The Boardwalk Antiques Shop by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson and Heather B. Moore

Boardwalk Antiques Shop
A Tangerine Street Romance
(a novel in three parts)

Welcome to Tangerine Street

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and renowned bed-and-breakfasts. The Boardwalk Antiques Shop is an exclusive shop where every antique has a story, and each story possesses the gift to match true love. The customer who buys an antique also buys its story and soon discovers that its story unites the past with the present, creating an unexpected romantic future…

“Where Every Antique has a Story”

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: Jennifer is newest owner of The Boardwalk Antiques Shop, inherited from her aunt. When Jennifer arrives in Seashell Beach, her first priority is to meet with a realtor to sell the place. She laughs out loud when she discovers the realtor’s name is Mr. Studly. But the more Jennifer gets to know Paul Studly, the more she finds reasons to stay and run the antiques shop herself.

SOLVING FOR X: Abbie is only a little bit obsessed with antiques, okay, a lot. So when Holden, an out-of-town business executive, tries to purchase the tin soldiers that Abbie’s had her eye on, Abbie refuses to back down. The antiques shop owner issues a challenge: whoever comes up with the best story for wanting the soldiers, will become the new owner. Abbie isn’t about to let some fancy executive beat her out, no matter how charming he is.

A STITCH IN TIME: When Cate learns that antiques dealer Henry Lancaster has purchased the sewing machine left to her by her grandmother, Cate is determined to get it back. What she isn’t counting on is that Henry has just as much claim as Cate. And it doesn’t help that Henry is good-looking and apparently single. Getting to know Henry becomes an unexpected surprise, sending her life into a sudden detour.

Other books in the Tangerine Street Romance series: The Fortune Café

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I was super - dee- duper excited to get my hands on this book to review.  I knew it was coming out and hoped I would get the chance to pick it up.  The first book in the series, The Fortune Cafe, was awesome.  I knew this one would be good too- just look at the authors!  :)  Three of my favorites.

All three of these books are just fun to read.  Sweet, clean, witty, light romances.  I love how they all revolve around the antique shop and the first book starts at the very beginning of it all.  I also love how the Fortune Cafe is still in the books, playing a role in the lives of new characters.  It made me feel at home with old friends while getting to know new ones.  It's a great idea and a great series and I love it.  I got my happily ever after fix three times over in one book!  I'm excited to see where on Tangerine Street the stories will take me next.  Maybe the cupcake bakery or the candy shop?

There are a couple instances of mild swearing, which were completely unnecessary I thought.  It actually surprised me a bit as I wasn't expecting it.  But, anyway, there it is.  My content head's up if you like to know things like that.

My thanks to Heather Moore for providing a review copy and allowing me to read and review this book.  :)

Wedding Cake: A Culinary Mystery by Josi S. Kilpack- Review, Excerpt and $25 Giveaway

After years of mysteries, murder, and mayhem, the big day has arrived, and Sadie wants nothing more than for her wedding to Pete to be completely uneventful. When she receives a threatening, anonymous text message just days before the ceremony, she's determined not to let it interfere with the celebration she has carefully planned for months. But as the threat escalates from a distant fear to a frightening reality, Sadie realizes just how much she's underestimated the situation. Desperate to put an end to the games, lies, and manipulation that has shadowed her life, Sadie, her fiance, Pete, and her children pull out all the stops. What they don't know, however, is just how far Sadie's nemesis is willing to go to make good on the thread she made to Sadie three years ago. Will the wedding go off without a hitch, or will "'til death do us part" come far too soon? There's no turning back for anyone in the riveting conclusion to this twelve-volume culinary mystery series.

Amazon * Deseret Book * Barnes & Noble

The Culinary Mystery Series

Is it really true?  We've reached the end of the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery series?  How bitter sweet this feels.  It's been a long road to reach the end, the final book, the wedding cake.  So, it's good to have that final bit of resolution but it will be sad to leave Sadie, Pete and family behind.  They are very familiar to me now.

I'll admit that I was anxious to read this book.  Knowing it was the last book left me anticipating the whole time I was reading.  I knew I would have to wait to the very end to find that HEA ending I was looking for.  Nothing is every easy for the characters in these books.  Never, ever easy.  

This book was fast paced and jam packed with activity.  There was literally not even one dull moment.  I loved how the whole clan was together in this book, all part of what was going on.  It was a good way to end things.  Things don't turn out exactly the way Sadie hopes they will or even the way I thought they would, but I guess that's all part of the fun.

This has been a great series.  Not only are the stories great, but there are some fun and yummy recipes in each book.  These books are clean- no swearing, no sexual situations.  It's just good reading!  Enjoy the following excerpt!

Everyone was silent for a moment, then Malloy pulled himself up a bit straighter in his chair. “This is an investigation that is all about keeping your mother safe. To return home when we have expressly asked that she stay out of the way and allow us to do our job compromises her safety and—”

            “Look,” Shawn said with a forced kind of calmness, zeroing his attention on Malloy. “We both appreciate what you’re doing but I think you’re forgetting that my mom isn’t some Sunday school teacher who doesn’t understand what’s what. In the last four years my mother has put over a dozen people in jail, found missing persons, discovered frauds, uncovered conspiracies, solved several murders, saved lives, and managed to break a few noses in the process. To not consider any of those things is . . . dumb, and with this threat being directly targeting her, I think she has the right to be heard in regard to how she would like to handle things. That she’s talking to you about this at all is merely because, at her core, my mother is a well-mannered woman. She doesn’t need your help—heck, she’s not even asking for your help—she’s simply asking that you support her instincts which have proven to be right time and time again.”

            Sadie blinked back tears of pride and gratitude as the room reverberated in the silence left behind her son’s words. She had no idea he felt this way about the things she’d done these last years, especially since it was only six weeks ago that her skills were put to use poking around in his business, which he hadn’t liked very much. That he was proud of her and saw her as strong and capable was an enormous boost of confidence.

            When no one spoke in the moments following Shawn’s monologue, he turned to her. “Are you coming with me, then?”

 

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.

Website * Twitter * Blog

 

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/10/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule

The Roche Hotel (Season 1) by Mysti Parker

After her husband ditches her for a blonde actress wannabe, Jane Seymour needs a job that pays the rent. The struggling Roche Hotel needs a miracle. With the former owner's wife butting her nose into the renovations and new owners who are in way over their heads, Jane may be the answer to their prayers. Sure, she can handle The Roche Hotel's quirky staff. But, can this skittish divorcee keep it all together when handsome Henry the Donut Guy makes his first delivery? This collection of serial fiction stories is a Tudorific romantic comedy that will leave you laughing out loud and hungry for more.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

This was an interesting read for me.  I've listened to some serial stories before but I've never really read any.  This book contains the whole first season and I was kind of glad not to have to wait in between episodes.  I had the whole first season at my fingertips.  :)

This book has the perfect setting for odd happenings.  A hotel.  So many weird things can happen in a hotel.  And they do.  Add in some quirky characters and a hot doughnut guy and you have a fun, light-hearted story that will make you smile.  I enjoyed reading this book.  It was very surface and never got too deep but sometimes that is exactly what I'm looking for.  

It's a quick read and was over before I expected.  Sad.  I wanted more.

This is a clean book.  No swearing and only some mild sexual innuendo.

About the Author:

Mysti Parker is a wife, mom, author, and shameless chocoholic. She is the author of the Tallenmere standalone fantasy romance series. Her other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, Christmas Lites II, The Darwin Murders, Tasteful Murders and EveryDayFiction.

Other writing pursuits include serving as a class mentor in Writers Village University's seven week online course, F2K. She finished her first historical romance this spring and has one children’s book (Quentin’s Problem) soon to be published, with one more waiting for illustrations, and many more stewing in her head.

When she's not writing fiction, Mysti works as a freelance editor and copywriter. She also reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specific publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder's Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband and three children.

Subscribe to my blog, Unwritten 

Visit my webpage: www.mystiparker.com (in construction)

LIKE my fan page on Facebook! 

Follow me on Twitter @MystiParker

In Tune With Love (A Year of Weddings) by Amy Matayo

April is willing to do anything for her sister’s wedding—until she comes face to face with a guy from her past.

April Quinn is thrilled to be her sister’s maid of honor, until the wedding coordinator quits and the responsibilities get dumped on her. It’s April’s worst nightmare—especially since her sister has more objections and opinions than a lawyer presenting a high-profile court case. When the wedding singer walks out at the last-minute, her sister hires a replacement. When April finds out who the replacement is, she’s ready to call it quits as well.
Because there’s only one person in April’s past that she never wanted to see again, and her sister just handed him a front row seat to the wedding.

Jack Vaughn finally has the career he’s always wanted. After playing in bars and singing in weddings as a struggling musician for half a decade, he’s just released his second album and sales are skyrocketing. But while visiting his parent’s Nashville home the weekend before his first headline tour, he runs into an old friend. When she asks him for a last-minute favor, he can’t bring himself to say no. Even though saying yes means he has to come face to face with April Quinn—the girl who hasn’t spoken to him in years.

And rightly so, since he stole something from her that he’ll never be able to repay.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Amy Matayo is one of my new favorite authors.  I'm always on the lookout for a new book from her so I can snatch it up and read it.  And yay for Goodreads where one of my book friends read and reviewed this book.  I ran over and grabbed it for myself so I could review it too.  My thanks to the publisher, Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this title for them via NetGalley.

This was such a fun novella.  My only complaint is that it ended way too soon.  I wanted more of Jack and April.  A lot more.

Poor Jack really did steal something from April that he cannot repay.  But, he's determined to try to make it up to her.  April is good at resisting.  She has years of resentment built up and that isn't easy to break through.  It was a fun battle to watch.  The interactions between April and Jack are great.  They made me smile.  The grocery store scene was classic.  It was nice to see the guy in the embarrassing position instead of the girl.  Ha!  

This book was sweet, clean, and romantic.  The attraction was there, the tension was there and the conflict was there.  You have to wait until the VERY end to get that first kiss but it's worth the wait.  :)

In Tune with Love is part of the Year of Weddings Novellas.

Betting On Hope by Debra Clopton

A bet gone wrong. A small town s meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it s beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie s bosses know this is the opportunity she's been looking for to launch her career and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the betthat he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat.

Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he d like, but he knows it's the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru s fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart s desires.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

What is it with swoony cowboys?  I don't know but I sure like it.  Tru is swoony.  A little dense sometimes, but swoony for sure.  And loyal.  And hardworking.

Maggie will capture your heart.  I loved her from the beginning and I loved her even more by the end.  Life and it's challenges has made Maggie empathetic and compassionate.  She is strong but not in an overbearing and forceful way.  I like that about her.

One of the things that I loved about this book was the developing stories within the story.  The romance was slow moving but provided that pull and tension between characters.  Both Maggie and Tru have stories that unfold as they go along.  The author did an excellent job of allowing me to get to know characters in a gentle and real way.  It all felt good.

This book hit the spot for me.  I was in the mood for a clean romance, a handsome cowboy and an overall satisfying story that went a little deeper than the usual fluff.  (don't get me wrong though.  I LOVE fluff!!)  This is a Christian Fiction book, I would say light on the Christian.  I'm really looking forward to reading about the brothers in future books.  

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for allowing me to read and review this title for them.

EMBARK! by John Bytheway (An LDS Inspirational Talk on CD)

In this motivating talk related to the LDS 2015 youth theme, John Bytheway explains what it means to truly embark—to get fully on board in the service of God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. Using scriptures, powerful stories, and his characteristic humor, John explains that with the Savior’s help, we can remain on board and eventually stand blameless before God at the last day.

This is an LDS, religious based, inspirational talk geared toward teenagers.  I don't usually review things like this on my blog, but for this I made an exception.  Here's why:

First, I love listening to John Bytheway.  He is a gifted speaker and he brings energy and joy to his talks.  I always leave inspired to do better and be better.  John also knows how to bring humor at the right points and keep an audience engaged.

Second, I heard John Bytheway deliver this talk in a church gathering for youth just this last week.  I knew he was coming when I signed on for this blog tour and I knew I would want to share it.  His live talk varied a little from this recording but overall, it was the same.  Well, other than watching him live allowed me to see his visuals and watch his face as he spoke.  It was awesome.

I love popping these kinds of CD's in the car on longer car rides and trips or vacations.  I have a captive audience in the car.  haha.  Actually, my kids really love listening to these too.  It's become a tradition when we take a road trip.

I hope every LDS youth will be able to listen to this talk.  It will bring new light to the youth theme for the year.  It's fantastic.

 * Amazon * Deseret Book *

John Bytheway served a mission to the Philippines and later graduated from Brigham Young University. A favorite speaker and teacher, John holds a master’s degree in religious education and is a part-time instructor at BYU. John is the author of many bestselling books, audio talks, and DVDs, including How Do I Know if I Know?; Of Pigs, Pearls, and Prodigals; When Times are Tough: 5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get through Almost Anything; and the 2014 youth theme talk on CD, Come Unto Christ. He and his wife, Kimberly, have six children

Devon's Choice $50 Book Blast

Life holds no surprises for Devon Murphy. Her life consists of keeping tabs on her aging Irish father, working part time at a coffee shop, and building her online graphics design business. Devon’s only tricky situation is a shallow relationship with the pampered and affluent Michael Turner, who sees her as just another woman to conquer. Following his father’s death, Brandon’s only goal is to expand the family business and live life on his own terms. That is, until he walks into the coffee shop one snowy evening and meets the enchanting, red-haired barista behind the counter. But can Devon and Brandon’s attraction for each other be strong enough to help erase their deepest disappointments and renew their faith in God?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

  Excerpt:
Brandon looked over at her neutral expression. Whatever kind of relationship she had with Michael Turner didn’t seem to be making her happy. At that moment, all he wanted to do was to make her forget all about the jerk. As if sensing him watching her, Devon turned her head enough to make eye contact with him. The faint, milky glow from the streetlight showed enough of her features for him to see a soft blush warm her cheeks. Under her dark lashes, he watched her sea green eyes glint invitingly as her soft lips turned up at the corners. In that moment, his resolve to keep the date on a friendly level came crashing down.

 

Author Catherine Bennett I grew up in Ohio where I currently live with my husband and our two rescue Labradors. Some of my favorite things include reading, shopping, pepperoni pizza, Hershey bars and hanging out with my two grown sons. I also love dogs; so going to the dog park is cheap entertainment for my husband and I! Growing up an only child, I had many imaginary friends. I believe this - and a love of books - fueled my desire to write. It was many years later that my dream of becoming a published author came true. I’m grateful to God for always keeping a story in my heart and hope you are blessed and entertained by my book.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

Blog Tour Schedule

 

   $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/15/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway