Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Merry Christmas!


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

I'm taking a couple weeks or so off to enjoy Christmas with my family.  Just a pause to enjoy and focus on the things most important to me.  My family and my God.  I'll be back in January with some awesome books to review!  I've got some good ones lined up like How to Catch a Prince and Clickology (a photography how-to book).  I'm super excited!  :)  So, until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion #2) by Aimee Carter

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancĂ© cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever. 

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape. 

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?



This will be a sort of mixed bag review for me today, I think.  I read the first book in this series (Pawn) and I was so intrigued.  I knew I would have to read the next book even though there were a few things in the first book that I didn't like.  It was a story I was compelled to know more about.  I've been anxiously awaiting this book.

Captive continues right where Pawn left off.  Kitty is in all sorts of trouble, all the time, it seems.  This story is one that literally propels you forward, pushing and pushing.  I barely had time to breathe!  I really love good forward momentum though so it was all good for me.  There is danger around every corner in this book.  Kitty is caught up in lies all around her, not knowing who to trust.  

While I really love the story and the movement and progression, this book was a bit harder for me to swallow.  It seems like while the tension and arch of the story was building so was the violence, which became very graphic.  I have a hard time with graphic violence and with swearing.  The first book had mild swearing, but this book kicked it up a notch.  I didn't like it at all and I didn't think it was necessary.  This book is based on rebellion so of course there is going to be violence and I expected that because the first story had a quite a bit as well, but in this book it was everywhere, all the time.  In details much of the time.  I just didn't love that.

So, good and not so good for me on this one.  Bottom line?  Great writing.  Interesting, compelling and never stagnant but too violent and too much swearing for this girl.  I'm not sure I'm going to read the next book.  I just don't know.  


Saturday, December 20, 2014

Ring On Her Finger by Lisa Swinton

What happened in Vegas should stay there, not follow Amanda home wedded to the man who broke her heart. 

After celebrating college graduation with her friends in Las Vegas, Amanda St. Claire wakes up with a terrible hangover and a ring on her finger. Her day gets worse when she finds out she's married to rich playboy Blake Worthington - the guy she has loathed the past four years. Amanda convinces Blake to legally terminate the marriage and they both return home like nothing ever happened. That is, until Blake shows up on her doorstep and Amanda has to come clean with her family. 

Together for better or worse while the legalities are cleared, Amanda reluctantly plays along, but then the unthinkable happens - she finds herself falling in love with Blake. Can they overcome the past? Or will it end their future before it even starts?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

This is a book I was looking forward to reading.  From the blurb I knew the plot would be fraught with misunderstanding and hold undercurrents of romantic tension.  Both are things that I love when working through a romance book.  This romance book is clean- yay!

Honestly, I didn't really like Amanda.  I never really got what Blake could see in her to keep coming back for more and more abuse.  Amanda is mean to him.  Like mean, mean.  Yeah, she was hurt, but she holds onto that like a lifeline.  It was almost too much - to the point where I wanted to strangle her because my eyes were sore from rolling them so much.  Blake is obviously sorry.  He says it, he shows it.  He tries to overcome it but Amanda is so very stubborn.  And did I mention mean?  Mostly I just felt sorry for Blake and if it were real life, I would say that Blake has a tough marriage road ahead of him with a girl that cannot forgive and delves into so much meanness when she gets hurt.  The way she made Blake grovel was insane.

Okay, so the Amanda tirade is over now.  I did really enjoy Blake.  I thought he was a good, strong character.  He made some mistakes but he was honest and upfront.  He worked hard to prove himself and he tried really hard to extend kindness to others in every situation.  The man should be named Saint Patience.  He was the character that made this book good.  Thank goodness for Blake.

The ending was swoon worthy- because of Blake.  Hopeless romantic.  I'll take a Blake ending any day of the week.  :)  Very romantic.  And sweet beyond measure.  I loved the ending.


Friday, December 19, 2014

Persuaded by Misty Dawn Pulsipher

What's worse than never getting over your first love?
How about watching him fall for someone else...

Hanna Elliot had worn the ring faithfully at first. Some part of her still clung to the hope that all was not lost. As the days turned into weeks, she finally took it off and set it atop her dresser. When weeks gave way to months, the ring finally went back into its box, where it gathered dust until it was moved to Hanna’s unmentionables drawer. For the first few years, she had taken it out on the anniversary of the day she’d received it, allowing herself to wallow in what might have been. 

She had been all but stamped out of Derick Wentworth’s mind. 
Sure, he thought about her occasionally, especially on cloudless nights when he lay on the bow of the Laconia looking up at the stars. But as time went on, Derick began to feel grateful that it hadn’t worked out, for one thing was certain: if he ever did settle down, it would be with someone who knew her own mind. Someone who went after the thing she wanted without hesitation. Someone who would never allow herself to be persuaded otherwise. 

Persuaded, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Persuasion is one of my favorite Jane Austen books and I love the movie adaptations as well.  It's such a good story.  Modern adaptations of these old books are fun to read, I think, especially when they are well done and I think think this one is.  In fact, it might be my favorite version.  I really enjoyed it.

The beginning started off slowly for me but I was intrigued by the flashbacks from Hanna.  That's what kept me pressing forward until the book picked up speed a bit.  I like Hanna a lot.  She has so many good attributes that I admire in other people and wish I had more of myself.  I especially loved the moments when Hanna shows some outward strength and voices her opinion firmly.  Hanna always exudes quiet strength and compassion but I loved when she stood up for herself.  She always did it kindly but firmly.

I loved how the book didn't stray too far from the base concept of the original book.  I could feel the familiarity in the story but it still felt fresh and new to me.  That deserves a "good job" pat on the back to the author.  :)

This book is clean and one I'm happy to pass off to my teenage daughter.  She has never read the classic version of Persuasion but maybe after this one she will want to.  Oh, and isn't the cover pretty?  I love it.


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Me Tarzan, You Jane by Camelia Miron Skiba

Moving on doesn’t always have to mean goodbye.

Widowed makeup artist Jane Sullivan is more comfortable keeping her husband's memory alive than dating a pool full of sharks. Ella, her 4 year-old daughter, is her whole world.

When Jane meets Lucas Oliver, famous cover model, it’s hate at first sight. His playboy persona rubs her the wrong way.

Accustomed to every woman fawning over him, Lucas is drawn to the shy, uncompromising single mom and completely melts at the sight of Ella. He is determined to convince Jane that sometimes a second chance can mend a broken heart.

It took me a little while to get into this book.  It started off shaky with a whole bunch of stuff that I don't really love in my "clean" books.  I almost put it down but decided to give it another chapter or two to see if things settled down or kept up.

When Jane and Lucas finally become more isolated as characters in the book and we start to get to know them more individually, I enjoyed the book a lot more.  The growing friendship and romance was good.  I think the book is well written and it kept my attention.  

I wouldn't classify this book as "clean" though.  Even though there are no descriptive sex scenes, there is plenty of sexual talk, innuendo, and sex behind closed doors.  Alcohol and drinking are prominent in this book, and in most situations lead to unhealthy places (not knowing who you slept with, ER, etc.).  There is also swearing and profanity.  So, this book crossed the "clean" line for me.  If those things don't bother you, you will probably really enjoy this book.  

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Pierced by Love by Laura L. Walker

Noelle Jensen doesn’t want to like Pierce Logan. After her boyfriend breaks up with her for her sister, Noelle is done with love. Plus Pierce Logan has commitment issues because of his parents’ divorce and a strained relationship with his dad. But as Pierce and Noelle inadvertently help each other to open up their hearts, they also rediscover the importance of family and love.


I'm lucky to have been reading a lot of really good, clean romance books lately.  Some of my favorite authors have new books out and I love reading.  This author is a new one on the LDS book scene.  At least, she is new to me.  This is the first book I've read by her.

Because I have been reading so many awesome books lately, I think it may have hurt my review of this book.  It's really hard not to compare.  This book wasn't nearly as good as so many I've been reading.  It was okay, I just didn't love it.  It was really slow moving and I felt like it went on and on.  There was a lot of family drama for both main characters.  The bones of the story are there and the plot has potential but I just didn't connect with the characters and I didn't feel compelled in any way.  For me, this book was just okay.

This is an LDS fiction book.  It is rooted in religious themes specific to the LDS faith.  

Content:  Clean (no swearing or sexual situations)

Monday, December 15, 2014

Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson + a $25 Giveaway

Rough Around the Edges
For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive, Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall. Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go.  

Purchase Your Copy from Amazon.com

add to goodreads new 
  
  It feels like I've been waiting forever to read this book.  Maybe it really hasn't been that long but it sure felt like it.  Maybe that's because I just love Rachael Anderson's books.  She has a style that really suits me and I can't help but love and devour every single book that comes into my hands.

This book was exactly what I wanted.  It's like Rachael writes for just me.  Sorry for the rest of you but hopefully you like the books Rachel writes for me as much as I do.  :)

You cannot help but love Noah.  Noah makes his debut in Prejudice Meets Pride and I'm so glad he got his own story here.  He is a fantastic, down to earth, hard working man.  He is solid and knows how to make a girl feel safe.  That's my kind of man.  Plus, any man who buys bags of ice cream just so a girl can find her true favorite by taste testing is a man meant for keeping.  Right?!

This is a clean romance.  It's so well written with characters who I can connect to.  It was a happy distraction from reality and gave my romantic heart the boost it needed.  I loved it.

Enjoy the following excerpt!

Carpet samples were way too small. How was Cassie supposed to know what an entire room would look like from a small little swatch? There were too many choices. Nylon or polyester? Plush, frieze, textured, or cut? Not to mention all the color options. And then there was the tile for the bathroom and the complicated dance flooring, with its subfloor and all of its choices.
She felt a headache coming on.
“How will I ever make up my mind?” Cassie whispered to Noah.
“It’s called trusting your instincts.”
“Instincts? I’m supposed to have an instinct about carpet samples?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Noah grinned. “Isn’t one calling out to you? Telling you that it’s the one you’ll be able to coexist with for the next ten to fifteen years?”
Ten to fifteen years? Noah wasn’t helping at all. Cassie frowned at the samples, willing one to shake or glow or whatever carpet samples did to call out to a person.
“Which one would you choose?” she finally said.
“Uh-uh. This is your house, your carpet, your choice. I’m just here as a friend, remember?”
A friend who was sitting way too close for comfort, Cassie thought as the touch of his shoulder sent a bunch of tingles down her arm. “Friends are allowed to give opinions.”
“No. Only dates are allowed to do that,” said Noah. “If you really want my opinion, you know what you have to do.”
Despite her distress about all the decisions facing her, Cassie couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, fine. It’s a date. Now if you were me, what would you choose?”
Noah blinked as he shook his head. “Wow, that was easy. I should have gone for more. Like a kiss or boyfriend status or—”
She nudged him. “Stop it. I need you to help me, not tease me.”

“I wasn’t teasing,” he murmured, pulling the samples toward him. 

  Rachael
USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.


25_Amazon_Paypal

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/19/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rough Around the Edges

Saturday, December 13, 2014

In the Spotlight: Begin Again by Brittney Mulliner + an excerpt and a $25 Giveaway

Begin Again Book Cover 
Escaping her past, Aubrey Tate moves to Southern California for a fresh start with her older brother, Brandon. Starting over at a new school seems easy with her cousin, Mckayla, and her two best friends at her side, but handling the new guys is another matter. Aubrey ends up in the middle of three rivals that each want her to themselves. Mike claims her first and declare himself her friend and protector. Luke is the school heartthrob that stops Aubrey in her tracks, speechless. Gage is the mysterious, dark outsider that Aubrey can be herself around. How will she navigate her new life while she's still haunted by her past?


add to goodreads new    

"I don't have a boyfriend. At least not anymore…We had an incident at my family's Christmas party and I have sworn off men."
"Now that's not fair, new girl! Don't let some dirt bag ruin all of our chances. A girl like you shouldn't be allowed to swear off the rest of us."
I didn’t have the nerve to ask him what he meant by ‘a girl like me’ so I ignored it. "You find me a good guy, Mike, someone honest and loyal and I will consider changing my mind."
"Done. You and I are going out on Friday."
I laughed despite his straight face. "Mighty sure of yourself. Are you positive you are the best choice as the representative for all men?"
"Trust me Aubrey, I'm a true gentleman. And this doesn't have to mean anything. I just want to show you how a girl like you deserves to be treated. Any loser who has a chance with you and ruins it should be committed."

  Begin Again

  Brittney
Author Brittney Mulliner Brittney had been an avid reader since she can remember. Her parents' form of punishment for her growing up was taking away her books and making her go outside to play. She was born and raised in Southern California, with a brief hiatus in Arizona. She loves the beach, exercising, sleeping in, and cookies. She is an obsessive dog lover, although her affection currently has no outlet. Something that she is planning on remedying soon. She currently lives in Utah while she and her husband finish college.


  25_Amazon_Paypal 

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/29/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 12, 2014

Hotwire by Cindy M. Hogan + a $25 Giveaway

Hotwire

Division spy Christy Hadden can't wait for her latest assignment posing as a student at a prestigious New York City academy and car thief extraordinaire. The best part of the mission is her attractive handler, Jeremy, and her new team. The worst part? The sociopath masquerading as the academy's most popular guy. But soon she realizes the car thieves are much more than they seem. Her simple spying mission becomes more dangerous than anyone imagined. If the organization discovers her true identity, they won't hesitate to kill her, and if she fails, others will suffer the same fate. Young Adults, teens and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won't want to put it down.


It's true.  What the blurb says above?  You won't want to put this book down.  I sure didn't want to but I expected that going in.  I looked at my day when I started this book and thought it was going to be tough putting the book down when I had to do so many other things that day as well.  If you've read anything by Cindy Hogan, you know that she writes suspense and tension really well.  All of her books, for me, have been fast paced, full of action with killer tension.

I first got to know Christy in the Watched trilogy and now she has developed into a young woman and a first class spy.  It's also true what the blurb above says about the romance.  There is only a dash, much to my frustration.  Christy has her eye on Jeremy but not much happens on that front.  Just a bit of teasing by the writer that makes you want to beg for more.  haha.  The bad guys in this book will give you shivers (not the good kind either).  There are a lot of bad guys!

This book was good fun to read.  I loved the pull the book had and the constant forward movement.  I'll definitely be coming back for the next book when it comes out.  I hope it's soon!

Content:  Some graphic, intense violence, kissing

Enjoy the following excerpt!

"It took me a second to realize it, but Kozlov was speaking in Russian. I flipped my head to Jericho. He clenched his jaw, and a vein pulsed on his temple. He had definitely understood Kozlov’s words. Did that mean that Jericho knew Russian? Did he have a Russian heritage? Were his parents Russian? Or had he been working for Alexander for a while and had taken Russian classes in order to fit in better? That made more sense to me. Besides, it seemed obvious, now that I knew him better, that he was involved with the bratva for the status, the power of it.
The fire in his eyes told me he would find a way to make me pay. Of that, I was sure

I thought Kozlov would leave now that he had laid down the law, but he didn’t. He stood there, waiting to watch Jericho succeed or fail.

I watched, despondent, as the kids we’d come to save were led away with the same hopeless acceptance they’d shown when we’d taken them out of the container in the first place. It broke my heart.

With military-like precision, Jericho ordered the rest of the guards to take up positions along the path to some container that would be our home for two weeks. I glanced at Jeremy. What was going to happen to us? Would Halluis and Ace be able to send someone? And even if they did, how would we be able to get to our would-be rescuers?"

   Cindy Hogan
Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a BA in education and is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh. She is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips, and two in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush and Hotwire.


Hotwire

25_Amazon_Paypal

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/26/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 11, 2014

See Me (Zombie Love #1) by Susan Hatler

Amy Love, a high school junior, plays a Ouija board with friends one night and unintentionally connects with someone whose, well, not visible to the naked eye. When her body’s taken over and her soul is stuck watching helplessly—she’s terrified. When the zombie guzzles bologna that she will have to work off at the gym—she’s angry. And, when her zombied body pulls up a news article on her laptop about a boy named Jonathan Miller who was recently in a car crash—she’s . . . intrigued. 

When the zombie chooses another host, Amy learns that the zombie is actually teen Jonathan Miller, son of the famous Maisy's Meow comic creator Jacob Miller. Jonathan tells Amy he doesn’t know whether he’s dead or alive, only that when he’s not in a body, she is the only one who seems to know he exists. 

Amy decides to help Jonathan discover what happened to him and, when they can’t find his body, they try to find a substitute—preferably one that isn’t occupied. On the journey, Jonathan leads Amy into all kinds of danger. To her surprise, he also leads her heart to somewhere unexpected. She’s always heard of love at first sight, not love at first fright, but how can Amy be falling for a boy she’s never even seen?


I have to be honest here.  When Susan Hatler sent me this book to review, I was all kinds of worried.  I'm not really a zombie lover.  I don't like books that scare me and zombies really aren't my thing.  And Ouija boards?  No, not at all.  So yeah.  I was worried I wouldn't like this book and I wasn't even sure if I wanted to read it.  Then I was worried about telling the author that I didn't like it because I really like her writing and her other books.  I decided to settle in and check it out though because I know Susan writes so well and I've always loved whatever she sends me.  I trust her.  So much worry.  And for NOTHING because I really liked this book!  :)  Phew!!

If I were classifying this book though, it wouldn't really be as a zombie book but more of a ghost book.  If you have seen Ghost, it was kinda like that scene where Patrick Swayze goes into the body of Whoopi Goldberg to communicate.

Amy Love.  (what an awesome name!)  Amy struggles with finding her place in a reorganized family.  She feels invisible, like nobody at home or school cares to see the real her.  One day at school she is "zombied" or taken over by Jonathan, a spirit who can't find his own body.  Amy is kicked out of her own body.  She can "feel"  Jonathan when he is a spirit and the two of them make a connection.

I love how the title of the book "See Me" directly relates to the whole theme of the book.  It includes both main characters and runs on surface level but also delves deeper.

This book wasn't scary at all.  It wasn't creepy or anything.  It was a new twist on an old idea and it was really fun to read.  There was no swearing or sexual content which of course makes me very happy.  I love clean YA books!  And I love Susan Hatler.  I'm going to add this book to my daughter's "OK" reading list because I think she will enjoy it too.


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A Home For Christmas by MK McClintock

Includes three historical fiction short stories to delight and entertain this holiday season.

CHRISTMAS MOUNTAIN
In search of family she barely knows and adventure she's always wanted, Katherine Donahue is saved from freezing on a winter night in the mountains of Montana by August Hollister. Neither of them expected that what one woman had in mind was a new beginning for them both.

TETON CHRISTMAS
Heartache and a thirst for adventure lead McKensie Stewart and her sister to Wyoming after the death of their parents. With the help of a widowed aunt and a charming horse breeder, McKensie discovers that hope is a cherished promise, and there is no greater gift than love.

LILY'S CHRISTMAS WISH
Lily Malone has never had a real family or a real Christmas. This holiday season, she might get both. From an orphanage in New York City to the rugged mountains of Colorado, Lily sends out only one wish. But when the time comes, can she give it up so someone else's wish can come true?

Settings: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado

This short story collection by MK McClintock is about the sweetest thing ever.  Three novellas, each with an early western setting, and characters that will warm your heart.

These books were so gentle.  Heartwarming.  Charming.  Soft.  I can think of many adjectives along these lines to describe this collection.  If you are looking for a cozy winter book to snuggle up with- try this one.  It's perfect for the Christmas season that is right upon us.  

Content:  Clean on the romance side.  Nary even a kiss to be found.  A few instances of mild swearing.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Demon's Heart by Emily H. Bates

Young ruffian Rustav is determined to escape his abusive uncle and hated homeland, even if it means braving the demon-infested forest. His escape is halted, however, when a race of legendary beings reveal him to be the country’s fabled heir. As the people rally around him, Rustav teeters precariously between raising his people from the dust—or destroying them from the inside.


The cover is so pretty on this book, don't you think?  I love it.

I'm not sure why but this book just didn't do it for me.  I've been trying for days to pinpoint a specific reason but I just cannot come up with anything.  The premise of the book is a good one, the ideas are solid.  Somewhere in the delivery though, I just didn't connect.  

Rustav is rough around the edges.  He hasn't been shown the love and care a child deserves in life.  He is simply trying to survive.  There are many people Rustav comes in contact with that help to heal his heart.  There is a great cast of characters but again, I was missing that connection somehow.

It took me a long time to get through this book and I was easily distracted with other books.  I guess what it boils down to is that this book just wasn't for me.  It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.

Content:  This book is clean.  No swearing or sexual situations.  There is some violence but nothing too descriptive.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Eve: In the Beginning by H.B. Moore

The first love story on earth... Haunting... Lyrical... Unforgettable...

In a world where everything is perfect, yet the same day after day, Eve must decide if she wants to live forever in the garden with Adam and never know what lies beyond the walls. When she makes a choice with terrible consequences, the pain of mortality is swift. As she and Adam explore their new world, and her body changes, Eve discovers the sweetness of first love with the man who has always been at her side.

I had mixed emotions heading into this book.  Fictional books based on scriptural characters always leave me a bit wary.  Usually as long as I read it like fiction, I'm okay.

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to Adam and Eve so the author was able to take many liberties in creating her work of fiction.  What I enjoyed about this book was that it really got me thinking about a few things in regards to Eve and the Garden of Eden.  I think mostly I appreciated the emotional connection to the real person Eve must have been- with worries, frustrations, joy and love.  

There was one point in the book where I felt like things were just spinning in the same place.  I felt like I had heard it all and it was just being reiterated over and over.  I was ready to move things along.  Once I got past that place, things were good again.

I liked this book although I don't think it's for everyone.  This is a work of fiction and not meant to replace what we know from the scriptures regarding Adam and Eve.  I was interested in the book the whole time and I was a bit sad to have it end.  I'm still thinking about Adam and Eve, days after reading this.  Still wondering.  And that's a good thing!

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Friday, December 5, 2014

Under a Georgia Moon by Cindy Rowland Anderson plus and excerpt and a $25 Giveaway

under a georgia
Addie Heywood thought she was doing okay after her fiancĂ© dumped her just weeks before their wedding, claiming he’d found someone else more compatible with his health food tastes. But when he marries the other woman three months later, Addie needs to get away. Leaving her home in Idaho, she escapes to Mitchel Creek, Georgia to visit her Aunt Janie. She just wants to spend the next two weeks enjoying her aunt’s southern cooking, not dodging the guys her aunt is determined to set her up with. Chase Nichols isn’t looking for love. His dream is to trade his computer mouse for his guitar and make it big in the country music world. If he can land a job in Nashville, he might have a shot at getting discovered. His plans get derailed when he does his neighbor a favor and picks up her niece, Addie, at the airport. Things get even more complicated when his ex-girlfriend comes back into the picture. That’s when he hatches a new plan. Since Addie wants to avoid her aunt’s matchmaking schemes, and he wants to avoid his ex-girlfriend, they’ll fool the world by pretending to date. What neither of them counts on is actually falling in love.

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I am such a fan of Cindy Rowland Anderson.  I stalk Amazon, waiting and watching for a new book by her.  She has a writing style that resonates with me and I just cannot get enough.  Her covers are always SO awesome too.  Don’t you just love that cover?!

I think this book was my favorite of Cindy’s so far and that’s saying something since I have loved all her books.  The relationships all feel real and believable.  The characters have personality and are easy to visualize.  The story progresses nicely and doesn’t drag and the romantic tension is palpable.
Speaking of romantic tension, man, it was torture waiting for that first kiss.  I loved it.  J

Addie and Chase are fun characters.  Both are determined to avoid relationships and love because it just isn’t in the plans.  When Chase concocts this plan to pretend to date, you just know how it’s going to turn out but it’s the joy of the journey with these two. 


I loved this book.  It’s a sweet, clean romance with humor and tension.  It made me smile and left me happy.  That’s the kind of book I love to read.  And the ending?  Yeah, Chase is the man.  Enjoy the following excerpt!

“Chase,” the pretty girl said, moving next to him. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Her alto voice, combined with the genteel southern accent, came across as provocative and sultry.
 
The surly look Chase shot the brunette tipped Addie off that no matter how pretty the girl was, Chase didn’t seem to like her. 

The girl rolled her eyes. “I’m Hayden Barclay.” She held out her hand with her knuckles up like she was royalty. 
Addie wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Shake her hand lamely by taking a hold of her fingers or give her a fist bump. She hoped Hayden didn’t expect her to kiss it. “Hi,” Addie said, lightly gripping the girl’s fingers. “I’m Addie Heywood.”

Hayden’s perfectly plump lips curved up as she kept a hold of Addie’s hand and leaned forward. “Chase and I used to date so I know all of his secrets. Maybe you and I can get together and I can give you a few tips.”

From the corner of her eye, Addie could see Chase’s eyes narrow with anger. He looked like he was about to interfere, but she was a big girl and could handle Hayden Barclay all by herself. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m enjoying discovering his secrets all on my own.”

A hard look crossed Hayden’s face, and she squeezed Addie’s fingers tighter. “I doubt you’ll discover everything. The offer is still open if you change your mind.” Her voice was tinged with a game-on attitude. 

 Addie tugged her hand free. “That’s really sweet of you.” She smoothly moved next to Chase and slid her arm around his waist. His body tensed for a fraction of a second and then, thankfully, he played along and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It was nice meeting you, Hayden,” she said, snuggling closer to Chase. 

Hey, if she was going to play the girlfriend, she might as well enjoy it. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he smelled absolutely yummy. 

  Under a Georgia Moon

  Cindy Roland
Hi, I'm Cindy Roland Anderson. I write clean, contemporary romance with a combination of humor, romantic tension and some pretty great kissing scenes. I'm lucky to be married to my best friend. I love being a mother and have five amazing children. Our family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren. I'm a registered nurse and work in the newborn intensive care unit. I love to read, almost as much as I love writing. And I love chocolate, probably a little too much.

    25_Amazon_Paypal 
  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/22/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

A League of Her Own by Karen Rock + a $100 and Book Giveaway!!

A League of Her Own tour banner

This is my stop during the blog tour for A League of Her Own by Karen Rock. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 1 till 14 December, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

A League of Her OwnA League of Her Own
By Karen Rock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 1 December, 2014

Blurb:
He was attractive, talented…and way off limits.

Heather Gadway may have been a world-class college pitcher and a top university coach, but she's a rank amateur when it comes to managing the Falcons, her father's struggling minor league team. And when it comes to managing her aggravating attraction to Garrett Wolf, their talented new pitcher. It's going to be difficult enough to make it as the first female manager in the league and prove to her overly critical father she's worthy. No distractions. No missteps. And certainly no romances with players. Everything stands between them—including their troubled pasts—even as Heather's world falls apart and Garrett's the one who's there to catch her…
First off, I love baseball!  And to combine that love with my love of a clean romance is like perfection!  Like peanut butter and chocolate.  Like dark chocolate and raspberry.  J

So sorry but my love spewing will continue now with my love of Harlequin Heartwarming Line and Karen Rock writing for Harlequin Heartwarming.  This is also one of my favorite combinations! 

This book had two characters that I fell in love with.  Heather and Garrett.  Both have faced tremendous difficulty in their lives but both are working so hard to overcome those difficulties.  It’s a rough road for them separately and together.  As a reader I felt like I had to wait a long time for that first kiss because the tension and build up was killing me!  But the kisses were worth waiting for.  <sigh>


I picked this book up on NetGalley and started it the same day even though I shouldn’t have.  I just couldn’t help myself.  The baseball aspect was a lure I just couldn’t escape.  It was the story that kept me there though and I finished this book the same day I started it.  Yup.  That’s some serious reading right there.  

You can find A League of Her Own on Goodreads.

You can buy A League of Her Own here:
- Amazon (Kindle)
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- eHarlequin

Karen RockAbout the Author:
Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Heartwarming and her first novel for the line, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and a finalist in the Published Maggie Awards. The first novel in her co-authored YA series, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.

You can find and connect with Karen here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Tumblr
- Quarterly Newsletter

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of A League of Her Own. These are the prizes you can win:
- a 100$ Amazon gift card (INT)
- a set of signed paperback of Wish Me Tomorrow, His Hometown Girl, Someone Like You and A League of Her Own (US only)
A League of Her Own Blog Tour Grand Prize


For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Trouble With Faking by Rachel Morgan: A Review for Release Day!

The Trouble with Faking by Rachel Morgan
Release Day Blitz

December 2, 2014

After a stupid miscommunication, everyone in Andi’s new res thinks she’s secretly dating Damien, boyfriend of resident queen bee Charlotte. Since the rumour’s already out there and refuses to be squashed, Andi and Damien decide to keep up the facade in the hopes of snagging the attention of the people they really want to be with. Brilliant plan, right? Especially since Damien is the guy Andi’s always wanted. But now there’s Mike, the guy Andi’s pretending to be interested in for the sake of the fake relationship plan, and Noah, Damien’s annoying best friend—who is so not Andi’s type—and suddenly the plan isn’t looking so brilliant anymore.

BUY IT AT:
Amazon * iBooks * B&N * Kobo

I'm super excited that I got to read this book and review it in addition to being a part of the book blitz today for release day.  I've been reading and reviewing this series since the beginning (2.5 books ago).

This is the third full length novel in The Trouble series.  There is also a novella.  I preferred to read them in order because there is a flow to the books and this book depends on some of the back story from the previous book, The Trouble With Flirting, to really understand Andi and some of her hangups.

I really like Andi.  She is motivated and quirky.  Plus, what book lover and blogger wouldn't love a main character who loves book and vlogs about them?!  :)  Andi is fun but one of the best things about her is her rebound attitude.  She hears what others say to her and even if she doesn't agree, she thinks about it and works it through in her head.  She isn't afraid to stand up to the bully and she has a forgiving heart.

These books always keep me interested and I usually read through them quickly.  There is some mild swearing, which I didn't love, but other than that, it was a pretty clean book.  There are some kissing scenes.  It's young love at it's best with a South African setting.  Easy, diverting reading.

~*~ABOUT RACHEL MORGAN~*~

Rachel Morgan is a South African author who spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy-land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults and those young at heart.

She is the author of the bestselling Creepy Hollow series, and the lighthearted contemporary romance Trouble series.