttercream, in theory it’s great to say you’d go without and be skinny. But get a hundred percent real and squishy cupcake in your hand and it’s a whole other story. You’re mostly left with an empty bun case and a bad case of guilty regret before you even get around to thinking about your choice. I mean, who wants to be strong willed and skinny anyway, it’s hideous and boring and everyone despises you for it.

 

Tansy has a go at our eyebrows, and we all end up looking like we had an accident in the dark with a Sharpie and have to go and scrub them off.

 

I’m going to take a second to relive the last ten minutes, wrap them very carefully in tissue paper, and tuck them away in my safest memory box.

 

My Review:

 

This is my third time reading this clever and insightful author and have just realized what a witty and cunning minx she truly is.   Her characters tend to be complicated and multi-faceted and not always likable, yet there are always numerous reasons behind that and quite a few layers to go through to get there, so patience and forbearance were required but trust me, the HEA reward was well worth the effort. The busy, lively, and highly amusing storylines were well-balanced in tone, cast with an unusually peculiar yet intriguing and quirky slate of characters, and hit all the feels with agile levity as well as vividly described and shrewdly detailed observations.

The eventful story occurred over a two-week span in preparations for a wealthy and extremely driven and exacting client’s family Christmas holiday and was written from the first-person POV of Ivy, whose name should have been Rose or Thorn, as she was rather prickly. She was stridently bossy, rude, snappish, judgmental, and demanding towards the yummy Bill, the unfortunate man providing the venue which happened to be a castle. Ivy seemed to have a rather large yardstick wedged in an uncomfortable place, and there were several regrettable reasons for that, but until those causalities were fully enumerated, I had a difficult time appreciating Ivy, but I got there, as did she.

I gained a fun new entry for my Brit Word List with wodge, which is British informal for a large or bulky amount. Bill must have had a wodge of money to splash out for Dior Fahrenheit cologne as after Ivy’s obsessive mentions of his delicious scent I looked it up thinking of a possible gift for my husband. Regrettably, my wallet seized and my credit card melted at the cost. 😉  

About the Author

Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a cottage on a Derbyshire hillside with her family and their pets. Although she loves seeing cow noses over the garden wall, she’s happy she can walk to a supermarket.

Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spent a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea and wrote her first book by accident. While she loves to write feel-good books that let readers escape, she’s always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits to (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own storylines.

Jane’s garden would be less brambly if she wasn’t on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her recent stand-alone novels are all set in and around the (imaginary) seaside village of St Aidan in Cornwall. They are: Ivy’s Cornish Christmas, Edie’s Browne’s Cottage by the Sea, The Little Cornish Kitchen. Her four-book Little Wedding Shop series are standalone stories, also set in St Aidan. They are: The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop, Summer at the Little Wedding Shop and Christmas Promises at the Little Wedding Shop. They are all published by the Harper Impulse and One More Chapter imprints of Harper Collins.

Follow Jane on Twitter @janelinfoot, or find her on her Author Page Facebook or her

Personal Page Facebook. She’s also on Instagram and has lots of Pinterest boards relating to her novels.

Giveaway

 

 Win a signed Jane Linfoot Book and some chocolate

(Open INT)

 

*Terms and Conditions –  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Book Review: Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper (Death by Cupcake Book 4) by D.E. Haggerty

 Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper

(Death by Cupcake Book 4)

by D.E. Haggerty

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA   

 

It’s all candy cane cupcakes and peppermint coffee until you find a dead elf on your doorstep.

Only the elf wasn’t a real elf, because elves don’t actually exist – not even at Christmas time. A college student dressed as an elf decided taking a nap on the stoop of Callie’s Cakes in sub-zero winter temps was a good idea. It wasn’t. Anna, the pink-haired baker extraordinaire, is convinced the student’s death was not an accident. She drags Callie and Kristie along with her as she attempts to discover who killed the elf … um… student.

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the killer before Christmas is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although you’ll find recipes for all the delicious Christmas cupcakes Anna bakes.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“An elf died on our doorstep,” Anna repeats. He does a slow blink before shaking his head. “You know, a few months ago, I would have been shocked by those words coming out of anyone’s mouth. Now?” He shrugs.

 

He chuckles and waves as he walks out the door. I may be annoyed with him, but nothing can stop me from watching him walk away. The view is too fantastic to pass up.

 

I could easily push her out of the way. I’m a half a foot taller than her and weigh substantially more than her. How much more? I’m not saying. No way.

 

I hear a collective sigh from the group of women and smirk. I can’t blame their fangirling. With his height of around six feet, fit body, and dark blue eyes, Tyler is a catch. Add in the fire department t-shirt straining against his muscles underneath his apron and it’s a miracle no one has deliberately started a fire to see him in action.

 

My Review:

 

D.E. Haggerty can’t go wrong with her humorous cozy mystery series featuring a quirky cast of characters, unusual murder victims, mouth-watering cupcakes, a pink-haired pixie-sized baker, and an entertaining and original premise. The characters are relatable, the storylines are humorous and easy to follow and the mystery has a bit of bite to it. It was a quick, fun, and lively read, but a challenge to my diet plan.

About the Author

Website

Amazon 

Goodreads

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories that have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But being a lawyer really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out being a B&B owner wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from the adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

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Book Review: Saving Grace (Fox River Romance #4) by Jess B. Moore

Saving Grace

(Fox River Romance #4)

by Jess B. Moore

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

Brandt Grace is trouble no matter what he says or does, always getting in his own way, and trying to prove he can do better and be better only to fall on his face.

Saving Grace follows Brandt’s unintentional fall for Lola Donovan, the previously friendly girl turned quiet ghost of a girl. They connect at rock bottom, finding an unexpected source of strength in each other.

Can they find a way to leave the past behind and build a future together?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Growing up, everyone had a secret crush on a Grace brother. A whispered admission followed by all the reasons it was a bad idea.

 

If I’d been a cartoon, my jaw would have dropped open and flies would have flown into my mouth. He walked in heels? For a good cause?

 

Right. Wrong. They had lost some of their meaning over the years, words worn soft from constant use and too much thought. I had too often done the wrong thing, knowing it, and unable to climb my way out. When I tried to do the right thing, it often turned out to be wrong, and I had lost all concept of which was which.

 

What must it be like to see the world in lines and color? I imagined a mix of vibrancy and shadows, but couldn’t fathom translating objects or people or ideas into art.

 

I adored my baby brothers, but they drove me nuts. Did not care they were technically adults with good reputations. To me, they were brats who made too many fart jokes and cut the hair off my Barbie dolls.

 

 My Review:

 

I don’t know how she does it but Jess B. Moore makes angst palatable rather than painful. She has to be some sort of magical being as she has now pulled off this miraculous and mystifying feat four times, I can think of no other explanation. Her writing is poignant, perceptive, and cunningly emotive; it stings my eyes, squeezes my heart, and plays me like a finely tuned Dobro while hitting all the feels as well as the notes to a haunting and evocative melody.

Written in my favorite dual POV, Saving Grace was a heartrending and deftly penned tale occurred during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas and dealt with addition, regrets, abuse, shame, small-town gossip, and a load of family drama while an unexpected fledgling romance was slowly gathering speed between two silently struggling acquaintances.   The characters were endearingly flawed and realistically drawn with real-world issues. Brandt had a dark history and tainted reputation and Lola was a girl with magic eyes, and in more ways than one as she could see Brandt when his own family couldn’t. Sigh, I adored them but am now more curious than ever about Hudson, the last remaining Grace brother.

About the Author

Amazon
Twitter
Goodreads 
 Facebook
Website

Jess B. Moore is a writer of love stories.  When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her talented and stubborn children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish.   

Jess lives in small-town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family.  She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does.  She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.   

Look her up on social media @authorjessb – she’d be thrilled if you followed her on Twitter, overjoyed if you visited her on Facebook, and filled with glee if you liked her Instagram posts.

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Book Review: Shadows (Bayou Magic #1) by Kristen Proby

Shadows

(Bayou Magic #1)

by Kristen Proby 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / 

B&N / Apple

 

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes an all new paranormal romance set in the mystical city of New Orleans…

I am never alone. Not even when I am alone.
I see the unquiet dead, the souls that wander through the French Quarter.
They can’t move on, and I can’t stop seeing them.

I wear malachite for protection, and I control what I let in. It’s the only way to stay sane. Everything changes the day Cassian Winslow joins my ghost walking tour and knocks my world off its axis with green eyes the color of the stone around my neck.
An unspeakable evil is loose in New Orleans, taking young women and leaving a bloodbath in his wake. More shadows lurking for me. More unhappy dead. There might be a way to stop it.

Open myself up to Cassian.
If I do, it could spell his death.
But if I don’t, it’s mine.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“It’s a hell of a first date,” Millie mumbles. “I mean, most people just get naked and have sex and then regret their life choices in the morning. This is on a whole different level.” I smirk and then shrug. “The night’s not over yet.”

“For you,” she says to Cash, passing him a coffee. “There’s a protection spell in there.” “Does it have eye of newt?” he asks, flashing a smile. “Not this time,” Millie replies with a wink, making Cash’s smile slide from his face.

 

My Review:

 

I’m not much of a paranormal reader but I’ve recently discovered this smooth and talented wordsmith named Kristen Proby and thought I’d give it a perusal. Somewhere on page one, her cunning word voodoo sucked me right into her character’s vortex while her strong and crafty juju held me enthralled. I was spellbound by her well-crafted and shrewdly plotted tale.

The engaging storylines and writing were absorbing and swirling with atmosphere and cast with oddly intriguing characters. I couldn’t put my Kindle down despite the chilling and gruesome nature of the crimes depicted. It was spine-tingling. I am definitely hooked and while I may not be much of a paranormal reader, I certainly seem to be one when Kristen Proby throws it down.

Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.

During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.

Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana.

 

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Book Review: The House That Alice Built by Chris Penhall

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The House That Alice Built

by Chris Penhall

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA /

 B&N / Kobo / GP / Ruby Fiction

Home is where the heart is …

Alice Dorothy Matthews is sensible. Whilst her best friend Kathy is living it up in Portugal and her insufferable ex Adam is traveling the world, Alice is working hard to pay for the beloved London house she has put her heart and soul into renovating.

But then a postcard from Buenos Aires turns Alice’s life upside down. One very unsensible decision later and she is in Cascais, Portugal, and so begins her lesson in ‘going with the flow’; a lesson that sees her cat-sitting, paddle boarding, dancing on top of bars and rediscovering her artistic talents.

But perhaps the most important part of the lesson for Alice is that you don’t always need a house to be at home.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You wouldn’t know nonchalant if it knocked on your door and said hello, I’m nonchalant, whispered the voice in her head.

 

Bricks and mortar. They can’t protect you from everything, can they? They can protect you from the wind and the rain and the cold, but they can’t protect you from your emotions.

 

I look like I’ve been living in a cave all my life surviving on a diet of pasties and washing my hair with lard.

 

My Review:

 

Poor Alice, she couldn’t seem to climb out of her gloom as it kept coming at her from all sides, including her own inner voice. Her ex-boyfriend, who had left her with debts, was back and wanting to claim half of her home; she had lost her job and her sparkle; and her inner voice was berating her at every turn. Alice’s tale was insightfully written with clever observational humor, a quirky cast of characters, angst, loss of self, a pyramid full of insecurities, lots of waffling and indecision, a blossoming romance, rekindling of old friendships, high anxiety, self-rediscovery, adventures in a foreign land, paddle boarding, pet-sitting, ambling, jewelry making, photography, artistry, home renovation, and an empowering evolution with defiantly vibrant trousers – which I greedily coveted. I frequently alternated between empathy for Alice and wanting to give her a smack to the back of the head, but I was proud of her and for her by the end.

About the Author

Chris Penhall is a freelance writer and radio producer.

Her book, The House That Alice Built, won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star Competition 2019.

Born in South Wales, she has also lived near London and in Portugal, which is where The House That Alice Built is set. It was whilst living in Cascais near Lisbon that she began to dabble in writing fiction, but it was many years later that she was confident enough to start writing her first novel, and many years after that she finally finished it! She is now working on her second.

A lover of books, music, and cats, she is also an enthusiastic salsa dancer, a keen cook, and loves to travel. She is never happier than when she is gazing at the sea.

Chris has two grown-up daughters and lives in the Essex countryside.

Chris is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Social Media Links 

www.chrispenhall.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisPenhall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisPenhallBroadcasterWriter

 

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Book Review: Love in Due Time (Green Valley Library #1) by L.B. Dunbar

GVL01-BANNER-BT-SBPR

Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!

 

20190718_GVL01_Love in Due Time_Dunbar_KDP_FINAL

Love in Due Time

(Green Valley Library #1)

by L.B. Dunbar

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kwBn29

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2m24uuN

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LoveinDueTime

Nook: http://bit.ly/2kv2FpK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kx2n1t

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2m2Wytn

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2ku1o2d

 

Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.

Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.

What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think.

The due date on their love might not be expired after all.

‘Love in Due Time’ is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series.

 

Copy of GVL01-LIVE

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

I don’t want any second-guesses about my intentions. Only second chances.

 

My Review:

 

This captivating tale was unusually cast and singularly crafted. It featured a second chance romance for a tenderhearted small-town Wiccan librarian that was circling forty, socially awkward, peculiarly clad, and practically a virgin – how more original or creative could a premise be? Written in my favorite dual POV, the writing was thoughtfully observant, painstakingly insightful, and fraught with angst, interpersonal and familial conflicts, throbbing loins, sexual tension, and decades of regret as well as unexpected slivers of amusing and smirk-worthy levity amidst all that other stuff. The wily Ms. Dunbar has brought her uniquely gifted skill set to Smartypants Romance for an engaging, somewhat arduous, highly evocative, and uncommonly satisfying fusion of synergy.

Excerpt

“Naomi?” My hands cover her shoulders, holding her steady.

“This is all my fault.” Her eyes widen, the widest I’ve ever seen. Panic fills them.

“What do you mean?”

“I … I can’t believe this happened again.” Her hands come to my chest, and she gently pushes at me. “You have to get out of here.”

“What?” My brows pinch at the harsh tone.

“You need to go. I can’t be near you.” Her voice struggles to stay level.

Ouch. That stings a little.

“Why?” I take one step back under the force of her hands.

“I can’t be around you. This can’t happen.”

“Lady, what are you talking about?” My voice roughens.

“Bad things always happen after I’m with you.”

I stiffen, straightening to my full height. My arms cross and I glare down at her. Saying such a thing is just downright mean. Her head shakes as her fingers curl along the open edges of my work jacket. Suddenly, I feel like she’s tugging me to her instead of pressing me away.

What the …

“When I’m with you, something happens. Something bad.” Her breath catches. “Because we kissed, the library is closing.”

I stare at her. She can’t be serious, but I see the hysteria in her eyes, like a rabid, trapped animal. She actually believes what she says.

“Well, we didn’t kiss,” I remind her, my tone stern and condescending. “I kissed you, remember? And you didn’t kiss me back, so I don’t think it counts.”

She glares up at me, her fingers still gripping my open jacket. Her shoulders fall, her head lowers, and it’s as if I can visibly see her relax, like water cascading down a building, washing over her.

Exhale. Settle.

Exhale. Calm.

“I didn’t kiss you back?” she questions and then her head pops up again. She nearly shrieks with the hesitant realization. Commence inhaling, like she’s winding up again. Full steam ahead.

“I didn’t kiss you back,” she repeats, her excitement growing. Another exaggerated inhale.

“I didn’t kiss you back!” Now, she’s just downright gloating, and the engine’s ready to blow.

“You don’t have to sound so pleased,” I murmur. I glance up and notice Mrs. MacIntyre watching us through the window of the librarian’s office behind the check-out counter. Her eyes narrow and I’m certain we’re making too much noise for her liking.

“I … I’m so relieved,” Naomi admits, her head falling forward, her fingers loosening on my jacket. Then her face turns up again. Her lids lift, slow and lazy. Her mouth curls in sweet relief, and she pulls herself up on her toes by the open edge of my jacket and does the damnedest thing. She kisses me.

 

About L.B. Dunbar

L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small-town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.

 

Connect with L.B. Dunbar

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kkGqTy

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzEmHo

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kvIEiS

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k1Rk0d

Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/

 

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

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Book Review: Happy Trail (Park Ranger #1) by Daisy Prescott

DP-HT-FBbannerBT

“Happy Trail was a feel good, funny and heartwarming adventure with the usual Daisy Prescott charm..”– T. Gephart, USA Today bestselling author

Happy Trail, an all-new opposites attract standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Daisy Prescott, is available now!

 

20190718_GVPR01_Happy Trail_Prescott_KDP_FINAL

Happy Trail

(Park Ranger #1)

by Daisy Prescott

Download today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2jXmYvE

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2lB3BJv

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HappyTrail

Nook: http://bit.ly/2m0VeXN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lEAwww

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2jXnfPc

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2ku05Al

 

A man of few words, Ranger Jay Daniels values the calm, quiet solitude of the Great Smoky Mountains. Never quite fitting in with either side of his family, he prefers the company of birds and trees to people.

Yeah, he’d most definitely prefer a bird—any bird, any bird at all, take a vulture for instance—to the human-tornado hybrid that just blew onto his peaceful stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

The path of true love never has run smooth for Olive Perry. After getting dumped and promptly abandoned in the middle of her multi-month hike, Olive swears off men. Determined to finish the long trek by herself, she doesn’t need a prince—or broody and taciturn ranger—to save her.

Yet, when an early snowstorm threatens the mountains, and Ranger Daniels is charged with getting hikers to safety, that includes hot-tempered Olive Perry. Snowed in and forced to share an abandoned cabin, can Olive’s heated intensity melt Jay’s cool reserve?

And if so, will this happy trail lead to true love? Or will their time together be just another bump in the road?

‘Happy Trail’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Park Ranger series.

 

DP-HT-available1

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

My parents each have four siblings. Big families are like living inside a circus run by the monkeys…

 

Tye had a strong aversion to the South, based solely on watching the movie Deliverance when he was nine during a sleepover with his older cousins. He also hated all banjo and fiddle music. Made me wonder if his cousins were also musical sadists.

 

Is there some sort of chemical stored in testicles, that compels men to explain things to women?

 

He has a drawl I automatically want to mimic. The slow pace of his words is molasses and I’m a housefly with a sugar addiction.

 

“You can keep the mayo, AKA the devil’s mucus.” Her eyes widen. “No, you’re one of those people.” “Exactly which kind of person am I?” I challenge, my tone playful. “The kind who hate mayonnaise.”

 

Smugness rarely looks good on anyone, but I think I wear it well.

 

My Review:

 

Happy Trails was a slow-burn romantic comedy with weather and hygiene challenged, mosquito-bitten, sore-footed, and socially awkward characters. Hikers are an odd breed and definitely not one I share a gene pool with, as I likes my creature comforts such as running water, ice, and high thread count sheets. While I wouldn’t have lasted for even a few miles or an afternoon of the intrepid Olive’s trek, I was well entertained by her adventure. Written in my favorite dual POV, the storylines were original and insightfully penned with well-crafted layers of angst, clever levity, and complicated yet endearingly quirky characters with a love of pop-tarts, a predilection that I also share.

 

 

 

Excerpt

“Can we drop the pretense of not being trapped on the wrong side of the fence with whatever bloodthirsty beast is making such a sound?” I squint into the distance, hoping narrowing my eyes will give me super strength vision.

It doesn’t. I step behind Ranger Daniels for protection.

“What are you doing?” He twists his neck to look down at me.

“Hiding. I believe you took an oath to protect and serve.”

“Pfft. You’re confusing me with a police officer. I’m here to engage, educate, and empower.” He moves so he’s beside me.

“You carry a gun, don’t you?”

“Sometimes. Do you see a holster now?”

I scan his hips and shake my head, allowing my eyes to linger on the tight fit of his uniform pants over his strong thighs and the thick belt at his narrow waist. Ranger Daniels is packing heat, but not of the pistol variety.

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

A distinct braying reaches my ears.

“Is that a donkey?” I tip my head.

“What would a donkey be doing up here? Makes no sense.”

“Ask him. Or her.” I point at the gray beast moving toward us. “I’m a city girl, but I’m pretty sure that’s an ass.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Jay removes his hat.

Maybe he plans to shoo away our attacker with it?

The gray form ambles toward us, letting out a loud bray and revealing large teeth.

“Should we be worried?” I’m standing behind Jay again.

“About a donkey? They’re mostly docile. He’s probably just curious.” Shifting his attention forward, he addresses our new friend. “Hey there. Where’d you come from?”

The donkey halts.

“See? He’s fine. Probably thinks we’re bringing treats.”

“And what will he do when he realizes we’re showing up to his house empty-handed?” I’m half mocking. In my world, not bringing a hostess gift is an unthinkable breach of etiquette. I have no idea about the social decorum for equines.

“Let’s go.” Jay encourages me forward with a sweep of his hat.

We take several steps and the donkey does the same without breaking eye contact, like we’re about to duel. There’s definitely a challenge, a mild threat in the eyes of our new foe.

“Should we slowly retreat to the fence?” I whisper at Jay’s back.

“Nah, we’re fine.”

“Maybe he’s a guard donkey.” I slide a glance over my shoulder toward safety. We’re a dozen or so yards away, but it isn’t too late to make a quick escape.

Jay’s eyes meet mine. “You know guard donkeys aren’t a thing.”

“I’m a stranger in a strange land—anything’s possible.” I wait until he faces forward to stick my tongue out at him.

He’s shaking his head and clearly not paying attention to me anymore as he stomps across the squishy field.

Left with no choice, I follow after him.

My boot slips in the mud, or donkey poop—it’s impossible to tell the difference. I squawk and flail my arms as I tumble forward in an awkward motion resembling the mating dance of an emu.

The donkey’s ears prick up before flattening against his head.

“Uh oh,” I murmur as I straighten up.

“It’s fine,” Jay says for the dozenth time.

Only he’s wrong.

 

About Daisy Prescott

Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their rescue dog, Mulder, and an imaginary house goat. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.

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Book Review: One Week Stand by M. Mabie

 

 One Week Stand 

by M. Mabie

 

READ for FREE with KindleUnlimited!

Amazon US https://amzn.to/31G5gfV

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Publication Date: October 24, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Comedy/New Adult

 A hilariously steamy, classmates-neighbors-enemies to lovers romantic comedy with a fun internet celebrity twist.

Was it too much to ask for one wild week away from college, away from the cold weather, and away from my classmates? That’s all I wanted. A spring break vacation where I could live my best life with my friends and get a little crazy for once. Possibly, drink too many cocktails on the beach, wear the skimpy bikini I bought, and have a no-strings-attached, tropical escapade with a co-ed.

Sounds perfect, right?

Well, it didn’t happen because my dumbass missed the nonrefundable flight.

And if it wasn’t bad enough that I was stranded on an empty, snow-covered campus over my senior year spring break, it was about to get a whole lot worse…because he’s still here too.

The tall, dark smart ass. The cocky classmate I’ve been rolling my eyes at since freshman year. The annoying internet star who everyone thinks is hilarious.

Julien Carson.

So you know what? Screw it.

It’s just a few days, and nobody has to know. Plus, I guess he’s not so bad to look at when he’s saying all the right things and making all the right moves. Maybe I don’t have to fly thousands of miles for a spring fling because I can’t come up with a single reason why Julien shouldn’t be my… One Week Stand.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“I’m sorry. You’re so pretty. Don’t be mad.” He’s backtracking. “I’ll never do it again.”

 Honestly, someone should write the software engineers over at the makers of mobile devices to come up with some kind of f*ing warning when you’re getting hate on a viral level. Like when you open the screen, it could say, “Hey, just so you know, you should probably take a Xanax and a shot of tequila before going any further. Because what’s going on with you online today isn’t cute.”

 

My Review:

 

Turn up all the fans and air conditioning as high as possible as this one is a scorcher that had me gasping and smirking, then gasping some more. Oh! My! This New Adult Romantic Comedy will be a boon for condom sales. I am chartreuse with envy over this sweary and snarky couple’s stamina and sensual expertise as the only time my bedroom has seen my body “flushed, ears to ankles” has been during a craptastic illness with a high fever.

I adore Ms. Mabie’s clever and irreverent humor and I loved her City Limits rom/com series. Her storylines and writing were lively and fun, super-steamy, and laced with sharp wit and spicy levity. Long after finishing I am continuing to sip ice water in attempts to cool down and calm my breath, and it seems my face is still oddly sporting a naughty grin that I just can’t seem to wipe away.

About M. Mabie

M. Mabie lives in Illinois with her husband. She writes everything from steamy romantic comedies to angst-filled, pull your hair out drama. She enjoys it all. With her unconventional love stories, she tries to embody “real-life romance.”

She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne’s World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head. She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost. 

 M. Mabie usually doesn’t speak in third-person. She promises.

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Book Review: Weight Expectations (Cipher Office #1) by M.E. Carter

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“Hilarious, engaging and relatable, I started laughing out loud from the first page” — Kristin Vayden, bestselling author

Weight Expectations, the first in the romantic comedy Cipher Office series of standalones, from M.E. Carter is available now!

 

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Weight Expectations 

(Cipher Office #1)

by M.E. Carter

 

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2nQ4Rtx

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WeightExpectations

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2lZkGwJ

Rian Thompson thought she joined the gym to get healthy. Little did she know she was about to add hundred and ninety pounds of swoonworthy abdominal muscles and arrogance to her life.

Every day in Rians’s life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family—even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the moment.

She doesn’t need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy—mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she’ll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.

Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.

In Carlos’s mind, his life is damn near perfect. He’s got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he’s never sleeping alone?

Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great—and unexpected—things happen.

‘Weight Expectations’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

My eyes widen, both in disbelief and possible terror at what “stretching” might entail. I ate a bean burrito for lunch. Does he not understand the kind of danger “stretching” might put everyone in?

 

“They’re vultures around here,” she continues which does not make me feel better at all. “And once you get sucked in, you’re stuck for life.” I gasp and throw my hands over my mouth. “Ohmygod. I’ve stumbled into the Hotel California.”

 

I’ll leave the hacking into national security systems to him. I don’t look good in orange or jumpsuits. The combination of the two would be hideous.

 

Right on cue, the office essentially stops, every single woman in the room staring at him, jaws agape. Rian included… “Ladies.” He nods in greeting, his British accent ringing out for everyone to hear. Teresa, who just happens to be in the vicinity when the door opens, should be grateful she’s walking by a chair, because her legs literally give out and she collapses into said chair as she watches him walk away… I don’t have a thing for Teresa, but I still don’t appreciate her collapsing dramatically in the office. Quinn needs to stop recommending attractive employees. I have no room in the budget for smelling salts.

 

I just let them think what they want. I can see now that it’s been biting me in the ass behind my back.” “Well, behind your back is where your ass is located.”

 

Putting her hands on my chest, Rebecca uses that breathy voice that’s supposed to be sexy, but now it makes me wonder if she has some sort of lung dysfunction.

 

 My Review:

 

Having struggled with every fad diet verses an unbridled love of food – ALL my life – I totally fell into this story with a plus-sized heroine. M.E. Carter nailed the complications, insecurities, discomforts, and frustrations of living within a curvy and amply proportioned body, and she did so with sparkling wit and cleverly insightful observations. I adored Rian; we could be fun and kickass friends. She was realistically and craftily penned; as were many of the rude reactions, unpleasant comments, and thoughtless behaviors others directed and displayed towards her due to her size, including those of family. M.E. Carter masterfully captured all that noise and still kept me grinning.

The storylines were original and entertaining while the writing was crisp, engaging, and laced with amusing visuals, clever snark, and smirk-worthy levity. The story was character-driven and developed slowly.   While I had an instant liking for Rian, Carlos was a piece of work that required a lot more effort for me to fully appreciate, although that grew easier as he began to evolve from the shallow pool of ooze in which he started.

I am totally grooving on these Smartypants Romances!

 

About M.E. Carter

My name is ME Carter and I have no idea how I ended writing books. I’m more of a storyteller (the more exaggerated the better) and I happen to know people who helped me get those stories on paper. I love reading (read almost 200 books last year), hate working out (but I do it anyway because my trainer makes me), love food (but hate what it does to my butt) and love traveling to non-touristy places most people never see. I live in Houston with my four kids, Mary, Elizabeth, Carter, and Bug, who was just a twinkle in my eye when I came up with my pen name. Yeah, I’ll probably have to pay for his therapy someday for being left out.

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Book Review: A Moment in Time (Give Me Shelter Book 2) by Josie Kerr

A Moment in Time

(Give Me Shelter Book 2) 

by Josie Kerr

Amazon  Universal 

 

Ben “Gunny” Anderson spent twenty years in the United States Marine Corps, watching the enemy through the scope of a long gun, waiting for the right moment to snuff out their lives. Now he’s retired and while he figures out what he wants to do with the rest of his life, he’s working with some former teammates, renovating properties.

After a scandal ruins her professional and personal life, Lindsay Beaujardin is looking for a brand new start and a move from Louisville to Atlanta is the perfect way to begin again.

A three-day fling between Gunny and Lindsay turns into the shock of a lifetime when they unexpectedly cross paths again. All it takes is a moment in time to change the course of fate and Gunny and Lindsey are about to find out just how true that is.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I don’t think I can deal with people today. They’re too . . . people-y.

 

“Big question here, Lindsay—like, the most important one of all.” Her breath caught in her chest. “Okay. Ask me.” “Pickle-juice snow cones—yes or no?”

 

My Review:

 

This story had my Kindle melting with a sizzling first chapter that required a bump up in the air conditioning and a pause to catch my breath. Both main characters started off in transition, turning a corner, and looking for a fresh start; which they both deserved and strived to achieve.   The premise was fresh, the writing captured and held my curiosity and attention, and the characters squeezed and absconded with my heart. I’m already feeling a bit impatient for the next installment.

 

 

 

Josie Kerr   

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Josie Kerr is a transplanted West Texan living on the edge of semi-profoundly rural Georgia, a.k.a. the southernmost edge of the northernmost county in Metro Atlanta.

She has an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education but discovered that she hated high school more the second time than she did the first, so she decided to meld her love of technology with her education background and became an Instructional Designer. When not writing articles about how to fire someone without getting sued or why you should really not apply for jobs using your SexxyStud99@aol.com email address, she writes steamy romance novels that feature grown-up Heroes and Heroines.