Category: Giveaways

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Book Review, Giveaway: Cruise with an Adorable Fat Girl by Bernice Bloom

Cruise with an Adorable Fat Girl

by Bernice Bloom

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

 

Mary Brown – our full-figured heroine – is off on a cruise. It’s the trip of a lifetime…featuring eat-all-you-can buffets and a trek through Europe with a 96-year-old widower called Frank and a flamboyant Spanish dancer called Juan Pedro in attendance. Then there’s the desperately handsome captain, the appearance of an ex-boyfriend on the ship, the time she’s mistaken for a Hollywood film star in Lisbon and tonnes of clothes shopping all over Europe.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

If I was surprised to see Simon, then he was a million more times surprised to see me … for the simple fact that four years ago I’d told him that I had six months to live. I know, I know, it’s appalling behaviour but I’m rubbish at finishing relationships and I just came out with it.

 

“You look like that actress… what’s her name?” said one of the guys. “You know – the blonde one?” “Grace Kelly?” I said. That was certainly the look I’d been going for. “No, no – Rebel Wilson,” he said. “You look very like her.” “Thanks,” I said. “I was hoping I was channelling Grace Kelly.”

 

I don’t know a great deal about politics: only that Theresa May wears great shoes and Donald Trump is a giant, orange loon-bucket and no one knows how he was elected.

 

I wanted fries as well, but Juan said that was tacky. Coming from a man in tight leather trousers that finished halfway up his calf, I wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or an insult.

 

My Review:

 

The last thing on earth I need is another addiction, but I fear I have acquired a new one for the cunningly amusing author Bernice Bloom and her wily Adorable Fat Girl series.   Mary Brown is an adorable yet outrageous Queen-Sized trouble-magnet and party animal who manages to embroil herself in the oddest of quandaries. While generally well intended, the fallout of her exploits was uproariously comical and kept a smirk on my face throughout, as Mary was nearly unstoppable once she got an idea and a full head of steam, or had been into the gin.

During this adventure, Mary took her hijinx to the high seas and across Europe when offered a free cruise to accompany her travel blogging friend who was to chronicle their trip, and being an indiscriminate lover of food, Mary was wildly excited about the free all you can eat buffets. When her friend bailed at the last minute, she made Mary promise to secretly provide the blog entries to ensure more free trips. Free cruises for blogging? Where do I sign up?

Mary made fast friends on the ship and became particularly fascinated and obsessed with the tale unfolding from her ninety-year-old dinner table-mate, Frank, and eagerly listened to fragments of his tale until his nurse/companion whisked him away each night.   Frank was making the voyage for a specific purpose, for which Mary just had to insert herself. Once they reached Sicily, Mary sprang into action and assembled a rag-tag crew for their expedition to locate a cottage and make amends for Frank’s seventy-year-old regret. I adored the various storylines, loved the quirky and captivating characters, and was beguiled by Ms. Bloom’s colorful and highly amusing writing style. I am hopelessly addicted.   More Fat Girl, please!

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 organizer 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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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
books2read.com/inkedhearts
 
Facebook I Twitter I Website
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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.
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Book Review, Giveaway : Misadventures of a College Girl by Lauren Rowe

Misadventures of a College Girl

 

by Lauren Rowe

 

Goodreads

 


#MisadventuresofaCollegeGirl
 

 


***MISADVENTURES ARE STANDALONE ROMANCES THAT CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER***

Synopsis
 

Straitlaced freshman Zooey Cartwright has arrived at UCLA determined to have a heck of a lot more fun in college than she did in high school. What’s the first item on Zooey’s agenda before classes start in two days? Losing her pesky V card. She’s definitely not looking for a boyfriend, so where can Zooey find the right guy to do the deed and move along without a backward glance? 

At a party thrown by a bunch of football players, of course. Enter Tyler Caldwell. A beast on the field and off, cocky as heck, and often wearing T-shirts with sayings like “God’s Gift to Womankind,” Tyler is most definitely not boyfriend material. After a make-out session with Tyler leaves Zooey entirely unsatisfied, she is determined never to see him again. But her schedule lands her in not one but two of his classes, and it doesn’t take long before Tyler and Zooey have reached an arrangement for Tyler to teach Zooey exactly what she wants to know―and a whole lot more she never bargained for. Can Zooey surrender her body to this bad boy without giving him her heart, too?


Buy the Book

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2slNcLu
BN.com: http://bit.ly/2gcAExG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2tuH2Jg
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2uoXYx2
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2turXam

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

If you really want to be traumatized, then consider this: Why the hell isn’t Pooh wearing pants? He’s a bear who lives in a house and sleeps in a bed. He drinks tea out of a cup. And yet he wears no pants with his polo shirt? I mean, is Pooh fully anthropomorphized or not? Because, if he is, then he’s a ‘public lewdness’ charge waiting to happen.

 

Gosh, when the universe works this hard to put two ridiculously good-looking people together, it’d be downright arrogant of them not to have sex, don’t you think?

 

I saw you two walking through South Campus the other day holding hands. You looked good together. Like Beauty and the… Beauty.

 

My Review:

 

Written from the first person POV of a virginal female college freshman, this delightfully entertaining book was a breezy, naughty, and fun read. This Misadventure was jam-packed with clever humor, salacious sizzle, enticing characters, and a sweet romance that wasn’t supposed to happen as it was not part of the project plan or on the syllabus.   I adored the characters and thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Rowe’s witty, amusing, and engaging storylines. I fell hard and fast for this cute couple.

 


Meet the Author

Lauren Rowe is the pen name of the USA Today, Amazon #1, and international #1 best-selling author of The Club Series and more. She’s a performer, audiobook narrator, award-winning songwriter and media host/personality who decided to unleash her alter ego to write The Club Series to ensure she didn’t hold back or self-censor in writing the story. Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California where she lives with her family, sings with her band, hosts a show, and writes at all hours of the night. 

Find out more about The Club Series and Lauren Rowe’s other books at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com.   Facebook       Instagram

Find all books in the Misadventures Series here:

The Misadventures Series 

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Book Review, Giveaway: The Best Medicine by Charlotte Fallowfield

The Best Medicine 

(Dilbury Village #3)

by Charlotte Fallowfield 

Goodreads

Amazon

A laugh-out-loud novel from Charlotte Fallowfield, whose books have hit the Amazon #1 bestseller charts internationally for Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, and Humour.

Despite being a successful author of risqué romance novels, Charlie Faulkner had yet to star in her own love story. Drowning her sorrows in takeaway pizza, and at risk of getting wedged in her favorite writing chair, she despaired of ever finding the kind of all-consuming love that she wrote about in her books.When she did venture out of her writing cave, chaos and disaster followed, with many a trip to the emergency room of the local hospital. It was there she fell head over heels for the handsome doctor who often treated her, Guy Fitton. The trouble was that with her medical track record, she wasn’t sure if he’d see her as a sexy, desirable temptress or just a crazy, accident-prone woman, with a medical file so heavy it needed its own trolley.

Would Charlie get her “happy ever after” with Dr. Fitton or end up with the other significant male in her life, the pizza delivery guy?

While The Best Medicine is a standalone story, it’s the third in the Dilbury Village series of romantic comedy novels. All of them will be set in the quaint fictitious English hamlet in the Shropshire countryside, but feature a different village couples’ story.

Warning, if you are of a sensitive disposition when it comes to toilet humor, then the Dilbury Village series may not be for you! 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

So, how do you write such realistic and steamy sex scenes? I started one of your books as soon as I heard you’d moved in, and I have to say, that first steamy scene, with the dirty-mouthed Frenchman, nearly necessitated a trip to accident and emergency for the fitting of a pacemaker. I haven’t had such a vivid and exciting dream in a long time.

  

Don’t underestimate her… She looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but underneath that sweet granny exterior she likes to portray is a sex-crazed nympho with a mouth that would make a sailor blush.

 

I’ve never heard of anyone getting beaver rash from jeans… Maybe your knicker elastic cut you… Take a look… don’t ask me. Muff inspections aren’t in the “things girlfriends do for each other” handbook.

 

We’d had a few more entertaining girls’ nights out, which had led to Andy the taxi driver refusing to accept bookings from us for our return journey. Daphne had given us the feedback, from the Dilbury rumour mill, that we were too raucous and our drunken topics of conversation had interfered with his pacemaker. She’d decided if the conversation was that spicy, she wanted to come on the next night out.

 

‘You’re buttering me up like a hot potato, what’s going on? Are you after some action tonight? A bit of the horizontal mumbo jumbo, as Charlie says?’ ‘Horizontal mambo,’ I giggled. ‘Though if you’re saying jumbo, is that a Freudian slip?’

 

 My Review:

 

I am totally besotted with this cleverly amusing author, her irreverent humor had me barking with glee. Charlie was a smart cookie and a successful author of “salacious material,” although she had the worst of luck and was a hazard to her own health with frequent slips and uncanny injuries that required emergency trips to the hospital where she caught sight of whom she believed to be the most swoon-worthy of beautiful men, who also happened to be her trauma doctor. She was a smitten kitten, although oddly, none of her friends seemed to share her opinion and even warned her that he seemed sketchy.   The premise was entertaining, the characters were beloved and endearing, and the writing was witty and crisp. The hardest part of writing this review was narrowing down my favorite quotes, as I seemed to have acquired a ream of them. I am already looking forward to the next trip to this quaint and quirky little village.

Giveaway

 Click on the graphic to be taken to the Facebook page for entry:

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About the Author

 
Enough heat to make the pages sizzle, romance to make you swoon, strong characters with depth and emotions to 

pluck at your heartstrings, and humor to make you laugh out loud. Roll all of that into one novel, or in C.J.’s case a lot of novels, and you have the measure of her books. Unless of course, you count the odd twist she likes to throw in to keep readers on their toes. C.J. comes from the United Kingdom and is half-French. She lives in the wonderful countryside of Wales, surrounded by rolling hills, trees and fields full of sheep and cows. She is yet to find her Prince Charming, but lives with her extremely pampered fur baby, Pumpkin, kitten of mass destruction.

C.J Fallowfield. is an Amazon #1 UK and international bestselling author of contemporary humorous erotic romance novels. She released her debut novel in January 2014.

Her alter-ego, Charlotte Fallowfield is an Amazon UK and international bestselling author of sweet, and sex free, romantic comedy novels.

Sign up for her newsletters to be kept up to date on her frequent promotions and giveaways, as well as to get exclusive first looks at covers, teasers, excerpts and her latest releases:

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Book Review, Giveaway: The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

 

The Lost Castle

by Kristy Cambron

 

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 6, 2018)

Broken-down walls and crumbled stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own. What stories would they tell, if she finally listened?

Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved old woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .

Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a forgotten castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.

Bridging the past to present in three time-periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations..

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Don’t borrow trouble,” Grandma Vi had always said. “Don’t borrow— but be sure you don’t set out to buy it either.”

 

Tears, the real kind— the ones that meant everything was about to change and she must weather it all with newfound courage— refused to leave them be.

My Review:

 

The Lost Castle was not an easy or relaxing read, as the storylines were active and highly eventful while taut with tension, peril, infirmities, family drama, and three unexpected and inconvenient romances. Ergo, it required additional effort and attention to keep it straight; however, it was well worth the time and cranial investment. The book covered three different timelines and involved a French vineyard, the family who operated the vineyard, a ruined castle, and three different feisty females who made all the difference. I cannot imagine the staggering amount the research required to pull this one together.

The first two timelines were rife with wartime stressors occurring during the French Revolution and WWII, while the final timeline involved solving those lingering mysteries during the present day. The writing was atmospheric, highly emotive and deeply felt, scenically descriptive, and so vividly detailed that I fell right into each story feeling as if I could smell the flowers feel the vibrations of the bombs, and hear the gunfire. The characters were uniquely appealing, endearing, enticing, heroic, and continually intriguing to me. Their tales frequently squeezed my heart, although near the end it also stung my eyes, burned my throat, and had my chin quivering.

I enjoyed my time in France but I also picked up a few new words to add to my British Isles Vocabulary List, as one of my favorite characters was Irish. My first new addition was “chancer” a British term for an opportunist who takes advantage or manipulates others to their own benefit; then “olagonin’” meaning moaning/complaining; and finally “craicing” an Irish word for having fun. It’s always a bit of craic to pick up new slang.

 

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of the book and a signed tote bag

About Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron has a background in art and design, but she fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. She is the bestselling author of The Ringmaster’s Wife, named to Publishers Weekly Spring 2016 Religion & Spirituality TOP 10. Her novels have been named to Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books and RT Book Reviewers’ Choice Awards Best lists for 2014 & 2015, and received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations. Kristy’s first Bible studies, THE VERSE MAPPING SERIES, will release in 2018.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development from a Fortune-100 Corporation. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and could probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.

Visit Kristy online at www.KristyCambron.com, Twitter: @KCambronAuthor, Facebook: Kristy-Cambron-Author, Instagram: KristyCambron.

Connect with Kristy

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: Marrying Mr. Valentine by Laura Barnard

RELEASE DAY & GIVEAWAY! 

Marrying Mr Valentine is LIVE!

 

Amazon Bestselling author Laura Barnard brings you the follow on book from Adventurous Proposal, second standalone in the One Month Til I Do series.



Goodreads

Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/2CKUcW
Amazon US – http://amzn.to/2CBIFFz


Synopsis

 

Nadine Roberts smiles for everyone, but beneath it she hides a heartbreaking past that only a few know about. Throwing herself into her new career; wedding planner at The Duck & Goose, a property recently purchased by newlyweds Florence and Hugh, has helped distract her from her loneliness.

When a teary bride suddenly cancels her upcoming wedding Nadine looks to the two-year waiting list. Clara Blumenkrantz and Hartley Valentine. It’ll have to be a quick turnaround, but what’s the worst that can happen, right?

This should be like every other wedding she plans, but the magnetism she feels towards Mr. Valentine disrupts the orderly life she’s worked hard to carve out.

Can she ignore her intense desires and be a professional? Or will she open up her heart to the one person that has the power to break it? And in doing so endanger not just her job, but her venue’s reputation?


With reviews like this, what are you waiting for?
‘Another great read from Laura full of her usual quick wit and slapstick shenanigans.’

You don’t need to have read book one, but if you’d rather read in order you can download Adventurous Proposal:

Amazon Affiliate UK – http://amzn.to/2qxKSAk

Amazon affiliate US – http://amzn.to/2D5IhQK

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Where the hell did she find him? He’s like a sexy Viking… He could be a model, but I doubt he is. He looks too manly to want to prance around in his underwear. What a shame for the UK population of women… he could be a lumberjack with a body like that. I’d watch him take down a tree any day.

It’s so different being in a high school compared to the old primary school I used to work in. I actually feel self-conscious. I walk past a group of boys rehearsing, when they start wolf-whistling… ‘You’re a right fitty, Miss!’ another one shouts. His mate barks out a laugh. Well, what the hell am I supposed to do in this situation? You don’t get this kind of crap with five-year-olds. I’m blushing before I can reason with myself to play it unaffected. And now I look like I’m enjoying it. They might even take it as encouragement. Think I’m a horny Mrs Robinson type…

 Oh and is there any chance you could look into plastic surgery for one of my bridesmaids? … My bridesmaid, my dear friend, Jessica, has a huge nose, and she’s been thinking about getting it fixed. I’ve offered to pay as long as it would heal before the wedding. We don’t want that honker getting in the way of the photos!

 Of course, Princess Clara has sensitive skin. I’m sure she only uses products made with unicorn tears and elf droppings.

My Review:

 

I have smirked and giggle-snorted my way through another of the madly talented Laura Barnard’s wittily written romantic comedies. Ms. Barnard’s cleverly amusing storytelling and irreverent and bawdy humor keep me eagerly awaiting each new release. Written from the first person POV of the detail-oriented and kind-hearted Nadine, wedding planner/manager extraordinaire who was prone to filthy language and comical thoughts in her inner musings. However, this story was not all giggles and cocktails as between drunken whine sessions with her friends and handling various wedding mishaps as well as dealing with the rushed planning of the worst of the worst Bridezilla in Clara who also happened to be a rich relative of her boss; snapshots of a less than idyllic and angsty backstory were glimpsed until Nadine’s life-altering tragic experience was exposed.

The oddly tasteless yet loftily wealthy Clara became increasingly demanding and bizarre in her accelerated wedding demands although she had started small with wanting an ice sculptor of the couple kissing before working up to swans, penguins, a ten-tier cake, and rushed plastic surgery for an unfortunately large snouted bridesmaid. But what of the adorable, swoon-worthy, and Viking sexy groom, Mr. Valentine? He didn’t seem in sync with Clara at all, but that was the crux of the story.

And lastly, rubbing my palms together with glee, I have a new addition to my Brit words and phrases list with “go spare,” which Mr. Google told me was to “become extremely angry or distraught.” And Clara definitely had Nadine going spare.

Giveaway

Head on over to Laura’s Facebook page (details below) to enter her release day giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a £10 Amazon Gift Card!

Stalk Laura

Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes romantic comedy or ‘chick lit’ as its so often described. In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of her face and drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio.

She enjoys wearing yoga pants and reading fitness magazines while sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. She’s a real fan of the power nap and of course READING!

She writes not to get rich or famous, but because she LOVES writing. Even if one person tells her they enjoyed her book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

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Book Review, Giveaway: Mr. Blakely by K. Webster

 

 

 

 

Mr. Blakely

by K. Webster

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Kobo | Apple | Barnes & Noble

The Dirty Bits from Carina Press give you what you want when you want it. Designed to be read in an hour or two, these sex-filled microromances are guaranteed to pack a punch and deliver a happily-ever-after.

It started as a job.

It turned into so much more.

Mr. Blakely is strict with his sons, but he’s soft and gentle with me.

The powerful businessman is something else entirely when we’re together.

Boss, teacher, lover…husband.

My hopes and dreams for the future have changed. I want—no, I need—him by my side.

This book is approximately 33,000 words

Editor’s note: All characters in this story are over eighteen and all sexual interactions are fully consensual.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: what you want, when you want it. Over-the-top sexy microromances designed to be read in an hour or two.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Love is an animal you must capture and keep. Name it and own it. Allow yourself these things…

 

My Review:

 

Sizzle and snap, I wasn’t paying attention and had no idea what I was in for when I started this saucy little story, oh, my! Mr. Blakely was a freshly betrayed and divorced father of teenaged twin boys and in dire need of domestic help. His sons were not adapting as well as he had hoped and were in need of tutoring as well as attention and supervision after school and in the evenings while he was working late at his business or wooing clients. He was given Ava’s name and number and told she was a smart and helpful tutor, and the lovely young woman named Ava was hired to do just that the same day. A lovely young woman that stirred something deep and impossible as she was sweet and kind and an innocent eighteen-year-old high school senior and he was… significantly older than that, like twenty-five years older than that.

Given the common porno premise, I was bracing myself for cheesy or creepy, thankfully, it wasn’t. Other than a few cringe-worthy scenes this was actually a sweet and thoughtful romance with lots of naughty bits and a little bit of high school drama. There was an interesting and engaging plot with supportive relationships established among all the characters after a bit of a rocky start. Ava took good care of his sons and succeeded where Mr. Blakely could not as they improved in school as well as in their family interactions.   She studied French and was working toward saving for a trip to France, he softly spoke French endearments to her, bought her gifts including a car to ferry his sons home from school, and other trinkets, as she was always on his mind, as he was on hers. Mr. Blakely took special care of Ava, much better than her own family had, and after hours he tutored her in all manner of adult culinary games like hiding the sausage, find the pearl, and tickle the pickle. And it worked out very well for them, very well indeed.

About K. Webster

K Webster is the author of dozens of romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.

Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Solace (The Hunter Series #2) by S.E. Cooper

 
Title: Solace
Series: The Hunter Series #2
Author: S.E. Cooper 
Genre: Contemporary Romance Suspense
Release Date: February 16, 2018 

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“I didn’t choose to love you,” I whispered. “But now that I do, no storm is strong enough to keep me away from you.”
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Nyah Hunter has always believed in love at first sight. When she first sets eyes on James Parker, ‘Big’ to his friends, Nyah realizes he’s the man she’s been waiting for all her life. The only problem is, Big doesn’t want to know. He has his reasons for keeping the beautiful blonde at bay, but Nyah won’t give up without a fight. How can he make her see that the safest place for her is as far away from him as possible?
For Big, loving Nyah means risking more than just his heart. It means confronting a past too painful to process and recalling haunting memories too bittersweet to share.
Intent on protecting those he loves, Big sets out to defeat his demons, once and for all; a battle that’s likely to see him perish in the process. Only, he hasn’t counted on the unusual collection of individuals willing to work together for the greater good.
With fresh hope in his heart and an unlikely army by his side, Big dares to dream that this time, he might get to live free.
However, has he underestimated just how far his enemy will go to destroy him?

 


 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

My hair hurt; I had no idea your hair could hurt, but apparently after a night on tequila and Jäeger it really could.

 

I decided that I could live my life on an almost romance. After all, a fantasy couldn’t hurt your feelings, and an illusion wouldn’t break your heart. If I had to make that moment last for a lifetime, I would.

 

The closest I’d ever got to sneaking around in bushes was when Dad had me track Mrs. Hozier’s stalker, and that was not a situation I cared to remember.

 

“Eh, hello,” Demo called, “Bad guy about to perform something nasty. The least you could do was give me your attention.”

 

 My Review:

 

Reading this story was like working out at the gym, it required effort with some of the movements being rather difficult and less than enjoyable, but it was a worthwhile and beneficial endeavor and I’m usually smiling with a sense of accomplishment by the time I finish. I recall having similar difficulties with the first book in this series as this cagey author seems to enjoy tossing the reader into the middle of the story and then slowly filling in the gaps with her steamy intrigue. Despite my petty frustrations and vexations with her pacing, Ms. Cooper has churned out yet another action-packed, cringe-worthy, and intriguing tale with lots of sexy yet filthy talking alpha males who cannot speak without expletives, sizzling sensual scenes, heartbreaking and tragic backstories, gruesome sadistic sociopaths, and lots of peril with several plot twists thrown in to keep us on our toes.

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I was being cruel. I knew it. I was losing my mind being so close to her, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

 


 

Her response was to tilt her head and moan lightly against my ear. 

 

“Look, Nyah,” I whispered, drawing closer to her hardened peak. “I’m barely touching you and yet, you’re about to come.” 

 

Her response was to push me harshly against the brick wall. I waited for her to raise her hand and slap me, instead her body hit mine with such force she winded me. Kicking my legs apart, she moved between them.
Then she kissed me.
She. Kissed. Me.
Her hot mouth plundered mine, and she took until I was the one who was breathless. Moving her hands roughly over my chest, she pulled at my shirt until it came loose, and she could feel bare skin beneath her fingertips.
This was not the way I thought this would go. The woman was out of control. I was loving every damned second of it. I wrapped my arms around her back and hauled her too me. We kissed to the point it became painful, but neither of us came up for air. I decided that if I was going to die here and now, in this courtyard, it would be worth it just to have witnessed this beautiful woman become wild in my arms.
I smiled against her mouth when her hand moved lower, and she crudely groped at my dick through the denim. I ground my hips against her hand, loving the feel of her fingers on me, my body instantly responding to her frantic touch. When she mewled her approval into my mouth, I was done for. I grabbed hold of her waist with the intention of turning us, until I was the one leading this fervent encounter we found ourselves in. She chose that moment to break the kiss and step back out of my reach.
A few feet away, she stood breathless and turned on to all hell. Her hair was in disarray, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were burning into mine in a way I had yet to experience. I decided she had never looked more beautiful. She was like a fallen angel halfway to hell.
Me, I was confused as fuck, but in the best conceivable way.
She smirked at me and I narrowed my eyes.
“You know, Parker?” She smirked. “I’m barely touching you, and yet, you’re about to come.”
I swallowed hard, her intentions now clear.
“Well played, darlin’.” I grimaced, “Well played.”
She should leave now.
While we both wanted more.
I was left to contemplate the fact I’d just been owned by an angel, but she was no stronger than I was. Her body was humming in anticipation, the rise and fall of her chest making her breasts move in the most delightful of ways. Her eyes were pulling with desire, growing heavier by the second, as she fought for control of her senses.
I could barely hold my ground.
But I had to, for both our sakes.

 

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S E Cooper lives in Scotland with her husband, their two boys, two crazy cats and a bonkers bunny. She has always loved to read and write stories but it wasn’t until she discovered the wonderful world of self-publishing and became inspired by some of her favorite Indie Authors that she decided to take the plunge herself. Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, photography, reading and daydreaming.

 

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: Follow Me Back by A.L. Jackson

Follow Me Back 

The next seductive, unforgettable stand-alone romance in the FIGHT FOR ME series from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson . . .

 

“This is why I read romance.” –Lauren Rowe, USA Today and Internationally bestselling author
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My loves – I am so beyond thrilled to finally get to share Kale and Hope’s story with you in FOLLOW ME BACK! Writing this book was a labor of love, and after everything, I think it might be my favorite book I’ve ever written. It’s super sexy and swoony, sad and sweet, and just filled my heart up so full there is no chance I will ever forget the way these characters made me feel. I hope you fall in love with them the same way I did! 
Enjoy!
xoxo – Amy 
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Blurb:

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The next seductive, unforgettable stand-alone romance in the FIGHT FOR ME series from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson . . .
Kale Bryant. Arrogant. Gorgeous. Commanding.
This ER doctor is married to his job. His only vice is one-night stands and short-lived flings. He learned a long time ago loving someone isn’t worth the risk.
Harley Hope Masterson. Beautiful. Brave. Sweet.
The owner of a small coffee shop knows what it’s like to struggle. Embroiled in a bitter divorce, she’s threatened with losing everything.
When Kale accepts a new position down the street from Hope’s shop, he begins to question every wall he’s built around his heart.
He wants her in a way he hasn’t wanted anyone.
One touch is fire.
One kiss, and he’s spinning out of control.
But taking her won’t come without consequences.
Hope is in for the fight of her life. One neither of them saw coming.
Now Kale must decide if loving her is worth risking it all.
She will fight with everything she has.
But sometimes even hope needs a hero . . .
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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

So what if Pinterest had become my lover, keeping me company in the lonely nights.

 

The kid was a force field of joy.

 

Someone please tell me this is where we get to call the wanker names and talk about how horrible he is in bed and how his breath always stinks.

 

Of course, I’m responsible. I’m head matchmaker. I just walk through a crowd and all those love-connecting darts start flying out of me, striking whoever I walk by.

 

You set me on a path that I don’t want to stop walking. I will follow you anywhere.

 

My Review:

 

Sizzling sensuality, cute scene-stealing children, heart squeezing medical issues and an overriding tone of heavily emotive and angsty writing define this story. The premise and storylines were interesting and relevant and the characters were endearing and likable, but I struggled more than bit some while reading this book as there was far more repetitive angsty melodrama than I was comfortable with, but that is just my personal bias. I enjoyed Hope and Kale’s sweet and steamy romance until he apparently caught jaundice as he turned yellow with cowardice and abandoned her, not once but twice, especially during a harrowing period when she needed emotional support the most, which was deeply disappointing.

As always, Ms. Jackson’s writing was highly emotive, poignant, and pulls at the heartstrings while her more irreverent characters and the precocious children provided comic relief and amusing banter to help balance the tone. And I am happy to report that I learned a new pop culture reference that required the services of Mr. Google – “brown chicken brown cow.” It is always a good day when I can boast of acquisition of new knowledge. 

Kindle Fire HD 8 + Show Me the Way & Hunt Me Down Signed Copies + $25 Amazon GC Giveaway 

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About the Author

 

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, and BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for A.L. Jackson’s upcoming novel, FOLLOW ME BACK, the second stand-alone novel in her brand-new FIGHT FOR ME SERIES.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock
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Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub
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