Saturday, November 8, 2014

Second Sentence Saturday: Once Upon a Christmas Scandal


SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab the novel/novella your currently reading
  • Open to the first page of Chapter 1 or its Prologue
  • Share the SECOND sentence from that page
  • Share the novel/novella's title & its author, so that other participants can add that novel to their TBR Lists if they want



MY Second Sentence Saturday :

"Once Upon a Christmas Scandal" [within Christmas Brides] & [Lords of Vice Series, Book 7.5] by Alexandra Hawkins -- MY REVIEW

What were you and Father thinking?



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT to share either the link to your own SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY post or share the sentence in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thank You!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Blog Tour - Coming Home To Love by Katie O'Boyle | Spreading the Word & Novel Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Katie O'Boyle author of "Coming Home To Love," which is second book in her Lakeside Porches Series.

ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY!! [Blog Tour & Giveaway will run from November 3 - 21, 2014]




"Coming Home To Love"
[Lakeside Porches Series, Book 2] by Katie O'Boyle

Author's Book Description :
    With his health deteriorating and his spirit dying, Justin Cushman has come home to the Finger Lakes to assist his injured nephew Joel. Sick of accumulating wealth for its own sake, Justin knows that his life is meaningless without a loving relationship and a purpose for his billions. On a whim, he visits Joel’s spa, looking for a massage to relieve his pain. Gianessa Dupioni is a gifted masseuse who starts the boss’s irritable uncle on a journey of health and happiness. Too bad for Justin that Gianessa is devastated by personal losses and strictly focused on rebuilding her career. Justin may be a master strategist in the financial world, but can he persuade Gianessa to let love in?

This book is available to order on :

Amazon.com

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! **



About the Author :

Born in the upstate-New York village known as the Birthplace of Women’s Rights, Katie O’Boyle loves the Finger Lakes in every season. She enjoys lunch with friends at charming inns, and she cherishes the lakeside porch as a place for intimate sharing, laughter, and inspiration. To the outside world, she is a tech-savvy college professor. In her soul, she is a passionate author of warm-hearted romance. She is hard at work on book four of the Lakeside Porches romance books and novellas.



Book Excerpt :

“You know,” Gianessa said, as she stroked his palm with her thumb, “I was prepared not to like you. Look how that turned out.”

He blustered. “Not like me?” He winked.

“The first time I saw you, you were badgering Grace.” She leaned forward, leading with her breasts. “That ticked me off.”

“And you wore your hair in that French braid, which ticked me off.”

She gathered her long, toffee tresses behind her shoulders. “You never said you didn’t like my braid.”

“I wanted from that first moment to get my hands in your hair. I plotted six ways to Sunday to get rid of the braid.”

“My braid is perfect for work. It feels elegant and simple, and it makes me feel put together and focused.”

He caressed her cheek and jaw and neck with eager fingers. “But you’re elegant and complex, and I prefer you undone.”



Giveaways!! :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soo .... COMMENT on this post & TWEET away on twitter!! And you could WIN!! =0)

ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites!



Find Katie O'Boyle :

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Made the Grade: The Jorda Series, Book 1

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 509 KB | Expected Release Date: August 1, 2014 | Publisher: Harlequin : Escape Publishing | Obtained: NetGalley/Escape Publishing

"Loving The Prince" [The Jorda Series, Book 1] by Nicole Murphy (aka Elizabeth Dunk)

Author's Book Description : Cassandra Wiltmore is the heir to the throne of Rica, but it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping up any time soon. So she spends her days managing and building the Rican Balcite Mining Company. The company has made her family wealthy beyond imagination, but that kind of power needs careful control, and Cassandra is just the Wiltmore to control it.

When a new bid for the mining license is announced, Cassandra is determined to squash it. Then the thefts and threats begin, and every step she takes seems to be wrong. Taking on a new protector seems like an indulgence Cass can’t afford, but she equally cannot afford to be caught off-guard. If only the best man for the job wasn’t also the best-looking man she’s ever seen.

Kernan Radaton has ambition, and as protector to Cassandra Wiltmore, he’s well placed to reach all his long-held goals. If only his new all-business boss didn’t make him think of only pleasure. With the company, the heir and the family under attack, the last thing anyone needs is a distraction. But once everything is safe again, Kernan is developing new ambitions — ones that involve a lot of very personal time spent getting to know his boss on a very personal level.

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! A woman finds a man who might be her perfect match if only threats, relatives, and obsessed "fans" don't get in their way.

This intense dynamic novel keeps readers on their toes as they follow Cassie & Kernan's search as to who could be planning to hurt her company while watching them fall in love at the same time. I enjoyed its plot, especially when it came to the mystery of who was trying to take down Cassie's company. In addition, I liked how Kernan & Cassie's relationship was pretty much instantaneous and how they dealt with it. Basically, the last six chapters of this novel were my favorite because I loved how everything gets wrapped up!!

I recommend this novel to those who like sci-fi suspenseful romances!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here :

Author's Novel Extras : Loving the Prince - Overview | Loving the Prince - Deleted Scenes | Flash Fiction – new WiP | Announcement – new books sold! | Where I’ve been | Flash Fiction Friday – Loving the Prince preview | Flash Fiction Friday – heroine and hero meet! | All about promotion | Flash Fiction Friday – and the book is go! | Musings on writing – early versions of Loving the Prince | Musings on writing – early versions of Cassandra | Time to boast – reviews! | Musings on writing – early versions of Loving the Prince | Musings on writing – early versions of Loving the Prince | Musings on writing – early versions of Loving the Prince

Author's Series Extras : The Jorda Series - Overview | Celebrating the end!

Book Teaser(s) :
'Well, if the pace is too much for you, say the word and I'll find something calmer.'
Kernan grinned. 'Work me hard. Whip me. I'll enjoy it.' ~ within Chapter 7
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Nicole, then please check out her website.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Blog Tour - The Gladiator's Bride by Nhys Glover | Spreading the Word & Gift Card Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Nhys Glover author of "The Gladiator's Bride," which is fifth book in her 1st Century CE Imperial Rome Series.

ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY!! [Blog Tour & Giveaway will run from November 3 - 7, 2014]



"The Gladiator's Bride"
[1st Century CE Imperial Rome Series, Book 5] by Nhys Glover

Author's Book Description :
    Crippled by shyness, shunned for being not-right-in-the-head, gifted artist and Roman noblewoman, Marcia Mica, has only two people in the world who truly love her – her teacher, Daedalus, and her childhood friend, Asterion, both slaves in her father’s household. But when forbidden love blooms between the unlikely friends, only disaster can come of it. That disaster leaves Marcia horribly scarred and Asterion sold into the arena as a gladiator.

    Years later, Daedalus brings a broken Marcia to Britannia, and Sabrina, the healer who saved his life when he was a boy, works miracles on the scarred girl. However, not all scars are physical and those Sabrina has no ability to heal.

    When Sabrina and Marcia are kidnapped by a Celtic leader bent on revenge, Asterion must depend on the dreams of a Celtic Seer to find the love of his life and help foil a revolt that threatens the fragile peace in Roman Britannia. But even if he and his friends succeed, can scars that are more than just physical ever really be healed and can those whose lives are owned by others ever truly be free to follow their hearts?

This book is available to order on :

Amazon.com

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! **

Author's Book Trailer :



About the Author :

After a lifetime of teaching others to appreciate the written word, Aussie author Nhys Glover finally decided to make the most of the Indie Book Revolution to get her own written word out to the world. Now, with almost 100,000 of her ebooks downloaded internationally and a winner of 2013 SFR Galaxy Award for "The Titan Drowns," Nhys finds her words, too, are being appreciated.

At home in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales of England, Nhys these days spends most of her time "living the dream" by looking out over the moors as she writes the kind of novels she loves to read: The ones that are a little bit steamy, a little bit different and wholly romantic.




Book Excerpt :

That was when he saw it. That was when he knew this wasn’t a dream. Or if it was it was, it was his worst nightmare: The whole right side of her face and body were covered by red, ugly burn-scars.

He gasped and dropped to his knees, his legs unable to hold him up a moment longer.

Daedalus came to his side and rested a hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s a bit of a shock the first time you see it. But after a while you don’t notice it.’

He stared up at the man who had been like a father to him; the man he blamed for being right about Marcie and him. How could he say this was a bit of a shock?

But before he had a chance to snap out a retort, Marcie’s body began jerking as the healing commenced. Though he couldn’t see anything happening, he could sense it. And so it seemed could Daedalus.

‘It’s her... By all the gods, it’s her,’ Daedalus whispered in awe as he watched Sabrina’s face, transformed by the Urge that had taken control of her.

He didn’t know what Daedalus meant. He didn’t care what he meant. This man had had his Marcie all this time. She’d been alive, all this time, and no one had told him. They’d let him leave the Estate thinking she was dead. And he’d died that day because of it.

‘You bastard. Why didn’t you tell me?’ he sobbed out, his voice breaking on the last word.

‘Tell you?’ Daedalus looked at him as if he’d grown a second head.

‘That she lived. They told me she was dead. Her sister told me she was dead.’



Giveaways!! :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soo .... COMMENT on this post & TWEET away on twitter!! And you could WIN!! =0)

ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites!



Find Nhys Glover :

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Made the Grade: Martin's Crossing Series, Book 1

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 224; Kindle Edition - File Size: 324 KB | Expected Release Date: November 18, 2014 | Publisher: Harlequin : Love Inspired | Obtained: NetGalley

"A Rancher for Christmas" [Martin's Crossing Series, Book 1] by Brenda Minton

Author's Book Description : A Family for Christmas

Raised on the run, free-spirited Breezy Hernandez has never stayed in one place too long. But now that she has joint custody of her late brother's twin daughters, she's determined to give them a stable home. Even if it means cooperating with the twins' bossy uncle. Texas rancher Jake Martin learned the hard way that women can't be trusted. But as he and Breezy care for the orphaned girls, Jake begins to open his heart. Is Breezy ready to put down roots in Martin's Crossing, or will she run from the one thing she's always wanted: A family?

Martin's Crossing: In this small Texas town, every heart finds a home

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars, a man (Jake) who has raised his siblings ever since their mother ran out on them now has joint custody of his twin toddler nieces with a woman (Breezy) who has a history of being a drifter after the parents of his nieces unexpectedly die. Will they be able to find a way to raise the girls in a loving home even if they aren’t together or will their hearts show them what is waiting for them if only they are willing to trust one another?

This intriguing suspenseful contemporary romance will charm you from the beginning. I liked how Breezy & Jake came together while trying to overcome their pasts and dealing with what seems like someone trying to tear them apart. In addition, the parts with the twins (Rosie & Violet) in them were very sweet and I thought the part where Breezy tries to corral a herd of cattle by herself was pretty funny too!

The only thing that I wish could have been better was if this novel could have held my interest more. It wasn’t that the plot was bad or that the characters weren’t interesting as it all was good but there is a lot of back-story and sub-plots that look to be building up for other novels, which while usually can be helpful, I found at times it made my mind wander instead of keeping my attention. Therefore, I hope if you read this, it’ll hold your interest more then it did mine.

Nevertheless, I still recommend this novel to those who like contemporary romances based around the holidays!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series/Connected Series Here :

Book Teaser(s) :
"Back in the field. If you please, Sir Loin."
She shooed him with her hands. He shook his massive head. She started to run at him, slipping a little on the frosty glass.
"Listen, hamburger, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt when I thought you were a gentleman, now go." She charged at him, waving her arms.
He snorted and took a few quick steps away from her before turning back to face her again. It clicked in her city-girl brain that she wasn't going to win a battle against a one-ton animal. ~ within Chapter 4
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Brenda, then please check out her website.
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