Allie Bock's Blog, page 9

What are you reading this week?

Hi Dear Readers, 
How are you doing this week? Have you found some good reads to try?
It has been a lovely fall here in Minnesota. The leaves are changing colors and the nights are cooling down. Perfect for curling up with a good book and a mug of tea. 
I am reading three books this week.
In ebook:
I picked up Sara Blackard's free book, A Rebel's Heart, from the giveaway I mentioned last week. It seems very cute. It is a sweet and clean adventurous romance.
Book Blurb:

He’s loved his best friend since he met her. She’s ignored him since his accident shattered her world. Will a second chance sweep them away toward love?

Arne Rebel’s life exploded the day his bullet ricocheted, killing his best friend Katie’s fiancé.

He’s spent the last four years making up for that mistake as a medic in the military. After being discharged because of an injury, he’s now back in the small Alaskan gold mining community, determined to reconcile his friendship with Katie. Or at least gain her forgiveness.

Katie Titus struggles between the anger over losing her fiancé and the hole left by her best friend’s betrayal.

But after years of Arne’s letters asking for forgiveness, she’s doubting her motives for staying away. When a pregnant mother needs her help for the summer, Katie jumps at the opportunity to escape her memories and confusing emotions.

When an accident forces Arne and Katie together, will they reconcile their past or will the space between them grow?

If you like heart-pounding adventures, toe-curling romance that keeps it clean, and a family of captivating characters, you’ll love Sara Blackard’s riveting romantic Alaskan adventure series.

Find it here!

The other one I'm reading is a Rom/Com by Camilla Isley. This was a recommendation from one of my readers. It is funny and enjoyable. Thank you for the recommendation!


Book Blurb:

First law of magnetism: opposite poles attract.

Single mom Vivian has been burned by love once before, and her job as a divorce lawyer has presented enough evidence to convince her there are no good men left in New York City.

The worst offender is her new neighbor: Dr. Lucas Keller, a couple’s therapist whose piercing blue eyes and flawless dark hair are just as annoying as his bad temper.

But when Luke starts poaching Vivian’s clients by saving their marriages, she makes it her mission to force him out of the building to save her practice. But it’s Luke who gives her the perfect opportunity when he proposes an unexpected bet.

With their offices at stake, Vivian and Luke play the field of love in a fierce battle of wits that quickly turns hot and personal, especially when Vivian’s daughter gets involved. Now, taking down Luke has become more than business for Vivian. It’s become a pleasure—and soon, Vivian and Luke will realize how pointless it is to fight the laws of attraction.

A divorce attorney and a couple therapist may sound as an unlikely couple, throw in an insta-hate meet-not-so-cute, and you’ve got all the right premises for a swooping love-hate romance.

And even better, this books will be FREE everywhere eBooks are sold. So stay tuned for more updates. 

Find it here!
In Audio book:
I'm on the second book of Sara Rossett's On the Run International series. I loved the first one. It is an old style romantic suspense with a hint of comedy. It makes the long car rides enjoyable.
Book Blurb:
Zoe thought all the questions surrounding her ex’s mysterious past had been answered. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Free-spirited Zoe lives an unconventional life. She tried the nine-to-five office routine, but it was like the death of a thousand cuts—paper cuts, that is. But still, she couldn’t take it and vowed to make a living outside a cubicle. Now she’s a “Jill of All Trades,” taking on freelance copy-editing, property management, and even dog walking gigs. Sure, it’s a little insecure, but Zoe isn’t exactly what you’d call cautious.

Normally, she loves surprises and the unknown, except when it comes in the form of mysterious packages, visits from the FBI, and thugs showing up on her jogging route. Zoe isn’t sure who she’s more afraid of, the FBI or the thugs, so she makes a snap decision and skips town to follow the clues in the package, which takes her to London, where she suspects she’ll find her ex, Jack.

The authorities think he’s dead, but Zoe doesn’t agree. Can she find her elusive ex? And what about her new tenet with the shy smile and sexy stubble? Why does he keep popping up in her life? Zoe will have to use her rather eccentric skill set to answer those questions, all the while dodging someone who wants to make this trip abroad her last.

Find it here!

October update: Looking for reading recommendations.

 Hi dear Reader,

How has your week been?

My week was great. My best friend from Wisconsin came to visit this past weekend. I haven't seen her in about five years, which is too long. We went to the ice cream shop in town and spent hours catching up. The shop itself is fun, and it's one of Hubby and mine's favorite places to go. It is set up in a tiny space between two businesses with a giant ice cream cone out front. The counter is walk up only. The seating's spread throughout the open space around the walk-up counter. The day was perfect being in the seventies, a slight breeze, and some cloud cover. People packed the place and a gaggle of children rode their bikes in to get ice cream.

Then, there was a squeal of tires on the road next to the shop. Traffic had stopped for this older brown dog carrying a chew toy to cross the road. She ran into the seating area, scared with her tail tucked between her legs. She made a beeline for the children and rolled over on her belly for scratches. 

All the kids congregated around her rubbing her belly, petting her, and stroking her ears. The owner of the ice cream shop came out with a small dish of vanilla soft serve for her. The dog smiled up at him and wagged her tail before licking out the ice cream. She didn't have a collar or tags. 

Luckily, her owner was driving the neighborhood, looking for her. He was so relieved to find her being loved on by the children and safe. She ran around giving kisses to all the patrons before jumping into the backseat of his SUV. It was the perfect ending for a great weekend.

I do need your help. I'm in a reading slump. I've been trying out several new authors and stories lately. But, I haven't fallen in love with any of them yet. Do you have a reading recommendation? Either your favorite book or a really good one that you just couldn't put down? Hit reply and let me know! Thank you a bunch!

That's all I have for now. Stay safe, healthy, and happy.

Lots of hugs,
Allie

P.S Below I have a book giveaway with other clean romance authors. Check it out if you are looking for something new to read this weekend. I definitely am going to.

My book, Falling for My Cowboy, is on there for free. If you haven't picked it up yet, check it out. Please leave a review on your favorite platform if you liked it!

Book Review: The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller

 

Book Blurb:

The women of Bliss County are ready to meet the men of their dreams! See how it all begins in this enthralling new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller 

Ten years ago, Hadleigh Stevens was eighteen and this close to saying "I do," when Tripp Galloway interrupted her walk down the aisle. Now that she’s recovered from her youthful mistake and Tripp’s interference, Hadleigh and her single friends form a marriage pact. She doesn’t expect Tripp to meddle with her new plan to find Mr. Right—or to discover that she’s more attracted to him than ever! 

Divorced and eager to reconnect with his cowboy roots, Tripp returns to Bliss County to save his ailing father’s ranch. He’s not looking for another wife—certainly not his best friend’s little sister. But he’s never been able to forget Hadleigh. And this time, if she ends up in his arms, he won’t be walking away!

Linda Lael Miller

Book Review:
Linda is one of my favorite western romance authors. I fell in love with her writing in college when I read her McKetterick Brothers series. This story is very cute and gives me the soft happy feels.
Hadleigh has had a secret crush on Tripp for years but never acted on it. Tripp has hidden feelings for her too, but thinks they are because she is his best friend's kid sister. In an effort to grab Tripp's attention, Hadleigh attempts to marry the town loser. Tripp stops the wedding, but proceeds to break Hadleigh's heart. Fast forward several years, Hadleigh and her girlfriends make a wedding pact only to marry for true love and not to settle. Isn't that sweet? Then, Tripp moves back into town, and you can guess what happens next.
Overall, this isn't one of my favorite of her stories. The story just goes along like everyday life, and I found the side characters to be much more interesting than the two main characters. Hadleigh and Tripp both have a ton of internal dialogue. It makes the story drag on for me. There was so many flashback's to when Hadleigh and Tripp were kids, that I just didn't care about. Tripp's dad is hilarious and I would read the rest of the series just to read about her best friends and Tripp's dad. She throws in a red herring when the town loser shows up about 2/3 of way through the book for one scene and makes threats but he never carries through with them. The reader never sees him again. There wasn't enough action for me. If you like books that are happy and don't have a lot of angst, this is the one for you.

What Am I Reading This Week: The Marriage Pact and Her Best Match

 Dear Reader,

I have picked up two great books to read this week. I'd love your thoughts on them!

In audiobook format:

I borrowed The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller from my local library via Hoopla. I love Hoopla. It makes renting titles easy and there is so much to chose from. Ask your librarian if they have it. (Plus, it doesn't cost anything to use.)

Anyway, The Marriage Pact is the first book in the Brides of Bliss County Series. I'm only about an hour into the ten hour audiobook, so I can't give you a good summary. I am finding it entertaining and can't wait to get back to it.

Blurb:

The women of Bliss County are ready to meet the men of their dreams! See how it all begins in this enthralling new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller 

Ten years ago, Hadleigh Stevens was eighteen and this close to saying "I do," when Tripp Galloway interrupted her walk down the aisle. Now that she’s recovered from her youthful mistake and Tripp’s interference, Hadleigh and her single friends form a marriage pact. She doesn’t expect Tripp to meddle with her new plan to find Mr. Right—or to discover that she’s more attracted to him than ever! 

Divorced and eager to reconnect with his cowboy roots, Tripp returns to Bliss County to save his ailing father’s ranch. He’s not looking for another wife—certainly not his best friend’s little sister. But he’s never been able to forget Hadleigh. And this time, if she ends up in his arms, he won’t be walking away

Find it here: Linda Lael Miller

In E-book format:

I just started Her Best Match by Tamie Dearen. I picked it up when it was on sale through BookBub. It is the first book in her The Best Girls Sweet Romance Series. It starts out very cute and funny. It is not one to read when I'm trying to sleep. Unfortunately it is only available on Kindle. It is set to free.

Blurb:

Feisty, stubborn, and bored with life in Texas, Anne Best is about to get more than she bargained for.

The lovely widow heads off to the Big Apple for a job interview, expecting no more than a few days adventure in New York City, only to find herself with a new job working for the most infuriating man she's ever met.

Billionaire Steven Gherring is one of New York's Most Eligible Bachelors, and he has every intention of staying that way. But Gram has other ideas. She's on a not-so-secret campaign to find a wife for her grandson.

As fearless as she is clumsy, Anne tackles every challenge (including her new boss) enthusiastically, with two lone exceptions... public speaking and recognizing her own feelings. Passions rise along with hemlines as Gram joins forces with Anne, a veteran matchmaker, to find the perfect match for Steven.

If you love sweet romance that will make you laugh and cry and leave you with a smile, you'll love USA Today Bestselling Author Tamie Dearen's books!

Note: Her Best Match is a sweet inspirational romantic comedy. It has a Christian worldview, but is not Christian fiction.

Find it here: Her Best Match

Have you read either one of these books? What are you reading this week? Leave a comment below! I'd love to find new books and authors!

Hugs,

Allie and Tank

Do you like pumpkin spice? And some fun reads!

 

Hi dear readers,

How have you been? Can you believe that September is already halfway through. I can't. The days are getting shorter and cooler. The leaves are starting to change. It's such a beautiful time of year.

My favorite thing about fall is going trail riding on my horse. The cooler weather gives her a pep in the her step, and she is excited to go out.  When we are out in woods, it is so peaceful. The leaves changing color, the sumac is a vibrant red, the leaves crunch under her feet, and the air is refreshingly crisp. Plus, she starts growing this plushy, russet colored winter coat. I love brushing her this time of year.

The big question of the month is: are you a pumpkin spice fan?

I'm on the fence. I love pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins, but not a huge fan of the pumpkin spice lattes. My parents and in-laws came to visit for the weekend. We had a great weekend. Anyway, my mom and MIL (mother-in-law) got into a discussion about which is better: summer or fall. Mom is a fall fan with the cooler weather, leaves changing, and pumpkin spice everywhere. On the other hand, my MIL is a summer and beach girl with the warm water, beaches, and margaritas. So which are you?

I don't have a much new on the writing front. My Unexpected Hero is still at the editors, so I'm just waiting to get it back. As soon as it is ready, I'll let you know.

Instead, I have a few books for you to check out from my author friends. A couple of new releases and a couple of sales. Maybe, you'll find something you like. Let me know if you do!

Hugs,

Allie

$0.99 Sale for limited time

A sweet Southern town. A failing family manor. And a plan to save it all…

Moving to Oakleaf Manor was the last thing Brynn Townsend had planned after losing her job in the city, but even more unexpected was the headstrong son of the owner stealing her heart. Her only hope of building a new life in the quaint town of Sugar Maple rests on saving his family farm. But when he threatens to derail not only her plans to save Oakleaf Manor, but also her newfound home, Brynn knows she must risk their budding romance in order to save it all.

Preserving his family's legacy and restoring his home to its former glory means everything to Jack. Generations of the Oakley family have owned and run the historic estate of Oakleaf Manor, but Jack's past mistakes have left his family in danger of losing their home. With the fate of Oakleaf Manor resting solidly on his shoulders, he can't risk failing again, even if it means putting his growing relationship with Brynn in jeopardy.

When Brynn crafts a daring plan to save Oakleaf Manor, Jack's deeply rooted fears resurface. He's tried this plan before with disastrous consequences. Can Brynn find a way to convince Jack to trust both her and their love? Will Jack realize where his heart truly belongs before it's too late? Or will the happiness they had found and Oakleaf Manor end up in ruins?

If you love winding country roads, quaint cozy shops, and quirky, but caring neighbors who love like family, you'll adore Love at the Fall Festival.

$0.99 Sale until 9/20

He will give up everything for love.

As dark prince of the dark seas, Victor has everything. Everything except Ariana's love. Victor is Ursula's son, so he can't blame Ariana for not trusting him.

He will do anything for her, but she is falling for a mortal prince. Can Ariana see that Victor's heart is true, or is it too late?

With his mother, Ursula, against the sea king's daughter, will Victor's love cost him everything?

The Stone Mermaid is a mythical tale of mermaids and other legendary sea creatures and monsters. This is an epic story of love and betrayal, involving Ariana, the sea king's daughter, Ivan, a human prince, and Victor, the sea witch's son.

Love is a force capable of moving the unlikeliest of hearts. Let The Stone Mermaid show you how. Read this epic love story today.

The Stone Mermaid is a magical new take on the classic fairytale we all love.

New Release!

Falling for your best friend’s brother is tricky… unless you’re keeping it a secret.

Elle

I never thought I’d be serving hotdogs dressed as an actual hotdog at the local amusement park. Not at twenty-five anyway. I know desperate times call for desperate measures, but come on... Do you know how hard it is to look good when you’re squeezing yourself in between two brown buns every day? That’s right, so hard that I’ll never get Prince Charming’s attention.

Not that it matters. He’s my best friend’s brother aka completely off-limits. But the way he looks at me makes me weak in the buns.

Colton

All I want is to get through the summer and save up some cash by playing Prince Charming at the local amusement park so I can get out of Summerville Creek before I turn thirty or – even worse – before I turn out exactly like my dad.

Falling for my sister’s best friend isn’t part of the plan, though. She’s all red hair and curves, and she’s driving me crazy in that adorable hotdog suit of hers. I try to avoid her as much as I can, but when my boss asks her to play the Princess to my Prince Charming, all bets are off. We’re park royalty now and I want the happily ever after too.

This romcom has all the laughs and sizzle but no explicit content.

New Release!

An ex-army pilot on his next adventure. A dog trainer establishing her mark. Can they rely on each other when a rescue mission turns deadly?

Bjørn Rebel has achieved his lifelong dreams: a helicopter of his own and a business showing-off his beloved Alaska.

When the local search and rescue team asks for air support, he jumps at the chance to volunteer. Not only will his experience flying evac missions for an elite division of the army give search and rescue a big advantage, it will give Bjørn a chance to redeem himself after a botched mission left rumors clinging to him he can’t shake.

Sadie Wilde is flying high on the success of the K9 breeding and training program she started with her family.

Since childhood, Sadie, her sister, and her cousins planned to have a kennel dedicated to breeding superior dogs for search and rescue and law enforcement. With her father and uncle heading up the local SAR, she’s seen first hand how a well-trained dog can mean the difference between life and death. Sadie’s determined to do whatever she can to ensure her dogs are the best. Bjørn, Search and Rescue’s newest recruit, just might be the ticket to taking her training program to new heights.

When a routine rescue mission takes a sinister turn, will Bjørn and Sadie be able to uncover the truth in time or will they be the ones needing to be saved?

If you like high-soaring action, toe-curling romance that keeps it clean, and a family of captivating characters, you’ll love Sara Blackard’s riveting romantic Alaskan adventure series.

September Update!

 Dear Reader,

How are you doing? Can you believe that summer is almost over with? The local schools started back in session. The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing.

Our county fair was last week. It was so hot but Hubby and I had a blast. We walked through the 4-H and FFA barns to look at all the animals. Then, we ate fair food until our stomachs were full. I ordered the gyro and my absolute favorite...a funnel cake with apples and cinnamon. Have you been to any fairs this year?

Besides the fair, I've been busy getting ready for my parents and in-laws coming to visit in September. Tank and I spent last evening cleaning the house and reorganizing our bookshelves. I organized the books by genre and size. They aren't piled in disorganized stacks, anymore! It feels good to have some order again. I'd love to see pictures of your bookshelves!

My Unexpected Hero (Lindsay and Kurt's story) is still at the editors. It should be done soon. It is up for preorder. If you are interested, follow this LINK!

I have about 16,000 words written on the next Cowboy of Sunnydale story. Kaleb gets his turn at finding love, if he doesn't push her away first. I haven't figured out where the story is going at the moment, but am having lots of fun getting to know his love interest.

What are you reading this week? I just picked up a book by new-to-me author, Jessica Anne Renwick. Novel Dreams is a sweet and clean small town romance. Wanna-be author Anna has her book deal cancelled and is struggling to make ends meet. She ends up running into the man that shattered her dreams. I'm really enjoying it so far. It reminds me of You've Got Mail, and who doesn't love that movie? Plus, the cover is just adorable.

That's all I have for now. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Hugs,

Allie

P.S. For reader exclusives, subscribe to my twice a month newsletter!

Writing Update For August!

Dear Reader,
I hope this finds you well and happy.
This past two weeks have been jammed packed for me. I finally finished Lindsay and Kurt's love story and sent it to my editor this morning. I worked on it every free moment. It got to the point where my dog, Tank, would go lay under the desk when we got in from outside. I am very excited for it to come out. My cover designer is working on the cover this week. It should be up for pre-order by September 15th and a launch date October 15th. Let's keep our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.



In my push to get the story done, I ended up at my local public library for the first time since Hubby and I moved to Minnesota. It's a nice library in an old building right off of the square. They don't have a lot of books compared to other libraries I've been too. (I used to go to the San Antonio one when I lived in Texas. That one was amazing with multiple floors of books and large enough to get lost in.) Anyway, my local library has a lovely study area with tables, comfy couches, large oil paintings on the wall, and a fake fireplace. I wrote the last part of the story there in piece. Do you go to your local library? What's your favorite part of your library?
My library uses Hoopla and Overdrive/Libby to borrow e-books and audiobooks. I can borrow/read new releases and indie authors on my phone and Kindle with these apps. My books are listed in Hoopla, Overdrive/Libby, and many other library apps. You can request your librarian to add them to your library so you can read them too!
If you can't tell, I am very excited for the new book and can't wait to share it with you. In celebration of finishing, Hubby and I went horseback riding. Below is a picture of my horse, Amber. It was beautiful out. It was the first day in several days that we didn't have air quality warnings due to the Canadian wildfires.
I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Until next time.
Hugs,
Allie

Writing life update

 

Hi dear reader!

How are you doing? Can you believe that it is already July?

It seems like the first half of the year has flown by, and now we are into summer. It is one of my favorite months with the long daylight hours, country fairs, and fun things to do outside.

Hubby and I are very excited to be living in Minnesota this summer for the county fairs. They have some of the best fairs in the country with the 4-H and FFA kids, show animals, fair food, concerts, and rodeos/bull riding. Hubby used to be a bull rider in his younger days, when we were dating. We traveled to the county fairs around Minnesota and Wisconsin so he could compete. Now, we go to watch the cowboys and bulls and meet up with old friends.

Here's Hubby riding a bull that everyone called LH. When a cowboy draws the bull, he tries to find it in the pen by looking at its brand. The cowboy studies the bull and communes with it. Well, Hubby looked for a bull with LH branded on his hip, but couldn't find one. He approached the stock contractor and asked about which bull he drew. The stock contractor said, "You've got Larry the Longhorn. He's the red one with the long horns."

What is your favorite part of the summer?

For a writing update, I am almost done with Lindsay and Kurt's story. It's at the good part where they are starting to fall in love, which is my favorite part to write! What is your favorite part of the story to read?

I have another giveaway for you below if you are looking for a new author to read this weekend. Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone is safe and sound. We are heading to a friend's for pool time and a cookout. I'd say barbecue but we aren't in Texas anymore and having burgers. :)

Hugs,

Allie

A Clean Romance Giveaway

 Hi dear reader,

I don't have a book review for this week but I thought I'd share a giveaway of a bunch 9f clean romance books. Check it out HERE! You might find a few you want to read! Enjoy!

Hugs, 

Allie

Book Review: Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow

 

Book Blurb:

Can love really be found when you stop looking for it...?

As Samantha Wishaw watches the love of her life marry another woman, she’s ready to give up hope of finding her happy ever after.

But when a chance encounter leads Sam to find friendship in Thomas - a lonely, grumpy elderly widower living at derelict Hedgehog Hollow - her life is about to change forever.

Glad to have a distraction from family feuds and match-making, Sam vows to fulfil Thomas and his wife, Gwendoline's, dreams of restoring Hedgehog Hollow to its former glory, and to open a hedgehog rescue centre.

Throwing herself into the task at hand, little does Sam realise that the keys to love and happiness may also be found at Hedgehog Hollow, when she least expects it...

Escape to Hedgehog Hollow this summer with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting, feel-good read.

Jessica Redland

 

Book Review: I borrowed this book from my local library via Hoopla and listened to it as an audiobook. I would classify this story as more women’s fiction than a romance novel. She does fall in love but it is not until at least 70% through the novel.

 

The story line was very strong and I grew to care about Sam. She struggled with being passive and declining her needs for others her whole life. When her cousin marries the man she loves, she has to make changes in her life. She ends up on an adventure that she didn’t plan. She made new friends and found herself along the way. The journey was beautiful and kept me wanting to find out how she was doing.

 

The only negative for me was the narrator’s voice. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I got into the story it didn’t matter for me anymore.