Release Blast & Giveaway: Fooling Around with Cinderella by Stacy Juba

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FOOLING AROUND WITH CINDERELLA

Storybook Valley #1

Stacy Juba

Released November 9th, 2015

Self Published

What happens when the glass slippers pinch Cinderella's toes?

When Jaine Andersen proposes a new marketing role to the local amusement park, general manager Dylan Callahan charms her into filling Cinderella’s glass slippers for the summer. Her reign transforms Jaine’s ordinary life into chaos that would bewilder a fairy godmother. Secretly dating her bad boy boss, running wedding errands for her ungrateful sisters, and defending herself from the park’s resident villain means Jaine needs lots more than a comfy pair of shoes to restore order in her kingdom.

First in the Storybook Valley series, a blend of sweet romance, chick lit, and fairy tale fun.

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Stacy Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and threw up on the train ride to the hotel. In addition to working on her new Storybook Valley chick lit/sweet romance series, Stacy has written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. She has had a novel ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. 

When she’s not visiting theme parks with her family, (avoiding rides that spin and exotic hamburgers), or writing about them, Stacy helps authors to strengthen their manuscripts through her Crossroads Editing Service. She is currently writing the next book in the Storybook Valley Series, Prancing Around with Sleeping Beauty.

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Review: Malibu Secrets by MK Meredith

On the verge of losing the Malibu home she inherited from her great-aunt, Addi Dekker is completely failing to prove to her family she can make it as a writer. Not exactly how a girl proves her independence. If she doesn’t want to give up her dream and go back to the soul-sucking job she just left, Addi has to swallow her dislike of Hollywood and rent the house out to the sexy-as-hell film producer.

And maybe (shhhh!) save money by secretly living there, too.

Roque Gallagher is pouring his heart and savings into his first independent film to make the industry acknowledge him for his talent and not just his family name. Addi’s home is perfect for the shoot, but she’s far too tempting. He’s never been able to handle work and a relationship, and this is the film of a lifetime. Between a shrinking budget and his director quitting, the last thing he needs is a sexy-as-sin tease like Addi. And he has a feeling there's something she's hiding...

ebook

Expected publication: December 14th 2015 by Entangled Publishing, LLC 

Series: Malibu Sights #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Kristine's Thoughts:

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

Malibu Secrets is the second book in the Malibu Sights series. I did not get the chance to read the first book before reading it but it in no way impacted my enjoyment. This book is Addi's story where the first book was her sister Sam's story. There are recurring characters but the focus is on different characters.

Addi was at risk of losing the home and in doing so, proving to her family what they already thought. They thought she was reckless and immature and unable to look after herself. She was desperate to prove them wrong and to keep the house that had such sentimental meaning to her. When hunky film producer Roque Gallagher approached her about renting her house to him for his film set she saw an opportunity to fix all of her  problems. She negotiated a deal that had him paying for her to stay at a fancy hotel and that also gave her a job on the film. By sleeping in the attic and pocketing the money for the hotel, along with the rental income, she would be able to get her house out of foreclosure without asking anyone for help. She thought Hollywood would never miss the money and her little lie would hurt nobody. Little did she know that Roque was doing the film independently and all financial costs and losses were on him. A workaholic, he was determined to succeed on his own without the help of his famous family name. He was a man who worked hard and trusted very little with no time to waste on relationships. Neither one of them expected that a mutual attraction would develop between them and that their pasts and secrets could destroy them.

It took me a little while to get into this book. I found it dragged a bit in the beginning and I was a little worried. The relationship between Addi and Roque was slow to develop both professionally and personally and I have to admit that it had me a bit concerned. I stayed with it and I was thankful that I did because it did pick up, things progressed to my liking and I found myself engrossed. Once the story picked up the pace I was able to feel the chemistry between the two of them and found myself in their corner. Fans of hot and steamy will be happy to know that there was plenty of it to go around. Lets just say that the sexy time was pretty darn sexy!

The plot was somewhat predictable but enjoyable all the same. It is a contemporary romance after all and I think readers might not be too happy if it played out any other way. Even though I had a fair idea of the direction it was going, I still found myself getting emotional a few times. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good romance.

I enjoyed this book enough that I will probably go back and read the first book in the series and any that are written after this one. Solid writing, great characters and great love stories will always have me coming back for more.

**Afterthought**
I absolutely hated the name Roque and the spelling of it. I found myself tripping over the name every time I read it.
Very cute book cover! 

About the Author

I write single title contemporary romance novels, promising an emotional ride on heated sheets. As a member of several writing groups, I believe the best route to success is to never stop learning.

I've had a lifelong love affair with peanut butter -- the only two things coming close in the battle for my affections are gorgeous heels, and maybe Gerard Butler...or was it David Gandy? Who am I kidding? My true loves are my husband and two children who have survived my SEA's (spontaneous explosions of affection) and lived to tell the tale.

I've been reading romance long before I should have and can’t think of anything better than to fill my life with the promise of happily-ever-afters.

Connect with MK Meredith

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Review: The Wedding Tree by Robin Wells

National bestselling author Robin Wells weaves a moving epic that stretches from modern-day Louisiana to World War II-era New Orleans and back again in this multigenerational tale of love, loss and redemption.

Hope Stevens thinks Wedding Tree, Louisiana, will be the perfect place to sort out her life and all the mistakes she’s made. Plus, it will give her the chance to help her free-spirited grandmother, Adelaide, sort through her things before moving into assisted living.

Spending the summer in the quaint town, Hope begins to discover that Adelaide has made some mistakes of her own. And as they go through her belongings, her grandmother recalls the wartime romance that left her torn between two men and haunted by a bone-chilling secret. Now she wants Hope’s help in uncovering the truth before it’s too late.

Filled with colorful characters, The Wedding Tree is an emotionally riveting story about passion, shattered dreams, unexpected renewal and forgiveness—not only for others, but for ourselves.

Paperback, 432 pages

Expected publication: December 1st 2015 by Berkley

 

Terri's Thoughts

** I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The book was just released this week**

I have to admit that this is the type of story I tend to favor and gets me sucked in rather quickly. A forbidden romance in the past, a mystery that needs to be solved, and a current day love story that has too much against it to work out.  What other formula for a great read?

Although not as complex as some other novels of the same genre and formula, this story still managed to entertain me and pull me in.  I am always a sucker for wartime romances so this story delivered on that aspect. 

I also enjoyed how this story was told through three different points of view; Adelaide, Hope and Matt.  It gave a little extra dimension to the story so that the reader could truly understand what was going on with each of the characters.

Without giving any spoilers, I will say I wish that Adelaide's story had a more fulfilling outcome.  As is common with these types of stories you do not always get everything wrapped nice and neatly.  I accept that but can't help wishing there could have been a little bit more.  Hope's story makes up for this.

This is a great story and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it.  It is stories like these that are gems that deserve to be discovered.

 

 

About the Author

When Robin Wells sold her first romance novel in 1995, her family celebrated at a Chinese restaurant. Robin’s fortune cookie read, “Romance moves you in a new direction.”
And it certainly has! Robin has since written sixteen critically acclaimed novels that have been translated into eighteen languages. Her books have won the National Golden Heart Award, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill, and the Holt Medallion. Robin’s latest book, Still the One, was nominated for a Rita Award, the highest award the National Romance Writers of America gives an author, at the RWA national conference last July.
Robin was born in Waco, Texas and holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain. She loves working with new writers and teaches a course called “How to Write a Novel” at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Mandeville campus.
Robin lives with her husband, two daughters and a very spoiled dog named Winnie the Poohdle in Mandeville.

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Review: Too Close to Home by Susan Lewis

Sometimes the truth lies closer than you think. The compelling and heart-rending new novel from the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors.

Jenna and Jack Moore have moved their family to Wales for a fresh start. For vivacious, happy-go-lucky fifteen-year-old Paige the future is full of promise.

But suddenly everything changes. Paige becomes more and more withdrawn. The closeness she once shared with her mother a distant memory.

It then becomes clear that Jack has secrets too. Preoccupied with her younger children, her husband’s fidelity and their fledgling publishing company, Jenna doesn’t realise the extent of her eldest daughter’s unhappiness until the unthinkable happens.

And the nightmare is only just beginning…

Paperback, 512 pages

Expected publication: December 15th 2015 by Ballantine Books (first published February 26th 2015)

Genre: Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

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

Susan Lewis is not a new author to me. I have had the privilege of reading some of her other work. Too Close to Home was what I would classify as a sweeping family drama. There were multiple things going on with multiple characters within the family that inevitably created or added to one enormous issue that impacted all of them as a whole. There were many issues touched upon in this book with most of them being quite serious. From infidelity and fraud to bullying and suicide, the story was chalked full of relevant topics.

With so many issues, you would think that it would make the story too busy but that was not the case. In fact, I found it was a little slow to take off and catch my interest. This was also something I noticed in some of her previous work. It alternated between Jenna's story and her struggling marriage and Paige's story and the bullying she was receiving at school and on social media. Although both mother and daughter had a lot going on, I found myself drawn more to Paige and the bullying. Perhaps it was because I have daughters her age and I can total relate to the era of social media as it relates to them.

As far as the characters went, my thoughts were all over the place and I struggled a little bit. Jenna did some things that I didn't necessarily approve of. First of all, I found her to be quite naive when it came to Jack. She agreed to a huge move to start a new business that she did not understand at all. Yes she knew the creative side but nothing about the financial and I couldn't grasp that. Also, there were so many questionable moments that I found myself shaking my head at her. What really got me though were some of the things that she said to the kids when Jack left. I understand she was hurting and angry (she had every right to be) but I never approve of pitting one parent against the other. It only serves to hurts the children.

Paige was painted as a strong/smart character but I have to strongly disagree. She was struggling with the extreme bullying that was directed at her and even though she knew what steps she should take, she didn't. She also befriended a person on the Internet with whom she did not know. These situations show naivety and immaturity. She certainly would not be a roll model.

I could go on about things that irritated me about the characters but it was in fact these qualities that made the story what it was. The story could not have happened without those characters flaws. Although I had mixed feelings about the characters I enjoyed the book once I got past the slow beginning. It was a story of one complicated family and the struggles that they had to overcome in order to regain their happy life and family.

 




About the Author

When I was 18 I got a job at HTV in Bristol, and at 22 I moved to London to work for Thames. I began as a secretary in news and current affairs, then trained as a production assistant and moved on to light entertainment and drama. It was a love of drama, combined with a fierce ambition, that got me knocking on the Controller’s door to ask what steps to take to become a producer. “Oh, go away and write something,” came the reply. So I did.

23 books later, my only regret is that none of them have yet made it to the screen. I left TV eighteen years ago to do the “novelist thing” of buying a house with a swimming pool in the South of France. Bliss! For the first summer! After that came a disastrous love affair with one of the FBI’s most wanted, the plunge of the pound, and the dawning realization that life full-time in France was very, very different to a two week holiday frolicking around on millionaire’s yachts on the sunny Riviera. Sure it was glamorous, and the yachts – along with the interesting people – all came back in the summer, but the endless months in between were not far short of hell.

So, off to sunny California and Hollywood. After equipping myself with a Mercedes estate for my beloved dogs Casanova and Floozie, a home in the hills complete with pool and perfect sunsets every night, I set about completing the obstacle course of cowboy agents, big-talking producers and wannabe directors. Once I realised that Hollywood was NOT waiting for me, I put the struggle behind me and from thereon life in Tinsel Town became just plain thrilling. From star-studded screenings and glitzy parties, to moonlit dinners on the beach and edgy nightclubs, it was the perfect town to be single. George Clooney was my neighbour, Jennifer Anniston, Charlize Theron and Julianne Moore shopped in the same places, Nick Cage was a guest at my house, and Steve Martin was a regular on our dog walks. Romances flourished and faded, some dreams came true and others were crushed.

After seven happy years of taking the best from Hollywood and avoiding the rest, I had to face up to the fact that I was losing touch with being English. I needed a fix of my own country, so once again my dogs and I were on the move. We returned to Wiltshire for two years where making the adjustment from Manolo Blahniks to Wellies, cocktails at sunset to nights in by the fire, and no more glittery invites to liven up the mail proved too crushing for a still young and lively spirit. 

Connect with Susan

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Release Blast & Giveaway: Dirty Little Lies by Cassie Cross

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DIRTY LITTLE LIES

Dirty Little Series#2

Cassie Cross

Releasing Dec 1st, 2015

Self Published

Ben Williams is a billionaire CEO at the top of his game. He’s a handsome, eligible bachelor who could have any woman…except the one he wants. Marisa Blake is the love of his life, the one who got away. Ben is willing to do whatever it takes to win her back.

Marisa is a young entrepreneur whose family is falling apart. Her parents are involved in a well-publicized scandal, and both her and her sister’s names are being dragged through the mud. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, Ben shows up at her doorstep. He was her college boyfriend, and a serial cheater.

Great sex is the only thing they ever had in common, and Marisa is determined to keep things physical. Still, she finds herself falling for him. Again.

When a former classmate blackmails Marisa with information that will destroy what’s left of her family, Marisa is forced to make a decision: sacrifice Ben to protect her sister, or forsake her family to follow her heart?

It’s not long before Marisa gets caught up in some dirty little lies…

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Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80′s sitcoms.

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Don't Miss the first in the Dirty Little Series...

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

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Review: Hold Me Close by Megan Hart

Apart, they are broken, but together, they are whole.

Effie and Heath are famous. Not for anything they did, but for what happened to them as teenagers. Abducted and abused by the same man, they turned to each other for comfort until they were finally able to make their escape.

Now adults, their relationship is fraught with guilt and despair. Whether fighting or making love, their passion is strong enough to destroy them both — and Effie's not about to let that happen. She knows it's time for her to have a 'normal' relationship, and Heath is nothing but a constant reminder of the dark past they share. Heath, on the other hand, knows Effie is the only woman he can ever love. She may want to forget what happened, but he's convinced that they must face their past together in order to move forward. So while Effie continues to bring new men into her life, Heath becomes obsessed with proving he's the one she needs.

Then a new crisis arises and Effie begins to lose every scrap of self-control she ever had. As she struggles against her desire to return to the one man who understands her, she discovers that sometimes the only safety you find is with the person who is the most dangerous for you.

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 24th 2015 by Mira

 

Terri's Thoughts

I won a copy of this book via a giveaway on Goodreads.  In exchange I will offer my honest opinion.

I am really conflicted with this book.  At first thought I can say I really did not enjoy it.  Many times I considered putting it aside and not finishing.  That being said I did not and I stuck to it to finish it.  Something triggered my curiosity to make me want to see how it played out.  And really, without any spoilers it played out exactly as I thought it would.

My problem with this story is Effie.  She is emotionally scarred from the events of her past and she can't get out from under them.  I get it, to a certain extent.  The issues with food...makes sense.  She lived through an extremely traumatic ordeal and to not have some issues would be surprising.  What I could not understand was her relationship with men, and essentially how she used them all.  How she was only truly happy between the sheets, and even sometimes not even then.  This became annoying early on.

This story offered no surprises where the story was heading on Effie's journey to healing.  You knew that Heath was waiting in the wings and that Effie's plethora of other men were only really extra's in the storyline.  You knew exactly how it would end from the first line.

There are a lot of sex scenes in this story, 90% of which I would say were gratuitous and not really critical to the plot.  I think this is where I really struggled.  The book seemed to have an identity crisis.  Was it erotic?  Was it contemporary romance?  Was it a thriller?  Was it a serious drama?  The inability to commit to one genre left me wanting a little bit more, and not in a good way.

While I am sure there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this story, it simply was not for me.

 

About the Author

 

Megan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.

--from the author's website

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Release Blast & Giveaway: I'll Be There by Samantha Chase

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a Signed Print Set of the Montgomery Brothers Series

I'LL BE THERE

Montgomery Brother's #6

Samantha Chase

Releasing Dec 1st, 2015

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Book #6 in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase's popular Montgomery series

This Montgomery Has a Head for Business

Working for Zach Montgomery is challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives by his own rules and doesn't answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no intention of backing down. She's used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn't hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic...and gorgeous.

And a Heart for Adventure

Zach's perfect world is turned upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to help...but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella's love.

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

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

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