Casey Dawes's Blog, page 15
July 14, 2015
Book Tour: Lone Rider by B.J. Daniels
Lone Rider
by B.J. Daniels
Harlequin
Release Date: August 1, 2015
Blurb
A cowgirl at heart, Bo Hamilton does her best thinking in wide-open spaces. So when money goes missing from the family foundation, Bo rides into the Crazy Mountains to figure things out. But a killer hiding among the sawtooth ridges takes her captive and isn’t planning on ever letting her go.
Bo’s disappearance gets folks thinking she’s the guilty one who’s run off with the money, but Jace Calder would bet his ranch that she’s innocent. Not that he has any reason to trust the beautiful, spoiled senator’s daughter. Still, Jace is going after Bo and bringing her home to face the truth. But in the wild, rugged Crazy Mountains, he finds Bo at the mercy of a suspected murderer. Jace is her only hope, and he’s about to find out what they’re both made of.
Buy Links
Amazon
| Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play | BAM | Walmart
Special Pre-Order Link
Pre-order Lone Rider using this special link, and you will receive a free digital copy of Outlawed. Be one of the first 200 people to register, and you will also receive a flat cowboy bookmark.
https://offerpop.com//campaign/755286
Q & A
What is Bo Hamilton up to these days?
Bo has been under a lot of stress. We don’t find out why until LONE RIDER.
Without giving away too much, what’s your favorite scene in the book?
Ever cuddled up with someone you love in a makeshift shelter in a snowstorm? That’s all I can say about that.
What type of lover is Jace?
That’s pretty personal. He is the kind of man who takes making love seriously. He is the kind of man who will always be there for the woman he loves – even for a woman who broke his heart.
Where would Jace and Bo run away to elope?
Hawaii
How far in advance do you plan out your stories?
Seconds. Seriously. I’m a seat of the pants writer. I never know what is going to happen until I put my fingers on the keyboard. It’s very exciting for me – and terrifying.
Did you do a character sketch of the sisters before you started this series?
Nope. It’s that seat of the pants thing. But I did have a sense of each of them.
If you could choose any literary heroine that is most like Bo, who would it be?
Scarlett O’Hara. Like Scarlett, Bo is strong and determined. She passed up a chance at happiness with the man who promised her undying love. But unlike Scarlett, Bo won’t make that mistake twice.
Has the Hamilton family dynamic changed since the last book?
Definitely. Little did the Hamiltons know just how many secrets there were in their family. As each secret comes out, the family grows closer.
Can you give us any hints for upcoming characters/suspenseful scenes?
The mystery surrounding the sisters’ mother, Sarah, continues. There will be lots of surprises including dead bodies as each sister grows and falls in love. Ultimately, it will all bring the family closer together.
What are you working on next?
The next book in the series is LUCKY SHOT (December). Kat, the prickly sister who speaks her mind, will meet her match in Max, a reporter/photographer who will bring her out of her shell.
In HARD RAIN (March), Harper and Brody McTavish finally get a chance for romance – unless the secret between their families drives them apart.
In the next two books after that, sisters Cassidy and Ainsley will get their chance for happiness with mystery men – and the biggest secret – their mother Sarah – will be solved.
Excerpt
A few months ago, his sister had gotten out of jail and gone to work for Bo. He’d been surprised she’d given Emily a chance. He’d had to readjust his opinion of Bo—but only a little. Now this.
“There has to be an explanation,” he said, even though he knew firsthand that Bo often acted impulsively. She did whatever she wanted, damn the world. But now his little sister was part of that world. How could she leave Emily and the rest of the staff at the foundation to face this alone?
“I sure hope everything is all right,” his sister said. “Bo is so sweet.”
Sweet wasn’t a word he would have used to describe her. Sexy in a cowgirl way, yes, since most of the time she dressed in jeans, boots and a Western shirt—all of which accented her very nice curves. Her long, sandy-blond hair was often pulled up in a ponytail or wrestled into a braid that hung over one shoulder. Since her wide green eyes didn’t need makeup to give her that girl-next-door look, she seldom wore it.
“I can’t believe she wouldn’t show up. Something must have happened,” Emily said loyally.
He couldn’t help being skeptical based on Bo’s history. But given Em’s concern, he didn’t want to add his own kindling to the fire.
“Jace, I just have this bad feeling. You’re the best tracker in these parts. I know it’s a lot to ask, but would you go find her?”
He almost laughed. Given the bad blood between him and Bo? “I’m the last person—”
“I’m really worried about her. I know she wouldn’t run off.”
Jace wished he knew that. “Look, if you’re really that concerned, maybe you should call the sheriff. He can get search and rescue—”
“No,” Emily cried. “No one knows what’s going on over at the foundation. We have to keep this quiet. That’s why you have to go.”
He’d never been able to deny his little sister anything, but this was asking too much.
“Please, Jace.”
He swore silently. Maybe he’d get lucky and Bo would return before he even got saddled up. “If you’re that worried…” He got to his feet and reached for his hat, telling himself it shouldn’t take him long to find Bo if she’d gone up into the Crazies, as the Crazy Mountains were known locally.
He’d grown up in those mountains. His father had been an avid hunter who’d taught him everything about mountain survival.
If Bo had gone rogue with the foundation’s funds… He hated to think what that would do not only to Emily’s job but also to her recovery. She idolized her boss. So did Josie, who was allowed the run of the foundation office.
But finding Bo was one thing. Bringing her back to face the music might be another. He started to say as much to Emily, but she cut him off.
“Oh, Jace, thank you so much. If anyone can find her, it’s you.”
He smiled at his sister as he set his Stetson firmly on his head and made her a promise. “I’ll find Bo Hamilton and bring her back.” One way or the other.
About B.J. Daniels
B.J. DANIELS, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, Odd Man Out, received a four and a half star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.
July 9, 2015
Blog Tour: Truly Madly Montana by Fiona Lowe
Truly Madly Montana
Medicine River # 2
By: Fiona Lowe
Releasing July 7th, 2015
Berkeley Sensation
Blurb
Summer in Montana brings heat with a chance of romance in the new Medicine River Romance from the award-winning author of Montana Actually.
Sexy and charming Australian doctor Will Bartlett will do anything to help out a friend, even if it means moving to Bear Paw for the summer. Some small-town hospitality and the uncomplicated friendship of his co-worker, Millie, is just the ticket to shake off the restlessness that’s been gripping him lately.
Millie Switkowski, RN and medical student, is home for her clinical rotation, and she’s determined to make this summer so much better than last. She’s got a year of medical school under her belt, her diabetes is under control, and she’s kicked her crazy crush for Will Bartlett who only ever treated her as “one of the guys.”
But when Will turns out to be Millie’s supervising physician, without warning the summer gets a whole lot hotter than either of them anticipated. With both of them holding onto thorny secrets, can they walk away with their hearts intact?
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/truly-madly-montana-medicine-river-2-by.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23604315-truly-madly-montana?from_search=true
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/136896-medicine-river
Buy Links
Amazon
| Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo
My Thoughts
I so loved that Fiona Lowe has connected with my fellow Montana author, Kari Lynn Dell, to get the facts about our great state correct. It shows in the story. When Kari Lynn planned the Montana Romance Writers conference in 2014, it included a stop at a medical helicopter outfit. Were those boys … uh choppers … neat! I could visualize the details in Lowe’s book.
Add to that, a heroine with diabetes. Wow. The physical constraints of that disease were aptly described, giving me more sympathy for the heroine. I love romances where real issues are part of the core story.
I highly recommend this romance for reflecting real life, a realistic portrait of Montana, and real love coming to fruition.
About the Author
Fiona Lowe
Fiona Lowe is a RITA® and R*BY award-winning, multi-published author with Harlequin, Carina Press, and Berkley USA. Whether her books are set in outback Australia or the USA, they feature small towns with big hearts, and warm, likeable characters that make you fall in love. When she’s not writing stories, she’s a weekend wife, mother of two “ginger” teenage boys, guardian of 80 rose bushes, slave to a cat, and often found collapsed on the couch with wine.
Author Links
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
June 16, 2015
Review: Against the Tide by Kat Martin
Against the Tide
Book 3 of The Brodies of Alaska
Kat Martin
Blurb
Secrets—and safety—melt under a midnight sun …
Liv Chandler is running for her life, and the cops haven’t been able to do a thing to help. But there’s one man who makes her feel safe, no matter what…rugged charter boat captain Rafe Brodie.
To Rafe, Liv is a beautiful mystery, one he can’t ignore. He means to unearth her secrets, and in the process, if luck is on his side, maybe the spark between them will ignite.
But Liv’s past is more dangerous than Rafe could guess, and when his first mate turns up dead, she fears that she’s next. That there’s something else coming she can’t see. That even Rafe and the remote village of Valdez, Alaska can’t protect her forever …
“Martin’s latest novel leaves readers breathless with the absorbing combination of mystery and romance.” —RTBookReviews
Buy Links
Amazon
| Barnes and Noble | Indiebound
On the Road to Alaska
The idea for a trilogy set in Alaska began when my husband and I took a road trip several years ago all the way to Fairbanks and back. We loved it, couldn’t wait to go again.
A second trip seemed the perfect opportunity to develop plots and characters for books about the three brothers I had decided to write. I wanted to get deeper into setting and story, and at the same time enjoy an exciting adventure.
Having traveled the famous Alkan Highway on the first trip, I knew the five-thousand-mile journey wouldn’t be any picnic–especially not in the back of a pickup camper! But the beauty of the vast landscape and its interesting people were a lure that was impossible to resist.
And so the Brodies of Alaska trilogy was born. Dylan, Nick, and Rafe Brodie all have high-action adventure stories that lead them to the perfect woman.
In AGAINST THE TIDE, Rafe Brodie is the owner of a small fleet of charter fishing boats in Valdez, Alaska. He’s the oldest of the brothers and the most dedicated bachelor. But there’s a woman in town who intrigues him. Olivia Chandler recently moved to Valdez, appearing, it seemed, out of nowhere. Olivia runs the local café, but mostly she keeps to herself.
The woman is beautiful but mysterious. Rafe senses a troubled past, but can’t stop his fierce attraction, or the feeling he needs to protect her. When his first mate is murdered, Rafe and Olivia work together to help solve the crime. But as the danger heightens, Rafe is more and more convinced Olivia is running from something–or someone.
Something terrible is coming to Valdez and even Rafe can’t protect her forever.
I hope you’ll watch for Rafe and Olivia in AGAINST THE TIDE. Till then, very best wishes and happy reading, Kat.
Enter the Contest!
Click this link to enter the contest to win an elegant Swarovski crystal necklace AND autographed copies of the three books in her wildly popular AGAINST series (Against the Mark, Against the Edge, Against the Sun).
My Thoughts
I’ve enjoyed the first two books of the Brodies of Alaska, so I was eager to read Against the Tide. I wasn’t disappointed in the suspense, but I did have a little problem warming up to Liv and Rafe in the beginning. It took me a while to feel the connection to Liv, in particular, perhaps because her secret kept me at a distance. Once the story began to unfold, however, I was sucked in and had to finish it quickly. A good addition to the series. I’m looking forward to the next one.
Excerpt
Valdez, Alaska
The piercing ring of the cell phone lying on his nightstand didn’t bode well. There was no such thing as good news at three o’clock in the morning.
With a sigh, Rafe rolled over and grabbed the phone, scrubbed a hand over his face as he pressed it against his ear. “Brodie.”
“Police Chief Rosen here. We’ve got a problem, Rafe, and it’s not a good one. I need you to meet me down at the harbor. How soon can you get here?”
Rafe swung his long legs to the side of the bed and sat up. “Ten minutes. What’s this about, Chief?”
“It’s Scotty Ferris, Rafe. I’m afraid he’s dead. I’ll fill you in when you get here. I’ll be waiting on the dock next to the Scorpion.” The police chief hung up the phone.
For several long moments, Rafe just sat there. His chest felt tight. Scotty Ferris was twenty-four years old, a handsome, hard-working kid who was engaged to be married. His June wedding to Cassie Webster, one of the local girls, was only three weeks away. Cassie was going to be crushed.
Rafe swore softly. What the hell could have happened?
But in this rugged country where the climate, wild animals, or just bad judgment could get you killed, accidents happened all the time.
Shoving himself up from the bed, Rafe grabbed a pair of worn jeans off the chair and jerked them on, pulled a sweatshirt over his head, pulled on his heavy sox, and shoved his size-thirteen feet into a pair of high-topped, rubber-soled boots. Since the temperature at night even in late May was still in the thirties and it had rained during the night, he grabbed his jacket as he headed for the steps down to the garage.
The boat harbor wasn’t far from his house. Sea Scorpion was his flagship charter fishing boat, a thirty-eight-foot Mac, his pride and joy. It was the boat he usually captained himself, one of three that made up his fleet. Scotty Ferris was part of Scorpion’s crew.
Rafe thought of the young man as he parked his dark green Ford Expedition in a spot in front of the harbor, climbed out, and closed the door. Puddles from last night’s rain sloshed against his boots as he made his way toward the dock. The occasional street light burned into the darkness but quiet surrounded him, along with the familiar salty tang of the sea.
Rafe couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Which brought his thoughts full-circle to Scotty. With year-round residents numbering less that forty-five hundred, everyone knew everyone who lived there. And everyone knew and liked Scotty. The kid had been born in Valdez. He thrived on the rugged lifestyle, planned to marry and raise kids here, probably never would have left.
What the hell had happened? Rafe thought again as he walked toward his boat.
And why did Chief Rosen want to meet him at the Scorpion?
A few spaces down from where’d he parked, Rafe spotted a black-and-silver Ford police SUV. In the distance, the familiar antenna above the wheelhouse of the Scorpion marked where the boat bobbed near the middle of the dock.
Rafe started down the long wooden walkway, his gaze on the group of people gathered next to where the Scorpion was moored. The area was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, the boat clearly off limits until the police were finished collecting evidence.
Police Chief Clifford Rosen, a stout man in his fifties, bald head ringed by thinning gray hair, stood next to a figure lying on the dock, covered by a long white cloth. Knowing Scotty Ferris lay under the cloth made Rafe’s stomach burn.
“What happened?” he asked the chief.
“Looks like he was robbed,” Rosen answered. “Wallet’s missing, jewelry’s gone. Car keys. Cell phone’s missing. Single blow to the back of the head. Blunt instrument. Baseball bat seems the most likely, something that size that was easy to handle.”
“Jesus.”
“I asked you to come down because I need someone to identify the body. With his parents both dead, I figured better you than his fiancée. Soon as you do that, I’ll break the news to the Webster girl.”
Rafe just nodded. Cassie was going to be devastated. She and Scotty were crazy in love, the kind
Rafe figured had a good chance of lasting. Sometimes fate could be a real bastard.
One of the officers, a red-haired young cop Rafe recognized as Rusty Donovan, leaned down and lifted the edge of the sheet. As the cover rolled back, Rafe’s gaze fixed on Scotty. The boy’s brown eyes were open, staring sightlessly into the black night sky. His handsome face was frozen in a look of surprise.
He was wearing a jacket but it was unzipped, revealing a long-sleeved blue T-shirt that read FISHERMEN DO IT DEEPER. Rafe could almost see the grin on the kid’s face when he’d put it on.
“It’s him,” he said darkly. “Scott Ferris.”
“You know what he was doing down here?”
“No.”
But once he got his head wrapped around Scotty’s death, he intended to find out.
The breakfast crowd at the Pelican Café had begun to arrive, as people did every morning when it opened at six A.M. The café had been started in the fifties and been going strong every since. Of course it had passed through a dozen different owners, had its ups and downs, and been near financial ruin more than once.
Having purchased the restaurant six months ago, Olivia Chandler was the most recent person to step into the driver’s seat. Unlike the previous owner, who had let the place sink into disrepair, Olivia had been making changes, most of which had been heralded with great enthusiasm by the local customers.
“Well, look who’s coming,” Nell said. The buxom woman with salt-and-pepper hair helped her run the café. “If it isn’t Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”
Liv followed her gaze out the window to the man in jeans and a sweatshirt crossing the outside patio. The brick patio was empty now while it was still cold, but with summer approaching, soon would be noisy with people.
Katie walked past just then, heading for a table with a platter of bacon and eggs on the flat of her hand. “I just call him Mr. Freakin’ Hot.”
“Shame on you,” Liv teased. “You just turned twenty one. Rafe Brodie’s got to be at least a dozen years older.”
“Just means he’s a man not a boy. And I like a guy with a little experience.”
“From what I hear, he has plenty of that,” Liv said dryly as Katie sailed off to deliver the food.
Nell chuckled. “I’m fifty years old and that man can still make me swoon.”
Olivia busied herself wiping off the long Formica-topped counter as Rafe shoved through the door, ringing the bell above. Seating himself in his usual booth, he stretched his long legs out in front of him. Rafe was a regular in the café, which sat on North Harbor Road right across from the boat dock.
“Katie’s busy,” Nell said with a match-making glint in her eyes. “Why don’t you wait on him?”
Olivia shook her head. “I’m busy, too. You go ahead.”
Knowing there was no persuading her, Nell sighed. “Probably better you don’t. Everyone in town knows Rafe’s a dedicated bachelor.”
Dedicated bachelor or not, Nell and Katie were right. With the thick dark brown hair curling just over his collar, the faint shadow of beard that usually lined his hard jaw, and those hot, whiskey-brown eyes, he was one of the best-looking men Olivia had ever seen.
Which was exactly the reason she had avoided him since the day she had met him.
No use putting temptation in her path. It was simply too dangerous.
She watched as Nell chatted with him a moment, then the easy smile Nell usually gave him slipped from her face. The coffee pot wavered. Rafe grabbed the glass pot to keep her from dropping it and spilled hot coffee over his hand.
Olivia didn’t hesitate, just grabbed a towel, wet it with cold water, and hurried in Rafe’s direction.
He was sitting down again, Nell fussing over him, relieved to see Olivia approaching.
“Here–wrap this around your fingers.” Liv handed him the wet towel. “It’s cold enough to ease the pain and keep the burn from getting worse.”
“I’m all right,” Rafe said. “It’s no big deal.” But he accepted the wet cloth and looped it over the back of a big suntanned hand.
The man was all of six-four, two-hundred-plus pounds, with a solid, athletic build and very wide shoulders. Liv was five-nine, but Rafe was more than half a head taller. She tried not to stare at his mouth, which seemed harder this morning, without the smile he always had for Nell.
She glanced in her friend’s direction, sucked in a breath as Nell’s pale blue eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, God, what is it?”
Nell blinked and the tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped at the wetness with a trembling hand. “I could tell something was wrong. It was stamped all over Rafe’s face.”
Liv glanced from one of them to the other, saw the same grim expression on both of their faces.
“Tell me what’s happened.”
Nell swallowed. “It’s…it’s Scotty. He was murdered last night.”
Liv glanced across the table at Rafe. His jaw looked iron-hard, his eyes so dark she could barely see a hint of gold. For the first time it occurred to her that Rafe was hurting, too. Scotty was his first mate and they were friends. Cassie had said Scott idolized Rafe, had thought of him as an older brother.
His dark eyes to her face. “Scott was a good man. One of the best. Whoever killed him is going to pay.”
A little shiver ran through her. It wasn’t a statement. It was a vow.
And Liv completely believed it.
Bio
Kat Martin
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. She is married to L.J. Martin, author of western, non-fiction, and suspense novels.
Kat has written more than sixty-five novels. Sixteen million copies of her books are in print and she has been published in twenty foreign countries, including Japan, France, Germany, Argentina, Greece, China, Russia, and Spain.
Born in Bakersfield, California, Kat currently resides in Missoula, Montana, on a small ranch in the beautiful Sapphire mountains.
Her last eleven books have hit the prestigious New York Times bestseller list. Both AGAINST THE WILD and AGAINST THE SKY, her latest release, took top ten spots. AGAINST THE TIDE the 3rd book in the Brodies of Alaska series will hit shelves in a couple weeks!
Visit Kat’s website at www.katmartin.com
Or look for her on Facebook at KatmartinAuthor.
June 15, 2015
Release Day! California Sunrise Is Here!
★★ RELEASE DAY ★★
California Sunrise, by Casey Dawes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 15th, 2015
Buy Now
Amazon US
| Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Kobo | iTunes | GooglePlay
Giveaway
NOTE: Giveaway begins June 16th!
$25 Amazon GC
Enter here ➜ ➜ http://bit.ly/1cPQf1t
Synopsis of California Sunrise
Alicia’s son, Luis, may be suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, but he’s too young for a definitive answer. She’s struggling with his care, holding down a job, and going to school. All she wants is a chance to stand on her own two feet.
Dr. Raul Mendez lost everything at sixteen when the rest of his non-US-citizen family was deported. In spite of depression that has dogged his life, he’s managed to become a pediatrician with a specialty in childhood development. Alicia brings something special into his life, but their opposing points of view may keep them from ever finding love.
“Casey Dawes tackles two important social issues: autism and the plight of young Hispanics while adding a nice dash of romance.” ~ Kat Martin, author of Against the Tide
Meet the Author
Casey Dawes has lived a varied life–some by choice, some by circumstance. Her master’s degree in theater didn’t prepare her for anything practical, so she’s been a teacher, stage hand, secretary, database guru, manager in Corporate America, business coach, and writer.
With a few marriages, two sons, and three step-children, her personal life was a challenge when she met and married her current husband who has proved to be the love of her life. They reside in Montana where she quilts, writes, and coaches on the banks of the Clark Fork River. The couple has been adopted by two gently used cats.
Social Links
Facebook | Twitter | Stumbleupon | Pinterest | Google Plus | Goodreads | Amazon
Excerpt
Raúl pushed open the door to the examining room.
The petite woman standing by the child on the examining table turned.
The strong bones of her face, full lips, and dark eyes matched the structure of her body. Attractive.
Not that he was looking for anyone right now.
“Are you Dr. Mendez?” she asked.
“Sí. And you are”—he checked the chart—“Alicia Fuentes.”
The boy on the table squirmed and let out a howl.
Raúl glanced back at the chart. No medical problem stood out, but the young woman had been to several doctors, including specialists at Stanford. Was it some type of Munchausen syndrome, or was there a legitimate illness?
“What seems to be the problem?” he asked.
“Luis is difficult.”
He was tempted to tell her all children were difficult, but the set of her jaw stopped him short. “In what way?” He leaned back against the counter, his interest piqued by what she might have to say. If the child wasn’t simply a fussy baby, it might be a chance to increase his behavioral development experience.
“He mixes up his days—sleeps during the day and wants to be up all night. He’s a fussy eater. I practically have to hand-feed him. He doesn’t seem to sit up well. And temper tantrums! I know all children have them, but his seem worse than other kids’. My grandmother says she’s never seen anything like it.” Snapping her mouth shut, she stared at him, as if defying him to tell her there was nothing wrong, that her child was normal.
In that instant, he knew there wasn’t anything normal about Luis.
Although he hadn’t seen a wedding ring, he asked the question anyway. “How is he with his father?”
“I’m a single mom.” Her chin went up. “He never sees his father.”
A too common answer. His heart crinkled with sadness for her and anger at the boy’s father. “He has no contact with his son?”
“No.”
The finality in her voice warned him not to pursue the subject.
He ignored the warning.
“It must be very difficult for you, especially so young.”
“I’m eighteen.” She made her age sound as if she were in her mid-thirties.
He hid a smile. “The baby is twelve months, correct? What have the other doctors told you?”
“They don’t know what’s wrong. He’s too young for certain tests. They can’t help me.” Defeat crept into her words, and her shoulders slumped, but then she rallied and looked him straight in the eye.
“I’m told you can.”
He hoped her confidence wasn’t misplaced. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll take a look at your son?”
“Do you have children, Dr. Mendez?” She moved toward the chair but didn’t sit.
“Me? No. I’ve never been married.”
“Brothers and sisters?”
“Yes. Older brothers. Why do you ask?”
“It seems odd for a single man to be a pediatrician.”
“Like many of us, I come from a large, extended family. Lots of cousins. Lots of different problems—some the normal hazards of being a kid, some brought on by poverty. Giving kids a healthy start is a way to help our people.” He looked down at Luis and put his stethoscope in his ears. “Now let’s see what’s up with you, little man.
June 2, 2015
Blog Tour: Norah by Kimberly Lewis
Norah
The McKades of Texas
By: Kimberly Lewis
Narrator: Tiffany Williams
Released April 15th, 2015
Airbending Media Productions, LLC
Blurb
He may not be a cowboy … But that won’t stop him from wrangling her heart.
Chase O’Donnell is the proud new owner of the Caldwell Ranch—or maybe he’s not so proud. Annoyed would be more like it. After receiving the news of his inheritance, Chase’s first thought is to sell the ranch and be done with it—until one night with a beautiful blonde at a local honky-tonk has him changing his tune …
Norah McKade is surprised by her instant attraction to the handsome new stranger, and even more surprised when she finds out he’s her new neighbor. But with Chase only being in town for a short amount of time, Norah determines getting tangled up with him a bad idea and promptly places Chase in the friend zone.
Although a bit reluctant, Chase agrees to Norah’s terms—but he’s not about to deny or ignore the fact that there’s more between them than just sexual attraction. He’ll have to pull out all the stops to get her to change her mind and prove to her that it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for her to fall in love with him.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/norah-mckades-of-texas-2-by-kimberly.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22756403-norah?ac=1
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/84840-the-mckades-of-texas
Buy Links
Amazon
| Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Audible
My Thoughts
When I signed up for this blog tour, I was curious to see how much I’d like hearing a book instead of reading it. I enjoyed the first chapter. The narrator, Tiffany Williams, was great, and I was intrigued by Kimberly Lewis’s book. But …
I found I didn’t have the opportunities to listen to books that I used to when I commuted an hour each way to work. I also don’t spend an hour a day on an exercise machine (which I probably should!). So I never got much further. But …
I’m going to finish this book — even if I have to buy the print copy. The beginning was that good!
About The Narrator
Tiffany Williams graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s in Theater with an emphasis on acting and directing, plus a minor in psychology–so watch out! She may just analyze YOU! Tiffany has been working professionally since 1993 as an actor, director, producer costumer, sound and prop designer, stage manager, technical assistant, box office assistant, board member, business manager, production manager, and college professor for theaters such as the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Dallas Theater Center, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Undermain Theatre, Project X, Theatre Britain, Audacity Productions, and Collin Theatre Center; and has pursued additional studies at the Kennedy Center, Folger Theatre, the National Stage Combat Workshop, and Fairfax Public Access. She also provided voice-overs for plays, phone messaging services, and training videos. Tiffany is the author of the childrens’ play, “The Great Texas Treasure Hunt”. She is an eight-time winner of a Collin Theatre Center Award and received the 2004 Unsung Heroine Award at Collin College. She has directed numerous productions of “The Vagina Monologues” which raised monies for Hope’s Door, Victims Outreach and the Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition. She now does fundraising for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Since moving to Virginia to be with the man she has loved since her sophomore year in high school, she has been narrating audiobooks. Working with her husband and being home with the kids has been awesome! That is until the youngest refuses to nap.
Author Info
In November 2011 author Kimberly Lewis stepped into the writing world with her first contemporary Western romance, When the Heart Falls.
Born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, this country girl caught the creative bug at an early age, doing everything from drawing to writing short stories.
After rediscovering her love of romance novels, Kimberly found the inspiration to pick up a pen—or in this case a laptop—and began writing her first novel. Since then she has continued to write and credits her husband and her wonderfully crazy family and friends, who with their love and joking demeanor provide her with the ideas that inspire her novels.Website
In her spare time she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her amazing family.
Author Links
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
May 28, 2015
Book Tour: Wedding Bells in Christmas by Debbie Mason
Wedding Bells in Christmas
Christmas, Colorado # 4
By: Debbie Mason
Releasing May 26th, 2015
Forever
Blurb
To have and to hold from this day forward
Wedding bells are ringing in the charming town of Christmas, but not for Vivian Westfield. She’s just had her heart trampled under the cowboy boots of Chance McBride and lost her dream job at a big-city newspaper. But when she returns for a wedding, she stumbles on a story that could resurrect her career. First, though, she’ll have to deal with the handsome man standing in her way . . . and a still-burning flame that’s too hot to ignore.
Chance recognizes trouble when he sees it. He just didn’t expect to find it in the first-class cabin on the flight home for his father’s wedding. Yet there she is, as gorgeous as ever. Vivi dared Chance to want things he knew he could never have. It’s why he left her. But Christmas’s meddling matchmakers have them firmly in their sights. So if they want to survive the next week, they’ll have to play the part of an adoring couple-an irresistible charade that may give them a second chance at the real thing . . .
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/wedding-bells-in-christmas-christmas.html
Goodreads Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24503338-wedding-bells-in-christmas?from_search=true
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/114924-christmas-colorado
Buy Links
Amazon
| B & N | iTunes | Kobo
My Thoughts
I’ve previously read Debbie Mason’s The Trouble with Christmas
, and enjoyed it, so I eagerly awaited a chance to read this book. I haven’t read any of the intervening books, and that may have been the reason for the one difficulty I found in this otherwise wonderful romance. I had trouble of keeping track of the characters and their relationships to each other. If you haven’t read other books in the series, it may also be a problem for you.
That being said, though, this romance had everything you expect from a romance–plenty of angst for the hero and heroine, a suspense-filled second half, and a happy ending. I encourage you to take a chance in Christmas.
Excerpt
When the flight attendant showed Vivi Westfield to her first-class aisle seat, she stopped breathing at the sight of a long-legged, broad-shouldered man slouched in the window seat with a champagne-colored Stetson covering his face. Every time she saw a tall, exceptionally built man wearing a Stetson, she’d had the same reaction.
This was worse.
This was painful.
Because this man’s scuffed, brown cowboy boots looked the same as the ones that had spent a week under her bed. So did the well-worn jeans that encased thighs that appeared to be as hard as the ones she’d run her bare foot along. She recognized the black T-shirt with the Rocky Mountain logo that hugged his wide chest. An extraordinary chest she’d kissed her way up and kissed her way down. Broad shoulders that she’d clung to. Muscular, tanned arms that had wrapped around her, and large hands that could easily crush a man but had caressed her gently, and at one time, she’d misguidedly thought, lovingly.
At the flight attendant’s impatient sigh, Vivi dragged her gaze away. “Ah, is there another seat available? I’d rather not sit in first class. Too close to the front of the plane.” The woman’s black-penciled eyebrows snapped together when Vivi continued, her voice barely a whisper, “In the event of a crash, it’s forty percent safer to be at the back.”
Safer for her. She needed time to prepare herself for the sight of his to-die-for face. She remembered that face, remembered kissing that face, falling head over heels in love with that face. And those amazing grass-green eyes of his wouldn’t miss her reaction to seeing him for the first time in eighteen months. They’d never missed anything.
He’d know.
He’d know he’d broken her heart.
At least that was one positive thing that had come out of writing an advice column. Vivi had learned what she had to do to move on with her own life. She needed to prove to Chance as much as to herself that she was over him. That he hadn’t ruined her for any other man. When Superman entered her life, she’d hoped that was the case. He’d been proof that all those soft, romantic feelings hadn’t shriveled up and died. It didn’t matter that he was no longer in her life. Everyone needed a rebound guy, and Superman had been hers.
Hopefully moving on from Chance would be as easy as moving on from Superman. Since the day Chance dumped her, she’d rehearsed her first face-to-face with him a million times. She knew exactly what she’d say and how she’d act. She’d even planned out what to wear. Which was so not Vivi. She was a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl. But she’d packed an outfit that oozed cool sophistication. It sure as hell wasn’t the yellow rubber boots, black leggings, and seen-better-days, off-the-shoulder green T-shirt she currently had on. And a brief encounter with Chance on Main Street was not the same as being trapped beside him on the four-hour flight to Denver.
Vivi’s lungs constricted, and her face tingled. Good God, she was having a panic attack. And the flight attendant’s tight smile and negative head shake was so not what she needed to see right now. Maybe the woman at the gate was right and it was Vivi’s lucky day. Maybe this guy who leaked testosterone from his pores wasn’t Chance McBride after all. Her gaze went to the man’s overlong, copper- streaked, dark blond hair.
No, it was not her lucky day. This was the second worst day of her life. The worst day had been when she’d woken up to a note on her pillow. And the words “Take care, Slick” in Chance’s bold, masculine handwriting.
Author Info
Debbie Mason is the bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series. Her books have been praised for their “likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots” (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. When she isn’t writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their four wonderful children, an adorable grandbaby, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
May 25, 2015
Cover Reveal: California Sunrise
California Sunrise
June 15, 2015
Crimson Romance
Blurb
Alicia’s son, Luis, may be suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, but he’s too young for a definitive answer. She’s struggling with his care, holding down a job, and going to school. All she wants is a chance to stand on her own two feet.
Dr. Raul Mendez lost everything at sixteen when the rest of his non-US-citizen family was deported. In spite of depression that has dogged his life, he’s managed to become a pediatrician with a specialty in childhood development. Alicia brings something special into his life, but their opposing points of view may keep them from ever finding love.
Excerpt
Alicia’s heart ached as she walked to her fourth-hand sedan. Damn Graciela! First she’d stolen her boyfriend, Eduardo, by filling him with lies about her sexual activity and now she was making her look bad in front of the doctor.
If only she were a child and could get away with ripping the bitch’s hair out.
When she reached the car, she yanked open the door. The hinges squealed.
Plunking herself down in the driver’s seat, she pulled the protesting door closed and rolled down the windows to let air into the stuffy vehicle.
“Alicia! Wait!” Dr. Mendez jogged toward the car. Even as angry as she was, she noted the easy way he covered ground.
The doctor placed his hands on the car door and leaned down, the piney scent of his aftershave slipping into the car, an advance scout of his intentions.
“Don’t let her get to you,” he said.
“I’m not.”
The June heat scorched the inside of the car.
Hell is for those who lie within fifteen minutes of Mass.
“I meant what I said about meeting you for coffee. I’d like to give you all the help I can with Luis.” The doctor swallowed.
“Why?”
He raked his hand through his hair. “I told you—getting to know how Luis responds to different techniques will help my other patients, too.” He hesitated, as if unsure what to say next.
“Do you do this for all your patients?”
“I do what I can for all my patients.” He looked off toward the mountains, then leaned back down, a shadow in his eyes. “One of my cousins had Asperger’s. Of course, we didn’t know what it was in those days; we just knew he was difficult. His parents had a tough go of it with him.”
Unsaid words permeated the air. You’re a single mother.
“I’ll manage. I have my grandmother. The book’s very useful. Thanks for the loan. I’m sure I can figure it out, even if I only have a high school diploma.” Who knew what nonsense Graciela had told him.
“Alicia, I didn’t mean it that way.” His hand gripped the windowsill. “Look, you said you wanted to be the best mother you could for Luis.”
She shifted her gaze to the steering wheel and nodded.
“So meet me for coffee. I know you can read the book. I want to hear what reaction Luis has to the things you try. Think of it as doing me a favor.”
What if what he learned from her made another woman’s life easier? Maybe it would be worth having coffee with him, as awkward as it might be. And the inevitable gossip.
“People might talk—see more than coffee. Watsonville’s a small town.”
“Will that bother you?”
“They’ll think what they want anyway.” She shrugged. “If it’ll help, I’ll show up. Where will you be?”
“Let me have your number, and I’ll call you tomorrow.” He pulled out his cell phone.
She gave it to him. “Thanks, Dr. Mendez.”
“Raúl, please. If we’re going to scandalize the community by having coffee, the least you can do is call me by my first name.” He smiled at her.
“Okay … Raúl.” Their gazes held for a few seconds longer.
“See you next week.” He tapped lightly on the car roof before heading toward another section of the parking lot.
May Stories About Love Giveaway
Every month in 2015 Casey is doing a giveaway to celebrate California Sunrise, the final book in the California Romance series. Click here to enter the Stories About Love contest for May!
January 8, 2015
My Tipping Point
When I was coaching, I used to ask my clients where they wanted to be at this time next year. How did they want their life to look? Their business? More work or less work. We always set a financial goal for their business, but talked more about what would bring them ease in their personal lives.
Read more and enter the contest: http://www.stories-about-love.com/tip...
November 4, 2014
Montana Christmas Romance
Montana Christmas Romance:
A Collection of Heartwarming Holiday Stories
Authors: Casey Dawes, Danica Winters, R.L. Syme, Clare Tallier, Melissa Tenley, H.A. Somerled, Jade Barnaby
Blurb
Take a trip to Montana with this collection of seven heartwarming Christmas romances by award-winning and best-selling authors who call Montana home. This collection of stories from the mountains to the valleys of the Big Sky state will remind you of what is truly important and why you love the holiday season. Be ready to be swept away on a series of incredible journeys of the heart and soul.
Wow! A great collection of Montana romance. From the hospital, ranch, reservation, catering, theater, dog kennel, pull of vengeance and party gone wrong with a twist these stories have a range of ages and lifestyles that I had so much fun with. Made me think of winter romance even as the cold wind blows off the peaks now.
~ Jennifer Rivera, Montana native
Available on Amazon
October 19, 2014
Review — Unmasking Love by Peggy Bird
Unmasking Love
A Holiday for Romance Novel
By: Peggy Bird
Releasing September 29th, 2014
Crimson Romance
Blurb
Getting a life do-over in the small theater town of Ashland, Oregon, has suited lawyer Julie Payne to a T. After ten years in the Portland prosecutor’s office, she’s enjoying her new, easy lifestyle, and she’s not looking for any complications.
Trace Watkins comes to town seeking the same refuge from life as a big city banker. A new job might make Ashland his permanent address, and he likes what he sees of the place, especially when he meets Julie one hot Halloween night. The sparks fly instantly between the costumed couple, and Julie and Trace waste no time connecting beneath the sheets while literally hiding behind their masks.
But when the holiday hook-up ends, their real identities present a serious snag: Trace manages the bank Julie happens to be suing. The only way they can turn this trick into a treat is if both of them are willing to face their pasts and finally bury the skeletons in their closets.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/09...
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Buy Links
| My Thoughts
Juliet and Trace are likable characters. I was intrigued by the initial encounter, because it appeared out of character for the two of them–but the mysterious sex between two masked strangers worked. At first I thought the novel was about their search for each other, but that was wrapped up early with another sexual encounter. The story leaps a year before the next problem shows up–a potential move for Juliet, leaving Trace behind. A background story of banking fraud also provides some mystery for the story.
The book is well-written and believable. For me, the continual return to the bedroom was a little much, but it may be fine for others.
Author Info
Peggy Bird
Peggy Bird lives in the Pacific Northwest where she sets most of her novels. To stay out of trouble—and the rain—she writes stories about smart women and sexy men and creates the occasional piece of glass art.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
