A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection. Readers will love this collection of six novellas—three contemporary and three historical—all with one thing in common: Romance.

In Maggie’s Song, a charming story by Karey White, Maggie Jensen is part of a trio of best friends with Lucas and Dan. Together, they own and run Wild Country Hiking Tours. When Lucas returns to the company after getting his college degree, Maggie realizes that the crush she had on him as a teenager has now blossomed into so much more. But Lucas still treats her as one of the guys, and Maggie worries that if she tells him her real feelings, their relationship will be damaged forever.

In Just Fly, Krista Lynne Jensen's captivating novella, Wren is faced with the devastating news of her grandfather's death. But when her mom finds a mysterious letter from a woman named Dot in Seattle, Wren decides to visit the woman herself to deliver the news in person. Wren learns of the bucket list Dot and Gramps had put together with the help of Dot's grandson, Seth, and Dot challenges Wren to take her grandfather's place in completing the list. Before the week of adventure is over, Seth has impressed Wren in more ways than one. But is that enough to overcome Wren's fear of losing those she loves?

How to Rewrite a Love Letter, an enthralling novella by Diane Darcy, high school teacher Julie Ashburn believes she’ll never live the “event” down in which she wrote her true feelings in a love letter to Principal Dane Parker, and he laughed out loud, mocking her. Now that her honors English students want to write love letters for the school fundraiser, Dane turns down the idea flat. Julie tries to convince him that it was her students’ idea and not any sort of payback. But when a student writes a fake love letter from the principal to Julie, everything gets even more mixed up, and both Julie and Dane are caught up in a series of misunderstandings that might be impossible to sort out.

In Sarah M. Eden’s delightful story, A Thousand Words, Shannon Ryan has been waiting half a year to be reunited with her fiance, Patrick, with only the letters between them keeping their relationship alive. He finally sends for her after securing a good job with the Sidney newspaper, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, swept up in his arms and thoroughly kissed. And of course, married as soon as possible. But when she arrives at the train station, there is no Patrick waiting for her. Shannon must discover if the man she loves still has feelings for her.

Between the Lines is a sweet romance by Annette Lyon. Jane Martin is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the enchanting novella, Blackberry Hollow, by Heather B. Moore, Lucy Quinn travels to England to inspect her inherited estate. Unfortunately, as a resident of New York and nearly engaged, Lucy needs put the house on the market. But first, she wants to learn more about her ancestors. What she doesn’t expect is Calvin Bevans, the man living next door. The two families have been divided by a misunderstanding decades old, and when Lucy discovers a set of love letters, she learns the truth. As Calvin helps her unravel the hidden secrets between the two families, Lucy finds that she has more reasons to stay in England than to return to New York. And Calvin is at the top of that list.

Just in time for Valentines Day and February- the month of love, comes this perfectly sweet collection of short stories that will bring that little bit of romance and love to your heart.

This Timeless Romance Anthology series is one of my very favorites.  I always look forward to a new set coming out.  The authors are amazing and I know I'm going to get just what my heart wants when I read them.

Each of these stories had something to do with love letters.  What a great idea!  Love letters are my favorite and I love how each of these authors took the same concept and made something so unique and fun.

Novellas are perfect if you just have a few minutes to read and you want a quick start to finish book.  I'll admit that I never read these books that way.  I just delve in and devour the whole lot of them, usually in one day.  I just can't help myself.  :)

These are all clean romances, but I have to point out that Just Fly had a few instances of mild swearing which surprised me because I can't remember that ever happening in these books before.  I wish it hadn't been there, but that's just a personal preference.

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection just hit the shelves so please go check it out!  It would make an awesome Valentine's Day gift.

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Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

I'll admit that I've been a bit obsessed with this series.  It is easily one of my favorites and I can't tell you how excited I was to read an advance copy of this book from the publisher.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Harper Collins.  And, today is release day for this book!  Yipee!!

It's so bittersweet to get to the end of a series.  One the one hand, I am happy to have a conclusion.  To know the end.  And on the other hand, I hate to say goodbye to this story and these characters.  I love them.

This last book was absolutely full of heart pounding emotion and action.  From beginning to end.  It's was so easy to get caught up in this story and not want to put it down.  I can visualize the characters and the settings.  It was a vivid movie in my head.

I love Perry and I love Aria.  I love them together and I love them separate.  Perry's loyalty and bravery are overwhelming.  He is capable and strong.  His love for Aria runs so deep and I loved that.  He listens to her and wants to make her happy.

Aria is the bridge between the Dwellers and the Outsiders and she is also the bridge between Roar and Perry.  Come to think of it, she is also the bridge of sorts between Sable and everyone else.  Aria carries quite a weight and she does it well.   She is equal parts strong and vulnerable.  It's so easy to like her.

I sure would like to see a big happily ever after ending for Roar.  Maybe I could get a whole new series dedicated just to him?  While still seeing Perry and Aria now and then?  Is that too much to ask?

I loved this book and I'm sad to see it end.  I hope Veronica Rossi is madly writing away at another great book for me to love.  :)

As far as content, there was one instance of mild swearing that I can remember.  It is implied that a couple is intimate but there are no details at all.  It does contain violence.

About the Author:

Veronica Rossi was born in Rio and now lives in northern California with her husband and two sons. She attended UCLA and studied fine art at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Having created vivid, sweeping oil paintings, Veronica has turned to writing fiction for teens. Enthusiastically embraced by readers, the Under the Never Sky trilogy has already sold into twenty-five countries and has been optioned for film by Warner Bros. You can visit Veronica online at www.veronicarossi.com.

You can find out more about this book HERE and HERE.

You can purchase Into the Still Blue at Amazon.

Sun and Moon by Lee Strauss- Blog Tour, Giveaway and Music!

(Book One in the Minstrel Series)

Coming January 26th! If you’re a fan of the movie Inside, Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you! The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest. Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does. There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous. And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is. *not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language

This series is an exciting collaboration between Lee Strauss as an Indie Author and several very talented Indie Singer-Songwriters. Four original songs produced by Norm Strauss are featured in Sun & Moon and are performed by award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Kim McMechan. MP3 links are included at the end. Check out the music video!



All the songs from the Minstrel Series can be found at Bandcamp. The Minstrel Series also has its own Facebook page. Go Like it to follow all the upcoming Minstrel Series news! Pre- orders now available at the pre-release price of 2.99! (Price goes up after launch) itunes | kobo | Barnes & Noble Amazon

I was really looking forward to reading Sun and Moon.  I think it's a cool idea- blending Indie music with books and giving me something fresh and new.  I really, really liked it.  It's like combining my favorite things. 

Katja and Micah's story is a good one.  I loved the pull between them.  Micah is an enigma and I found myself as confused and frustrated as Katja that I didn't know what was going on with him.  One of the things I like best in books is when characters grow up and change  for the better because of hard things that happen.  That happened in this book.  Both Micah and Katja have to let go of secrets and let each other in.

The path of love is never easy.  When you love someone, it's easy to get hurt because you are vulnerable.  It's the classic love story.  I think it's awesome that the author tells us right up front that there is no cliff hangers (THANK YOU) and always a HEA.  (THANK YOU AGAIN).  I think I can handle a series like that.

This was a good book with characters that I felt drawn to.  It left me feeling happy.  Oh, and I loved the setting too.  Germany is a beautiful place and I'd love to visit there one day.  This book made it sound magical.

As far as content, there is no sex or course language as mentioned above by the author.  There is talk about sex and the main character does start out the book with the intention of selling herself on the street for money.  It doesn't happen, but it is talked about.  There is drinking and some mentioned drug use.

About Lee Strauss: Lee Strauss writes romantic mixed genres set in the past, present and future for YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff as Elle Strauss. She divides her time between BC, Canada and Dresden, Germany, and enjoys drinking coffee and eating chocolate in both places. Find out more at www.ellestraussbooks.com.

Lee is giving away prizes to celebrate the upcoming launch of Sun & Moon. 

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany

Podium Finish by Beth Pond- Blog Tour, Review and $25 Giveaway

 

  Podium Finish With six months until the Olympic Games, seventeen-year-old Harper's life is pretty much perfect. She's fighting for the starting spot on Team USA Women's Hockey, and for the first time ever, she has a crush on a guy who likes her back. She feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she runs a risky play at practice and breaks her knee, thereby sentencing herself to six weeks in a cast and possibly ending her Olympic dream before it even starts. For seventeen-year-old Alex, being anything less than the best is unacceptable. That's why, after a miserable debut season at the senior level, the former junior national singles champion switches to ice dance. Her skating partner, Ace, is an "all skating all the time" type of guy, which would be fine, if he'd stop keeping secrets about the real reason he and his former partner broke up. Now is not the time for second thoughts, but how can Alex skate her best if she can’t trust her partner…or herself? As the pressure to make the Olympic team builds, the girls must rely on each other, because if there’s one thing they both know, it's that the only thing harder than skating to the top is staying there.

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This book got me so excited for the Winter Olympic Games which are just around the corner!  One of my favorite parts of any Olympics are the athlete spotlights that they do so you can get to know the athletes.  The characters in this book felt like Olympian spotlights to me.  Well, a more extended version and a bit more personal, but still.

Harper and Alex are both competing for a spot in the Olympics.  They have both been training and working for this goal practically their whole lives- Harper in hockey and Alex in ice dancing.  They become friends when they room together for training and it's a friendship to last a lifetime.

This book was really like getting two stories in one.  The narration bounces back and forth between Harper and Alex so you get to know each girl separately and together as they interact with each other.  Each girl had a distinct voice and personality.

It was easy to picture the girls in their athlete settings because I've watch a lot of ice skating and hockey over the years.  The book flowed well.  There was nothing overly intense or surprising here but it was a fun book and I really enjoyed reading it.  It's what I would call a fluffy diversion.  :)

 

Author Beth Pond Beth Pond graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Hendrix College in 2012. In 2013, she taught in South Africa for 9 months as part of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant. Pond is currently completing her coursework at the University of British Columbia’s Creative Writing MFA program. Her debut novel, Podium Finish, was released from Astraea Press in November 2013. When she’s not writing, Pond enjoys martial arts (she’s a black belt) and serving as a volunteer coach for her brother’s special needs baseball team.  

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Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/9/14 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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Love Spell by Stan Crowe plus a $25 Giveaway

Love Spell Clint Christopherson’s love life is a running joke. When a crazed gypsy curses him with the best wish he could ever ask for, the punchline stops being funny. Now, even his barest touch drives girls mad for him. Desperate to reverse the curse, he turns to his last hope: an attractive private investigator who may be able to locate his missing gypsy. If only Clint knew who it was he just hired...

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I was interested in reading this book because I had read and reviewed Crowe's first book, "The Cinderella Project" and really liked it.  It was his first book and it held promise.  This book, "Love Spell" was quite different from the first book. 

I think the main problem I had with the book was that I didn't really like Clint.  I really couldn't see his redeeming qualities.  He was a jerk most of the time.  He lacked social graces and every time he opened his mouth I wanted to smack him.  I have no idea, really, what Lindsay saw in him other than he was attractive.  The secondary characters were all so off the charts that it felt like everyone in the book was psychotic.  There was very little "normal" to be found.  That makes it hard to relate to as a reader.  I missed the connections to the characters- the deeper than surface feelings.

The book felt a little disjointed- the flow was off for me.

I did like the concept of the book though.  I thought the basic story line was good.  There were funny moments that made me smile.  The book was clean, which I always appreciate.  I loved the San Francisco setting- one of my favorite places to visit.  This book has a lot of potential and it was an okay read, it just fell a little bit short for me.  Three stars on Goodreads for me.

Author Stan Crowe Stan had a pretty normal, middle-class American youth. He was lucky enough to change that by convincing an exceptional woman to marry him in 2000, setting him on a much more fulfilling life course. Four years later, Brigham Young University awarded him with a Bachelors of Science in civil and environmental engineering. He then he spent several years designing homes, prescribing work for bridges, and even exploring the mortgage industry. In the midst of all this, he produced two science fiction anthologies in 2006 and 2007. In 2012, Breezy Reads Publishing picked up his romantic comedy The Cinderella Project. And thus he transformed himself from Captain Kirk into Don Juan. Stan lives with his wife, children (final count to be determined) and two cats in Utah.

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Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/9/14 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 publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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The Journey by John A. Heldt

Seattle, 2010. When her entrepreneur husband dies in an accident, Michelle Preston Richardson, 48, finds herself childless and directionless. She yearns for the simpler days of her youth, before she followed her high school sweetheart down a road that led to limitless riches but little fulfillment, and jumps at a chance to reconnect with her past at a class reunion. But when Michelle returns to Unionville, Oregon, and joins three classmates on a spur-of-the-moment tour of an abandoned mansion, she gets more than she asked for. She enters a mysterious room and is thrown back to 1979.

Distraught and destitute, Michelle finds a job as a secretary at Unionville High, where she guides her spirited younger self, Shelly Preston, and childhood friends through their tumultuous senior year. Along the way, she meets widowed teacher Robert Land and finds the love and happiness she had always sought. But that happiness is threatened when history intervenes and Michelle must act quickly to save those she loves from deadly fates. Filled with humor and heartbreak, THE JOURNEY gives new meaning to friendship, courage, and commitment as it follows an unfulfilled soul through her second shot at life.

This is the second book I've read by author John Heldt.  The first book, The Mine, I read and reviewed not too long ago and I really enjoyed it.  (You can read that review HERE)  There is something about time travel books that makes them so interesting.  John has a gift for writing an easy reading book with characters that you come to love.

In this book Michelle travels back in time and finds herself as a high school senior.  I think the author did a great job of writing the same character from two different points of view, at two different ages.  It was pretty sweet.  Michelle tries to gently guide her younger self to make good choices, maybe better ones that she made the first time around, without influencing too much.  But whenever you mess with events in time, things will change.  Consequences happen.  Michelle was easy to like and connect to.  I liked her attitude toward people and life.  She wanted to be kind and help people.  She wanted to make the world a better place.

I read through The Journey quickly.  It was interesting and engaging.  The characters were real and I could relate to them.  There was a bit of bittersweet there at the end.  It took me a little by surprise but I can see that it had to be.  Time Travel.  It's a scary business.  I'm glad John was willing to share his book with me.

As far as content, there were a few instances of mild swearing.  There is some under-aged drinking mentioned and some sexual scenes where high school kids hook up in cars.  There is some talk about sex or having sex.  Nothing is described in detail.

You can find The Journey at Amazon.

The Colony by Cami Checketts Blog Tour and a $25 dollar Giveaway!

 

The Colony by Cami Checketts To protect her sons from the mistakes of her past, Brinlee Trapper escapes to a secluded mountain home. But there are dangers lurking in the mountains she has never encountered. The little family is saved from injury by Jed, a mysterious hunter. Brinlee is drawn to him, but she worries about his involvement with a peaceful commune hidden deep in the mountains behind her property. Lance, Brinlee’s attentive neighbor, has his own troubled history. Between his obvious attraction to Brinlee and his developing love for her children, Brinlee finds it more than difficult to guard her heart against this tender intrusion. While Jed offers a life of excitement and freedom, Lance holds the key to the family Brinlee always wanted. When it comes time to choose, she learns that both men have secrets that could shatter her fledgling trust in men and the wrong decision could leave more than her heart exposed to danger. 

Ooh, ooh, I really liked this book!  Cami Checketts knows how to write a book with great characters, romance and excitement.

You can't help but like Brinlee.  She is trying to change her life and make better choices to help her sons have a better life.  Brinlee is a good mom but struggles to keep it all together on her own.  With no family support close, she is mostly juggling things by herself.  I say mostly because there is that hunk of a man, Lance who is handy and attentive and everything Brinlee wishes for in a man and a husband.  He loves her kids, cleans, cooks and shows up at all the right times.  What's not to love about that?!  Oh, the secrets.  Right.

Then Jed shows up.  He saves the day.  He's the hero.  Ugh, I hate to give too much away but can I just say "shivers up and down my spine"?  I guess you'll have to read it to find out why.

This book was engaging and I was caught up in it from the very beginning.  There are certain expectations I have when I pick up one of Cami's books and she did not disappoint with this one.  It was clean to top it all off and that is something this girl really appreciates!

Enjoy the following excerpt and don't forget to enter the giveaway below!

Lance sauntered back into the living room. “We said prayers, checked for bad guys in the closet, made up two stories, sang three songs about Jesus, and I think he’s finally asleep.” He sank onto the overstuffed chair. “How do you do it?”

Brinlee lifted one shoulder. “I’m an angel.”

His bronze cheek crinkled. “I have never doubted that.”

“Seriously, I have a lot of help from up above.” And she was serious; sometimes that help was the only thing that pulled her through.

Lance’s eyes softened. “I don’t doubt that either.” He stood and walked to her side. Brushing his fingers along her cheek, he said, “Do you know how impressive you are?”

Brinlee clutched a decorative pillow in her fingers. She slowly plucked at the fringe. “Too impressive for words, I’m sure.”

“Exactly.” Lance placed one hand on the couch cushion, the other next to her abdomen. She was pinned in. Her breath came fast and shallow. She watched as his head slowly descended. He was going to kiss her. Brinlee fought to breathe. She said a prayer for strength and guidance but was too caught in the moment to listen for an answer. Besides, it was just a kiss and she wanted nothing more than to feel his lips take command of hers. Brinlee arched up to meet him.

Lance’s mouth moved a fraction. He softly brushed her cheek with his lips and whispered against the side of her mouth, “The most impressive woman I know.”

Grab your copy for just $2.99!

Author Cami Checketts Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction. Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. Cami teaches strength training classes at her local rec and shares healthy living tips on her fitness blog: http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com. Cami and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn’t snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.  

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Fitness Blog

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/6/14 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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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