Midnight Masquerade by Marcia Lynn McClure

Paperback: 276 pages

Publisher: Distractions Ink (July 30, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0988958236

ISBN-13: 978-0988958234

Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony’s physical gestures—even the simplest movement of her hands—revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children—of their polished manners and the boy’s knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers.

Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom—the enigma of Abawyth’s twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now—now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth’s princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings.

As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all—to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom—to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth’s princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded.

I'm always excited to get my hands on a new Marcia McClure book.  Why?  Because I know I'm going to get some fantastic kissing scenes.  Ones that will curl your toes and make your heart beat a little faster.  I also know that romance will be oozing out of every page.  The male lead will be hot stud no matter where the time or setting.  He will be strong, protective and manly in every way.  Yes, Marcia writes romances for the senses.  I can feel, smell, hear and envision her books.  What could be better than that?!

This book, Midnight Masquerade, is a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I have read quite a few book along these lines but I really loved this re-telling.  Maybe the best.  ;)  What can I say?  None of the others had such a stud prince or all the kissing.  That's why I read Marcia's books in the first place!  You will love Stavos.  Stavos, Stavos, Stavos.  (it's a fun name to say.)

Marcia has a great new take on an old story.  It felt fresh and new.  I'm so glad she kept pulling this manuscript out until she finally finished it.  Oh, and don't you love the cover?  It's so beautiful!

This book is pretty clean.  Only a couple instances of mild swearing and some passionate kissing.

Author Marcia Lynn McClure Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.” Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.

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    Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/17/13
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On Tour with Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

 

 An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false. For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

Wow, this book was packed full of interesting things.  I want to call it a historical thriller but it wasn't really fully historical because obviously it's fiction and it wasn't really a thriller because it wasn't scary or anything but it thrilled me.  :)   Hum, is that clear as mud?  Historical Thriller.

At first I was a bit confused because there are quite a few different characters, all in different places doing different things.  It took me awhile to get to know the characters enough that I felt like things were coming together in my head.  I really did love how all these characters are all on different paths taking them to the same place where they all collide in great climactic force.  It was, well, thrilling.

I love books based on historical things, even loosely.  What an amazing job Ms. Moore has done with research, making this book feel so believable.  I loved the Queen of Sheba story that was interwoven through the book.  I feel like that could have been stretched even longer to a whole book of it's own and I would have gladly bought into it.  

This was just a very satisfying read.  I loved it.

Content:  some violence, including a human sacrifice that was somewhat graphic.

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Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler). Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 

Tour Schedule

The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives. The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced, paranormal mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

This isn't my usual genre of choice but I really like to change things up once in awhile.  It helps to keep reading new and exciting.  The Riga Hayworth Series is new to me.  I haven't had the opportunity to read any books in this series until now and I'm glad I got the chance.

The Infernal Detective is a paranormal mystery/urban fantasy sort of book.  There are all kinds of magic in plentiful amounts.  Creatures too.  And one Riga Hayworth who is a PI and a bit of a magic filled person herself.

This is the 4th book in this series and like I said, I haven't read any before this one.  While I was reading, I knew there was a history I was missing but I never felt like I was lost because of it.  I really think that this can be a stand alone book.  Having said that, I think that the book would have meant more to me and I would have had a greater connection to the characters if I would have read the previous books.  

I really enjoyed this book for the most part.  It had excellent pacing and a story line that I was invested in from the beginning.  I loved Riga's no nonsense attitude and her smarts.  I also liked that Riga isn't a young whipper snapper but a 40 something adult.  It came from a more mature standpoint which was cool.  I don't read a lot of those these days.  The one drawback of this book for me was the language.  If I could take out all the swearing I would be much happier.  But, this is a personal preference.  I know not everyone is bothered by swearing so take that for what it is.  :)

If you enjoy paranormal/urban mysteries you will really enjoy this book and probably the whole series.

Content:  Frequent swearing (including the F word), alcohol use.

You can buy The Infernal Detective at Amazon.

About the Author:

Kirsten Weiss is the author of the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mysteries: the urban fantasy, The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, The Shamanic Detective, and The Infernal Detective.

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone.  Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

@RigaHayworth
Kirsten's Facebook Page
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Kirsten's Pinterest Boards

Kirsten's Website: http://kirstenweiss.com

Laugh out Loud with Pretty Darn Funny (PDF) "Pinterest Plot"

Hey everyone!  It's Monday so I'm here to share with you another funny video from PDF (Pretty Darn Funny).  If you have ever been on pinterest, you will find this one laugh out loud funny because we all know what an obsession pinterest creates!!  If you find this episode at all, in the least bit funny, it would be totally awesome if you could like it on YouTube.  :)  And, if nothing else, I hope this brings a smile to your face today!  It sure did mine.  :)

Come To Zion Series by Dean Hughes

Will Lewis is stuck. the class system in England in the 1840s seems destined to keep him in his place as a poor tenant farmer who cannot improve his lot and will never be able to marry the woman he loves. But the "new religion" that is sweeping through congregations of the United Brethren, Will's church, may hold the key to the better life he longs for. As he listens to the preaching of Wilford Woodruff, he almost dares to hope for the Zion the young Apostle describes.

Will's struggles to believe and to face the rigors of immigrating to an unknown land are paralleled by the modern-day story of Jeff and Abby, a young married couple facing challenges of their own. When Jeff begins digging into his family history, he finds himself particularly drawn to "Grandpa Lewis," an ancestor whose life was more like his than he would have imagined.

The skillful interweaving of these two stories brings Church history to life while demonstrating how much we can learn from those who went before us. Anyone who has ever faced the winds and the waves, in some form, will love this novel.

Today I will be reviewing the first two books in the Come To Zion series by Dean Hughes.  These are LDS historical fiction books.  Dean Hughes is a well known and established LDS author.  In fact, the second book in this series, Through Cloud and Sunshine is his 100th book published in 33 years.  That's a pretty great accomplishment!  I've read many books by this author and I'm always impressed with his ability to bring events in history alive.  Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre's.

 The first book, The Winds and the Waves introduces us to Will Lewis in the 1840's and Jeff and Abby in the modern day.  It's like two stories in one book.  Will is actually Jeff's ancestor from about 150 years before and in the book Jeff begins to discover more about Will's history.  

As I said before, Dean Hughes has a gift for creating characters that come alive in his stories.  His ability to give me a history lesson while entertaining me is what I have come to expect and enjoy.  These particular time and events in LDS history has been well covered by many authors and Dean Hughes isn't the first but he is probably the most in depth.  I just felt while I was reading this book that I've read so many of these types of books lately.  It didn't feel new and fresh but it definitely felt meatier.

I have ancestors in England who immigrated to America so for me this story is also personal.  I have a connection to the struggles of the characters in this book because I know my family history tells of similar stories.  I enjoyed Will's story far and above Jeff's story.  In fact, for most of the book I didn't even particularly like Jeff.  Good thing I had book two to delve right into after book one.  It was super nice to not have to wait an entire year in between these books.  :)

Nauvoo was supposed to be the kingdom of God on earth, but Will and Liz Lewis are learning that it takes more than dreaming of Zion to make it a reality. Sickness, poverty, and just plain human nature add to the struggles for the Lord's people, but every now and then a glimpse of heaven shines through. Just when things are starting to get settled, though, the old problems start rearing their heads, leaving Will and others wondering if they will be there to reap the harvest they have so carefully sown.

Meanwhile, Jeff and Abby—in modern-day Nauvoo—are dealing with challenges of their own. As their newborn baby fights for his life, they must come to grips with their personal faith. Can they, like their ancestors, continue to trust in God when there seems to be no trace o Him in their trials?

Beloved novelist Dean Hughes skillfully interweaves the stories of two couples separated by five generations and 150 years, providing a unique perspective on Church history and showing how much we can learn from those who went before us.

This book is full of struggle and heartache.  In both generations.  Honestly, there isn't a lot of sunshine for Will and Liz.  Both couples face circumstances of death, sickness, misunderstanding, prejudice and poverty.  Believing in God and continuing in the faith can seem monumental in the middle of such struggles.  Anyone who has faces heartache will be able to identify with these characters and connect with the stories of both past and present.  Trusting in God can be so hard for us.

I'm glad to say that I enjoyed Jeff a bit more in this book.  :)  Not my favorite character, but he redeemed himself a bit.  I'm still firmly a Will fan.  I love his fierce loyalty to his wife and children.  He is a protector and a defender.  I just love that.

Even though this book was full of mostly difficult things, I did enjoy it.  It is a powerful story of faith and determination.  I guess it's the hope of sunshine at the end that keeps most of us moving forward.  

My thanks to Deseret Book for providing these books for my review.  They are a fantastic company and they put out so many books that make my job as a reviewer a real pleasure.

You can purchase the Come to Zion series at Deseret Book or Amazon in both hard cover and ebook.

Deseret Book

Amazon

Janitors Book Free!

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that the first book in the Janitors series by Tyler Whitesides is free on Amazon right now.  This is for the e-book but you can use Amazon reader to read this on any computer or device.  :)  If you wanted to check out the series now is the perfect time.  This is an awesome middle grade series that I highly recommend.  You can check out my review of book one and two HERE.  I will be reviewing book three September 12th.  :)

You can find Janitors on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Working It Out by Rachael Anderson: Review, Excerpt and $25 Giveaway!

A chance encounter . . . Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . . Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, she immediately recognizes him. Unfortunately, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

I've been waiting FOREVER to get to Working It Out on my review schedule!  It took ALL the self control I could muster to keep from reading it WAY ahead of time.  I just love the way that Rachael writes a story and I'm always waiting for something new from her.  Love, love, love.

Working It Out starts out with a chance encounter and unexpected kiss.  That sounds like an awesome start to any book, right?  :)  Grace has this habit of finding the meanings for everyone's name and sort of judging them by that meaning.  (Yea! that my name means "beloved friend" in French!  Maybe I would pass muster with Grace!)  When Grace officially meets Seth, she knows just by his name and his obnoxious behavior exactly what kind of man he is.  Or does she?

I love the growing relationship that Grace and Seth form.  Grace has to let her walls down and change the way she thinks.  Seth has to learn how to see things from others point of view.  I really enjoyed the depth that Grace's relationship with her brother brought to the story.  There were some deeper meanings in the struggles all the characters faced and it just felt um, meatier?  More substantial?  More satisfying.  Gee, I sound like I'm describing dinner or something.  Well, if this book is dinner, it is WAY yummy and I want seconds.

The dialogue and characters all felt real to me.  It's one of the gifts Rachael has, I think.  I loved this sweet romance and I'm so glad I got to read it for this blog tour.  You can pick Working It Out up for a screamin' deal right now too.  $2.99! (see links below)

No questionable content.  Clean.

Enjoy the following excerpt from Working It Out.

Seth met Grace’s gaze once again and held out his hand for her to take. “Ready to go?”
She felt her resolve slipping, but couldn’t let it go completely. She stared at his hand, wanting to touch it, hold it, to interlace her small fingers with his strong ones. But she was his therapist, not his girlfriend.
Therapist.
His fingers wiggled. “My keys, please? I saw you pick them up when you were cleaning earlier.”
Huh? Grace glanced down. Sure enough, his keys were clutched in her hand. There was even an imprint on her palm from squeezing them too hard. Her face flamed, and she quickly handed them over.
Without another word, she turned and headed for the front of the building, wanting to crawl into the trunk of Seth’s car and hide. When she reached the outside air, she drew in a deep, steadying breath then grabbed the passenger door handle, ready to yank it open and dive inside. But it wouldn’t budge. The car was locked.
Duh.
Forced to stand there, clasping and unclasping her hands, Grace waited for Seth to catch up and unlock it. But instead of clicking the button on his keyless remote, he walked toward her, stopping directly in front of her.
Grace stood frozen as he reached around and manually unlocked the car. His chest bumped against her shoulder, sending tingles up and down her arms. In and out she breathed, telling her racing heart to slow down and her body to stop responding. It was only a touch. A simple touch. Nothing to get all worked up about.
But then Seth looked at her in that intense way again, his face only inches from hers. Grace trembled, feeling like all of her defenses and inhibitions were falling in a garbled up heap around her. Nothing made sense anymore. Not Seth. Not her feelings. Nothing. Grace didn’t know what she wanted or didn’t want anymore.
“If you’ll step aside, I’ll open your door for you,” Seth said.

Amazon * Amazon Kindle

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Blog Tour Special Price Drop!

Grab a copy of Working it Out for just $2.99!

Author Rachael Renee Anderson Rachael Anderson is the author of five novels (Working It Out, The Reluctant Bachelorette, Minor Adjustments, Luck of the Draw, and Divinely Designed) and two novellas (Twist of Fate, from the All I Want anthology and The Meltdown Match from The Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection). She's 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.  Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/10/13

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Tour Schedule

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

Hey everyone!  This hop is a bit different as we are giving away physical books off our shelves and not e-books.  Because of this, my giveaway will be open to US only.  (so, so sorry INT friends!  watch for the next hop, it will be INT!)  Just leave a comment with which book you'd like if you win.  I'll pick the winner randomly at the end.  Also, before you leave, check out all the other giveaways I have going.  (right sidebar)
The winner will be able to choose ONE book from the following options:

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman (YA)

Reached by Ally Condie  (YA)

A Creed in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller (Romance)

Midnight In Aisle 7 by Jay Lowder (Christian Non-Fiction)

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Pretty Darn Funny (PDF): Season 2 Kicks Off with "Movie Cheating" Are you a movie cheater? + a giveaway!

Hi friends!

Today I have something a little different to share with you.  It's not a book, nor is it book related but it's something that may bring a smile to your face and who couldn't use an extra smile?  I know I can.  Even though the post is about some PDF videos, the giveaway this week is for a book.  One of my favorites too.  Longing For Home by Sarah Eden!  

PDF (Pretty Darn Funny) is starting it's second season of humor and fun.  It's good, clean humor that will bring a smile to your face.  I've hooked up with them to bring you a new episode and a giveaway each week on Mondays.  I'm looking forward to starting the week out right with a smile and a laugh.

Are you a movie cheater?  Have you ever been a movie cheater?  Check out this week's video and find out!  This video is fun but the "after the video" was even funnier to me.  My favorite part?  The guy and the butter at the movie counter.  <cough, cough>

Also, for all you mom's out there, check out this Footloose parody.  It will have your toe tapping for sure.  Warning:  while watching, you may experience strong urges to rat your hair.

Each week, along with the new videos, there will be a new giveaway.  That's pretty awesome, right?  This week's giveaway is for a copy of Longing for Home by Sarah Eden (which I absolutely loved).  US only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding Sheba $50 Book Blast

An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false. For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

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Purchase on Amazon

 

Tour Schedule

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler). Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 

Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/3/13
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Working It Out $50 Book Blast!

 

A chance encounter . . . Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . . Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, she immediately recognizes him. Unfortunately, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

Amazon * Amazon Kindle

 

Author Rachael Renee Anderson Rachael Anderson is the author of four books: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's 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.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 

Book Blast Special Price Drop!

Grab a copy of Working it Out for just $2.99!

    

BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/6/13
  a Rafflecopter giveaway
 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 http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

A Twist of Date by Susan Hatler- Free Today!

Melanie Porter has been dumped—again. When others accuse her of “being in love with being in love,” she agrees to let her best friend, Patti, step in and direct her dating life.

The Boyfriend Bylaws

Rule #1: No giving out your phone number until approved to do so.
Rule #2: Must obtain permission to accept any date invitation.
Rule #3: No bringing up marriage, kids or the future.
Rule #4: No going to first base without authorization.
Amended Rule #4: No going to first base, or any other base, without authorization.
Rule #5: No scribbling your first name with some guy’s last name. Ever.
Rule #6: New rules may be added as Patti Hartley deems necessary.
Memorize it, live by it, and happy dating!

Originally published awhile ago as The Boyfriend Bylaws, this romantic novella has been re-titled to fit into the "better date than never" series and I'm so happy to see it there.  I'm super lucky that Susan has always been so generous to gift me copies of her books for review.  I just love them and I think she is amazing too.

I am going to re-post my original review of this book because although there were some adjustments made for the re-release of this novella, my review still stands.  :)

I really liked this book with a slight catch which I will explain later. :)

Hello? Set in Sacramento? My growing up stomping grounds... How could I not appreciate that? The characters were fun. The story moved along quickly and ended all too soon in my opinion. I would sure like to see a longer version of this. I think the employees being caught in the janitorial closet was very funny and I loved the word of the day idea. So much fun. The conversations felt natural and easy. Loved the happily ever after ending.

My conservative reader side needs to mention (especially to all my squeeky clean reader friends) that while there was no explicit sex scenes, there was talk of having been there and going there. Buying lingerie, having the wrong kind of underwear on for pre-sex play... Characters in the book have implied sex, not detailed.

Susan Hatler has a fun way of writing that I really enjoyed. My thanks to her for letting me read her book. And my congratulations. :)

A Twist of Date is up on Amazon and I-tunes free today so if you haven't had a chance to read this book, now might just be a grand time to pick it up!  :)

Get your copy on Amazon here: http://t.co/CR4w4jftgs

Get your copy on iTunes here: http://t.co/sqt0econ3C

Bride Wanted by Renee Andrews

Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired (July 23, 2013)

Language: English

Dear Bride-To-Be... Troy Lee has been writing letters to his future bride since he was a boy. Still, she's never been more than words on a page...until now. When he meets Destiny Porter, he thinks he may have finally found the woman he's been waiting for. But Destiny came to Claremont with a single purpose-to get Troy's permission to print his letters in her magazine. Yet once she lays eyes on the handsome Southern man, Destiny knows she's in trouble. She can't help dreaming about being Troy's bride. But will he still want to be her groom when he finds out who she really is?

Sometimes a girl just wants to sit down with a sweet romance and relax.  That is what the Love Inspired line from Harlequin is for me.  When I want to escape for a bit and not have to think to hard about what I'm reading, this is where I head.  I know the Love Inspired line will keep it clean which I also appreciate.

Bride Wanted has all the typical elements that make up a great love story.  Interest, attraction, doubt, misunderstanding, heartache and reconciliation.  

Troy is a true southern gentleman and he knows what he is looking for in a woman.  He just hasn't met her yet.  I loved how patient and loyal Troy is to his family, especially his meddling mother and grandmother.  He is a kind man with a good heart.

This is an Inspirational Romance so there are Christian themes (church, scripture and praying).

You really get a small southern hometown feel in this book.  It almost make it sound idyllic.  I loved getting a mental picture in my mind of the town square with all the shops and decorations for the celebrations.  I think this would make a cute Hallmark film.  :)  

Overall a sweet romance that I enjoyed a lot.  A great diversion and an easy read.

You can pick Bride Wanted up at Amazon.  The mass market paperback is under $6 and the kindle version is $4.99.

Renee Andrews spends a lot of time in the gym. No, she isn't working out. Her husband, a former All-American gymnast, co-owns ACE Cheer Company, an all-star cheerleading company. She is thankful the talented kids at the gym don't have a problem when she brings her laptop and writes while they sweat. When she isn't writing, she's typically traveling with her husband, bragging about their two sons and daughter-in-law or spoiling their grandsons.

Renee is a kidney donor and actively supports organ donation. In 2013, Renee, her husband J.R. and their oldest son Rene competed as team Hello Kidney on the American Bible Challenge to raise money for living donors and to raise awareness for the need for living donors. If you are considering becoming a living donor, ask her about how you can also save a life by sharing your spare! Or check out the "living donor" section of her website!

She welcomes prayer requests and loves to hear from readers! Write to her at Renee@ReneeAndrews.com or visit her Web site at www.reneeandrews.com.

Renee Andrews on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorReneeAndrews

Renee Andrews on Twitter: www.twitter.com/reneeandrews

Midnight Masquerade $50 Book Blast!

Midnight Masquerade Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony’s physical gestures—even the simplest movement of her hands—revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children—of their polished manners and the boy’s knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers. Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom—the enigma of Abawyth’s twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now—now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth’s princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings. As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all—to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom—to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth’s princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kindle

   

Author Marcia Lynn McClure Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.” Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.

Website * Twitter

    

  Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/13/13
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Infinityglass: An Hourglass Novel by Myra McEntire: Review and Giveaway!

The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

I've been following this series from the very beginning.  I was super excited to see an email from Egmont regarding this release and review opportunity and I jumped right on it.

This is one of those books that pull you in.  Personally, I think it's the characters that make these books.  The concept is awesome too but it wouldn't be much without all those very real and identifiable characters.  The people who make up Hourglass are so tight and loyal to each other.  I love their sense of family.  They don't confine themselves either.  They are willing to let in new members with open arms.  That happens in this book and it's one of the things I like best.

One of the things I love about this book is the pacing.  I never felt like I was stuck in a spot while the story dragged nor did I feel like I was in a fury of action where it never let up.  Things just flow so well and before I knew it the book was over.  I love that kind of writing.

I won't be saying too much more about the book lest I give something away.  The blurb is sort of vague regarding what happens in this book, right?  I guess I'll keep it that way too.  But I will say that I enjoyed it a lot.

Content:  Swearing (mostly the B word), sexual innuendo and an implied sex scene with no description.

About Myra McEntire:
Myra McEntire has had her nose in a book since she could hold one. She was once caught reading in the shower (true story) and only stopped when her father disconnected the hot water heater. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two boys. You can visit her online at www.myramcentire.com or follow her on twitter at @MyraMcEntire.

My thanks to Egmont for providing for this giveaway.  The giveaway is for one physical copy of Infinityglass with an Infinityglass poster.  This is open to US entries only.

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The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (August 13, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1462112544

Dr. Schenk, I don’t know if what I’ve written amounts to a breakthrough or not, but I hope you know how difficult this was for me. I also hope this proves how serious I am.

Todd knows he is in a bad place. That’s why he went to a therapist in the first place, and that alone took a lot of doing. So when Dr. Schenk threatens to stop their sessions unless Todd puts in more effort, he grasps at the last available straw: a personal blog that will force Todd to confront his demons.

Ever since he lost his wife, Todd has not been the same. He’s been forced to Single Adult activities at church, and everyone seems to expect him to just forget Marci and get married again—especially when he meets Emily, who makes him smile and starts to bring him out of his depression. But dating again is hard when Todd has three kids of his own, not to mention an overbearing father and friends with their own problems.

This beautifully woven and emotional tale is both heartbreaking and humorous. Championing friendship, love, and family, Ryan Rapier deals adeptly with the everyday struggles we face as well as the strongest ties that keep us together. You’re sure to fall in love with this magnificent tale of redemption, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Let me just start out by saying that this is an LDS fiction book.  There are religious elements throughout and some LDS specific things that some people outside of this religion may not understand.  The author does a good job of explaining though.

I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book but I can honestly say this book wasn't what I was expecting.  I was mostly pleasantly surprised.  :)

It isn't too often that I come across a whole book from the male point of view.  This book deals with a lot of hard topics, not usually expressed from the male character standpoint.  Especially in the LDS world.  It was interesting and I really did feel pulled in by the story going on.

Todd has a lot of weighty issues to deal with.  The loss of his wife has left him despondent and depressed.  Finding himself a single father is overwhelming.  He has three children struggling and needing their father.  Combine that with social struggles, family relationships that are somewhat strained and friends who mean well, and Todd is almost in over his head.  Heading to therapy wasn't his choice, but he knows he needs help.  

I really felt for Todd and his struggles.  They seemed real and identifiable.  I enjoyed the journey of his healing process.  This was a long book- over 400 pages- and by the end it started to feel really long.  But I still enjoyed it from beginning to end.  It was interesting and engaging.  It had a bit of every kind of struggle in it so everyone who reads it will be able to identify at some point or another.

My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to read and review for them.

You can find The Reluctant Blogger at Amazon.

RYAN RAPIER is an Arizona native and through the course of his life has come face to face with a rattlesnake more than once. For that reason alone, he would likely have left the desert behind years ago were it not for one thing—the luxury of year-round golf. When Ryan isn’t on the course or in front of a computer screen, he can usually be found chasing behind his four children or doing errands for his amazing wife in the isolated beautiful valley they have both called home forever. Ryan’s thoughts and opinions that concern nobody but himself can be found here at his website. The Reluctant Blogger is his first novel.

http://www.ryansrapierwit.com/

Longing For Home by Sarah M. Eden + a GIVEAWAY!

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: Shadow Mountain (August 5, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1609074610

ISBN-13: 978-1609074616

Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she'll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots. The town is caught in an ongoing feud between the Irish and the "Reds" the frontiersmen who would rather see all the Irish run out of town and the Irish immigrants who are fighting to make a home for themselves in the New World. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie on as his housekeeper, the feud erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love though only one might be able to restore hope to her heart.

Sarah Eden is one of my very favorite clean romance writers.  It was with glee I responded to the request from Shadow Mountain to review this book.  Seriously?  Uh, yes.  Yes, yes, yes.  Thank you Shadow Mountain for hooking me up with this book to review.  You made my day.

I love historical fiction and combining romance with historical fiction is like raspberries and chocolate to me.  Yummy.  I loved this book.  It was everything I was hoping for when I first laid eyes on it.

When we first meet Katie she is distrustful, prickly and carefully protecting herself.  I love how the Katie's story unfolds for us.  You get to know her and her story a bit at a time.  It's a tragic story and while I found myself filled with compassion and heartache for the young Katie and all she endured, I never felt bogged down and encompassed in negative feelings.  Katie has a real sense of loyalty and honor.  Her fighting Irish spirit has kept her reaching for her goals no matter how the odds seem stacked against her.  It was the moments of music that I really connected with Katie.  Loved those moments in the book.

Tavish.  I'd like to put an order in right now for a Tavish.  First of all, his name is lovely.  If I were to have another boy I would likely name him Tavish.  Honest.  But, alas, no more babies for me.  In the beginning of the story you think you have Tavish pegged right along with Katie.  Too handsome for his own good, flirty, never serious and up to mischief.  But, as the story goes along we get to see the deeper side of Tavish, his hopes and dreams.  I loved him.  He is the perfect compliment to Katie, even if she doesn't know or like it.  :)  Oh, and he grows berries.  I LOVE berries!  

The sense of community among the Irish immigrants really drew me in as well.  I loved their sense of family- how they take care of each other.  It's seriously embarrassing how we as people through time have been so prejudice and mean to groups of people different from us.  Shameful really.  Eden has captured the whole idea so well in this book.

This seriously has to be one of my very favorite Sarah Eden books.  I really fell in love with the characters, the setting and the story.  The romance is gentle and slow, growing more in trust and friendship than anything.  Have I said I love this book yet?  Well, I do.  You should read it.  I will anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.

You can buy this book on Amazon or Deseret Book.

I'm not normal. I'm an author. I spend enormous amounts of time avoiding responsible things like cooking dinner and doing laundry and making vital phone calls. Instead, I fill my days with making up stories, talking to voices in my head, and laughing hysterically at my own wit. Like I said, I'm not normal.

Sarah M. Eden read her first Jane Austen novel in elementary school and has been addicted to historical romance ever since. With a degree in research and a fascination with history, Eden loves delving deep into history. Eden is an award-winning author of short stories and has been a Whitney Award Finalist for her novels Seeking Persephone (Covenant Communications, 2008) and Courting Miss Lancaster (Covenant Communications, 2010). You can visit her at www.sarahmeden.com

I would like to thank Shadow Mountain for generously allowing for this giveaway.  The giveaway is for one physical copy of Longing For Home open to US entries only due to shipping.

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Emma by Rebecca Jamison: Giveaway and an Excerpt too!

Title: Emma: A Latter-day Tale

Author: Rebecca H. Jamison

ISBN: 978-1-4621-1260-9

Price: $16.99/$19.99

256 pages

NOT Looking for Love: Single woman (23) seeks best friend to chat on the phone, shop the clearance racks, watch chick flicks, try out messy cooking projects, and eat Dove dark chocolates.

Emma isn’t so good at the whole life-coaching thing. Her first client ended up with a broken heart and is threatening to relapse in her bad habits. Now Emma has problems of her own to deal with, and all those problems start with one name: Justin.

Justin is her best friend, so it’s hard for Emma not to feel betrayed when she suspects he is falling for her childhood rival. And she knows she’s losing him despite her best efforts. No matter how much she tries, she keeps running up against obstacles. How is she supposed to help other people when she’s drowning in her own failures?

Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma will love this modern retelling of the classic romance novel. Fall in love with Emma’s latter-day tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the quest for true love.

This is an LDS fiction book and retelling of the classic, Emma (which I love, btw).  Jane Austen is one of my very favorite's.  I love modern day re-tellings of old classics.

One thing that I loved was knowing basically how the story would unfold but wondering how the author would go about it in the world of today.  I guess that's what makes re-tellings great.

Modern day Emma was endearing even though her many mistakes.  Her intentions are good but things just always seem to go wrong because Emma doesn't always take the most thought through approach.  She is often blinded by what she wants instead of what others may be feeling and thinking.  I was rooting for Emma to figure things out and make good with everyone.

I thought Justin was a good character but I didn't really connect with him.  I could see his good qualities and patience with Emma, but I didn't feel that growing attraction from him.  I don't think the sparks really flew at any point between Emma and Justin but it was a sweet relationship that finally came round.  I just wanted to feel more of a connection to Justin and feel his attraction to Emma.

This book is squeeky clean and a very fun read.  I loved the modern cross over of characters.  I read through this book very quickly.  It was interesting and kept my attention.  I also loved the Virginia setting as I lived there for a short period of time.  I love Virginia.  :)

To buy:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Latter-day-Rebecca-H-Jamison/dp/1462112609
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emma-rebecca-jamison/1114719387?ean=9781462112609

Enjoy the following excerpt from Emma:

It was amazing how much more snow Phil could pick up with his shovel than I could with mine. He cleared three feet of the driveway before I was done with one.

“When we’re done, if you have time, you should come in and meet Harri. I think you two will get along.”

Phil stopped and looked at his watch. “I’m planning to do a couple more driveways before it gets dark.”

“I’ll go get Harri now if you’re in a hurry. She wants to meet you.”

Phil leaned on his shovel. “Harry is a she?”

 “Her real name is Harriet. She moved here a couple months ago and she’s hardly met anybody. I think you’ll like her.”

Phil threw his head back, laughed, and started shoveling again. “I thought you were trying to introduce me to your new boyfriend.”

“You think I would be out here shoveling snow while my new boyfriend stays inside?” I grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him. I didn’t mean to hit him in the face, but that’s where it landed.

Phil wiped the snow off his face and grinned. “I wondered why you were dating such a loser.” I expected him to throw a snowball at me, but he just stood there. “So you don’t have a boyfriend?”

I giggled a little at his awkwardness. “Nope. Harri doesn’t either.”

Phil threw another shovelful of snow away from the driveway. “So you . . . I mean, you and your friend are . . . available?” Phil didn’t open his mouth enough when he talked. That was the one thing about him that always distracted me. I couldn’t help staring at his mouth.

I had to force myself to look into his eyes. “Why is that a shock, Phil? Every woman in that house right now is available. You can take your pick—Harri, me, or Barbara. You’re surrounded by single women.” It was safe to assume Phil wouldn’t pick me. I was at least three inches taller than he was, and it was a rare man who dated a taller woman.

Rebecca H. Jamison Biography
Looking for love? Rebecca H. Jamison would love to set you up with that special someone, but you’re better off reading her books. She has a terrible track record as a matchmaker.

Rebecca grew up in Virginia. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a BA and MA in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In between college and graduate school, she served a mission to Portugal and Cape Verde.

Rebecca enjoys running, dancing, reading, and watching detective shows. She and her husband have six children. You can learn more about her at www.rebeccahjamison.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaHJamison
Youtube book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZdfRJX8_s&list=LLIqrEppn8mTaoOdSpZk_9Jw&feature=mh_lolz

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