Review: Four Nights at Sea (International Affairs #2)

Four days on the water . . .
Four nights in his arms . . .

Charlene “Charlie” Stanton doubts her maiden voyage on a lusty singles cruise will direct her sails toward love. But an unexpected lothario just might change the tide in her favor . . .

Charlie boarded the Cozumel-bound Lovers Sail cruise hoping for nothing more than writing an article that would make it into the pages of City Wings, a trendy travel magazine. Still recovering from a highly publicized divorce, love is the last thing on her mind—especially when she realizes she’s mistakenly booked herself a spot on a kink cruise. That is until she meets Ford, an outsider just like her, and he whips her attitude into submission. Despite rules limiting their interaction, he shows her a world where pleasure is encouraged, and nothing is forbidden. And with Ford as her anchor, she begins to wonder if she can turn four nights of fantasy into more nights of reality when the trip is over . . .

ebook, 288 pages

Published December 6th 2016 by Lyrical Press

Terri's Thoughts

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  It was just released earlier this month.

I have to admit that I really struggled with this story and after many weeks thinking it over (yes it has taken me this long to write my review) I finally know why.  I read all genres of books and keep an open mind.  I entered in to this story knowing it was erotica and being comfortable with that fact however I really think I am not a fan of this genre.

Here is where my issue comes in.  While I am ok with sex in my stories, as well as the details, I also want a story to be told between the "bedroom" scenes.  For me, this story was all about the physical chemistry of Charlie & Ford and little about the substance.  I only blame myself, I mean the synopsis details that the story takes place on a kink cruise.  I just thought maybe there would be a story amongst the kink.  Sadly, IMHO there was not.

I do have to say there is one aspect that makes me giggle.  Although I tend not to be a cruise person and prefer other vacation possibilities, I have several friends and family who love it.  Now, whenever one of them tells me they booked a cruise, I will think of the one in this story.

So I must declare that I realize that I am not a fan of the erotica genre.  It is that or this book doesn't really represent the genre well.  Either way I will be a lot more cautious before selecting any further stories in the genre.  To be fair to the author, and fans of this genre, I do not think it would be fair for me to rate this book

About the Author

Demi Alex is a hopeless romantic who sits at her neighborhood café and fabricates stories of magical interludes between her fellow java worshipers. Even though romance rules her world, Demi's stories have a much spicier and more mature tone.

She enjoys her wild adventures, letting her imagination take flight as her hands pen tales of extreme sensuality in exotic locations. Traveling as often as work would allow her, Demi writes about her favorite spots, reflecting on her personal research of all her settings in order to make her stories speak to her readers. Her characters can be found in any town or city, but their attitude is what sets them apart. They let loose and experience what is thrown at them!

“What would life be, if we didn’t take a few risks along the way and place our hearts on the line? Boring! So come on-- let loose.” Demi invites all readers to send her scenarios on a ‘what if’ they had made a different choice and decision at a certain time. “If you write to me about that specific choice, and I can give you an alternate ending, I’ll name the character in the story according to your wish.”

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Book Blitz: Fallen Angel Box Set by Tracie Podger

iBooks - http://apple.co/2fsLoKD

Nook - http://bit.ly/FABoxSetNook

Amazon US - http://amzn.to/2eorhum

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/2f3uDRy

BLURB:

Four books - four stories following one woman's journey into a world she has only ever seen in a movie! The Fallen Angel series, a mafia romance with a difference. 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. Once Robert came to terms with the fact that he was in love with Brooke, he knew he could never let her go. Not letting her go means introducing her to his life, past and present. However, when Robert’s past and present collide, Brooke does the one thing that Robert begs her not to. Does it change her? Has that light that he sees in her eyes been extinguished? This is a story of an extraordinary couple who love, fight to survive, and become one of the most powerful 'families' in the U.S. The Fallen Angel series is a mafia romance for readers over the age of 18. Contains graphic scenes of a sexual nature.

  

 About the Author:

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 likes getting up close and personal with sharks. Tracie likes to write in different genres. Her Fallen Angel series and its accompanying books are mafia romance and full of suspense. A Virtual Affair is contemporary romance, and Gabriel and A Deadly Sin are thriller/suspense. The Facilitator is erotic romance. Available from Amazon, iBooks, Kobo & Nook Fallen Angel, Part 1 Fallen Angel, Part 2 Fallen Angel, Part 3 Fallen Angel, Part 4 The Fallen Angel Box Set Evelyn - A Novella – To accompany the Fallen Angel Series Rocco – A Novella – To accompany the Fallen Angel Series Robert – To accompany the Fallen Angel Series Travis – To accompany the Fallen Angel Series A Virtual Affair – A standalone Gabriel – A standalone The Facilitator A Deadly Sin Coming soon Hitchhiker - 2017 Jackson - 2017 Letters to Lincoln – 2017 Rocco: The Missing Years – 2017
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Amazon Author Page – https://author.to/TraciePodger http://www.TraciePodger.com  

Book Trailers 
 A Virtual Affair - https://youtu.be/6UR68KtLQPc
Gabriel - https://youtu.be/VOgduZqo_io
The Facilitator - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_k...  

 GIVEAWAY: https://promosimple.com/public/embed-codes/id/aaaf

 

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Book Blitz: Love, Lust & Lizzie by Tiffani Lynn

Opposites attract but what happens when they actually connect? Together Lizzie and Beckett are like lighter fluid on hot coals and equally as complicated. She was raised among the country club elite while he grew up in the suburbs surrounded by blue collar people. Although Lizzie’s family isn’t jumping for joy at her new relationship, it’s the salt-of-the-earth people Beckett holds dearest who work the hardest to split them up. Beckett has to make a decision, the woman of his dreams or the family who has always had his back.

BUY LINKS:

http://amzn.to/2i19ax1

https://www.books2read.com/u/b5Ow6O

FAVORITE LINES:

~ Before Miami, I would never have stripped off my clothes in a fully lit room in front of a man, but something about the way Beckett looks at me gives me confidence to be the kind of woman who will. ~ I never had a man before him who ran as hot as he does. This man is insatiable. His gaze drops to my mouth and the smirk returns. He knows very well what he does to me. ~ His smile this time is different than previous ones. It’s spectacular and slightly predatory. ~ It means, you’re a great guy, but on paper you two don’t match. She’s embossed parchment from a fancy-assed printer and you’re wide-ruled notebook paper from Walmart. You know what I mean so don’t act offended.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ~ Tiffani Lynn is a music loving, baseball adoring, crazed hockey fan. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her husband and three daughters. When she can spare a moment she reads contemporary romance novels and watches movies. Love, Lust & Lizzie is Tiffani's third published book with a fourth release set for January 2017.  

   

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Review & Guest Post: Lost Girls by Merrie Destefano

Yesterday, Rachel went to sleep listening to Taylor Swift, curled up in her grammy’s quilt, worrying about geometry. Today, she woke up in a ditch, bloodied, bruised, and missing a year of her life.

She doesn’t recognize the person she’s become: she’s popular. She wears nothing but black.

Black to cover the blood.

And she can fight.

Tell no one.

She’s not the only girl to go missing within the last year…but she’s the only girl to come back. She desperately wants to unravel what happened to her, to try and recover the rest of the Lost Girls.

But the more she discovers, the more her memories return. And as much as her new life scares her, it calls to her. Seductively. The good girl gone bad, sex, drugs, and raves, and something darker…something she still craves—the rush of the fight, the thrill of the win—something she can’t resist, that might still get her killed…

The only rule is: There are no rules.

Kindle Edition, 360 pages

Expected publication: January 3rd 2017 by Entangled: Teen 

Genre: YA contemporary/YA psychological thriller/YA dark contemporary

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Lost Girls is one of those books where the less you know going in the better. The synopsis gives enough of an indication of what it is about and I feel like that is enough. For that reason, I won't re-tell the story. Intrigued? I certainly was and I knew nothing more than the little blurb before getting started.

This book captured me and sucked me in from the very first page. I am not exaggerating when I say this. I took Lost Girls with me on the treadmill, a task I often do to break up the monotony of exercise, and the next thing I knew an hour had passed. Not only did I not notice the time while I read on the treadmill, I also covered so many pages in the book that I was beyond the point of productivity for anything else. Life was going to get ignored for a few hours so that I could find out what happened. I absolutely had to know what happened to Rachel. Where was she? Why was she missing a year of her life when she was gone less than two weeks? What happened in that year? I was so intrigued that I was forced (not literally) to continue reading to find my answers.

This book was dark, gritty and mysterious with really great writing but still managed to cover the other aspects that the YA audience loves so much. There was the family and friend angle, high school angle and a young love angle that teens will be sure to devour. I am quite a few years removed from the intended audience and I was still able to appreciate and enjoy all the different sides to this story. Destefano did an amazing job of tying it all together and creating a story that will appeal to multiple groups of people.

This was the first book by this author for me but it certainly won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing and I feel that many others will too.  Lost Girls was one of those books where all you need to do is read the first page to get hooked!

Guest Post

 By Merrie Destefano

My Top 5 Favorite Teen TV Shows

It doesn’t matter what age you are, there’s nothing quite like a coming-of-age drama that deals with universal themes. We’ve all struggled with first love, peer pressure, taking tests, worrying about grades, and dealing with teachers who may or may not be your nemesis. The list below contains five of my favorite, classic, coming-of-age dramas, perfect for binge-watching.

1.    Friday Night Lights
Set in Texas, this teen drama starring Taylor Kitsch and Kyle Chandler is the first program of any kind that actually made me care about football. Why? Because I got that invested in the characters. If you haven’t seen this, I say put it on your Netflix watch list. Just make sure you leave yourself time for binge watching, because it will happen.

2.    My So-Called Life
This might be one of the teen dramas that made me want to want to write YA. The dialogue. The drama. The angst. It all felt so real. It could have been the fact that super-actress Claire Danes headed up the cast and the screen just comes to life when she’s on. Or it could have been that visceral pang of first crush/first love she experiences every time she saw Jared Leto.

3.    Roswell
An alien boy falls for an earthling girl. That might not sound like much to go on when writing a TV series, but whoa, the chemistry between Jason Behr and Shiri Appleby could light your television on fire. Alien Max (Behr) is willing to sacrifice everything in the first episode when Liz (Appleby) is shot. Now that’s what I call love.

4.    The 100
Let’s put 100 teens in space, then put them in prison for petty crimes, and then get rid of them all by sending them to a hostile planet. But wait, that hostile planet is earth. Sign me up, I’m watching this. Every. Week. The adversarial chemistry between Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and Bellamy (Bob Morley) is steamier than the misty Pacific Northwest climate.

5. The Vampire Diaries
Which vampire boy does Elena like best, Damon or Stefan? It doesn’t help that the boys are brothers or that she just lost both of her parents. My main complaint with this lovely show is that it didn’t follow the book close enough. I always voted for Damon (duh), which is who she ends up with in the first book, The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith.

 

About the Author

Born in the Midwest, magazine editor Merrie Destefano currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two German Shepherds, a Siamese cat, and the occasional wandering possum. Her favorite hobbies are reading speculative fiction and watching old Star Trek episodes, and her incurable addiction is writing. She loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies, and listen to alternative music-although rarely all at the same time.

Connect with Merrie

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Wishing You All a Very Merry Christmas!

As another year of blogging soon comes to a close I just want to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. For both Terri and I, today will be a day spent with family and extended family. We will exchange gifts, eat way too much and enjoy many laughs along the way. I wouldn't change it for anything! 

How will you spend the day today?

Review: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood.  Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.  It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard.  So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini.  In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails.  As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile.  But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater.  Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion.  His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

Kindle Edition, 497 pages

Published November 6th 2010 by Random House 

Genre: History/Nonfiction/Biography

Kristine's Thoughts:

This book has been reviewed hundreds of thousands of times plus was made into a movie so I will keep my thoughts relatively short. I have a fascination with WWI and WWII and have read hundreds of books both fiction and nonfiction about both. I knew nothing about Louis Zamperini and my knowledge of the role the Japanese played in the war was fairly limited to Pearl Harbor and the atomic bomb. I've also read a lot about the Japanese Americans that were sent to internment camps in the US. Most of my knowledge of WWII was around the Holocaust and I'm fairly well read on  Russia and the 900 day blockade in Leningrad. However, with all of the reading I've done you would think that I would be beyond capable of being shocked. WRONG...this book shocked me over and over and over again.

The things that Zamperini went through, endured, braved and challenged were beyond any words that I have. A strong person would be lucky to survive just one of the ordeals that he lived through. For him to be challenged so many times in so many ways was just short of unbelievable. In fact, I think unbelievable was the word that I kept uttering while turning the pages. Seriously, his war was fought on so many levels in so many ways that I don't know where he ever found the strength to keep going. That also goes for the rest of the POWs that he was with.

War is ugly and Louis' story is just one of millions from all sides of the battle that proved just how ugly it is. Strength and endurance was something that was a necessity in order to survive.

This book fed my thirst for knowledge even though the subject matter was tough to take at times. Now that I've finally cleared this book from my TBR pile I can also watch the movie.

About the Author

Laura Hillenbrand (born 1967) is the author of the acclaimed Seabiscuit: An American Legend, a non-fiction account of the career of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, for which she won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2001. The book later became the basis of the 2003 movie Seabiscuit. Her essays have appeared in The New Yorker, Equus magazine, American Heritage, The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times, The Backstretch, Turf and Sport Digest, and many other publications. Her 1998 American Heritage article on the horse Seabiscuit won the Eclipse Award for Magazine Writing.

Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome, which she has struggled with ever since. She now lives in Washington, D.C.  

Connect with Laura

Website/Goodreads

Review: Bella Luna by Sharon Struth

Her love life has gone to the dogs…

Rose Richardson is on the run from her dangerous ex-husband, a crime she didn’t commit—and the embarrassment of being an advice columnist with a disastrous personal life. Donning a fake identity, she escapes to a lovely lake house rental in rural Connecticut…only to discover her refuge is already occupied. Leo Drake is devastatingly handsome–and clearly wants to be alone. Rose stands her ground, even while she fears being found out for the fugitive she is. Plus, her sweet dog, Bella, seems to like the brooding widower, so how bad could he be?

A prize winning novelist, Leo lost everything after he lost his wife. But his mysterious housemate just might be the muse he needs to reignite his writing career. Despite his misgivings, Rose has secrets that only draw him closer, firing his imagination, even as his heart struggles with the attraction building between them. Plus, he kind of likes the quirky pooch. And as he tries to untangle his unusual predicament, Bella’s antics just might be the key to showing the loner that love is the only inspiration he needs…

ebook, 200 pages

Published December 6th 2016 by Lyrical Shine

Terri's Thoughts

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

This was a case of one of those books that I really enjoyed yet can't really pinpoint the why behind it.  This makes it very difficult to write a review.

I think the fact that both the characters were flawed and not necessarily perfect was a factor.  I liked how Leo noticed the mismatched clothes on Rose and came to appreciate them even though they didn't make sense.

If I have to be honest, the star of the story for me was Bella.  As a dog lover, it was love at first read with Bella.  From her personality to the way Leo would cuddle with her when Rose wasn't around, I was hooked.

Fans of adult contemporary/romance will enjoy this story.  While the storyline is not as dangerous as the synopsis leads you to believe, this is a sweet love story (with a dog). 

About the Author

Novelist Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, is a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards for Best first Book.  She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut, along with her husband, two daughters and canine companions.

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Review: Getting Inside by Serena Bell

They’re big. They’re hot. And they play hard.

In the kickoff to Serena Bell’s sexy new football romance series, the heat between a female coach and a cocky linebacker turns the Seattle Grizzlies locker room upside down.

Iona: There’s nothing like the rush of going head-to-head with the boys. Football is my life, and I got my new job with the Seattle Grizzlies because I know how to play rough. But as a woman in a man’s game, I can’t afford any distractions—like panty-melting tabloid darling Ty Williams, my star linebacker. I’ve stared down plenty of good-looking players without losing my cool . . . and yet something about Ty’s intense gaze burns straight to my core.

Ty : Despite what they say in the press, I save my best moves for game day. The Grizzlies aren’t just my teammates, they’re my brothers—no way am I going to let some new coach shake up our defense. But Iona Thomas isn’t just some coach. It’s so tough to keep my head in the game when I’d rather be in bed with her. She may take charge at practice, but if I had her in my arms, I’d be choosing the plays. I just need to figure out what makes her tick—and what makes her want to break the rules.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: January 3rd 2017 by Loveswept
Series: Seattle Grizzlies #1

Genre: Contmporary Romance/Sport Romance

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I read Serena Bell's entire Returning Home series and thoroughly enjoyed it so when I found out that she had a brand new series I jumped at the opportunity to get  my hands on it. Getting Inside is the first book in the new Seattle Grizzlies series.

I have read quite a few books and series about sports teams and I always have to make it clear that I am not an avid fan of any sport. The only exception to that would be rugby and probably only because my daughter plays. Having said that, I have enjoyed quite a few contemporary romances that were centred around a sporting team.

Getting Inside started a little rough for me. There was nothing wrong with the writing but there was a lot of sports lingo and references to specific plays in football. Seeing as how I can only appreciate a football game when I get free tickets to a box and can experience the entire atmosphere surrounding it, I have to say that it was a little lost on me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about how much I would enjoy the book.

As I got deeper into the book and got to know Iona and Ty my worries began to fade. There were less of the technical football terms to confuse me and more of the stuff that good contemporary romances are made of. The forbidden attraction captured me and had me wondering how it could possibly work out.

I was in Iona's corner from the very first page. She had overcome so many obstacles to achieve the things she most wanted and possessed a lot of the strong female characteristics that I respect and aim for in myself. Even though she was strong, there was still a sensitive and insecure part of her that I think we can all relate to. Ty was also a lot more sensitive than what you would expect from a giant, rough and tough football player. The forbidden aspect (as mentioned above) made me anxious and had me highly anticipating their inevitable fall towards each other.

Bell took someone who is not a sports fan and made a fan. I feel like this might be a series that grows and gets better with each instalment. I can't wait to read more about the Seattle Grizzlies and find out who the next book will be about.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author and RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee Serena Bell writes richly emotional stories about big-hearted characters with real troubles and the people who are strong and generous enough to love them.

A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and she adores hiding in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also her enormous collection of constantly changing and passionately embraced hobbies, ranging from needlepoint to paddle boarding to meditation.

Connect with Serena

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Book Blitz: Healing Hands by Kellie McAllen

AMAZON BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXHULMG

Sometimes, healing the body has to start with the heart.

Half-angel Rafael DiAngelo is a doctor whose mission in life is to bring healing, and he can't resist trying to help CeCe, a strong, beautiful woman who is inexplicably blind.

The only problem is, CeCe doesn't see her blindness as a disability, and she resents doctors who think they know best. Rafe would do anything to win over CeCe, even compromise his own integrity, but when his secrets are revealed, can their relationship survive? Healing Hands is the fourth book in The Celestia Divisa Collection, a series of clean, paranormal angel romance novels that can be read in order or as stand-alones. If you like sweet, heartwarming, romance novels with unique characters and a touch of the  supernatural, you'll fall for Healing Hands!

 

   


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m Kellie and I'm a bibliophile! I've had a lifelong love affair with books. I love the fantasy and romance of immersing myself in a great story, so it was inevitable that I take the next step and become a writer. When I'm not reading or writing, I'm usually baking cupcakes, obsessively decorating and redecorating my home, or watching dancing shows on TV. I live in North Carolina with my wonderful hubby, teenage daughter, and two sweet kitties.

www.facebook.com/kelliemcallen

amazon.com/author/kelliemcallen

www.goodreads.com/KellieMcAllen

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Review: House of Silence by Sarah Barthel

Oak Park, Illinois, 1875. Isabelle Larkin s future like that of every young woman hinges upon her choice of husband. She delights her mother by becoming engaged to Gregory Gallagher, who is charismatic, politically ambitious, and publicly devoted. But Isabelle s visions of a happy, profitable match come to a halt when she witnesses her fiance commit a horrific crime and no one believes her.
Gregory denies all, and Isabelle s mother insists she marry as planned rather than drag them into scandal. Fearing for her life, Isabelle can think of only one escape: she feigns a mental breakdown that renders her mute, and is brought to Bellevue sanitarium. There she finds a friend in fellow patient Mary Todd Lincoln, committed after her husband s assassination.
In this unlikely refuge, the women become allies, even as Isabelle maintains a veneer of madness for her own protection. But sooner or later, she must reclaim her voice. And if she uses it to expose the truth, Isabelle risks far more than she could ever imagine. 

Paperback, 300 pages

Expected publication: December 27th 2016 by Kensington Publishing Corporation 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts: 

** I received an advanced readers copy from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book took place back in 1875 when prestige, reputation and marrying well were of the utmost importance for young women. It was not unheard of for marriages to be arranged according to societal ranking and convenience. Love was not always the number one reason for a marriage to happen.

Gregory and Isabelle formed a match based on ambitions and connections with a bit of fondness but not love. Days after their engagement party where they announced to anyone and everyone of importance what their intentions were, Isabelle witnessed Gregory commit a horrible and  unthinkable crime. In her effort to end their relationship and see justice served, she confessed everything she saw to her mother. When she did not believe her and insisted the union happen as planned before their reputations were ruined, Isabelle knew that nobody was going to believe her. In order to escape the impending nuptials and for her own safety she decided to play the part that her mother and doctor were convinced of and ended up getting places in Bellevue Sanitarium.

The best way for me to describe this book is that it was very simplistic in nature. It was not rich in detail and history like what I have come to expect in historical fiction. It was lighter and fluffier for a lack of better words. I would say it was a little on the romantic side. This might make the book more appealing to readers who aren't normally fans of historical fiction. I myself am a huge fan of historical fiction so I found it left me craving a little bit more than it gave me. However, it was still entertaining although somewhat predictable and I was able to finish it quickly. It provided me with a small taste of history that I would love to explore more thoroughly.

About the Author

Sarah Barthel found her passion for writing historical fiction from her interest in classic films and old-time musicals. She often says she was born out of time, but appreciates modern toothpaste and Chocolate!

Her hometown, just outside Chicago, is full of old fashioned charm and serves as inspiration for much of her work. Before writing House of Silence, she drove past Bellevue Sanitarium often and wondered what life was like there for women like Mary Lincoln. After many years of wondering, Isabelle's story was born.

Sarah Barthel lives with her two beautiful daughters and loving husband.

Book Blitz: Christmas Bells by Linda Joyce

Christmas Bells Buy Links

Amazon US https://amzn.com/B01MFHZN72

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MFHZN72

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MFHZN72

Germany:

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01MFHZN72/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_tljiybX74TVJT

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/679399

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-bells-7

After grieving the loss of her husband and son, TV host Morgan Marshall is ready to embrace life again. But she won’t risk a relationship with the father of her favorite cooking student, Avery, since the girl’s happiness is more important than her own. Advertising executive Alex Blake never thought another woman could pique his interest after losing his wife to pneumonia, a complication of her cancer. Yet every time he’s in Morgan’s presence, she brings sunlight into the room. Plus, she’s a role model for his daughter, always assuring Avery that dyslexia can’t hold her back. But if he asks Morgan for a date and then she refuses a second one, the person he loves the most, Avery, could get hurt the worst because she adores Morgan. When Alex is injured in a fall, Morgan insists on caring for him and Avery. As they share holiday fun, Avery topples Morgan’s beloved crystal bell collection, shattering it to pieces. Through it all, they discover love of one another is more priceless than any object money can buy. Love rings in the air at Christmastime.

   

EXCERPT: 

Alex turned when someone from behind tapped his shoulder. “Yes?” “You two are the cutest couple. So you have a daughter in the program tonight?” a silver-haired lady, draped in strands of pearls, asked. “I’ll bet she’s beautiful, looking at the two of you.” “We—” Morgan began. “Thank you.” Alex interrupted, cutting her off. “Avery Blake is her name. She has a solo. It’s listed in the program.” He smiled brightly at the lady and then turned his gaze back to Morgan. She appeared surprised but didn’t contradict him. He figured the lady didn’t need to know the intimate details of their life. It was enough that she considered them a couple. If others could see it, would it be possible for Morgan to see it, too? It wasn’t until that moment he understood how much he truly missed being a family of three and having a wife, after being forced to let go of the woman he loved. It proved tougher than he imagined. Now eighteen months later, he looked forward to a new chapter of his life. Maybe one with Morgan Marshall playing a major role.

  

When the girl reached the bottom of the stairs, she ran for the kitchen. “Come watch me, Daddy.” Morgan started to follow, but stopped when Alex touched her arm. “You’re sure about this.” He tilted his head toward the kitchen. Uncertainty filled his eyes. “Oh ye of little faith,” Morgan admonished teasingly. “Your daughter can cook a four-star meal. Just you wait and see.” “Well, Miss Morgan, if my child gives me food poisoning, I’m going to hold you responsible. I’ll insist you nurse me back to health.” He winked and then bowed, waving his hand in a flourish, suggesting he would follow her lead to the kitchen. Morgan took a step, stopped, and glanced over her shoulder. Alex was grinning wider than she’d ever seen. The slightly crinkled, starched white shirt with the cuffs rolled up, top button undone, tucked into charcoal gray slacks made his chest appear broader, his waist slimmer, and his smile brighter. She had never noticed the strength in the squareness of his jaw or the thickness of his lashes. A tingle shivered along her spine. Was the man flirting with her?

   


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A Christmas Eve baby, now Amazon Best Selling author and 4-time RONE Award Finalist, Linda Joyce writes about assertive females and the men who can’t resist them. She has penned the Fleur de Lis series, Fleur de Lis Brides series, and the Sunflower series. Her other books include Behind the Mask and Christmas Bells. A big fan of jazz and blues, Linda attributes her love of musical to her southern roots, which run deep in Louisiana though she’s lived coast to coast curtesy of her father’s Air Force career. She wrote her first manuscript when she was twelve while living in Japan, the country where her mother was born and raised. In addition to being a book addict, Linda’s a foodie, an RVer, loves to kayak, and binge watch movies. Now she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and General Beauregard, their four-legged boy.

Website: http://www.linda-joyce.com 

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

Twitter: @LJWriter  https://twitter.com/LJWriter 

Amazon author page:  http://www.amazon.com/Linda-Joyce/e/B00BODDROS/ 

 Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/LindaJoyceWorld/boards/ 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrjZh-TMFbeN1k7BlWAAxeA 

Newsletter  http://eepurl.com/4y5Yj 

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LJWriter 

    

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Sale Blitz: Love Me at Midnight from Robin Bielman, Linda Morris & C.M. Stone

LOVE ME AT MIDNIGHT
Three romantic comedies that'll melt your heart!

Releasing December 12th, 2016
Entangled Lovestruck

MELTING THE MILLIONAIRE'S HEART 

by Linda Morris

Special needs teacher Kayla Johnston is supposed to be schmoozing at a swanky school fundraiser. Instead, she careens into a snowbank on the side of the road...straight into the path of a wickedly handsome stranger. When their chemistry ignites, Kayla's New Year's Eve begins to show some seriously sexy promise...

YOURS AT MIDNIGHT 

by Robin Bielman

Four years ago, Quinn Sobel gave Lyric Whetsone the night of her life...then disappeared. Now he's back to make amends, but Lyric has a secret that could drive Quinn from her life forever.

ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS 

by C.M. Stone

Eliza knows plenty about sexy cowboy Christian Yerrick, the man who crushed her heart when they were kids. Back in town, she's determined to avoid Chris altogether...until she accidentally rear-ends his truck on New Years Eve, and the fireworks between them burn hotter than the Vegas Strip...

 ONLY .99 CENTS

BUY NOW

When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman can almost always be found with her nose in a book. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun and inspiration. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts most of her story ideas. 

She loves to go on adventures, and has skydived, scuba dived, parasailed, gotten lost in the wilderness (and only suffered a gazillion bug bites for it) hiked to waterfalls, and swam with dolphins. In her spare time she also likes to put her treadmill to good use while watching her favorite TV shows, take hikes with her hubby, indulge her sweet tooth, and play sock tug of war with her cute, but sometimes naughty dog, Harry.  She dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. 

Find Robin here, http://robinbielman.com

Linda Morris is a writer of contemporary romance. She writes stories with heart and heat, with a joke or two thrown in. Her book Melting the Millionaire’s Heart was an Amazon Top 100 Series Romance bestseller. Hard Hitters, her series about a fictional minor-league baseball team in southern Indiana, is available from Berkley.

When she’s not writing, working as a freelance editor and technical writer, or mommying, she’s doing yoga, reading, working in her flower garden, or baking delicious things she probably shouldn’t eat. She believes that there are two kinds of people: pie people and cake people, and she is definitely one of the former. Her years of Cubs fandom (and their 2016 World Series win!) prove lost causes aren’t always as lost as they seem. A beat-up old copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Ashes in the Wind was her gateway drug into the world of romance novels, and she’s never looked back.

Find Linda here, https://lindamorrisbooks.com/ 

C.M. Stone grew up in Boulder City, NV–just outside of Las Vegas–and went to college there in Southern Nevada before moving to rural northwestern Wisconsin. From her earliest memories, she was telling stories and finding ways to record them. At seven, she wrote her first book (a sci-fi thriller!) and sold it door to door.  These days she’s writing romance. 

Find C.M. here, https://ceeemstone.com/

Don't miss 
KISS ME FOR CHRISTMAS

Review: Off the Rails by Jill Sorenson

A dedicated American agent risks everything for a forbidden beauty in this sensual, turbo-charged novel from the RITA-nominated author of Against the Wall (“A sexy, unique love story that I devoured in one day.”—Monica Murphy).

Four years ago, when Ian Foster was working as a border patrol agent, he rescued an eighteen-year-old Mexican girl who’d been left for dead. He never forgot the gorgeous, resilient Maria Santos. Now Ian is an undercover ICE agent on the trail of a ruthless criminal with an intriguing connection: Maria. She holds the only clue to the man’s whereabouts. And Ian is tasked with crossing the border to find her.

Maria has always carried a torch for Ian, the handsome American who saved her life. When he shows up in her hometown, the attraction between them ignites. His intense gaze sets her blood on fire. But Maria is in serious danger. She owes a favor to a drug lord, and soon she’s caught in the crosshairs of a treacherous takedown operation. Once more, Ian’s her sole hope of survival—and his sizzling touch rekindles a passion that goes beyond borders.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: December 13th 2016 by Loveswept 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Kristine's Thoughts: 

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I was completely confused by Off the Rails. The entire time that I was reading it I felt like I was missing something because there were way too many holes in the story and it discussed Ian and Maria's past like I should already know it. I went as far as double checking that it wasn't part of a series because it certainly read like it was. It is not marketed as part of a series but I did find out that it is a spin off or continuation of Caught In the Act. This explained a lot!

My biggest issue with this book besides the holes and confusion was that I could not get into the relationship between Ian and Maria. It was weak at best and lacked the chemistry that I desire in my romance novels. They seemed to lack maturity and it got annoying a lot. This was particularly the case with Maria. Even when it heated up the connection between them seemed out of place and awkward.

I think my thoughts might have been more positive if I had read Caught In the Act but because I haven't I just felt disconnected from the characters and the plot. In my opinion, this book did not read well as a stand alone. Although I can't speak for the other book I do feel that maybe it would have given me the clarity that was missing, making Off the Rails more enjoyable. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author but this one wasn't for me.

 

About the Author

Jill Sorenson is the RITA-nominated author of more than a dozen novels, including the Aftershock series with HQN. She lives in the San Diego area with her husband and daughters.  

Connect with Jill

Website/Twitter/Goodreads 

Cover Reveal: Charlie's Whiskey by Harlow Brown

Charlie’s Whiskey by Harlow Brown

Coming to a kindle near you on January13 

iBooks: http://apple.co/2hC9Rt6 B & N: http://bit.ly/2hn4D5D Kobo: http://bit.ly/2gqa7dP Amazon: Available on release day.

Blurb:

Charlie Winstead pushes aside the pain and anguish she suffers daily and puts all her energy into her women's softball team, the Regulators. If only temporarily, the abuse bestowed upon her by her boyfriend halts for the time that she is behind the plate. Hensley has been her boyfriend for three years and the relationship progressed into a domestic nightmare. Realizing this, Charlie does what she needs to do to protect herself.

Whiskey Williams is a patched member of the Chosen Legion motorcycle club. He finds himself running from a dark and dirty past, looking for a new start. He relies on his brothers from the mother charter to help him. Once he arrives in Rudy, he sees Charlie and knows something must be done to help her. However, seeing as she is fresh out of her abusive relationship, she wants nothing to do with men.

Will the attraction between the two be enough to make Charlie give the troubled biker a chance? Or will he strike out?

The game of love is not as easy as three up, three down

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Lovely Money by Candace Clark

 

AMAZON BUY LINK:

The quaint little town of Lovely seems to have settled back into a comfortable peace, after last summer’s horrible murders. But nothing is ever as peaceful as it seems. As the Kentucky spring heats up, so does life for Matlock ‘Lock’ Becker. He’s flunked out of college, gambled away his inheritance, and owes money to a very dangerous man. Left with only one choice, Lock presses his luck and finds himself under the gun in Lovely’s underground world of high-stakes and dirty money.

Brandy Becker’s life just got better and easier, at least that’s what she thought. With two weeks’ vacation before her new job starts, she should be relaxing. Instead, her world gets turned upside down by maid of honor duties in her best friend’s wedding, her brother’s gambling troubles, and an old flame, not to mention the dead body and bag full of money in her trunk. It’s going to be one hell of a two-week ride.

Mason Clark isn’t one to come home often. He left Lovely behind when he became a Navy SEAL and preferred to keep it that way. Being disconnected makes putting his life on the line easier. But his best friend Richie’s wedding brings him back to Lovely and face-to-face with people and the past he doesn’t want to get attached to again. Amid the pre-wedding celebrations, his vow to protect and serve is called into action when he can’t resist helping the one woman he can’t forget, no matter how dangerous the situation or how guilty she and her brother appear.

Lock, Brandy, and Mason are swept up in an underworld full of danger they didn’t know existed in Lovely. Or did they? Welcome to Lovely’s dirty little secret world of money, where misfortune turns to robbery and murder. Will they come out alive? Who’s the thief? Who’s the murderer?

Money can be deadly in Lovely, especially when it's dirty.

About the Author

Candace Clark was born in Ashland, Kentucky, the youngest of three children. After growing up in a small Eastern Kentucky town, her family moved to Central Kentucky where she finished high school and attended her first two years of college at Transylvania University. Transferring to Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia set Candace on a path that would change her life. Over the course of ten years she graduated, moved to New York City, attended Parsons School of Design and found her creative voice.

After years of studying design and photography, she finally took to the page unleashing the ramblings of stories, characters and scenes trapped in her mind. Finding inspiration reading romance, mystery and suspense novels, she draws her creative vision from many sources. When not typing away at her computer, she can be found cooking up some recipe she has undoubtedly altered to suit her family’s food sensitivities, crafting with her daughter, or enjoying a peaceful evening with her partner on their secluded farm in Central Kentucky.

While writing is her passion, her family always comes first. An avid reader and hell of an editor, her daughter is a great help with every story. As in most great love stories, her partner, Billy is more than just a supporter, he is a contributor of ideas, plot lines, characters, and a dialogue whisper, without whom the worlds in her novels would not be the same.

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