Becoming Lady Lockwood $50 Book Blast

Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she'd never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother's sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working in a man's world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry . . . William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia's marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family's estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous Lady to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation . . . Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together?

Praise for Becoming Lady Lockwood

"Moore does a lovely job of showcasing sizzle in this must-read for fans of regency and historical romance." ~ Foreword Reviews

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

Excerpt:

The crew released more sails as the breeze quickened, and Amelia watched, craning her neck as her island home, Jamaica, the pearl of the Antilles, gradually became no more than a small green mound on the horizon. A wave of homesickness washed over her. The ship rolled on the larger ocean waves, and she realized that her discomfort was not strictly limited to nostalgia. She was growing increasingly seasick. Just as she reached this realization, she heard steps coming toward her and turning saw Captain Drake approaching. “Miss Becket, you are looking most unwell. I must insist you take to your quarters and lie down.” Even though he was completely correct, and her stomach was threatening to empty itself, the lack of compassion in his demeanor put her on the defensive. “Indeed, Captain Drake. While I am touched by your concern for my well-being, I have no intention to retire, as I am feeling quite well.” The ship pitched again, and Amelia’s stomach pitched along with it. “I assure you, my concern is for the deck of my ship and for my crew charged with keeping her ­in shipshape condition.” Did the man’s arrogance know no bounds? Amelia felt her head spin in a wave of dizziness, and the captain grabbed onto her elbow. “Your face is green, Miss Becket. I insist you take to your berth.” He spoke sharply, turning to the marine next to her. “Corporal, fetch Dr. Spinner to Miss Becket’s quarters.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp. “Captain, I am not in the least ill.” She spoke through clenched teeth, afraid that if she opened her mouth, the contents of her stomach would make a most unwelcome appearance. She rested her hand in a manner that she hoped appeared casual against the netting of hammocks lining the rail of the ship. But truthfully, besides her determination not to allow the captain to order her about, it was the only thing holding her up. Amelia nearly swooned with relief as Sidney Fletcher hurried toward them. “Miss Becket, are you unwell?” He held her elbow in the same manner as had Captain Drake a moment before, and Amelia leaned against him. “Will you allow me to escort you to your quarters then?” “Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. That would be most welcome. How very gentlemanly of you.” She looked toward Captain Drake and narrowed her eyes. A slight smile tugged at the corner of the captain’s lips, and Amelia found that it infuriated her. But when she opened her mouth to tell him so, her stomach betrayed her, and she was horrified to see her breakfast splatter over Captain Drake’s shiny boots. Amelia and Captain Drake stared at each other in disbelief for one mortifying instant before she felt her stomach clench again and pressed her gloved hands against her mouth. “A bucket!” Captain Drake bellowed.

 

Jennifer Moore is a Passionate reader and writer of all things romance, helping her find balance with the rest of her world, which includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. Jennifer has a BA in linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family. You can learn more about her at authorjmoore.com. The author's first book, Becoming Lady Lockwood, is a regency romance centered on the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

    

     

Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/5/14 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.
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Surviving Hitler: The Unlikely True Story of an SS Soldier and a Jewish Woman by O. Hakan Palm

Gustav Palm kept his secret for more than forty years. He’d been a young man when Hitler invaded his native Norway. After being forced to guard a Nazi prison camp, however, Gustav took his only option for escape: he volunteered for the Waffen-SS to fight at the front.

Agnes Erdös grew up in privilege and prosperity as a child in Hungary. She and her parents were practicing Roman Catholics, but they were ethnic Jews, and after the Nazis invaded her country, Agnes and her parents were sent to the death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Miraculously, both Agnes and Gustav survived. And after the war, they found each other.

Told in their own words, Surviving Hitler is the story of two indomitable spirits who built on their life-altering experiences to overcome the past, help each other heal, and embrace a common faith in God that led them to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What an amazing account of two people enduring and surviving one of the most heinous times in history.  I am always drawn to books like this.  They do more than tell a story- they remind me to be grateful, they educate me and they inspire me to be better.

Gustav and Agnes lived through two different sides of WWII.  Both innocents in a tragic and awful time, forced into things that are unbelievable to some degree.  It's hard to wrap my mind around the atrocities that they both lived through.  So, so awful.  So much heartache and loss.  Their stories will touch your heart.  They surely touched mine.

Most of the book is told from the alternating views of Gustav and Agnes.  We follow each through life before, during and after the war.  Obviously, most of the book is set during the war.  The last chapter or so of the book does talk about their conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, but it isn't preachy or anything.  It simply tells how they came to know of the church and what they did after joining.

I really liked the pictures and the historical notes throughout the book.  Pictures always make stories like this more personal.

I feel like this book is such a treasure.  What an amazing account of life- of sacrificing and enduring and living to tell about it.  Perhaps what is most amazing to me is how these two individuals conducted themselves during and after these atrocities.  They were never bitter or angry.  They never held on to the unfair, brutal lot that was heaped upon them.  Instead they conducted themselves with honor and integrity.  They helped others when they could.  They kept their wits about them and they continued on.  What an amazing legacy to leave their family.  I'm so grateful to the author for sharing this amazing account with me.  

You can find Surviving Hitler at Amazon and Deseret Book.

The Trouble With Flying by Rachel Morgan

When nineteen-year-old introvert Sarah boards a plane to fly home after an overseas holiday, the last thing she expects is Aiden, the guy sitting next to her who’s never flown anywhere before and refuses to shut up. Hours of random conversation later, they part ways. Sarah can’t stop thinking about Aiden, though, and wondering if she made a terrible mistake letting him go. Should she abandon her safe, predictable life and go in search of him, or would she be chasing a happily ever after that could never exist in real life?

Oh, this book was so cute.  I read the prequel story to this (Forgiven) not long ago and it was the perfect set up for me wanting to read this book.  I didn't know this author before but when I read in the book blurb that her books were free of sexual content or explicit language I knew she was an author I wanted to check out.  I'm always in the market for clean reads.  I'm grateful she put that in the blurb so I would know.  It's so hard to know content in the YA/NA book world and I'm always grateful to authors who give the head's up on content so I can decide.

The opening is so funny- Sarah on the plane, crying, snot running out of her nose and she cannot find a tissue fast enough.  Enter cute guy sitting next to her and her embarrassment hits all time high levels.  It was highly amusing to me.  Aiden is scared to death of flying and Sarah has to overcome her anxiety and her embarrassment to help distract him.  It turns into hours and hours of conversation and ends with a parting of ways in the form of one unexpected kiss.  I know.  <sigh>  Romantic.  

Sarah is exceptionally shy.  She has a hard time talking to strangers and she definitely doesn't know how to assert herself.  She is young though, still figuring out what she wants to some degree and starting to think about how she can get it.  For the most part she is content to allow others to make decisions and go along with what they want.  Then she begins to see other possibilities and it makes her question what she actually wants.

It was good to see Sarah gain confidence in herself as she realized that she could do hard things and make her own decisions.  Her transformation left me hopeful and happy.  I found Sarah's mental conversations amusing and I found a happily ever after that was dreamy.

I thought this book was fun.  It was the perfect summer read- light and romantic.  The next book will be much anticipated for me- I can't wait!

Content:  There is some mild swearing in this book.

Find it at Amazon!  Just .99 cents as of today!  SWEET!

The Tuttle Twins Learn About The Law $100 Book Blast

The Tuttle Twins Learn About The Law Tuttle Twins, #1 by Connor Boyack Paperback, 62 pages Published April 23rd 2014 by Libertas Press ISBN 9780989291

Summary

Children are often taught that government protects our life, liberty, and property, but could it be true that some laws actually allow people to hurt us and take our things? Join Ethan and Emily Tuttle as they learn about property, pirates, and plunder. With the help of their neighbor Fred, the twins will need to figure out what they can do to stop the bad guys in government!

 Amazon* Goodreads

Connor Boyack is president of Libertas Institute, a public policy think tank in Utah. He is the author of several books on politics and religion, along with hundreds of columns and articles championing individual liberty. His work has been featured on international, national, and local TV, radio, and other forms of media. A California native and Brigham Young University graduate, Connor currently resides in Lehi, Utah, with his wife and two children. Facebook * Twitter

Both include a rafflecopter $100 giveaway!

Week One 6/30/2014- My Book a Day- Review 7/1/2014- Doodles Doodles Everywhere- Guest Post 7/2-2014- I Am A Reader- Tens List 7/3/2014- Deal Sharing Aunt- Interview 7/4/2014- Book Blitz 7/7/2014- Dorine White- Review 7/8/2014- Little Red Reads- Review Week Two 7/14/2014-The Joy of Homemaking- Review 7/15/2014- Libby's Library- Guest Post 7/16/2014-CBY Book Club- Interview 7/17/2014-Chocolate on my Cranium- Guest Post 7/18/2014-Brooke Blogs- Review 7/21/2014- Sher A Hart: Written Art- Review 7/24/2014- Tara C. Allred -Guest Post 7/24/2014-The Canticle- Review

The Giveaway

$100 Paypal cash or Amazon Giftcard. Must be 18 or older. Void where prohibited by law. Open internationally. Ends 7/26/2104
a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Perfect Secret by Donna Hatch + $20 and Book Giveaway!

A themed book tour through Prism Book Tours.

A Perfect Secret

(Rogue Hearts #3)

by Donna Hatch

Adult Historical Romance

Paperback, 348 Pages

               December 14 2013              

Desperate to protect her father from trial and death, Genevieve breaks off her engagement with Christian Amesbury and marries a blackmailer. After a year of marriage, she flees her husband's violent domination only to have fate bring her back to Christian. Just when she thinks she's started a new life of safety and solitude, her husband tracks her down, stalks her, and threatens everyone she loves.

Still brokenhearted over Genevieve's betrayal a year ago, Christian can't believe she's come back into his life--and worse, that she's done it on the anniversary of his brother's death, a death that haunts him. Though tempted to throw her back into the river where he found her, he can't leave her at the mercy of the terrifying man she married.

When her husband torments Genevieve and puts his family in danger, Christian will do anything to protect those he loves...anything except give Genevieve another chance to break his heart.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Smashwords

I always enjoy books by Donna Hatch.  This has been a fun series so far with these Amesbury brothers, each with their own demons to battle.  Donna’s characters always have personality oozing from them.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the story and feel like you know these characters.  The great thing about a series involving family is that the characters never really go away even if the books are not centered on them.  They make those appearances (as families often do) and it feels good to still have that connection with characters I previously loved.

In this book we get the full story on the “perfectly perfect” Christian.  I’m so glad because I’ve been waiting to know more about him.  He is the youngest of the Amesbury brothers and has spent his whole life trying to prove to his brothers that he is just as good as them.  I just love Christian.  He is honorable and all things a gentleman should be.  He doesn’t have those “rakish” qualities but instead has a charming sweetness about him.  Just thinking about him makes me want to say again, I just love Christian.

Christian isn’t without his demons though.  He has a secret that haunts him.  When Genevieve, the love of his heart, betrays him, Christian goes to a dark and cheerless place.

Genevieve is a very loyal lady.  She tries so hard to protect her father and mother but in doing so, invites the very devil himself into her life.  She gives up the life of love she knew she could have with Christian to protect her father’s secret.  I’m so glad we didn’t spend much time lingering in that year of hell for Genevieve and instead just get glimpses along the way of what she endured.  It is so sad and her husband gave me the creeps.

One of the things I love best about this book is how those Amesbury brothers rally the troops when one is in need.  They are quick to jump in and stand behind each other.  It’s a good feeling to know someone has your back.  I think Christian learns a lot in this book about family and forgiveness.  That is always a good message to walk away with as a reader.

I really, really enjoyed this book.  It was an awesome escape from reality and I literally devoured this book in a day.  I love when that happens.  (My family, not so much.  Fix your own dinner, family! Hee hee)  

About Donna Hatch

My passion for writing began at the tender age of 8 and I’ve been hooked ever since. Of course, I also wanted to be an actress and a ballerina, but one out of three isn’t bad, right?

In between caring for six children, (7 counting my husband), my day job, my free lance editing and copy writing, and my many volunteer positions, I manage to carve out time to indulge in my writing obsession. After all, it IS an obsession. My family is more patient and supportive than I deserve.

Website - Blog - Goodreads - Facebook - Amazon

Tour-Wide Giveaway

- Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and an ebook (INT) or print copy (US Only) of A Perfect Secret OR The Stranger She Married (winner's choice)
- 5 ebooks of A Perfect Secret
- Open Internationally
- Ends July 20th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

6/30 - Launch

7/1

Cherry Mischievous

Kelly P's Blog

I Am A Reader

7/2

A Thousand Words A Million Books

Bookworm Lisa

The Wonderings Of One Person

7/3

Getting Your Read On

Mel's Shelves

7/4

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

The Written Adventure

7/6

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

The Wonderings of One

Deal Sharing Aunt

7/7

I Love to Read and Review Books :)

Southern Chelle

7/8

The Bookish Fairy

Wishful Endings

7/9

Katie's Clean Book Collection

Mommynificent

Pieces of Whimsy

7/10

My Devotional Thoughts

Platypire Reviews

7/11

Book-Marks the Spot

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima

7/13 - Grand Finale

Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop!

I am so grateful for the freedom to read.  So grateful for men and women who ensure those freedoms and for the people in my life who taught me to love reading.

Today I am giving away one book of your choice, $12 or less from Amazon if you are US and The Book Depository if you are INT (as long as they ship to you for free).  This giveaway is for an actual book, not a giftcard or anything else.  If you prefer an e-book, I can do that too.

Just enter below.  Thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moonless by Crystal Collier

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.

Among the many things to change for her that evening are: her physical appearance—from ghastly to breathtaking, an epidemic of night terrors predicting the future, and the blue-eyed man’s unexpected infusion into her life. Not only do his appearances precede tragedies, but they are echoed by the arrival of ravenous, black-robed wraiths on moonless nights.

Unable to decide whether he is one of these monsters or protecting her from them, she uncovers what her father has been concealing: truths about her own identity, about the blue-eyed man, and about love. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with the man of her dreams and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

This book started off rough for me.  There was so much confusion.  The story felt choppy and I was having trouble staying with it.  It was like pictures being blipped in front of my face that gave me impressions but never enough.  I don't mind not knowing some things but as a reader I do like to feel like I know something that is going on.  I need something firm to latch onto.  It took so long for me to get to that place and I guess for me that was frustrating.

I had a hard time with the insta attraction and the "go away, come back, go away, come back" thing going on in the first half of the book.  This book says it is Jane Eyre like but I didn't get that vibe.  I love Jane Eyre but this book didn't bring that feel for me through the writing or anything else.  

The more I got into the book the more I understood but it just took so long.  Even in the end I still didn't have all the answers or know everything though.  Maybe the next book will tell the tale?  There are still so many unanswered questions.    

The last third of the book was the best part for me.  I finally felt like I knew the characters enough to know what they were about.  The story line picked up, the urgency picked up and I became more invested in the story itself.  I never felt an emotional connection to the characters but I think my favorite character was actually Miles.  He was the one I wanted to know more about.  He was the one I was rooting for and worried about.  

I did appreciate the mild resolution in the end, something positive to focus on, and lots of hope for the next part of the story.  I am interested in the next book because I feel like I have a handle on more of what is going on now, even though I don't know everything.

This is a clean YA paranormal book.  There is some passionate kissing but nothing more.  That is something I really appreciate, especially in the YA book world.  

You can purchase Moonless HERE.  The sequel is being released July 14th.

You can find out more about the author, Crystal Collier, and her books at the following places:

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website