Sunday, April 30, 2017

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #94 - The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter, Lord of Pleasure by Erica Ridley, Love Me Again by Jaci Burton

The Most Dangerous Duke in London (Decadent Dukes Society, #1)The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What starts as revenge turns into something else entirely in the start to a new series. A Duke set on revenge and a woman already on the shelf find that there is something better when the two of them act together. A nice romp with some unexpected results. There is a mystery that has an unexpected ending. Fun start to the series.

Lord of Pleasure (Rogues to Riches, #2)Lord of Pleasure by Erica Ridley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I often fuss about how much time Ridley spends in her characters heads (I call this passive writing). Not this time. There is enough dialog and action to keep even me happy. I loved both main characters. They wore masks in their daily lives and found they could only be themselves when they were masked and anonymous. It was fun to see how being themselves changed their lives. Look for humor, great dialog and fun secondary characters. All kept the book moving and me reading.


Love Me Again (Hope, #7)Love Me Again by Jaci Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What happens when you have a cute kid and a very large dog. Sometimes it brings two people together who separated years ago but really do belong together. Burton uses a familiar theme in a very entertaining way. Both Loretta Simmons and Deacon Fox have a history and when Loretta moves back to Hope they try to ignore each other. That cute kid and the very large dog keep that from happening. A nice story about second chances.

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Thursday, April 27, 2017

Claiming the Maverick's Heart by Debra Holt - Book Blast and Giveaway




CLAIMING THE MAVERICK'S HEART

by Debra Holt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

“He’s back.” 

Words Macy Donovan hoped to never hear. 

Trace Cartwright was the maverick rodeo cowboy who broke her heart, leaving her on the steps of the church on the eve of their wedding. Now he's returned to build his home and to lay claim to her heart ... again. Macy barely survived the broken heart the first time. Does he think he can walk back into her life and take up where he left off?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Macy nodded and smiled along with her. There was a lot to miss about Gram, and a tight squeeze circled around her heart. A little more than a year had passed, but that wasn’t enough time to temper the loss. She doubted that even twenty years would alleviate the emptiness her grandmother’s passing had left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers.  Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most.  She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).
    
When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure.  She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs...to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s. 
     
Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com.  She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.  Twitter is https://twitter.com/DebraHoltBooks and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebraHoltBooks. 


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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

The author is giving away a $10 Amazon/BN GC.  

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 93 - Behind the Throne by K.B. Wagers, The Alexander Inheritance by Eric Flint, Gorg Huff, Paula Goddlett

Behind the Throne (The Indranan War #1)Behind the Throne by K.B. Wagers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is great space opera. Hailimi Bristol is anything but the heir to the throne but when her sisters are killed she is forced to come back and be just that. Notice something different. It seems that the women rule the planet and gender roles are reversed. Not everyone is happy to see Hailimi back and her life is in constant danger. She has a great group of characters who are helping her stay alive. A fun and hard to put down story. I really liked this book and am off to get book two, After the Crown, which is already out.

The Alexander InheritanceThe Alexander Inheritance by Eric Flint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a new world created by those aliens who's art keep moving parts of earth between different time periods. This time it is a cruise ship that goes from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. But they don't just change locations they change time periods and this time it is just after the death of Alexander the Great. I did find this one a little harder to swallow. This was a ship with 5000 people on board and having been on a cruise ship for 4 months at a time the lack of information about most of those was not very realistic. It was however fun. There are the historical characters and the fictional ones all interacting as they try to get a different result from the one that is written in the cruise ships history. I do recommend it just take it with a grain of salt. I found it the least believable book of the series.


Short and Sweet Book Reviews #92 - Slow Burn Cowboy by Maisey Yates, Avenger of the Moon by Allen Steele, Cinderella And the Major by Cynthia VanRooy

Slow Burn Cowboy (Copper Ridge, #7)Slow Burn Cowboy by Maisey Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again two people with serious issues in their past have to make the journey from friends to lovers. For Finn Donnelly and Lane Jensen this is not an easy journey. Having all of his brother come home adds to Finn's problems. For Lane it is the appearance on TV of someone from her past. All of this leads to each doing a lot of serious thinking and some very hot action. This is the first Maisey Yates novel I have read. It started out great and I did like the story line and the characters however all of the pages and pages each character did inside their heads really slowed the story down. The fact that I like pages of action and dialog instead of pages of subjective thinking kept this from being a five star book. I found that I was skimming trying to get to the dialog and action. Still a nice story.


Avengers of the MoonAvengers of the Moon by Allen Steele
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the cover of Avengers of the Moon. It really sets the tone for the story. Steele has gone back to a group of stories he read as a young adult and upgraded the hero in a story that fits in the world today. This is pure space opera with a hero who has spent most of his life in hiding after his parents were murdered. The three people who raised him are not exactly human but they have prepared him for life outside. I loved the characters, the action and the plot. This is space opera as I first started reading it and it was great finding something new and fun. I hope this is the start of a series as I would love to visit again.

 Cinderella and the MajorCinderella and the Major by Cynthia VanRooy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a free book on Amazon. It turned out to be as cute and fun as it sounded. Harmony McMahon is a Mensa member and computer genius. What she is not is a social success. Her 10 year high school reunion is coming up and she need a date. Enter Major Conner Talbot. He is up for auction and Harmony has the winning bid. From there it is fun and cute. Conner really likes a lot about Harmony and some of the things that she thinks will turn anyone off he finds adorable. Harmony is very insecure and very attracted to Conner. Both have some issues that they work through as they get to know each other. This is novella length so pick it up for a fun short read.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Foolish Bride by A.S. Fenichel and Knight Secrets by C.C. Wiley - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway



Foolish Bride: Forever Brides #2
by A.S. Fenichel

Knight Secrets: Knights of the Swan #1
by C.C. Wiley



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Historical Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Foolish Bride

Sadly ever after . . . unless some dreams really do come true?

Elinor Burkenstock never believed in fairy tales. Sure, she’s always been a fool for love—what woman isn’t? But Elinor knows the difference between fiction and truth. Daydreams and reality. True love and false promises. . . . Until the unthinkable happens, and Elinor’s engagement is suddenly terminated and no one, least of all her fiancé, will tell her why.

Sir Michael Rollins’s war-hero days seem far behind him when, after one last hurrah before his wedding, he gets shot and his injuries leave him in dire shape. He wants nothing more than to marry Elinor, the woman of his wildest dreams. But Elinor’s father forbids it . . . and soon Michael is faced with a desperate choice: Spare Elinor a life with a broken man or risk everything to win her heart—until death do they part?


Knight Secrets

Sworn to protect the crown, a Knight of the Swan must never surrender—not even to love . . .

England, 1415. Ordered never to leave the lonely tower on her family estate, Lady Clarice Margrave is suddenly set free when her home is plundered. Now she is determined to discover the truth behind her father’s alleged treason. But an act of daring only propels her into a new prison, with the very knight who destroyed her home as her keeper. Sir Ranulf, Lord of Sedgewic, is ruthless in his inquisition, though there is a searing tenderness in his touch. Is it possible her bold jailor is the Red Wolf of whom her father spoke—and the one man she might be able to trust?

As a knight, Ranulf never questions his troth, but his beautiful prisoner stirs his heart and mind like no other. Clarice is achingly vulnerable—and extremely closed-mouth about her possible ties to the plot against the king. Duty demands he keep his distance, though he yearns to take her to his bed and adore her until he discovers what lies within her heart. And he would—if he weren’t in danger of losing his own . . .


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Foolish Bride


Her heart beat wildly. “But is that not why you pursued me?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I will not deny I came to London this season because I needed to marry to restore the money that my father squandered.” He kissed her cheek. “I had every intention of finding a rich bride to enable that plan.” He kissed her other cheek. “Then I met you, and you were the perfect solution to my problems.”

She tried to pull away,  but he held her close and kissed her lips. It was only a peck, but the thrill of it traveled to her toes and hit everywhere in between.

His body filled all her curves as he hugged her and spread kisses along her cheek and neck. “I knew you were the one, Elinor. So beautiful, charming, and sweet, I could not resist you. I want to be worthy of your love, and in the weeks we courted, I found a way to get enough money to repair my country home and still have enough to make a good start of the marriage. I made the deal on some grain. It will take a bit of time for my plans to pan out, but in a couple of months, I should be able to show your father that I am worthy of you.”

EXCERPT

Knight Secrets

His skin itched, recalling the feel of her curvaceous hips as he dropped her into the bed. Memories of hidden shapes, hips, and but- tocks flashed before him. Ranulf squinted at the maiden. Correction: make that woman, you fool.

His blood sizzled with the memories of accidentally brushing against curves that should not be on one fresh from the nursery.

Thanks to the pressure in his breeches, he rose on unsteady legs. “I—ah—believe you will have to tend to the binding after all.” He moved from the bed and brushed against a tattered piece of embroi- dery. Picking it up, he smoothed out the stiffened fabric, bloodied from the wound it had staunched earlier. The bits of thread formed a design he had seen before. What were they?

Frowning, he tucked the discarded bit of satin under his belt and turned for the door. “I’ll have Erwina return with a bite of food for you.”

“Wait!” she pleaded. “You . . . you cannot mean to keep me here.”

Ranulf stopped, his hand resting on the latch. Unwilling to let go of the door, he looked over his shoulder.

In her effort to sit up, the fur had slipped to reveal the gentle slope of creamy skin. ’Twas all he could do to keep from returning to her side and press a kiss to the nape of her neck. His resolve firmly in place, he looked closely at his captive. He could not ignore the truth. No longer was the patient a mere innocent. This woman, lying so invitingly in his bed, played a game of deception. And uncovering deception was what he did best.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A.S. Fenichel adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story. Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey. She now lives in the southwest with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When she is not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history and puttering in her garden.

Author Links:

Buy the book:



C.C. Wiley is a longstanding member of the Romance Writers of America, and a published author with Samhain Publishing. She lives in Salt Lake City with her high school sweetheart of over 35 years and their four wacky dogs. When given a choice, she prefers a yummy, well-written, historical or contemporary romance that is chock-full of hope, love and a Happy Ever After. She believes there are wonderful courageous characters waiting for someone to tell their story. It's her hope that each adventurous romance she writes will touch the reader and carry them away to another place and time, where hopes and dreams abound.

Author Links:

Buy the book:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 


The authors will be awarding a digital copy of both of the books on tour to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

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Monday, April 24, 2017

The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby - Nerd Blast and Giveaway



The Shadow Sipher
by Laura Ruby

Synopsis 

It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before. Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher—a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction.

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment house—until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. Their likely destruction means the end of a dream long-held by the people of New York. And if Tess, Theo and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to solve it.

From National Book Award Finalist Laura Ruby comes a visionary epic set in a New York City at once familiar and wholly unexpected.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Ruby writes fiction for adults, teens and children. She is the author of the newly-released YA novel BONE GAP, as well as the Edgar-nominated children's mystery LILY'S GHOSTS, the ALA Quick Pick for teens GOOD GIRLS (2006), a collection of interconnected short stories about blended families for adults, I'M NOT JULIA ROBERTS (2007), and the forthcoming middle-grade trilogy YORK. She is on the faculty of Hamline University's Masters in Writing for Children Program. She makes her home in the Chicago area.

TWITTER: @thatlauraruby

Photo Credit: Stephen Metro



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- 7 Winners will receive a Set Copy of YORK: THE SHADOW CIPHER by Laura Ruby

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Sunday, April 23, 2017

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #91 -Lord of Chance by Erica Ridley, Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlois, The Last Good Cowboy by Kate Pearce

Lord of Chance (Rogues to Riches, #1)Lord of Chance by Erica Ridley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlotte Devon is running from her past and Anthony Fairfax's running from his debt. The two have such different problems there is no way they should get together. Then they make the mistake of claiming to be married and forget that in Scotland that means they are married. I loved how they both found a way to make the marriage work while solving both of their problems. Anthony turned out to be more that just a very charming gambler and Charlotte learns that her birth does not define her. A nice story with interesting characters. My only problem with Ridley's writing is how long she spends inside her characters head with no outside interaction. More dialog to define the problems less time just thinking about them.

Catch a Tiger by the TailCatch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You never know what will happen when you catch a tiger by his tail. Lulu finds out when she gets involved with Broderick. In this short story both Lulu and Broderick have secrets that lead to some laughs out loud moments. Broderick knows Lulu is his mate but she is human and just does not want to believe him even though she also feels the bond. There is enough world building and backstory to support the plot. The ending did make me wonder if there is a story for another character in the works. This is a nice short read. Pick it up for when you don't have time for a long books but need something to lighten your mood.


The Last Good Cowboy (Morgan Ranch, #3)The Last Good Cowboy by Kate Pearce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ry Morgan has finally had enough and he is back at the Morgan ranch to stay. His identical twin does not take it well and that adds to the tension in the story. Avery Hayes provides the romantic tension. She had a bad accident 7 years ago and does not see herself as being complete. Ry on the other hand does and now that he is home he is acting on the attraction that he felt before he left years ago. I really liked Ry. He is one of the good guys and his action reflect that. There is still the mystery from when his mother disappeared when he was 5 years old and some old stuff comes out in the book. Between the tension between Ry and his twin, Avery's lack of confidence, and trying to find what happened to Ry's mother this a cannot put down book. There is still one Morgan man and a new character ready for romance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Friday, April 21, 2017

LETHAL LIES BY REBECCA ZANETTI - TEASER BLITZ AND GIVEAWAY


Lethal Lies 
By Rebecca Zanetti

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: LETHAL LIES
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Series: Blood Brothers, #2
On Sale: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Trade Paperback: $14.99 USD
eBook: $5.99 USD

“4 1/2 stars! Top pick! This is a true thriller that will keep readers frantically flipping the pages as death and danger come at the protagonists from several directions.  Zanetti's brilliance at storytelling is on full display...When it comes to high-octane thrillers, they don't get better than Zanetti!” —RT Book Reviews on LETHAL LIES

“Zanetti balances the adventure and menace of Zara and Ryker's lives with a relatable romance. The result is a story that's sexy and emotional, and filled with a rich look at love in all its forms.” —The Washington Post on DEADLY SILENCE

“Budget your time, readers, because this is one that's hard to put down.” —HeroesandHeartbreakers.com on DEADLY SILENCE

A deadly secret can't stay buried forever . . .

Revenge. It's the only thing that will help Anya Best sleep at night. The serial killer who murdered her sister is on the loose, and Anya will stop at nothing to put him behind bars—even use herself as bait to lure him out of hiding. But she can't do this alone.

Private investigator Heath Jones's job is to bring bastards to justice. This time it's personal. He knew the Copper Killer's latest victim so when her sister asks for his help, he's all in. But when Anya uses the media to taunt the killer, she exposes Heath's identity, putting them both in jeopardy. Now, secrets buried long ago are coming to light and the forces determined to destroy him are watching Heath's every move, waiting to exact their own revenge. And they'll use anything and anyone to get to Heath.

TEASER:



She shook her head. “No. I’m staying.” Her words were brave, but her chest hurt. No way could she deal with a serial killer all on her own. She could train every day for the rest of her life and not end up as practiced or as deadly as Heath already was, and she knew it. “I understand you have other cases and people after you. So leave, and I’ll handle this myself.”
“Those are big words, baby,” he said softly.
Her lip quivered, and she bit down on it. “I know. I promised her, Heath. It’s all I have left to give to her.”
He paused, understanding crossing his expression. “Ah, sweetheart. Your sister wouldn’t want that for you.” His voice turned velvety and soft. Soothing.
Anya nodded. “I know. But she was my sister. We shared blood and part of a childhood. She took me trick-or-treating when I was five, and it’s one of my best memories. Then when I needed help as an adult, she didn’t hesitate. She came to me right away, like family. She was the first person I really cared about in far too long, and it hurts like hell that I got her killed.”
He breathed out, the emotion in his eyes deepening.
She swallowed. “I have to do this for her. Either you understand that or you don’t.”
“Why don’t you just let us handle it?”
She pressed her point. “I could, but you need me. I’m the bait.” Inwardly, she winced at the description. That wouldn’t help her to convince him. “Also, here’s the deal. This could be a long op. At some point, you have to leave and deal with whatever is haunting you from your past. When you do, I’ll just challenge him again, and next time you won’t be around to assist.”
“That’s extortion,” Heath said, amusement curving his lip.
She grinned. “Apparently I’m getting quite good at it.”
Heath shook his head. “You’re putting me in an untenable position, baby.”
“No, I’m not.” She shrugged out of his hold. Finally. “I’m not yours to protect, Heath. We’re not together, and we’re not responsible for each other.” The words sliced through her even as she said them. “You’ve been more than clear on that score.”
“There’s something here, Anya. Maybe something real and lasting, if I get everything done I need to do.”
She blinked. “What’s that?”
“The less you know the better. Believe me.”
“What a bunch of bullshit. Go back to your ‘This is fake’ proclamation,” she all but yelled. “Your position is one of work . . . and this is just work.”
His chin lifted. “You think this is just work?” The tone—low and filled with tension—zinged through her body.
Her legs trembled with the urge to take a step back. “Yes.”
“Want me to prove otherwise?” His eyes darkened to the color of the sky right before midnight hit.
As a threat, as a warning, it was damn good. But she’d gone too far to give in now. “You can’t.” Yeah, she’d just waved a red flag in front of a bull.
He didn’t move a muscle. His focus on her was so absolute, she wanted to squirm. “You’re into challenging dangerous men these days, aren’t you?”
She kept her stance. “You’re not all that dangerous, Heath.”
His smile stole her breath. Then he moved. Faster than she could track, he had her by the armpits and up in the air as he carried her toward the bedroom with such speed that her legs automatically wound around to clasp his rib cage. By the time she sucked in air to protest, her butt was on the bed, and he was flattening himself over her.
She struggled, her body on fire, fighting the urge to laugh out loud.
His mouth crushed hers, and she stilled.
Heat.
Fire.
True danger.
He held nothing back, kissing her hard, pressing her head into the comforter. His tongue worked hers, his powerful body plastered against hers, and his hands dug into her hair to hold her in place. Desire spun so quickly into need she couldn’t breathe, even when he wasn’t controlling her mouth.
She shifted against him, closing her eyes to kiss him back. This was what she’d wanted. All of this.
He nipped her lip, soothing the slight pain with another kiss. Then he traced along her jawline, kissing and nipping, finally reaching her earlobe, where he bit.
She arched against him, letting out a soft sigh.
“Anya.” His fingers tangled in her hair, and erotic pain tingled down her scalp. One of his strong arms slid around her waist and then down. His palm spread across her butt, and he ground her against his hard cock.
Pleasure swamped her, and mini explosions flew through her sex. The idea passed, somewhat fleetingly, that he wasn’t playing. Not at all.
Yet she couldn’t stop herself. Her knees widened, and she rubbed against him. “This feels real,” she whispered.



PREORDER THE BOOK HERE


THE BLOOD BROTHERS SERIES












DEADLY SILENCE, #1
LETHAL LIES, #2
TWISTED TRUTHS, #3


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists. She has received a Publisher's Weekly Starred Review for Wicked Edge, Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Nominations for Forgotten Sins and Sweet Revenge, and RT Top Picks  for several of her novels.  She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat...and a huge extended family.  She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off...and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out.



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