Book Review, Giveaway: One Wild Night by A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea

One Wild Night 

A flirty, sexy contemporary romance from bestselling authors, A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea . . .

“A fun, flirty, and fire-hot, feel-good romance” –Karen, Bookalicious Babes
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It’s here!!!!!! ONE WILD NIGHT is LIVE!
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It’s fun.
It’s flirty.
It’s sexy.
And yep, it’ll still give you the feels!
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I had an absolute blast writing this collaboration with one of my very best friends, Rebecca Shea, and we’re so proud to bring it to you. It’s a departure from what we typically write, but there is something about it that just hit the spot 😉
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I hope you love Paxton and Kaylee’s super fun, sexy story
xoxo – Amy
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Blurb:

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A flirty, sexy contemporary romance from bestselling authors, A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea . . .
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Kaylee Rose Burton, kindergarten teacher, has never been a believer in fantasies.
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Living in L.A. her entire life, she knows the glitz and glam of Hollywood is just an illusion.
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That is until she stumbles head first into the arms of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor.
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It was just another day for Paxton Myles on the red carpet until the blue-eyed beauty literally stumbles at his feet.
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A single glimpse in her innocent eyes and he knows he has to have her.
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After one night of unbridled passion, Kaylee slips away to live her quiet life, but the paparazzi has other ideas.
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When Kaylee’s world comes crashing down, can Paxton convince her that their one wild night could turn into forever?
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My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

She wants answers, and my brain is moving at the speed of a snail in molasses right now.

My Review:

 

Sizzle and Snap! Holy scorched ceiling tiles Batman! I frequently had to stop to catch my breath and wipe the sweat from my brow while reading this spicy little tale. Every girl has had a fantasy of catching the eye of a rich and handsome man and becoming his sun and moon, and that is what happened to this sweet little kindergarten teacher. However a vile publicist and rabid press ensured it was not all unicorns farting rainbow sprinkles for the smitten couple, but it was a quick and saucy read packed with naughty fun and London sightseeing done the rich and famous way. Oh, my!

$50 Amazon GC Giveaway

A.L. Jackson and Rebecca Shea are bestselling authors residing in Arizona. After being writing partners for five years, it only made sense that they’d put their minds together to bring their readers something fun, flirty, and sexy.

Connect with A.L.

Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage

Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn

Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub

Twitter: @aljacksonauthor

Instagram: @aljacksonauthor

Snapchat: @aljacksonauthor

Connect with Rebecca

Newsletter: https://goo.gl/VX1w4U

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

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527432567356595/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Shea/e/B00E4RIUQ6

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-shea

Twitter: @beccasheaauthor

Instagram: @rebeccasheaauthor

Book Review: Leona’s Last Resort (Tawnee Mountain Mysteries Book 1) by Karen M. Bryson

Leona’s Last Resort 

(Tawnee Mountain Mysteries Book 1)

by Karen M. Bryson

Goodreads

Amazon

When Max Elliot invites Izzy Grant to a fancy Ivy League alumni reception at the Tawnee Mountain Resort, the ghost hunters anticipate a romantic weekend getaway at the premier ski and golf destination.

But when wealthy hotelier Leona Hutton is murdered, and her ghost asks Izzy to find her killer, she and Max decide to investigate.

Will Izzy and Max solve the case before more alumni end up dead, or the killer turns the tables and decides to hunt the ghost hunters?

Leona’s Last Resort is a part of the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries series, a collection of seven brand new mysteries, from seven award-winning and bestselling authors, taking place at the same final destination, the Tawnee Mountain Resort.

Leona’s Last Resort features ghost hunters, Izzy Grant and Max Elliot, from the Izzy & Max Paranormal Mystery series.

Each book in this multi-author series is a standalone novella, and the series can be read in any order.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He’s got his earbuds in and he’s joyfully oblivious to the fact that he’s singing way out of tune. “This is the dawning of the Age of Asparagus. The Age of Asparagus…”

 

Even though his sister and I are about the same size that’s where the similarity between us ends. She was the head cheerleader and her high school’s prom queen. My Old Town classmates voted me the Most Likely to Kill Herself and then laughed about it our entire senior year.

 

Sam has a habit of saying everything like it’s a cheer. I always wonder if I’m supposed to respond with, “Go. Fight. Win!”

 

Dr. Spencer Jamison epitomizes the term old coot. He looks like he’s twenty years past his expiration date. He’s so old that his wrinkles have wrinkles. And he’s much crabbier than I am even when I’m raging with PMS on a bad hair day.

 

I’m surprised by how much I sound like a gumshoe from one of those old noir detective novels. I feel like I need to follow-up with “Don’t leave town,” but I refrain.

 

My Review:

 

I enjoyed this entertaining murder mystery with a bit of ghostly assistance; I absorbed it quickly and found a frequent smirk on my face as I read. This quick and engaging tale was written from the first person POV of Izzy, a prickly and contrary nonconformist with a snarky tongue, yet her inner musings belied her softer side and amusing observations. I always take pleasure in Ms. Bryson’s sardonic wit and colorful insights, I get her. I look forward to more smart and snappy stories from this sly and clever author.


 

KAREN M. BRYSON writes romantic mystery and suspense stories. She is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry as well as the RWA Lone Star Writing Contest.

Karen is also an award-winning/optioned screenwriter.

When she’s not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Karen previously wrote contemporary romance under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON, REN MONTERREY and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DAKOTA MADISON.

Please note that Karen M. Bryson (TM) is a trademark and may not be used without the owner’s permission.

Where to find Karen…

Website: http://www.karenmuellerbryson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMuellerBrysonAuthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karenmbryson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmbryson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenmbryson

Book Review: The Baby Plan by Kate Rorick

The Baby Plan

by Kate Rorick

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Paperback: 432 pages

 Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 20, 2018)

“Smart and funny, The Baby Plan is irresistible! A winner.” -Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author

In The Lizzie Bennet Diaries creator Kate Rorick’s first adult fiction novel, we enter the wild, bewildering world of modern pregnancies. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head as you wonder where everyone’s sanity went…

Meet the mothers…

Nathalie Kneller: Nathalie’s plan: to announce her pregnancy now that she’s finally made it past twelve weeks! But just as she’s about to deliver (so to speak) the big news to her family, her scene-stealing sister barfs all over the Thanksgiving centerpiece. Yup, Lyndi’s pregnant too, swiping the spotlight once more…  

Lyndi Kneller:  Lyndi’s plan: finally get her life together! She’s got a new apartment, new promotion, new boyfriend. What she didn’t count on—a new baby! She can barely afford her rent, much less a state-of-the-art stroller…

Sophia Nunez: Sophia’s plan: Once she gets her daughter Maisey off to college, she’ll finally be able to enjoy life as the make-up artist to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and girlfriend to one of rock’s hottest musicians. But after 18 years she discovers the stork is once again on its way…

Now these women are about to jump headlong into the world of modern day pregnancy. It’s a world of over the top gender reveal parties (with tacky cakes and fireworks); where every morsel you eat is scrutinized and discussed; where baby names are crowd-sourced and sonograms are Facebook-shared. And where nothing goes as planned…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

He was also a musician, which as far as Maisey could tell, meant he wore really expensive weathered clothes and always looked like he was wet.

 

I remember I was so bloated with Luke, I looked like I’d died in the bathtub and they found my body three days later.

 

They’re trying to think of something good to say. Because saying ‘you don’t have your life together enough to have a baby,’ doesn’t really fit on a Hallmark card.

 

Yeah, and do you know what I told him ten minutes before you got married? … That if he ever did anything to hurt you, I would travel to South America, buy an authentic machete, bring it back, and hack him to pieces with it… I was in my horror-movie-watching phase.

 

I had only happened recently, this need to ABC – Always Be Couching.

 

My Review:

 

Silly me, from the cover and synopsis, I was expecting a romantic comedy, and while it was often witty and packed with amusing insights and observations, it was more of a women’s fiction tale with heartbreak, maternity issues, and loads of family drama. The storylines were relevant and entertaining while plucking at my heartstrings almost as often as it contributed to the smile lines on my face. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, smart humor, and unpredictable conundrums, although I didn’t see these characters as types I would personally want to befriend.

 

About Kate Rorick

Kate Rorick is an Emmy Award-winning writer who has worked on a number of television shows, most recently The Librarians on TNT. She was also a writer for the hit web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and authored the two series tie-in novels, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet and The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet. In her other life, she writes bestselling historical romance novels under the name Kate Noble. Kate lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Find out more about Kate at her website, and connect with her on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

 

Book Review: Hero’s Return – The Montana Cahills by B.J. Daniels

 Hero’s Return

The Montana Cahills

by B.J. Daniels

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN (March 27, 2018)
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The prodigal Cahill is back—and ready to confess
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Tucker Cahill disappeared from Gilt Edge, Montana, hoping to escape a secret that has haunted him for nineteen years. Then, when a young woman’s remains are found in the creek near his family’s ranch, he has no choice but to face his demons. The truth that sent him running years ago could take away his freedom now.
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Kate Rothschild came to town looking for vengeance—and Tucker Cahill. What she finds is a tortured and irresistible man who’s more than meets the eye. Caught up in the past, they are drawn deeper into a twisted game that’s not over yet. And the consequences could prove fatal for them both…
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“B.J. Daniels is at the top of her game…the perfect blend of hot romance and thrilling suspense.” -New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
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“In her Cahill Ranch series, Daniels has created an intriguing setting and a cast of characters that prompt reader loyalty.” -RT Book Reviews on Outlaw’s Honor

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“We’re a team, right?” She couldn’t help but smile. “That’s us, one of the great detective couples. Like Nick and Nora.” He mugged a face. “More like Bonnie and Clyde.”

 

I swear, when it comes to women, Tucker doesn’t have the good sense of a rock.

 

My Review:

 

This book was 90% mystery/suspense and 10% slow building romance as the couple didn’t lock lips until 60% into the book and only indulged in one sizzling sensual encounter of knocking the boots at 80%. So my elderly mother could very well read this one if she knew where to “skip the naughty bit,” and wouldn’t require much use of her trusty sharpie to censor out much “language.” Sigh… We rarely read the same books but she would enjoy the several confounding and complicated mysteries involving several murders over nineteen years, family drama, disappearances, extortion, kidnapping, lust, betrayal, and paternity issues. I took note that the one mystery that I had assumed would be the easiest to crack was only partially resolved by the conclusion of the tale. Oh what an intricate plot this scribe has penned. While I didn’t care for the main character of Kate for the longest time as she was playing games and being manipulative, and her actions had been cruel and thoughtless, I adored the engaging Cahills and their knotty family tree of complex issues and personalities. B. J. Daniels has been a recent find and while I may be a city dweller, I do enjoy her small-town tales and well-seasoned cowboys for a chance of pace.

About B. J. Daniels 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels was born in Texas but moved with her family to Montana at the age of five. Her first home was a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon and later a lake house on Hebgen Lake outside of West Yellowstone.
Most of her books are set in Montana, a place she loves. She lives now in a unique part of the state with her husband and three Springer Spaniels.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to play tennis, boat, camp, quilt and snowboard. There is nothing she enjoys more than curling up with a good book.

Book Review: Beyond the Garden by Ashley Farley

Beyond the Garden 

by Ashley Farley

 Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

All is right in Ellie Pringle Hagood’s world. Recently married to the man of her dreams and in anticipation of the big family she’s always wanted, she focuses on restoring the large home she inherited from her grandmother on Charleston’s prestigious Battery. Abbott, the father she adores, lives just down the street from her. She treasures her beloved housekeeper, Maddie, who offers wise counsel and loving support, and is the closest thing to a mother she’s ever known. Two days a week, she volunteers for an art program she piloted at an elementary school. But then, in the midst of all her happiness, comes news that throws Ellie’s life into a tailspin. Her brother-in-law has been murdered in Key West, and her sister, Lia, is wanted for questioning in the investigation. No one in Ellie’s family has seen or heard from Lia in the seven months since she disappeared and left her twin three-year-old daughters in Ellie and Julian’s care. The newlyweds, with several questions nagging at them, fly off to Key West in search of the missing sister. Where is Lia? How is she connected to her husband’s murder? What will become of her twin daughters? The two are only at the beginning of their quest for answers and solutions, and the path they take turns out to be far more torturous and complicated than expected.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She arrived five minutes late for class to discover her students dancing around the room and singing into their fists to the sound of rap music blaring from one of the boys’ iPhones. Their shoes bore holes and their clothes were worn, but they all carried a smartphone of some variety.

 

Nothing in this life comes without risk, Miss Ellie. But if you don’t take the risk, you don’t get the reward.

 

My Review:

 

Beyond the Garden had an active and busy plot with several intense storylines involving lots of tension with family drama, tragedy, mental illness, murder, blackmail, and abuse, as well as the more positive elements of rescue, fresh starts, happy children, and a beach vacation, which is always the best ending for any story. The storylines were engaging, the characters were flawed yet intriguing, and the writing was highly descriptive, emotive, and keenly observant. I have enjoyed each and every book I’ve read by Ms. Farley. I relish her Low Country tales although I always seem to find myself with an intense hankering for shrimp, lobster rolls, and cornbread for several weeks afterward.

About the Author  

    

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you’ve read the last word, then she’s done her job.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, part of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry where she grew up. Through the eyes of her characters, she’s able to experience the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kind-hearted folks with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

Visit her website at http://www.ashleyfarley.net for more information. Or sign up for her newsletter using this link: http://ashleyfarley.net/get-your-free…

Book Review, Giveaway: Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green

Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe 

by Rosie Green

Goodreads

 Amazon   US  / UK – 

 

Fleeing from a romance gone wrong, Ellie Farmer arrives in the pretty little village of Sunnybrook, hoping for a brand new start that most definitely does not include love! Following an unscheduled soak in the village duck pond, she meets Sylvia, who runs the nearby Duck Pond Café. Renting the little flat above the café seems like the answer to Ellie’s prayers. It’s only for six months, which will give her time to sort out her life, far away from cheating boyfriend Richard.

But is running away from your past ever really the answer?

Clashing with the mysterious and brooding Zack Chamberlain, an author with a bad case of writer’s block, is definitely not what Ellie needs right now. And then there’s Sylvia, who’s clinging so hard to her past, she’s in danger of losing the quaint but run-down Duck Pond Café altogether.

Can Ellie find the answers she desperately needs in Sunnybrook? And will she be able to help save Sylvia’s little Duck Pond Café from closure?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

… all the bravado drains out of me, leaving me feeling like a balloon three days after the party.

 

After all, they do say the joy of being a grandparent is that you can hand the little terror back at the end of the day . . .

 

My Review:

 

While reading, I vacillated in how to rate this slowly developing and somewhat bittersweet tale about a small British village, where each of the main characters appears to be in a transitional stage in their lives. The premise was relevant and the storylines and writing were chaste enough for my elderly mother’s church ladies book club, yet still held my attention, which is rare ;).  As the first story in a trilogy, the stage was being set for subsequent installments, which was thankfully done without feeling like an information dump – yet it felt a bit flat to me. While there were humorous items and amusing observations, the story seemed to come up a little short of a Four-Star ranking, but close enough. I enjoyed the quirky characters and look forward to their future antics and adventures and proudly have two new additions to my Brit vocabulary list which now includes “came a cropper” which is to fall headlong, and “browned off” which is to be greatly annoyed. I do love being able to claim learning something new.

Author Bio

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centered on life in a village café. The first, Spring at the Little Duck Pond Café, is out on March 22nd, 2018.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

 

Win this Wooden Duck Ornament and Chocolates

(Open to UK Only). 

During each day of this blog tour, each clue will be revealed to the true identity of Rosie Green.

Today’s Clue is:

I’ve written seven romantic comedies, the first published back in 2014.

In order to enter, you need to follow Rosie Green on Twitter, RT this tweet and then take a guess using the hashtag #WhoisRosieGreen

https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988/status/978271556068630528

You may guess more than once.

All entries using the hash tag will be entered, and the giveaway closes 23:00 BST 12th April

The identity of Rosie Green will be revealed on twitter after 12th April as will the giveaway winner.

Good luck and don’t forget to look at posts on other days of this tour, for more clues.

Book Review: No Ordinary Love (Sweetbriar Cove #6) by Melody Grace

Title: No Ordinary Love
Series: Sweetbriar Cove #6
Author: Melody Grace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 12, 2018
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Blurb
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For journalist Eliza Bennett, summers in Sweetbriar  Cove were her happiest childhood memories. Now that she’s been unceremoniously fired, she hopes the small town will work its magic again and help get her life back on track. She definitely isn’t looking for a distraction like the handsome stranger she meets on her way into town… especially when she discovers he might be the man behind her recent misfortunes.

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Cal Prescott is in Sweetbriar Cove adjusting to (or escaping from) his new role as head of the family company. He’s always prided himself on his cool logic, but reckoning with the outspoken spitfire, Eliza, is making him forget his responsibilities – and why falling in love would be such a bad idea.

The sparks between them are red-hot, and soon, their passion is heating up the summer nights. But can Eliza and Cal find a way through their differences – or will this opposites-attract romance burn out before it even begins?

Find out in the latest swoon-worthy Sweetbriar Cove romance from New York Times bestselling author, Melody Grace!

The Sweetbriar Cove Series of standalone romances:


#1 Meant to Be
#2 All for You
#3 The Only One
#4 I’m Yours
#5 Holiday Kisses
#6 No Ordinary Love

#7 Wildest Dreams (July 2018)

 

Purchase Links
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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Available at other retailers soon.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

“Maybe he’s been hit by a bus,” she said, still watching her silent phone. “Maybe he ran out of the gala after me, got hit by a bus, and has been in traction all week, unable to call?” She exhaled with a rueful smile. “Wow, you know things are really bad when the best-case scenario involves a gruesome accident.”

My Review:

 

Cal and Eliza started off with bad blood between them, as in her mind; he was the cause of her recent unemployment. Yet they seemed to have a spark, although it was often one of annoyance, but a spark nonetheless. They had one of the most awkward first dates imaginable, which was only improved by hours of vomiting due to a mutual bout of food poisoning that occurred during the date. I always enjoy returning to this series and becoming reacquainted with the previously featured couples and new friends. I enjoy Ms. Grace’s humor, quirky yet endearingly flawed characters, and engaging storylines. This entertaining series has been easy to follow with each installment being an interconnected yet stand-alone volume.

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Author Bio

NYT bestselling author, a SoCal transplant, and sexy romance junkie 😉 I never say no to ice-cream…
Author Links

Book Review: Glam Squad & Groomsmen  (Enchanted Bridal #4) by Samantha Chase

Glam Squad & Groomsmen

 (Enchanted Bridal #4)

by Samantha Chase

Goodreads

 

Dressing up as a bride once a week is all fun and games until you come face to face with your ex.


Penny Blake loves her job with Enchanted Bridal. She gets to model wedding gowns and help brides plan for their big day. And yet…she’s wanting a little more. Besides wishing for her own happily ever after, she has big dreams of making her own contribution to the business in the form of her own glam squad. Her bosses all think it’s a great idea, but right now she’s needed in other ways – like helping out with the groomsmen.

Was there any greater form of torture than having to help your sister plan her wedding?

That’s what Spencer Buchanan is facing and although he goes into it with a bit of an attitude, running into the girl who got away – three times! – suddenly made this whole wedding planning thing a lot more bearable. Moving back home was never part of his plan, but once Spencer sees Penny again, all bets are off. And having her help him with his fittings on his tux turn into his favorite pastime ever!

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She was six, he was eight and Eva had conned him into being the groom for their pretend wedding game. And ever since then, she’d been hooked. On Spencer, not playing dress up.

  

“You know… while that was a cardio workout, I don’t think it can count as a good substitution for my class… But if we’re going to compete with Zumba, then we’d need to try… harder”… And hours later, Penny was fairly certain they had done the equivalent of two Zumba classes.

 

I seriously think we need to just come to grips with the fact that this is our thing… We talk a good game about being the type of people who enjoy going out to fancy restaurants, but at the end of the day, there is just something about being comfortable on the couch and eating some lo mein.

 

My Review:

 

Another sweet second-chance romance from Samantha Chase, I just adore her! I have enjoyed all the books in this series, but who wouldn’t? The book was short, sweet, and easy to follow. The writing was entertaining, the characters were lovable, and the storyline was well balanced with steam, humor, and quiet tension. Sigh, I have missed this group.

About the Author

Website

Twitter

Goodreads 

Amazon

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.


When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Book Review, Giveaway: Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl by Bernice Bloom

Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl

 The Complete, Full-length Novel

by Bernice Bloom

Goodreads

 Amazon US /  UK 

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Mary Brown is funny, gorgeous and bonkers. She’s also about six stone overweight. When she realizes she can’t cross her legs, has trouble bending over to tie her shoelaces without wheezing like an elderly chain-smoker, and discovers that even her hands and feet look fat, it’s time to take action. But what action? She’s tried every diet under the sun.

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This is the hysterical story of what happens when Mary joins ‘Fat Club’ where she meets a cast of funny characters and one particular man who catches her eye.

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The story is laugh-out-loud funny and will resonate with anyone who has dieted, tried to keep up with any sort of exercise programme or spent 10 minutes in a changing room trying to extricate herself from a way-too-small garment that she ambitiously tried on and is now completely stuck in.

Bernice Bloom is the big, new name in comedy writing…this is the first full-length novel after her series of laugh-out-loud mini books.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Sorry, it might sound like a horrible thing to say, but when I was sweet and pretty and slim, men opened doors. Now they take one look at me bulldozing my way down the street and think ‘well that one can clearly open the door herself – blimey she might take the whole thing off its hinges’… The day you can’t squeeze into your size 16 jeans is the day you learn to open doors for yourself.

 

I wanted the fish and chips like I’ve never wanted anything in my life before, but I reined myself in. I could easily nick some of Ted’s chips instead, everyone knows that the calories don’t count if they are contained in food nicked from someone else’s plate.

 

“This is the stupidest thing ever to happen to me in my whole, entire life.” I just shrugged. It wasn’t the stupidest thing to have happened to me that week, so I wasn’t in a position to comment.

 

Most beauticians think they’re scientists… And I was absolutely sure that every time they covered my face in something like mashed up beetle’s’ legs, sea moss and elephant’s semen that I’d emerge looking like Cameron Diaz. That was the thing about going to the beauticians – it was all about the hope.

 

Honestly, bringing out weighing scales at a Fat Club was like bringing out a hand grenade or a venomous snake. I noticed that Janice had physically recoiled from the sight of it.

 

My Review:

 

Originally written as three separate novella type installments for a six-part series, I giggle-snorted my way through this delightfully amusing yet insightfully written tale of a dramatic, Queen-Sized, Calamity Jane type named Mary. Mary was a trouble-magnet of the most unusual variety, yet she meant well, most of the time. Mary had acquired a weight problem following a vaguely referenced traumatic event in her teens, and while she had attempted and failed many diets, she was frustrated with herself and driven to join her first group-oriented approach, a group she called “Fat Club.” She made new friends with a few of the members and a special friend indeed with Ted, a sweet man whose kind heart was as large as his appetite. I enjoyed the premise, adored the quirky characters, and was highly entertained and charmed by Ms. Bloom’s observantly insightful, colorfully descriptive, and humorous writing style. Much to my merriment, Mary repeatedly found herself in the most unusual and comical of predicaments. The ending of this book felt rather abrupt until I realized the story had not concluded but had reached a satisfactory for-now stopping point in the middle of the series, as  three more installments remained. And between giggles, I fell upon a new addition for my Brit vocabulary list with “cack-handed” – which according to Urban Dictionary means “an awkward or inept way of doing something; originally meaning left-handed, stemming from cultures that use their right hand to eat and their left hand to wipe their behind.” I am eagerly looking forward to more cack-handed adventures as I already have Cruise with an Adorable Fat Girl waiting for me on my Kindle.   And, my apologies to any southpaws who may accidentally stumble upon this silly little review.

Author Bio –

Hello, my name is Bernice Bloom and I am a writer (I write light-hearted rom-com style novels and also work as a magazine journalist and advertising copywriter) and jewelry designer. My recent series of novels is called ‘Adorable Fat Girl’ and it features a heavily overweight woman called Mary Brown. She is bright, funny, friendly and bonkers. She’s also fat. The books blend the comedy of her efforts to lose weight with a more serious backstory about what happened to her in the past that had led to the issues that make her prone to over-eating. I’m fascinated that there are so few overweight heroines in literature. Women can be manipulative, evil, even murderers in fiction, but not fat! Certainly not fat and beautiful with loads of friends! Then along came Mary and she’s developed quite a fan base of people who love the fact that the heroine is large. She gets lots of letters and I have ended up taking her on lots of adventures!

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/BerniceBloombooks/

https://twitter.com/Bernice1Bloom

https://www.instagram.com/bernicebloomwriter/?hl=en

Giveaway 

Win a Daisy Bracelet and Earring set created by Bernice Bloom (Open Internationally).

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  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 organiser and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: Wild Hearts by Lindsay Detwiler

 



Title: Wild Hearts

Author: Lindsay Detwiler

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 10, 2018

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Cover Designer: Claire Smith

 

 Add to TBR
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 On sale for half price! 

 

 

 

 
This sexy cowboy is out of his element. He doesn’t want commitment, but Jodie Ellison is a force of nature who can’t be ignored.
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Jodie Ellison loves wild parties, chaotic fun, and spontaneity in her hometown of Ocean City, Maryland. With her writing career and waitressing job not quite paying the bills, Jodie desperately needs a new roommate and finds herself in a nightmarish situation when her roomie turns out to be a disastrous choice.
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The wild and unruly Levi Creed is a little bit rebel and a whole lot of sexy. When he moves in next door to Jodie, things get a bit tumultuous thanks to a squawking parrot and a dangerous fire pit. It seems like Levi’s adorable Texan drawl and perfect body can’t possibly win over Jodie… or can they?
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An undeniable chemistry simmers between the unlikely pair. The beach babe and the sexy cowboy soon find themselves asking: Can they tame their wild hearts and commit to the blossoming romance between them?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

No, I don’t want to come into your honky-tonk bachelor pad and eat weird casseroles from the other neighbors who are apparently deaf because if I brought you a casserole right now, it’d probably be poisoned. Just saying.

 

She pinkie swore it was, so clearly that must mean it’s true. Oh, to be twenty-two again.

 

Oh my God, if he did that to you with a kiss, imagine what’s going to happen when you knock boots… What? I’ve always wanted to use that expression, and now it fits.

 

I don’t know if I’m in the writing mood. I think I’ve just seen too much twerking tonight to write effective horror.

 

Jodie doesn’t take handouts. Well, unless they’re in the form of free drinks. Then I lower my principles a notch. I’m not foolish, after all.

 

My Review:

Although a stand-alone story, Wild Hearts picked up where Inked Hearts left off, and was written from the first person POV of Jodie, a waitress and indie author wannabe of the horror genre. Her sexy new neighbor sported western attire, a limp, and a noisy parrot name Johnny Cash who enjoyed the loud country music of his namesake, at all hours of the day.   Jodie wasn’t a fan. I wasn’t an immediate fan of Jodie in this story as she was a rather abrupt and rude drama llama and mean girl to the tall glass of water named Levi. Oh, Levi, swoon – cue the fluttering hand-fan. But Levi’s obvious charms were too hard to resist and they soon decided on a “no-strings-attached” association of “just fun.” Of course, with a sweet and adorable couple with magnetic chemistry, it couldn’t stay at that level for long and I grew to appreciate Jodie almost as much as Levi had, although she continued to be prone to rash and dramatic overreactions. I enjoy this quirky, amusing, diverse cast of characters and look forward to more lively and entertaining stories from this clever wordsmith.

 On sale for half price! 

 

 
 
Lines in the Sand, Book 1
Inked Hearts
ONLY 99c
 
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A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay’s the English teacher cliché; she loves cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.
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She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.
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Lindsay’s goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she’s done her job.
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Lindsay’s hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.