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Book Review: Between Me and You by Allison Winn Scotch 

Between Me and You

by Allison Winn Scotch 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

From New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch comes an honest, touching, and funny exploration of falling in and out of love, told from two perspectives—one rewinding history, one moving it forward—and each with bias and regret.

When their paths first cross, Ben Livingston is a fledgling scriptwriter on the brink of success; Tatum Connelly is a struggling actress tending bar in a New York City dive. They fall in love, they marry, they become parents, and they think only of the future. But as the years go by, Tatum’s stardom rises while Ben’s fades. In a marriage that bears the fallout of ambition and fame, Ben and Tatum are at a crossroads. Now all they can do is think back…

A life of passion, joy, tragedy, and loss—once shared—becomes one as shifting and unpredictable as a memory. As the pieces of their past come together, as they explore the ways love can bend and break, Ben and Tatum come to see how it all went wrong—and wonder what they can do now to make it all right.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I want you to be anything you dream of. But mostly I want you to be happy. Those things aren’t always the same, you know.

 

I can’t measure my love for Ben against Mom’s love for Dad because it’s not like you can quantify these things. It’s not like I can pour them into a cup and see which one measures more.

 

It’s raining in Los Angeles, and no one knows what to do about it. People are scattering around, hovering in Whole Foods, tweeting with panicked abandon: It’s raining! It might be the apocalypse!

 

He tells me he’ll be on his best behavior, but I’d cleaned up enough of Leo’s messes over the years… to know that while Leo might promise the moon, he’ll often never even glance up at the sky.

 

“He needs to grow up, Ben.” I could picture my dad shaking his head like he couldn’t imagine how Leo had gotten this far in life without being drafted into clown school.

 My Review:

 

I struggled, valiantly I must add, oh, how I struggled, as this book was a full-on angst-fest and that is so not my jam. But I also couldn’t stop reading. Hmm, Allison Winn Scotch seems to have a handle on this writing thing… The storylines wove in and out of various timelines, and not in chronological order, with emotions and motivations capriciously seesawing from cautious jubilation to bleak and heart-squeezing despair, with clever licks of humor and amusing observations periodically tossed in. Ms. Scotch’s deftly paced, observantly insightful, and emotive writing pulled me in quickly and held my attention, despite my exasperation with the prickly and temperamental characters.

The characters weren’t inherently bad people but they were fatally flawed and vastly insecure as well as alluring, complicated, moody, selfish, stubborn, and damn it, they fascinated me to no end. They weren’t always likable or admirable, in fact, there were times I despised them and wanted to throw my Kindle down in disgust of their self-centered, pettish, and pedantic behaviors. And the more successful they became, the more out of sync, self-involved, dour, and loathsome they appeared. Both had made critical errors in judgment in dealing with each other, so much so that I wasn’t sure a reunification was the best thing for either one. The actress’s penchant for playacting had gone so far afield she had become inauthentic, even with herself. Yet despite their odious and repellent behaviors, I couldn’t stop reading… I was more than satisfied with the conclusion and proud of myself for my dogged perseverance yet I had the irrational impulse to hurriedly close my Kindle before they could start in on each other and ruin it again. Silly me. 

Allison Winn Scotch   

Website

I’m the author of a bunch of novels, including IN TWENTY YEARS, THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES and TIME OF MY LIFE. My next and seventh book – which I am suuuuper-excited about! – is titled BETWEEN ME AND YOU and will be released in January 2018.

As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I’ll only post about books I’ve enjoyed. (Just in case you’re wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)

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Book Review: Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank

Same Beach, Next Year

by Dorothea Benton Frank

 

 HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank returns to her magical Lowcountry of South Carolina in this bewitching story of marriage, love, family, and friendship that is infused with her warm and engaging earthy humor and generous heart.

One enchanted summer, two couples begin a friendship that will last more than twenty years and transform their lives.

A chance meeting on the Isle of Palms, one of Charleston’s most stunning barrier islands, brings former sweethearts, Adam Stanley and Eve Landers together again. Their respective spouses, Eliza and Carl, fight sparks of jealousy flaring from their imagined rekindling of old flames. As Adam and Eve get caught up on their lives, their partners strike up a deep friendship—and flirt with an unexpected attraction—of their own.

Year after year, Adam, Eliza, Eve, and Carl eagerly await their reunion at Wild Dunes, a condominium complex at the island’s tip end, where they grow closer with each passing day, building a friendship that will withstand financial catastrophe, family tragedy, and devastating heartbreak. The devotion and love they share will help them weather the vagaries of time and enrich their lives as circumstances change, their children grow up and leave home, and their twilight years approach.

Bursting with the intoxicating richness of Dorothea Benton Frank’s beloved Lowcountry—the sultry sunshine, cool ocean breezes, icy cocktails, and starry velvet skies—Same Beach, Next Year is a dazzling celebration of the infrangible power of friendship, the enduring promise of summer, and the indelible bonds of love.

 

My Rating:

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

He was with a woman, a very large woman, who had to be at least ten years older than him, if not twenty.   She was towering over a grinning Ted, wearing a black mink coat to the ground, high heels that could produce altitude sickness, and enough makeup to scare the hell out of Estee Lauder… “Merry Christmas, y’all!” she said in a smoky voice that suggested a lifetime of dedication to tobacco products.

 

Let’s be honest.   Who could please Cookie? She’d find fault with the pope himself! He’d come to dinner and bring baked ziti and she’d hate it! She’d hate the pope’s baked ziti! She’d tell him it tasted like dog shit. Believe me!   I’ve given this a lot of thought!

 

The air was thick with contentment, something you might run through your fingers if you held your hand outside the window. I wished I could grab some, put it in a jar, and keep it with me.

 My Review:

 

I always eagerly anticipate reading a Dorothea Benton Frank book as I admire and relish her easy pace, bright wit, observant insightfulness, relatable plots, and twists of clever irony. She is a skilled illusionist and uses colorful distractions and crafty sleight of hand to keep us guessing; things are seldom what they seem. I adore her quirky and vibrant characters who aren’t always likable or admirable but take Southern eccentricity to a new level of entertainment. Reading her books is like going on a fun yet relaxing vacation with a seldom seen but trusted friend.   I was provided with a review copy of this lovely book by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins. 

About Dorothea Benton Frank

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She resides in the New York area with her husband.

Find her on the web at www.dotfrank.com, or like her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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Book Review, Giveaway: The Penance List by Siobhan C Cunningham

The Penance List

by Siobhan C Cunningham

Goodreads

 Amazon  US  /  UK / CA  / AU

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This one comes with a warning – a steamy suspense-ridden psychological thriller – think Silence of the Lambs meets 50 Shades and hold on tight! S C Cunningham writes with a skilled mix of fuelled tension, dark humour and pulsating sex scenes. Grab a glass of wine, close the bedroom door and read alone!

What happens when opposites attract – when a scorned childhood sweetheart grows into a gorgeous sexual tour de force – when a fun loving career girl, her racy girlfriends and insatiable lovers get caught in his revenge – when sex becomes a weapon, hearts become bait and straight tastes gay – when hi-flying careers, clandestine affairs and wannabe starlets are hunted by celebrity hungry press? Obsession, kidnap, murder… and he’s just getting started!

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

We’re a bit old for older men don’t ya think? Ours would come with a wheelchair and bus pass. It would be more useful to learn a few resuscitation techniques… a good bit of slap’n tickle and a cheeky bit of CPR, very sexy.

 

Tara had a sweet way of talking naughty whilst making it sound as if she were discussing pruning petunias.

 

She was hardly WAG material, being over thirty, more like GAG material, ‘grandmothers and girlfriends’.

 

… and to think she’d grown up wanting to be a nun – as a girl, she’d loved their outfits, particularly the long blue dresses with the white veils. She could do the ‘doing good’ bit easily enough; it was the ‘being good’ bit where she failed.

 

The hovering Enzo stared at her. Maybe he should consider becoming gay. You learned so much about women working in the restaurant business.

 

My Review:

 

It always worries me when I fall deeper and deeper into a creepy and sinister plot while vastly enjoying the experience. I fear there may be something wrong with me to become so enthralled and transfixed on such a twisted and disturbing story. But in my defense, this superbly penned stunner quickly mesmerized me and held me in thrall with razor-sharp and well-crafted writing. The storylines were ingenious and compelling, cleverly insightful, and often witty and amusing. I had a hard time putting my Kindle down any longer than necessary for those pesky chores such as sleeping and seeking sustenance. The characters were fascinating, original, complex, and enticing, yet deeply flawed – some more than others.

The taut narrative was skillfully written in the third person omniscient POV of practically everyone, including taxi drivers, waiters, and receptionists; with frequent dashes of clever humor, intense sensual scenes, and a mesmerizing and suspense-filled build-up to the gruesomely plotted climax.   But I also want to mention there were also haunting, dark, and grisly descriptions of abuse and violence. It was highly evocative and often elicited a powerful response whether empathic or severely creepy. But did you notice this was Book #1? While the cliffhanger wasn’t vile and heinous, the story is not complete, damn it, but it did reach a comfortable stopping point.

To end on a positive note, I also picked up some new vocabulary words, several of which would never pass the Amazon censors but I believe sloaney will make it, which is apparently a young party animal from a posh and wealthy family with more money than sense. Hmm, I would have aspired to being a sloaney young adult in my day.

 

Author Bio –

British Crime Investigator & Crime Writer, Siobhan C Cunningham creates steamy psychological thrillers and kick-ass paranormal romance with a skilled mix of fuelled tension, dark humour, and pulsating sex scenes. Having worked in the very industries she writes about, her novels offer a fresh level of sincerity and authority, rare in fiction.

An ex-model, British born of Irish roots, she married a rock musician and has worked in the exciting worlds of music, film, sports celebrity management and as a Crime Investigator for the British Police (Wanted & Absconder Unit, Major Crime Team, Intelligence Analyst, Investigations Hub).

Abducted as a child, she survived; and every night for months afterward, she prayed to God, asking for a deal. This personal journey sparked the fuse behind the intriguing and riveting fictional world she portrays in The Fallen Angel Series. Twenty years later she crossed paths with a violent serial attacker who haunted the streets of London, the seed for The David Trilogy was sown, book one is The Penance List, and has been adapted to film screenplay.

She is the proud mother to contemporary Artist Scarlett Raven and is owned by three dogs.

Social Media Links –

Website – http://www.sccunningham.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/SCCunningham8

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pg/sccunningham8/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/siobhancunningham8/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sccunningham/

Google+ – https://plus.google.com/+SCCunninghamAuthor

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.co.uk/S-C-Cunningham/e/B002L3ZC2U/

Giveaway 

Win 1 x Signed Copy of The Penance List (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 passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment 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: Fallen Angel – Part 5 by Tracie Podger

Fallen Angel Part 5

by Tracie Podger

Robert Stone and Rocco Sartorri are back, and they have a story to tell!

 

Fallen Angel Part 5 is NOW LIVE!!!

 

For a Very Limited Time you can #OneClick Fallen Angel Part 5 for 99p/99c!

 

#OneClick HERE

 

 

Blurb

 

 I figli devono pagare per le colpe dei padri

(Children must pay for the sins of the fathers)

Robert Stone has an identity. After discovering his father, a far greater dynasty was forged.

But with this dynasty comes new enemies.

From the olive groves of Italy to the boardrooms in Washington, D.C., Robert is to command a business like no other.

Not all wars are fought on a battlefield, most are won in the corporate arena.

Not all wars are bloody – unless you threaten Robert’s family, of course.

Told from Robert Stone and Rocco Sartorri’s point of view, Fallen Angel, Part 5 picks up from the end of Part 4 and explores a unique relationship.

Two powerful men, both with secrets and enemies, come together in this explosive story of revenge, lost love, and hate that spans thirty years.

A Mafia romantic suspense for readers over the age of 18

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

Salvatore was not the most attractive man; in fact, he was what we would have said back in the village, a man who should have been drowned at birth. Short, fat, and sweaty…

My Review:

 

This was not a stand-alone volume and although I had read and enjoyed all previous books of this series, I struggled with and battled my way through this melancholic and gritty installment. But holy bloodbath Batman, it was just not my cup of tea… The narrative was well beyond my comfort zone for carnage and I was heartbroken by the callous indifference and brutality displayed by several of the main characters.   And there were far too many assholes!   The overall tone of the story heavily tipped the scale to the negative range of emotion with a near constant thrum of tension and angst, as well as anger, resentment, and copious servings of sorrow.

 

I will take personal responsibility for a major part of my discontent being due to my own faulty memory. It would have made a significant difference and been much easier to follow and remain engaged had I recently read or reread the previous books to refresh my recall of past events, as I had forgotten far too many salient details and story points.   My limited pea brain did not retain several chunks of the data stream required to fully grasp the continuing tale, important information and critical details that unfortunately were not recapped.   The storylines were intriguing yet complicated and at times I was quite frustrated and nearing the point of itchy exasperation, much as I would if attending an advanced physics course where the concepts being discussed resided in a stratosphere far and above my level of comprehension, yet Ms. Podger’s word voodoo held me hostage and I couldn’t stop reading. If I had a magic wand or Hermione’s Time-Turner, I would go back and start the beloved series from the beginning and skip over the disturbingly brutal images, which I’m sure would be a vastly more enjoyable experience. Lesson learned.

 

Excerpt

 

Robert – Chapter One

It was in a small room in a villa in Tuscany that my life changed forever–again.

Everything I knew, or believed, had been a lie. Just over Forty years of thinking one man was my father, and that he had been killed with my mother, was disproved with a simple DNA test. I barely remembered him; I hardly remembered my mother. Just a week after discovering the letters, I’d found the man who would protect my wife, who was the love of Evelyn’s life, was also my biological father. To say my head had been fucked up was an understatement.

****

“Do you want to talk?” I heard. I had been sitting on the edge of the fountain in the courtyard of the villa.

I looked up to see Brooke walking toward me. I patted the wall.

“Sit with me,” I said.

She picked up my hand and threaded her fingers through mine as she did. I stared at her for a moment. Her blue eyes were ringed, faintly, with dark circles and laugh lines fanned out across her skin. She looked tired and I guessed my overactive brain working day and night had been the cause of that.

“How do you feel today?” she asked gently.

I sighed and closed my eyes; I raised my face to catch the last of the day’s sun before I spoke.

“Better. One minute I have no biological family; the next, I have a father, a half brother and a half sister. It’s been a little difficult to process all that,” I confessed.

“No shit,” she replied, with a chuckle.

I turned to look at her. I shifted my body until I was facing her and traced my fingers down her cheek.

“I’ve been a complete prick this past week, haven’t I?”

She tried to hide the smirk. “I know of Mr. Angry, Mr. Playful, Mr. Sarcastic, and all the other misters that make up Robert Stone, but I’m a little unsure who’s with us right now.”

“Mr. Honest?” I offered.

“Ah, it could be. Therefore the answer would be, yes, you have been a complete prick this week. But with good reason, Robert,” she said.

I laughed quietly.

“Have you spoken to him today?”

Initially, after I’d discovered Rocco was my father, we’d talked, he’d cried, but then sadness settled over me. Forty years of memories were shattered on the opening of an envelope that contained evidence and I struggled with it. I’d endured years of abuse at the hands of my aunt, yet I had a father who could have rescued me from her. It was an unrealistic thought, of course, he didn’t know about me, but it bothered me.

 

 

For a Very Limited Time you can #OneClick Fallen Angel Part 5 for 99p/99c!

 

#OneClick HERE

 

 

 

Start the Fallen Angel series TODAY!

 

On the first day of her holiday to Washington, DC, Brooke Stiles meets Robert Stone.

Dark eyed, damaged and dangerous – Stone has never had a normal relationship for fear of his past being exposed. Not knowing how to respect nor love, he struggles with his feelings for a woman who makes him question everything that he is.

Brooke falls in love with him and as their relationship grows she learns who he really is.  Her future is set. She is to heal her man and mend his broken soul. But can she do the one thing that he asks?

This is a story of an ordinary woman who falls in love with an extraordinary man and has to discover whether she is strong enough to forgive him his past.

 

Part 1 is FREE on ALL Platforms!!!

 

 

 

 

Author Bio

 

 

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She like getting up close and personal with sharks.

Tracie writes in various genres, Contemporary Romance but likes to explore relationships that are not always easy and there isn’t always a happy ending, Romantic Suspense, Thriller, and Erotic Romance. She likes to have her books feel real with realistic timelines and with strong women who don’t run because the going gets tough. Sex is important between loving people, therefore all her books contain graphic scenes. However, the character’s relationship is more important. 

If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact her, she would love to hear from you.

 

Social Media Links

 

Facebook    Twitter    Amazon    Instagram

 

Website    Facebook Reader Group

 

Facebook Book Club

 

 

 

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Book Review: Savor You (Fusion #5) by Kristen Proby

Savor You 

(Fusion #5)

 

by Kristen Proby

Goodreads

Amazon /  B&N

 

 In the next sizzling romance in Kristen Proby’s New York Times bestselling Fusion series, two celebrity chefs compete in a culinary competition, but resisting each other will prove to be the greater challenge.

Cooking isn’t what Mia Palazzo does, it’s who she is. Food is her passion . . . her pride . . . her true love. She’s built a stellar menu full of delicious and sexy meals for her restaurant, Seduction. Now, after being open for only a few short years, Mia’s restaurant is being featured on Best Bites TV. To say Seduction is a wild success is an understatement. All the blood, sweat, tears, and endless hours of work Mia has put into the restaurant has finally paid off.

Then Camden Sawyer, the biggest mistake of her life, walks into her kitchen . . .

Camden’s celebrity chef status is world-renowned. He’s the best there is, and the kitchen is where he’s most at home. He can’t resist the invitation to Portland for a showdown against Mia for a new television show. Mia was in his life years ago, and just like before, he’s met his match in the beautiful Italian spitfire. The way she commands the kitchen is mesmerizing, and her recipes are clever and delicious. He’s never had qualms about competition, and this is no different. He can’t wait to go head to head with Mia. But can he convince her the chemistry they share in the kitchen would be just as great in the bedroom as well?

As Mia and Camden face off, neither realizes how high the stakes are as their reputations are put on the line and their hearts are put to the ultimate test.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Marry him right now. Sweet, considerate, sexy men are unicorns. You’ll never see another one of them out in the wild. I know. I looked.

 

You two are ridiculously good looking… Is that a requirement to be a firefighter or EMT? That you have to be hot so you can make calendars and bring in a bunch of money in calendar sales?

 

My Review:

 

I can see what all the fuss was about. But I was horrified to realize I have lived this long without ever indulging in the hedonistic delight of reading a Kristen Proby book. But I have rectified that error in judgment and am thrilled to report the experience was everything I imagined it would be and more. Her writing was a fun, cleverly amusing, and tasty treat. The storylines were entertaining, well-paced, and a pleasure to engage in. I adored her quirky yet relatable characters and enjoyed their clever banter and wit as much as the sweet and sexy second chance romance. But the delectable descriptions of the food had me salivating and smacking my lips as I read. I may have picked up a pound or ten from her delicious words alone.

About the Author

Goodreads /  Amazon

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 with their two pugs and two cats.

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: MISADVENTURES WITH THE BOSS by Kendall Ryan

 

MISADVENTURES WITH THE BOSS

 by Kendall Ryan



#KendallRyan  #MisadventureswiththeBossReleaseBlitzTour


Goodreads

Amazon  / Nook / iBooks

Google Play   / Kobo

 

Synopsis

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At age twenty-nine, Piper Daniels is having the longest dry spell of her life. When she agrees to be set up on a blind date, she never expects it to end with the hottest sex of her life.
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But when she discovers that her very well-endowed secret lover is also her new boss, heartless womanizer and cutthroat CEO Jackson Dane, she chalks it up to a one-time mistake and puts up her best professional front. But Jackson isn’t used to rejection, and if Piper thinks it’s going to be easy to move on from their tryst, she’s underestimated his determination.
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***MISADVENTURES ARE STANDALONE ROMANCES THAT CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER***

 


My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Now we need to come up with a username for you… We don’t need stalkers tracking you down and trying to make dresses out of your skin.

 

Hungry and horny was almost too much to bear. Horngry. It was a bad combination all around.

 

At this rate, I think the only person who’ll work for you is a superhero.

 

This time the smile was a full-on grin, like a wolf who’d just spotted a tasty-looking sheep.

 

I asked, eyeing him like he was my last meal on death row.

 

Okay, so apparently showing up bearing baked goods had earned me some brownie points, even though she was mad. I made a quick mental note. Buy lots of Danish.

 

My Review:

 

I don’t know why I haven’t availed myself of this talented scribe’s works before, but this was my inaugural outing with the delightful Ms. Kendall Ryan. Where have I been? I smirked and gasped my way through this deliciously steamy, highly amusing, and enticingly clever tale of a good girl finding her mojo on a new job with her cranky and demanding boss, a difficult to please yet sexy powerhouse of a boss who found himself similarly distracted and preoccupied with his super efficient and beautiful new assistant. The characters were smart, endearing, and well nuanced, I adored them. Ms. Ryan’s writing style was crisp, vibrant, and breezily engaging. I promptly added her to the top of my list as a new favorite; the stalking will now commence. 

Meet the Author


 
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.
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Facebook                                Website
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Book Review: On A Cold Dark Sea by Elizabeth Blackwell

On a Cold Dark Sea

  by   Elizabeth Blackwell 

On April 15, 1912, three women climbed into Lifeboat 21 and watched in horror as the Titanic sank into the icy depths. They were strangers then…

Con artist Charlotte Digby lied her way through London and onto the Titanic. The disaster could be her chance at a new life—if she hides the truth about her past. Esme Harper, a wealthy American, mourns the end of a passionate affair and fears that everything beautiful is slipping from her grasp. And Anna Halversson, a Swedish farm girl in search of a fresh start in America, is tormented by the screams that ring out from the water. Is one of them calling her name?

Twenty years later, a sudden death brings the three women back together, forcing them to face the impossible choices they made, the inconceivable loss, and the secrets they have kept for far too long.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

…for the rest of his life, the pitiful tableau they formed was the first image that sprang to mind when he thought of the Titanic. The handsome young man in his evening dress, eyes haunted, one hand pressed protectively against his companion’s back. There was a girl hovering nervously behind them—a maid, by her cowed bearing and black dress. And then there was the lady, swathed in a fur coat over a shimmering green gown, a vision of ruined elegance.

 

Mr. Harper looked as if he hadn’t enjoyed himself since the last century. He offered Esme a wan smile, his cheek muscles straining with the effort.

 

She’d seen statues with more spirit than Mr. Harper.

 

Anna had never had new clothes of her own; she had always worn her sisters’ castoffs. Now, she would have a hand-me-down husband. Perhaps that was the best she could hope for.

 

There is a hypnotic quality to the ship’s leisurely descent. Esme imagines describing the scene to her friends, sometime in the future. The words “tragically magnificent ” come to mind, and she is swept up in the self-important gratification that comes from witnessing history.

 

…all those men who did their duty and went down with the ship. It sounds like a noble sort of death, but it isn’t: it’s loud and painful and terrifying.

 

One large picture window downstairs, two smaller windows on top, the sort of stolidly respectable dwelling the poor aspire to and the rich dismiss.

 

My Review:

 

I rarely read historical fiction and am undeniably choosy when I do. And I don’t mean to be self-aggrandizing or boastful when say I chose exceedingly well when I picked up this unexpected jewel. I quickly fell into Ms. Blackwell’s well-crafted vortex and effortlessly assimilated into the world of these fascinating and well-drawn characters. I was essentially held captive, willingly that is, as I was enthralled and entranced by Ms. Blackwell’s emotive and powerful word voodoo. Her writing was highly evocative and vividly descriptive, I held strong visuals in my head and could almost feel the damp chill while the characters were in the lifeboat and bobbing in the frigid arctic waters. This was a heart squeezing and thoughtfully written story, this talented scribe has mad skills!

About the Author 

Goodreads  / Amazon

As the daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service officer, Elizabeth Blackwell grew up in Washington, D.C., interspersed with stints in Africa, the Middle East and Europe–pretty much always with a book in hand. She majored in history at Northwestern University (hooray! more reading!) and received her master’s in journalism from Columbia University, which led to a career as an editor and writer for a number of publications that have since gone out of business (surely just a coincidence?). She now writes fiction from her home office in the Chicago suburbs, in between wrangling her three children and fighting for a parking spot at the local Target.

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Book Review, Giveaway: A Little Spark by Amy K. McClung

Title: A Little Spark
Author: Amy K. McClung
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 31, 2018
Cover Designer: Soxsational Cover Art
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Sparks fly when sassy firefighter Jilli meets her match in Amy K. McClung’s enemies-to-lovers romance.
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When Sam and Jillian meet, the snark and sparks start to fly. Despite their intense attraction, words and actions are misunderstood, and miscommunication is rife. Will their stubbornness be their downfall or the start of something extraordinary?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Unable to stop them, I feel my eyebrows moving up and down in what is probably supposed to be sexy in my drunken mind, but from the crease in her forehead and scrunched-up nose, it reeks of creepy.

 

Moist towelettes are my brother’s answer to getting more sleep. He stays out late, snoozes the alarm an extra thirty minutes, and uses the sheets to cleanse his nether regions—his words, not mine.

 

Carrie’s sister missed her flight, and I live a short way from the church and happen to be her size. That’s what it boils down to. Her sister and I share the same voluptuous curves, the way Carrie put it. What she means is we are both built like linebackers with broad shoulders and hips to match.

 

Her eyes widen in shock. I fear I broke her when she stares at me as if I just asked her to burn her pompoms.

 

If I am dreaming, I’ll kill anyone who wakes me up.

 

My Review:

 

I love the role reversal in this storyline as the female lead character of Jillian was the most emotionally distant and closed off and also had the more physically demanding and macho job of a firefighter, while Sam, the male lead, was the more nurturing and thoughtful of the two and worked as a realtor. Both characters were invitingly quirky, highly appealing, and likable. Once they got past their initial antagonism they shared a playful manner with each other, love of all things Star Wars, and a clever and sardonic wit. I adored them and enjoyed their verbal sparring as well as their sweet and steamy romance. The premise was unique and interesting while the writing was engaging, cleverly amusing, and pleasantly entertaining.

 

 
“Dance with me again?”
“Why?” No doubt she’s a tough one.
“Because I’d like to dance with you. No ulterior motives.”
After finishing off the fourth beer, she sighs and reaches out. The song changes to a slow romantic tune.
She eyes me curiously, her finger pointing upward as though the music floats above us. “Did you plan this?”
“I’ve been on the dance floor for the past four songs. How would I have planned it?” Pulling her against my body, I breathe in the sweet smell of vanilla on her skin. Long arms drape over my shoulders, and her hands press against my back. Each breath she takes draws my attention to her breasts. The temperature in the room heightens as our bodies sway together. Allowing my hands to travel down her naked back, I stop just above her ass. Her skin is so soft, so smooth. “You smell amazing,” I whisper against her ear.
“Thanks.” One word said in a way that might have given me pause if I couldn’t feel her body shiver. Her involuntary body language can’t be faked as easily as her tone. She wants me as much as I want her, that’s plain to see, but she’s fighting the attraction. “I need to go,” she says, pulling away from me just before the song ends. She hustles through the crowd and out the door.
“You can run, but I’m going to chase you,” I say to myself as I watch her go. There’s something special about her, and I’m not giving up so easily on finding out what it is.
 
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Amy McClung was born in Nashville, TN. She is the second oldest of four girls and occasionally suffers from middle-child syndrome. She met the love of her life online in August of 2004, on his birthday of all days, and married him in September 2005.Currently they have no human children, only the room full of colorful robots that transform into vehicles and the large headed Pop Funkos who represent their favorite characters. Collecting movies, shot glasses, Pop Funkos, and dust bunnies are some of her favorite pastimes.Amy began writing in September of 2011 and independently published her first YA novel, Cascades of Moonlight, Book one of the Parker Harris series the following May. Her first book was a means of therapy for her, enabling her to escape reality for a while during a difficult transition in her life.

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Book Review, Giveaway: Lone Star Blues by Delores Fossen

Title: Lone Star Blues

Author: Delores Fossen

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 17th, 2018

Publisher: HQN

Series: Wrangler’s Creek

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Synopsis:

Wrangler’s Creek’s most eligible bad boy has just become its most eligible single dad.

Dylan Granger could always count on his rebellious-cowboy charm to get his way—until the day his wife, Jordan, left him and joined the military. The realization that during a wild night he got her cousin pregnant is shocking enough. But the news that Jordan has come home to Texas to help raise the baby is the last thing he expects.

Raising a baby with Dylan in Wrangler’s Creek is a life Jordan might’ve had years ago, but she doesn’t want regrets. She wants what’s best for the child—and to find out if there’s something deeper between her and her ex than blazing-hot chemistry. Getting closer means letting down her guard to Dylan again, but will he be able to accept the emotional scars on her heart?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Tiffany Kelly, a cocktail waitress at the Longhorn Bar, had indeed started a bingo game that involved sex categories— specifically sex categories with Dylan— and she had distributed variations of the cards to women around town… Apparently, once a woman had her card filled, Tiffany would give them a drink on the house. So far, there’d been four winners. Okay, there were five, but one of them had cheated.

 

Walter Ray probably didn’t know that most folks called him dick-nose, and it was a well-earned moniker. It was one of those noses that made you stare and wonder why the heck he hadn’t run to a plastic surgeon.

 

Had this been any other person, Jordan could have argued that sex didn’t just happen, but this was a woman who’d stolen flip-flops and Twizzlers. Adele’s life had seemingly been a string of things that’d “just happened” or else really stupid things that she’d planned.

 

Her arrest record reads like stuff a stand-up comic would use. Did you know she once got arrested for peeing on a CEO’s car? She was protesting the way he treated his employees.”

 

He peed in the gas tank of Mildred Wheeler’s Toyota after she fussed at him for being drunk in public. Then, he peed on those feral chickens that are out by Police Chief McKinnon’s house when somebody bet him that he couldn’t do it. One of the chickens got mad, jumped on his wiener and spurred him. He needed stitches.

 

 My Review:

 

I smirked my way through this delightfully amusing and skillfully crafted tale. I adore Delores Fossen’s wickedly observant and clever wit. Her books are highly engaging and provide delectable entertainment. I could read her work every day and never tire of her enticing yet uniquely flawed and endearing characters. I enjoy and greatly anticipate her easy to follow and breezy writing style with comedic descriptions and strong visuals that succinctly and simultaneously define her quirky characters’ appearance and behavior with her own brand of vividly colorful and entertaining flair. Reading her books feels like a fun and indulgent vacation and I always feel a bit rueful at having to return to the real world once I’ve finished.

Excerpt:

Copyright© 2018 Lone Star Blues

Delores Fossen

Downing some more coffee, Dylan headed off the porch and toward the large detached garage for another vehicle. However, before he could even make it there, he saw something sparkly on the stone path. A silver purse that was smaller and flatter than the palm of his hand. It had some chew marks on it and was wet, possibly from dog slobber.

Since this likely belonged to the naked woman, he opened it to see if he could find her ID. And there it was—her driver’s license along with a credit card and some lipstick. There was also one of those stupid Dylan Granger Sex Bingo cards folded up inside.

Thankfully, it was blank.

He pulled out the license and looked at her birth date first. She was twenty-six. Way too young for him but at least she was legal. Then he read the name, and his stomach went to his ankles. Because it was Misty Turley, the same last name as the judge who was pissed at him. And with the way his morning was going, Dylan seriously doubted that was a coincidence. No, this was likely another of his daughters. One younger than Melanie.

Maybe he could send Walter Ray a whole case of scotch.

Dylan didn’t know exactly how many daughters the judge actually had. Walter Ray had gotten divorced years ago, and when his ex-wife had moved away, the girls only visited Wrangler’s Creek every now and then. Or at least that had been the case until Melanie had moved back after she’d finished college.

He picked up the purse so he could take it back inside and add it to the pile of clothes. Since the identity of the naked woman was bad news number five, that had to mean he was good to go at least for the rest of the day.

Or not.

Dylan heard the sound of an engine right before he saw the cop car pull up in front of the house. It wasn’t the local cops, either. The cruiser had San Antonio Police on the door.

A tall, lanky man in uniform stepped out. “I’m looking for Dylan Granger,” he said, and he flashed his badge.

Hell. What now? Had Walter Ray sent someone to look for his daughter?

“I’m Dylan Granger.” He tucked the purse in his back pocket and walked toward the cop. “Is there a problem?”

The cop didn’t answer. He just motioned to someone inside the cruiser, and a moment later, a gray-haired woman stepped out. She wasn’t alone. She was gripping the hand of a little boy who couldn’t have been more than two or three years old.

Dylan silently repeated that—hell, what now?

“You need to sign for him,” the woman said. She had some papers in her left hand, and she started toward Dylan, pulling the little boy with her.

Dylan shook his head. “Why do I need to sign? And who is he?”

The woman smiled as if there was something to smile about. “Well, Mr. Granger, according to this paper, this precious little boy is your son.”

About Delores Fossen: 

USA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, is an Air Force veteran who has sold over 100 novels. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. Her books have been featured in Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines.

Connect with Delores: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

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Book Review: A Home at Honeysuckle Farm by Christie Barlow

A Home at Honeysuckle Farm

by Christie Barlow

Goodreads

Amazon  US / UK

B&N

A family secret

One shocking argument and ten-year-old Alice Parker’s world was turned upside down. Her peaceful life at Honeysuckle Farm in the quiet rural village of Brook Bridge swapped for the bustling metropolis of New York City. Alice’s life was changed forever…

A second chance

Now, thirteen years later, Alice’s American dream is over. With her life in tatters, there is only one place Alice wants to be… home at Honeysuckle Farm. So, when Alice learns her beloved Grandie is ill, she knows this is her last chance to heal the family rift.

A forever home?

But secrets still swirl in Brook Bridge, and Alice is no closer to discovering the truth. And for some reason her new friendship with local heartthrob Sam Reid seems to be making the locals tense.

Sick of the lies Alice knows it’s time to lay the past to rest once and for all. But could the truth ruin her hopes of ever calling Honeysuckle Farm home again?

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘Gosh, they used these things back in the days of the dinosaurs,’ I said with amazement, taking out the cassette tape and flipping it over.

 

But you never know, she has the habit of popping up when you least expect it. She gave me that look …you know, when I left the house… The look where she narrows her eyes and I feel guilty for even breathing… Do you know how difficult it is to sneak out, even at my age? That woman must have some sort of psychic powers, knowing when I’m up to something.

 

I thought today was just another day, but it turned out it was the day I found out what my father looked like for the very first time.

 

 My Review:

 

I had a problem settling myself to pen a review for this book, as for one, I couldn’t decide how to categorize the genre. There were several mysteries, loads of family drama, grief, small-town issues of pettiness and long-held feuds, a slowly developing yet sweet romance, frequent licks of amusing humor, and a main character in agitation and tumult. I landed on the broad category of women’s fiction, as I so frequently do since most women face all of these thorny issues on a daily basis. The story was easy to follow and held my interest and kept me curious while taunting me by withholding critical information and causing rampant speculation on my part.

 

But my main consternation seemed to be that I couldn’t fully connect or empathize with the main character of Alice, who often annoyed me with her indecisive waffling, lack of backbone, and proclivity for fabrication – although her obstinate mother also seemed to have mastered the art of deceit as well. I was increasingly frustrated with Alice and had developed a steadily growing resentment of her mother who was the epicenter of the majority of Alice’s turmoil, although I enjoyed Alice’s friends and adored the sexy Sam. I was beginning to despair of the truth remaining undisclosed while I was running out of pages when the closely held secret was finally unwound. Sigh, thankfully I held on for that HEA and was rewarded for my patience.   Christie Barlow can certainly spin a tale.

About Christie Barlow

Christie Barlow is the author of A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother, The Misadventures of a Playground Mother, Kitty’s Countryside Dream, Lizzie’s Christmas Escape, Evie’s Year of Taking Chances, The Cosy Canal Boat Dream and A Home at Honeysuckle Farm. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA & Australia.

Christie is an ambassador for @ZuriProject raising money/awareness and engaging with impoverished people in Uganda through organizations to improve their well-being as well as Literary Editor for www.mamalifemagazine.co.uk bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the book world.

She loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via her website www.christiebarlow.com Twitter @ChristieJBarlow and Facebook page Christie Barlow author