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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Book Review: Rescue by Susan Aylworth

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Book Description:

What will it take to stay alive? When Dulce wakes up hanging in a giant mapajo tree, she fears she may be a lone survivor, stranded in the Amazon rainforest. What comes next may be even worse.

The last thing sixteen-year-old Dulce Donovan wants to do is move away from her friends and hot new crush. But her parents insist, and she has no choice but to get on the airplane taking her to Lima, Peru.
When the plane crashes in the middle of the Amazon jungle, Dulce feels lucky to survive. But as she faces injury, disease, and deadly insects and reptiles, she discovers that the price of living is high. Injured and miles from any civilization, Dulce has no choice but to push her way through a dangerous jungle, looking for any miracle that might come her way.

Review:

This is a pretty short book - less than 100 pages - so it might be considered a novella. Normally, I don't really enjoy reading novellas because I feel like they aren't long enough to really get into the story. That did not happen with this book. I was drawn into the story right away, and it kept my attention through the entire thing. I kept imagining how I would react if I was in the same situation as Dulce, and sadly, I don't know if I'd do nearly as well as she did. From knowing how to start a fire to finding water and food, to surviving jungle creepy-crawlies and other even larger creatures. (Seriously, just the description of all of those things makes me want to always and forever avoid the jungle.) I might find myself just curling up into a ball. I hope that I would be as strong as Dulce was, but I'm kind of a wimp.

Anyway, back to the story. The author did such a good job with bringing the story to life. Keep in mind, this is about surviving a plane crash, and plane crashes are not at all pretty. Neither are bot flies. (I've actually seen a video about those before, so I wasn't as grossed out as I might have been.)

I was in awe at Dulce's strength and resilience and her ability to fight through each and every challenge that came her way. I enjoyed this book and would even recommend it to my 13-year-old son, as well as my adult reading friends.


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Title: Rescue
Author: Susan Aylworth
Published: April 2018
ASIN: B07BYQNZ17
Source: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
 
Purchase: Amazon 

Friday, May 25, 2018

Book Blast: A Gentle Heart by Christie Logan

 
A Gentle Heart by Christie Logan

Book Description: 

Ambitious realtor Alex has plans for his life—big plans—and getting dumped by his fiancĂ©e won't sidetrack him. He'll have to face her again at an important business function, but he won't let himself be the object of pity and scorn. What better way to show the world—and his ex— how well he's doing than to arrive with a beautiful woman on his arm? A woman he finds, of all places, behind the lingerie counter of a department store.

Tyffanie has dreams that extend far beyond her sales counter, but she's been burned by men only interested in her looks. Deep inside, she's still the gawky, freckle-faced girl other kids used to tease. When handsome, successful Alex enters her life, everything changes. He's the first to look beneath the surface, respect her, and care about her hopes and dreams.

Alex discovers there is so much more to Tyffanie than outward beauty. He's falling in love with her kind soul and gentle heart when he must decide how far he's willing to pursue success and all its trappings. Because his need to win at all costs may cost him Tyffanie's love.

   

Excerpt from A Gentle Heart:   

"Jeeves, huh?" He tried to pet the cat too but when it slunk away from him, Alex realized he had a rival for Tyffanie's affection. "He looks awfully solid for a street cat." 

"I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feeds him." 

The cat meowed loudly, as though he objected to them talking about him as if he weren't there. 

"Oh, I think he's hungry," Tyffanie said. "I've got some food upstairs for him. Would you mind just waiting a minute while I grab it?" 

So she wasn't going to ask him up? A wave of disappointment hit Alex, followed by frustration. He wanted to be alone with Tyffanie, not stand here and babysit some dopey cat. Come on, guy, think of something! "Those stairs are awfully dark. You should let me go with you—" 

"Oh, it's fine, don't worry. I'll be right back." She pushed open the door and disappeared inside. 

Alex scowled at the cat, and he could have sworn the silly animal smirked back.


 

About the Author:

Christie Logan writes sweet romance straight from the heart. She lives in upstate New York with too many pets, too many dust bunnies lurking under the bed, and too many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She thinks everyone deserves a happy ending and in her books, they get one.


      

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway:

Ends 6/10/18

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.    

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Thursday, May 24, 2018

Blog Tour: Perfect Set by Melanie Jacobson

Perfect Set by Melanie Jacobson

Book Description:

Bree Mercer is an ambitious sports reporter who has risen through the ranks to land her dream job. Basking in the sun, sea, and seriously cute guys in her new singles ward, things couldn't be better. That is, until she's assigned to write a feature on the one person she can't stand—professional beach volleyball player Kade Townsend. A typical cocky athlete, Kade's previous attempt to woo her was foiled by Bree's hard-and-fast rule: don't date athletes. Ever.

Kade loathes the media, and for good reason: when his hard-partying ways were exposed by a reporter who claimed to be his friend, the scandal rocked his entire family. Now reformed, Kade has put his life back together, and he has no interest in talking to reporters—least of all Bree Mercer. But when the pair is thrown together despite their best efforts, their chemistry is undeniable. They can't seem to put the brakes on their feelings—until their connection threatens Bree's reputation and Kade's hard-won redemption. Now they must decide if there is a place for love in their plans for the future.

Andrea's Review:

I can't resist a Melanie Jacobson novel. She has such a fun writing style, and her characters are amusing. So much snark-it's quite entertaining. Anyway, I jumped at the chance to review Perfect Set, Jacobson's newest addition to the LDS fiction genre.

I liked the characters. Bree was very driven. As a woman in a mostly male dominant industry, she had to fight hard for opportunities to report any big stories. It took a lot of the story to get a true read on Kade, but that was part of Bree's investigation, and made for an entertaining story.

Most of Jacobson's novels in this genre have a similar beach theme. When it's cold and there's no ocean in site, it's hard to resist diving into Jacobson's book. I read this very quickly, and I would read it again.

Rorie's Review:

This was one of those books where I found every available minute to sit down and read it. I love those kind of books, but they are detrimental to the state of my home. :) I always enjoy Melanie Jacobson's books, and this one was no exception.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters - as usual, some of the supporting characters helped to make the story what it was. I liked Bree, but didn't really click with her as much as I could have, and I think it was because I couldn't relate very well to her. Kade was an interesting subject with a hard shell to crack, but I was cheering on their relationship, because they just worked so well together.

While this isn't my favorite book from Melanie, I still enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it to anyone.

Tarah's Review:

This was the book I didn't know I was waiting for. It was just what I wanted, just when I needed a good read. It's been awhile since I've read a Melanie Jacobson book and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy them. In fact, directly after reading this (oh, who am I kidding, I reread it right after I was done with it) I went back and read a couple others of hers. The dialog, the snark, the humor...I liked it all. However, my favorite part was probably the "redemption" story from Kade. For some reason it really resonated with me and I really really liked it, and appreciated the story being told there.

Now, this isn't some book where you are going to be surprised by anything. It's all pretty obvious where the story is going, and for me, that's wonderful news. I like to know what's going on :) Her characters are similar to other stories. Strong female, strong male, good looking people, etc. But it just makes for such an entertaining read. I'm still on a happy high from reading this. I love a good, clean, contemporary novel, and this book hits that standard by leaps and bounds. I'd definitely recommend it and read it again (I mean again again since I've already read it twice).

Tour Schedule:


Tour Giveaway:

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Title: Perfect Set 
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: May 2018
ISBN: 152440425X
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Cover Reveal: Timeless Regency Collection: Wedding Wagers

We have a cover reveal today for the latest addition to the Timeless Regency Collection: Wedding Wagers by Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes.


Pre-order your copy on Amazon for just $4.99.

Add Wedding Wagers to your To Read list on Goodreads.

Book Description:

Three wagers. Three couples. Three chances at love. Let the bets begin.

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Regency Romance, comes WEDDING WAGERS. Featuring bestselling authors Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Blog Tour: Dating the Prince by Alina Snow


 
Dating the Prince by Alina Snow 

Book Description:

Small-town girl, Katie O’Connor has always dreamed of seeing her name in lights. Check the box for fame, a movie deal, the perfect leading role that comes with a gorgeous leading man! Katie moved to Hollywood, elbows her way into auditions, lives on a shoestring budget—whatever is required to land a deal, she throws her heart into… until she’s involved in a royal kidnapping. 

As the future king, Prince Alexander refuses to rule from an ivory tower. Duty-bound, he intends to relate to his future subjects, regardless of their walk of life. Before his coronation, he needs a foolproof plan to outrun his security team and go temporarily AWOL. While visiting L.A., all it takes is a sound stage collision and Alex is blindsided by a headstrong woman who is simply irresistible. So much so, he calls in a favor in order to secure her help … as his pretend girlfriend. 

Their worlds are oceans apart, but their immediate attraction is impossible to put aside, especially their nonstop banter. Miffed at being wrangled into a situation that might blow up in her face, Katie comes up with her own plan. If The Prince is serious about walking the walk of the common folk, she’s only too happy to oblige as his pretend girlfriend. Through an ice storm, a road trip, kitchen duty, and a Texas pig race, Alex captures the hearts of the locals as well as Ms. O’Connor’s. 

What starts out as a deal Katie can’t refuse becomes the acting role of a lifetime… letting Prince Alexander go without a fight. 

A delightfully funny retelling of The Prince and The Pauper that romance readers of all ages will enjoy. On a two-week 1,500-mile road trip, Katie and Alex discover the end of the road might just be the beginning of their ‘Happy Ever After’ together.  

 

Andrea's Review:

Dating the Prince is a very fitting story for our current pop culture (what with actress Meghan Markle having married Prince Harry this past weekend). I didn't follow the real-life "actress marries prince" story very closely, but non-royalty marrying royalty is a fun idea and made for an interesting novel.

The depth of the relationship in Dating the Prince seemed to come on very fast. I liked the characters, but was caught off guard by how fast it went from two people in a business deal, to dating to engagement.

There was quite a bit of build up about the queen's view on the relationship, but then nothing really came of that.

Overall, I liked the idea of the story, but would have loved some more editing to fix some of the grammar and tighten up the story line.

As far as content, there is some passionate kissing.

 

  Author Alina Snow 

Southern gal at heart. Alina is a librarian who adores her job. She has a degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt and loves writing offbeat romance comedy. To refuel, Alina sings karaoke, bakes sweet treats, and can be found at the Y, kickboxing. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and Callie, their doxie mix.


   

Giveaway Details:

$25 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/31/18

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.

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Friday, May 18, 2018

Blog Tour: Unforgettable by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

 Unforgettable by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Book Description:

Haley has always admired her strong-willed great-grandmother Grisa. The woman survived the disappearance of her husband and thrived after her immigration to America at the beginning of World War II. But when a shocking telephone call from a detective in Germany turns Haley’s life upside down in an instant, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about her heritage. The body of Ulrich Krauss has been found, and the renowned toymaker and artist has a shocking connection to Haley: he is her great-grandfather—not missing, but murdered. Now, at the request of her ailing great-grandmother, Haley travels to Germany to seek answers. What she finds instead are more questions and a growing sense of danger dogging her every step. Protection appears in the form of Joshua, an attractive man from Haley’s past who is in Germany on business. Together the pair embarks on an emotional quest for the truth, only to discover that a generations-old plot is very much alive, and there are those as determined as ever to keep the facts surrounding Ulrich’s death hidden—even if it means silencing his great-granddaughter for good.

Rorie's Review:

My parents are living in Germany right now, so my kids and I decided to start learning some German. It was fun to see how many of the German words sprinkled throughout this book I recognized. I had to laugh when I looked up "Das Geschaft" and found out it simply means "the business."

The first chapter of the story was very intriguing, and I think I would have loved the whole book if it continued that way. Sadly, it did not. The relationship between Haley and Joshua just felt forced to me and there was no spark at all. I found myself confused for pretty much the whole book as to what exactly Das Geschaft's purpose was. I wish that the author had put in more backstory for them as well as for Haley's reason for her relationship issues. Things did pick up a bit during the climax, but it was just not quite enough to save the story.


Andrea's Review:

The description of Unforgettable was intriguing, and when it arrived in my mailbox I was drawn to the cover. The first chapter immediately pulled me in! I can't even imagine being in a situation like that (either on Ulrich's side or Ilse's). I was so sad for Ulrich and his family.

I had high hopes for Haley's journey, and the suspense kept me going for a few chapters. Sadly, the level of intensity didn't hold throughout the book. The characters (both good and bad) lacked depth.

The occasional use of German words when there was an English equivalent bothered me. I'm sure that doesn't come across the way I intend it, but it's a pet peeve of mine when foreign conversations are "translated" to English, but then a foreign word is thrown in for things like "thank you" and "no". Pet peeves are hard to adequately explain.

Joshua was a hard sell for the romantic lead. He was very helpful, but there just wasn't enough to him to make me swoon. There could have been. His career is quite manly (fireman), and he seemed like a good guy. There just wasn't depth, and I think the author's dropping of "g"s in a lot of his dialogue made him sound uneducated or something.

Aside from my hangups, this was a quick, clean read with a plot that had potential.

Tour Schedule:

*May 14th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://mybookaday.com/
*May 15th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
*May 16th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/
*May 17th: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
*May 18th: http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Title: Unforgettable
Author: Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: May 2018
ISBN: 1524403369
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase: Amazon Deseret Book
 

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Book Blast: The Gift of Love by Delaney Cameron

The Gift of Love by Delaney Cameron

Leah didn’t plan to still be searching for love so late in her twenties. Her looks almost guaranteed her success with the opposite sex, but quantity doesn’t mean quality. Good thing she’s got a great career to fall back on. The only dark cloud on that particular horizon is the enigmatic Dr. Levy, the man she’s come to think of as a permanent thorn in her side. Brilliant and handsome he most certainly is, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s also stern, impatient, and bad-tempered. Oddly enough, it isn’t their mostly negative encounters that linger in her mind. Instead it’s the sadness she glimpses from time to time in his face. There’s no explanation for why she’s so bothered by this, nor can she imagine a situation where she’ll be in a position to discover the cause of his silent misery. All of which means she’s wasting her time. If anyone can take care of himself, it’s Dr. Levy.

Stratton had only been at Hutchison Clinic a short time before he heard about the beautiful nurse on the second floor. In his usual skeptical fashion he discounted the gossip until he saw Leah for himself. He had no problem admitting that the reports of her beauty hadn’t been exaggerated, but appreciation was as far as he was prepared to go. Love, romance and the so-called happily-ever-after only exist in the movies. Putting your happiness in someone else’s hands is just begging to be hurt. He has a monthly alimony payment to prove it. Getting his family and friends to understand his preference for bachelorhood isn’t so easy. While he appreciates their concern, he doesn’t need the complication of something with such overwhelming odds of failure. One ex-wife is enough for any man.
   
Praise for the Book:

"This book is so good, I couldn't put it down!! It is a story of love, heartbreak and forgiveness, all told in such a beautiful way you get caught up in Leah and Stratton's life and love. A good series and this is the best one." Joyeli3, Amazon reviewer.

"The journey that Ms. Cameron takes us on with Stratton and Leah was simply amazing. This book brought up several emotionsfor me. I loved every bit of this book just like I've enjoyed every one of her books." J. Simpson, Amazon reviewer.

"I loved this story. Absolutely fantastic. Loved the characters, the setting, the drama and conclusion this book has. You will love this book from opening to closing. You can't go wrong. The story is awesome.Ms. Cameron is an excellent author. I can't stress it enough...Read It!" SCBooklover, Amazon reviewer.

 
Excerpt:

Leah walked out the side door of the house and didn’t look back. She’d known going to this party would be a mistake. What had she expected? This is what happens when you’re dumb enough to go on a trip with three other girls, only one of whom you’re reasonably acquainted with.

A shudder went through her that had nothing to do with the coolness of the night air. It had everything to do with being around guys who don’t understand what ‘no’ means. She wasn’t going to spend the rest of the evening hiding in the bathroom. The cabin belonging to Jessie’s parents that overlooked Lake Oconee was only a few miles away. She could be there in an hour if she walked fast.
It was strange that she felt safer on a lonely road than in a house full of people. She’d always been afraid of the dark; now it seemed like a haven. A sweater would have been nice, but then again, she hadn’t expected to be returning from this adventure on foot. Not bringing the right clothes was the least of the mistakes she’d made lately, but thankfully the end of this disastrous weekend was in sight. By tomorrow evening, she’d be back in Myrtle Beach.

The flash of a set of powerful headlights had her groaning inwardly. She moved off the road and reached in her pocket for her phone. Please don’t stop, she pleaded inside her head. In spite of this silent request, the profile of a truck pulled alongside her followed by the ominous low whine of the window sliding down. Great! This was just what she needed to make this terrible night complete.

“Excuse me, miss,” said the last voice she expected to hear. “Do you need a ride?”

Of all people, why did it have to be him? Was she ever going to be in a situation with this man that wasn’t embarrassing? At least he hadn’t recognized her yet. Hopefully, she could keep it that way. Not looking at him, she lowered her voice before replying, “No, thanks.”

“Are you sure?” his deep voice persisted.

“Very sure. My house is the next driveway.”

Dr. Levy laughed and for some reason Leah’s heart began to beat faster. She quickly found a reason for this anomaly. She’d never heard him laugh before. She’d even entertained the thought that he’d forgotten how. Like everything else about him, it was hard to ignore.

“That’s quite a coincidence,” he was saying. “My house is the next driveway, too.”

She might as well give up. This just wasn’t her night. “That figures. I can’t even get away with a lie these days.”

“There’s no need to lie. It’s just common sense.” He leaned across the console and opened the door. With the aid of the dome light, she was able to confirm his identity. She couldn’t decide if it was the absence of the formal attire he wore at work or his ruffled hair that made him appear so much younger and (dare she say it) approachable. Her glance dipped lower, taking in the corded muscles in his arms and chest straining against the material of a long-sleeve t-shirt. Yowza! If the nursing staff at Hutchison’s could see him now… His voice brought her eyes back to his face.

“Leah! What a surprise! I didn’t expect to find you so far away from home.”

That made two of them. “I’m, uh, spending the weekend with friends.”

“Who have apparently left you high and dry. Hop in, and I’ll give you a ride to wherever you’re staying.”

“Are you sure? I hate to take you out of your way.”

He smiled lazily, and this time Leah’s heart actually jumped in her chest. Could shock cause that?

“Let me worry about that.”

Feeling as if she’d stumbled into some kind of twilight zone, she climbed into the truck and reached for the seatbelt. “The address is 48 River Knoll.”

He shook his head in what she assumed was disbelief. “You were planning to walk that far?”

“It was better than staying where I was. Is your house really the next driveway?”

“I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a liar. My uncle left me a small cabin on the lake.” He pulled back on the road. “You picked a good time to visit this area. The dogwood trees are at their peak right now.”

Leah forced herself to relax against the seat. “That’s the main reason I came on this trip. Spring is my favorite time of year.”

“Mine, too. Are you from Myrtle Beach originally?”

“No. I grew up in Columbus, Georgia.”

He sent her a quick sideways glance. “You don’t say? I’m from Stone Mountain, which means we’re both Georgians. That must count for something.”

“I guess it does. You can drop me off by the mailbox.”

“I don’t drop off passengers at the mailbox, and in case you haven’t noticed, it’s pitch dark outside. We don’t need you tripping over something.”

Leah lapsed into silence. There was no point in arguing. This somewhat surreal experience would be over soon enough. A few minutes later he drew to a stop in the shadow of the porch. 

“Here we are.”

She unbuckled her seatbelt and fumbled for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride, Dr. Levy.”

He threw her the same amused smile he’d done on those previous occasions. “You’re welcome, Leah. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

She barely suppressed a shudder. There had been little enjoyment so far and having Dr. Levy find her in such a predicament hadn’t helped.

About Author Delaney Cameron:

I'm a Georgia girl at heart if not by birth. I love to read, watch college football, and spend time with my husband. I'm a hopeless romantic so there will always be a happily ever after in my stories. I also like to write about second chances because love doesn't always work out the first time. My books are sweet romances set in both contemporary and regency settings featuring stories about the journey to love, from that first meeting to the point where two people know their hearts are no longer their own. My characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes and have faults like the rest of us. They learn the sometimes painful truth that the path to love isn't always smooth, but it's a road worth traveling.  

 
Also by Delaney Cameron

 

Giveaway Details:

$50 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/31/18

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