Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 13

Read, Write, Love at Seaside
Dreaming at Seaside

Sunsets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from …

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Also available…
Read, Write, Love at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 1)

Bestselling author Kurt Remington lives to write. He spends twelve hours a day in front of his computer, rarely leaving the seclusion of his beach-front property, where he’s come to finish his latest thriller — that is, until free-spirited Leanna Bray nearly drowns in the ocean trying to save her dog. Kurt’s best-laid plans are shot to hell when he comes to their rescue. Kurt’s as irritated as he is intrigued by the sexy, hot mess of a woman who lives life on a whim, forgets everything, and doesn’t even know the definition of the word organized.

Leanna’s come to the Cape hoping to find a fulfilling career in the jam-making business, and until she figures out her own life, a man is not on the menu. But Leanna can’t get the six-two, deliciously muscled and tragically neat Kurt out of her mind. She tells herself she’s just stopping by to say thank you, but the heart-warming afternoon sparks an emotional and unexpectedly sweet ride as Kurt and Leanna test the powers of Chemistry 101: Opposites Attract.

Read, Write, Love at Seaside is the sweet edition of steamy romance novel Read, Write, Love by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Get the 1st book FREE!!
Available to buy from …
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Dreaming at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 2)

Bella Abbascia has returned to Seaside Cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as she does every summer. Only this year, Bella has more on her mind than sunbathing and skinny-dipping with her girlfriends. She’s quit her job, put her house on the market, and sworn off relationships while she builds a new life in her favorite place on earth. That is, until good-time Bella’s prank takes a bad turn and a handsome police officer appears on the scene.

Single father and police officer Caden Grant left Boston with his fourteen-year-old son, Evan, after his partner was killed in the line of duty. He hopes to find a safer life in the small resort town of Wellfleet, and when he meets Bella during a night patrol shift, he realizes he’s found the one thing he’d never allowed himself to hope for—or even realized he was missing.

After fourteen years of focusing solely on his son, Caden cannot resist the intense attraction he feels toward beautiful Bella, and Bella’s powerless to fight the heat of their budding romance. But starting over proves more difficult than either of them imagined, and when Evan gets mixed up with the wrong kids, Caden’s loyalty is put to the test. Will he give up everything to protect his son—even Bella?

Dreaming at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Dreams by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from …

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

Hearts at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 3)

Jenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men.

As the eldest of five siblings, with an alcoholic father to care for, boat craftsman Pete Lacroux always does the right thing and has no time for a real relationship. He’s looking forward to seeing his friend Jenna, a welcome distraction who’s so sexy and painfully shy that she equally entertains and confuses him.

When Jenna picks up a hard-bodied construction worker, jealousy ignites Pete’s true feelings, and he’s unable to ignore the desires for Jenna he never realized he had. But Pete’s not the quiet guy he appears to be, and his life is anything but conducive to a relationship. Can Jenna handle the real Pete Lacroux—the most alpha male she’s ever seen—or will she crack under pressure? And can Pete reclaim the life he once had without tearing apart his family?

Hearts at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Hearts by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from …

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

Secrets at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 5)

Tony Black is the hottest surfer on the planet. He travels the world throughout the year and spends his summers on Cape Cod with his friends, at the Seaside cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. He’s got his choice of women, but Amy Maples is the one he wants. Fourteen years ago she was his for an entire summer, until a devastating accident changed everything, and what they had seemed like it had never existed—at least for her.Amy Maples is as consistent as the day is long. She’s spent summers on Cape Cod forever, she always does the right thing, and she’s spent years trying to reclaim the heart of Tony Black, the only man she’s ever loved. She’s back for a summer of fun with her friends at Seaside, only this year she’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime thousands of miles away, and she’s decided to try one last time to reconnect with Tony. But having a relationship with Tony means dealing with her past—and dealing with her past may knock her to her knees.

Secrets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Secrets by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.
Releasing October 25th

Available to pre-order from …

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble KOBO iBooks GPlay Paperback

Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers

Available!

Hearts at Seaside

Sunsets at Seaside

Pre-order!

Secrets at Seaside (releasing October 25th)

Coming Soon!
Nights at Seaside (releasing December 13th)

Seized by Love at Seaside
Embraced at Seaside
Lovers at Seaside

Whispers at Seaside

About the author

SIGN UP for ADDISON’S Sweet with Heat newsletter. Fun, flirty romance with a dash of heat. www.AddisonCole.com/NewsletterDOWNLOAD the first book in Addison’s Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers series free: READ, WRITE, LOVE AT SEASIDE

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.

Find Addison on the following sites….

Website Newsletter Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Goodreads Bookbub Amazon Author Page

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I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

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Published on September 11, 2017 00:00

September 7, 2017

Blog Tour with Review – The Baby Project by Miranda Liasson

The Baby Project by Miranda Liasson
Published by Entangled Publishing on September 4th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 189
Source: Barclay Publicity

I received this book for free from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Liz Kingston spends her life delivering babies and longs for one of her own. All she needs is someone with fabulous genetic material. Who better to ask than her sexy ex-fling, who has no interest in ever settling down or being a father.

International correspondent Grant Wilbanks loves danger and travelling the world. But nothing in all this Brit’s experience could have prepared him for the way a torrid affair with Liz makes him feel. When she asks for his assistance, he figures he can help her out with a simple donation. No strings, no emotions, just…test-tube science.

But this simple favor gives them both more than they ever bargained for. Grant agrees to her terms, but stepping away gets harder and harder because the more time they spend together, the more he finds himself falling…and losing the battle to safeguard his heart.

Liz Kingston has baby fever bad. She has a short window in which she can conceive due to endometriosis. She is single and looking for a donor. She doesn’t want an anonymous donor. Liz wants to know that her baby comes for good genes. That makes Grant Wilbanks a perfect candidate. He can just give a donation with no strings attached. The problem is he can’t get their torrid affair out of his head. When the donation doesn’t work they rekindle their affair. Grant is not one that wants to be tied down is a world famous journalist who goes on dangerous missions. Liz just might be the one that changes his mind.

In an Oyster Shell – A steamy story with a great romance that will leave you swooning.

The Pearls – Grant is a Brit. How can you not swoon over an English character? I might have been a little envious over Liz. So what if it’s just a story! Ha ha! The author made this book tangible. The emotions were vivid making the story palpable.

Liz was a great heroine. She wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. She wanted a baby. What she wasn’t counting on was Grant wanting to rekindle their romance. Liz adapted well to the situations and was an easy character to empathize with. Grant was a strong hero who was fallible and afraid to open up. The story hinged on Grant getting over his issues.

This book is part of a series but reads great as a stand alone. It was nice to see the other characters from the series. Everybody is pregnant just about! No wonder Liz had baby fever.

The Sand – The romance got a little steamy at times.

3.5 pearls!

About Miranda Liasson

I won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award in 2013 for a story that became my first published novel, THIS THING CALLED LOVE, which debuted from Montlake Romance as a Kindle First selection in 2015. Like most of my novels, it’s lighthearted but also, like life, has a little bit of heartache in it too.

One of the best reviews I received about THIS LOVE OF MINE, my second Mirror Lake book, said, “This book is full of regret, sadness, loss, longing, friendship, family, love, laughter, and resolve. It would be a good book for anyone. A book that shows you your odds can always get better with friends, family, and loved ones in your corner.” This is everything I aspire my books to be!

My newest book, CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU (Dec., 2016) is an emotional second-chance love story about love, loss, friendship, family, and the journey of one woman to confront her past in order to move onto her future. I hope you enjoy it!

I write romance because I love stories about the experience of being human, and love is the universal experience we all share. I also love stories that have happy endings and make me laugh. I hope my stories make you laugh a little, too.

I live in Northeast Ohio with my husband, three children and my office mate Posey, a rescue cat with more attitude than my kids!

I love to hear from readers!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Published on September 07, 2017 00:00

September 6, 2017

Blog Tour with Review – Ann not Annie by Sage Steadman

Ann, Not Annie

Sage Steadman

Publication date: September 20th 2017

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Ann, not Annie, is tired of her nominal existence and has vowed to turn things around by dating the hottest guy in school, Jacob Waters. Easier said than done since Jacob isn’t even aware she exists. The truth is, due to Ann’s lively temper she spends more time in detention with the rest of the school rejects than she does fantasizing about Jacob Waters wearing spandex.

Her best friend and devout alien believer, Lisa, doesn’t like the changes she’s seeing in her BFF. Neither does Danny Feller, a fellow detention inmate and resident lost boy who has started keeping an extra watchful and unwanted eye on Ann.

When a chance encounter in an empty hallway changes everything, Ann finds all her dreams coming true and she is well on her way to living the perfect life she’s always wanted. But appearances aren’t always what they seem and Ann is going to have to face not just cold hard facts, but also her past.

Goodreads / Amazon

Review –

Ann is dealing with the loss of her father. This means she spends a lot of time in detention. She finds herself in the company of Danny Feller. Her best friend is Lisa. They were quite content to be the school outcasts that is until Jacob Waters comes into the picture. Like most girls at her school, Ann wants to date Jacob and much to her friends’ dismay she gets her chance. Her friends don’t like the change they see in Ann. It’s up to Ann to figure herself out and save her friendships.

In an Oyster Shell – It has awkward narration at times but works out to be a really great story in the end.

The Pearls – The narration was different. I didn’t always like it but it was unique and added to the story in some places. I haven’t read a narration quite like it.

The tone of the book was quite somber at first. Ann was mostly grieving the loss of her dad. Her mom was an alcoholic as a result. So Ann’s life was quite tumultuous. It added to the mood of the story. Ann working out her problems made the story interesting. How she overcomes, in the end, was rewarding.

The romance was sweet. Danny really liked Ann. She had to go after her dream first. The way Danny watches over her is endearing. It just goes to show sometimes we don’t see what is right in front of us. That was true for this tory.

The Sand – As I mentioned before the narration was a little off in parts of the story.

4 Pearls!

Author Bio:

Sage Steadman was awarded a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. While pursuing her passion for writing, she worked as a licensed mental health therapist. She published her debut novel, “Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter,” in 2010 under her pen name, The Hippie, and since, re-released the second edition under her real name. The novel has been deemed an “idyllic” read, filled with love, humor, romance and heart. She is also the co-author of the gritty and inspiring historical fiction novel, “Upon Destiny’s Song,” alongside classical guitarist, Mike Ericksen, and has penned an article on teen cutting for Canadian Magazine, “Edmonton’s Child.” She has recently produced a stunning and thought-reflecting novella entitled, “The Waking Dream.” Sage is heralded as a talented writer who tackles her novels with a witty, raw and honest approach. She currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with family.

Website / Goodreads

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Published on September 06, 2017 00:00

September 4, 2017

Blog Tour with Review – Romancing the Wallflower by Michelle Major

Romancing the Wallflower by Michelle Major
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on August 22nd 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 224
Source: Barclay Publicity

I received this book for free from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

"I'd like to have an affair with you."

Dedicated kindergarten teacher Erin MacDonald isn't the type to make the first move on a man—especially gorgeous David McCay, her secret crush. But when a crisis involving one of her pupils offers a chance to help the pro baseballer turned local brewery owner, Erin goes way out of her comfort zone. So way out she makes a shocking suggestion!

David moved to the Colorado mountain town to look after his sister and her son. Now he's a stand-in parent to his nephew, trying to fight his attraction to Erin…who just propositioned him. David is nobody's hero. So why can't he convince the sweet, kindhearted beauty that she deserves better than him? Is it because they're the perfect imperfect match?

Erin MacDonald is a kindergarten teacher who has been told her whole life that she is average. She has a crush on the local brewmaster David McCay. He is a former pro baseball player, so she thinks he is way out of her league. When circumstances put David in Erin’s debt, she has one request have an affair with her. David is taken aback but intrigued. David unexpectedly becomes the sole guardian of his nephew. This brings Erin and him together again and again. David knows that she is different from any woman he is ever dated and decides to court her. They work hard to survive the tumultuous circumstances that surround them because of David’s family.

In an Oyster Shell – A sweet romance with a generous side of steamy.

The Pearls – This book is my favorite kind of story. A romance with an underdog main character who comes to fulfill their greatest potential. The two main characters had their things to overcome. Even though Erin thought she was average and David was out of her league, David comes with his inferiority complex. Having both characters work out their inferiority issues made for an interesting story.

The romance was charming. David recognized that Erin was extraordinary and didn’t want to treat her like he has other women. The fact that he wants to court her made for a pleasing read.

The character development was fun to read. Erin and David both come into their own. David’s dysfunctional family added to his insecurities. He had to overcome the guilt of the past. Erin came with her own story that made her feel more inferior, and she works to get out of that in the story. Erin was quite a remarkable character, and the author used David’s character to bring it out. The juxtaposition of the two was cool.

The Sand – It was a good story.

4 Pearls!

About Michelle Major

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at www.michellemajor.com.

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Published on September 04, 2017 00:00

September 1, 2017

Blog Tour with Review – Masked by J.D. Wright

Masked by J.D. Wright
Series: ,
Published by Limitless Publishing on August 15th 2017
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 217
Source: YA Bound Book Tours

I received this book for free from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Vada’s To-Do List:

- Turn 18 (check!)- Register super name- Order supersuit- Attend superhero indoctrination- Graduate high school- Start kicking criminal tail

Vada Lawson can’t wait to be a superhero. Born into a family with special powers, she’s been training to fight criminals and villains her whole life. But her indoctrination into the underground super community is derailed when normals start breaking out in superpowers themselves.

Not trained to control their new abilities, the normals are frightened and vulnerable. Then their mutilated corpses begin turning up all over town. What the heck?

Somehow, with the help—and hindrance—of an annoying newly-minted super named Orion, Vada has to stop the chaos before it destroys her and everything she holds dear…and ruins her superhero debut.

No one ever said that being a superhero was easy…

Vada Lawson is counting down the days to her birthday when she gets to register as a superhero. She can’t wait to start fighting crime like her parents. What she doesn’t expect is for normals to start getting super hero powers. They didn’t grow up being trained as a superhero as Vada did. Vada works hard with her agent to find out who is behind the drug that is causing the problems.

In an Oyster Shell – An exciting story about super heroes that is creative and has me waiting for the next installment.

The Pearls – This book has me excited for the new sprouting of superhero stories. It’s creative with a lot of action. Everything you would expect involving super heroes. I like how they normalized the superhero in the book. It made the story believable.

I liked Vada as a character. I liked that she was a senior in High school counting down the days to fighting crime. She was a vivid character. I liked her agent who was a tech guy with special powers for creating gadgets. I loved the contrast of Vada with the superhero who started out as a normal. It was fun to see one superhero who has trained all her life, and the other who stumbled upon his powers.

The contrast of heroes and villains was distinct and therefore made the story distinguished. It was refreshingly different from anything I have read. I am exposed to superheroes in comics but not so much in stories. It was fun to read, and I can’t wait for the next book. There are lots of questions that need to be answered.

The Sand – It was a good book.

4 pearls!

Blog Tour Schedule –

August 28th

The Avid Reader http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com Promo Post

YA & NA Bookshelf https://www.yanabookshelf.com Review

Million Book Mill http://www.millionbookmill.blogspot.com Review

Never Too Many To Read www.never2many2read.blogspot.com Review

Adventures thru Wonderland http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

August 29th

Jill Jemmett http://JillJemmett.com Review

I Read Indie http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

The Page Unbound www.thepageunbound.com Review

Wishful Endings http://www.wishfulendings.com Promo Post

Bibliobibuli YA http://bibliobibuliya.com/ Promo Post

SolaFide Book Club http://solafidepublishing.net/solafide-self-publishing-and-book-blog/ Promo Post

August 30th

Movies, Shows, & Books https://moviesshowsnbooks.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Haddie’s Haven https://haddieshaven.blogspot.com Review

Mikayla’s Bookshelf www.mikaylasbookshelf.blogspot.com Review

POTL: All Things Books, Reading and Publishing https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com/ Promo Post

the bookworm chronicles http://muretbookworm.wordpress.com Promo Post

Words I Write Crazy https://writingcrazyme.blogspot.com/ Review

August 31st

Woke https://www.jessicalucci.org/blog Promo Post

To Be Read www.tobereadsite.com.au Review

A New Look On Books http://anewlookonbooks.wordpress.com Promo Post

CBY Book Club http://cbybookclub.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Smada’s Book Smack http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ Review

Zili in the Sky http://www.ziliinthesky.com Review

September 1st

The Phantom Paragrapher www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com Review

Laurisa White Reyes, Author http://laurisareyes.blogspot.com Promo Post

Lifestyle & Lit www.lifestyleandliterature.wordpress.com Promo Post

Donnie Darko Girl https://donniedarkogirl.blogspot.com Review

Queen of All She Reads http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com Promo Post

Writing Pearls http://www.writingpearls.com Review

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About J.D. Wright

J.D. Wright is a military wife, mother of four, and author of paranormal and fantasy romance books filled with strong-willed heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and sprinkled with humor and adventure. J.D. creates artistry in many ways, as a baker and cake artist by day and author by night. You can usually find her typing away at the computer or covered in frosting. Since discovering she has a knack for writing, J.D. has so far written and self-published eight books of the Everealm and Songs of Everealm Series and is now venturing into the world of paranormal with her new superhero-themed series. She is an avid reader and lover of all things romance so she always includes a good love story in her paranormal and fantasy novels.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Published on September 01, 2017 00:00

August 30, 2017

Blog Tour with Review – Adeline by Christina McKnight

Adeline by Christina McKnight, Amanda Mariel
Published by La Loma Elite Publishing on August 29, 2017
Genres: Regency, Romance
Pages: 239
Source: Barclay Publicity

I received this book for free from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A love of archery brings four young girls together to form The Lady Archer’s Creed. Through their mutual love of the sport, they solidify an unbreakable bond, and each woman has a unique quality that adds to their dynamic friendship:

Theodora, Lady Archer’s Creed Series (Book One) Lady Theodora with her sharp mind and love of academics becomes the perfect archery coach. Despite being the last to join their group, and the obvious outcast, she will risk her future for her friends.

Georgina, Lady Archer’s Creed Series (Book Two) Lady Georgina makes the perfect financier. The forgotten daughter of a wealthy duke, she seeks to belong to something—or someone—by any means necessary.

Adeline, Lady Archer’s Creed Series (Book Three) Miss Adeline is a natural leader. Having grown up in a large and often spirited family, she now allows no one to place her in the shadows.

Josephine, Lady Archer’s Creed Series (Book Four) Lady Josephine, having a sweet and impressionable nature, strives to please everyone—and keep their bond intact, even after they return to London for the Season.

Adeline, Georgie, Theo, and Josie live each day by the Lady Archer’s Creed, which they developed during their school days at Miss Emmeline’s School of Education and Decorum for Ladies of Outstanding Quality. “Friendship, loyalty, and honor above all” is their mantra. Now, as they face the challenges that come with adulthood, the creed is more important than ever.

Adeline is dropping her sisters off at Miss Emmeline’s School of Education and Decorum for Ladies of Outstanding Quality. This is the same school that she went to where she met the ladies of the Archer’s Creed. On her way back from the school her carriage breaks down in a storm. Jasper Benedict finds her and graciously invites her into his home. He is not used to being around people given that he has scars from a fire that killed his family. Adeline gets a taste of Jasper’s world and can see the man he is beyond the scars. Jasper wants to be an ordinary man so he can be the one that courts Adeline. He does not think he is what the beautiful lady needs, so he keeps his distance. Adeline tries to overcome his reservations.

In an Oyster Shell – This is the book that has me signing up for everything Christina Mcknight.

The Pearls – The series is original. It’s about a group of lady archers in the regency period. Their skill level is unheard of in the Ton. They defy society’s expectations, and I like that. I have read a couple of books in the series, and each one is a member of the Archer’s creed. Following each story is fun. I especially liked this story with Adeline.

Adeline was a character of great strength. She had all the decorum of a lady of the Ton but had a streak of rebelliousness that made her refreshing. Jasper was a bit of an elusive character at first but grows into someone that you want to cheer for. I liked seeing characters that I got to know in the other books. It is fun to see their story continue through the lens of the main character.

The setting starting in Jasper’s estate was nice. That is what I like most about this author’s stories. She takes care of details of settings and such that make you feel like you are right there in the story. When the story moves to London, you get the feel of how it is in Regency times. It transports the reader.

The Sand – It was a good book

4 Pearls!

The Sassy Book Lover – Review

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and enter to #win one of 5 paperback copies of Theodora (Lady Archer’s Creed book 1)

Aug 28th

I Love Romance – Review

Life at 17 – Review

The Reading Café – Review

My Book Addiction and More – Review

cuz I’m a nerd – Review

KeyReadThat – Spotlight

Lovinghotbooks – Spotlight

Once Upon a Book Blog – Spotlight

Romance Reviews Today Blog – Spotlight

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Spotlight

Yearwood La Novela – Spotlight

Aug 29th

Splashes Into Books – Review

Silvatrend8553’s Book Blog – Review

Paulette’s Papers – Spotlight

RoloPoloBookBlog – Spotlight

Cathy’s World – Spotlight

Ebook Indulgence – Spotlight

LadyTechie’s Book Musings – Spotlight

Naughty Mom Story Time – Spotlight

Port Jericho – Spotlight

TBR Book Blog – Spotlight

The Voluptuous Book Diva – Spotlight

OMGreads – Spotlight

Aug 30th

Writing Pearls – Review

Book Loving Pixies – Spotlight

A small girl, her man and her books – Spotlight

Cat’s Guilty Pleasure – Spotlight

Fiona Reads and FoodSpots – Spotlight

Lisa Book Blog @ LEL – Spotlight

nikkis book nook – Spotlight

Quite The Novel Idea – Spotlight

The Avid Reader – Spotlight

The World As I See It – Spotlight

Aug 31st

Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff (NWoBS) – Review

Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog – Spotlight

What Is That Book About – Spotlight

Evermore Books – Spotlight

Celticlady’s Reviews – Spotlight

For Love of Books4 – Spotlight

Lisa Loves Books – Spotlight

Not Enough Tomes – Spotlight

Reese’s Review – Spotlight

The Lovely Teacher Addictions – Spotlight

Those Crazy Book Chicks – Spotlight

Sept 1st

The Librarian’s Corner – Review

Twinsie Talk – Review

Kimmie Sue’s book review and more – Review

Books,Dreams,Life – Spotlight

CristiinaReads – Spotlight

I libri: il mio passato, il mio presente e il mio future – Spotlight

Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Spotlight

Romance Book Review For You – Spotlight

The Power of Three Readers – Spotlight

We All Make Mistakes in Books – Spotlight

About Christina McKnight

Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since. Currently, she focuses on Historical Romance.

Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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Published on August 30, 2017 00:00

August 28, 2017

ARC Review – Asking For Truffle by Dorothy St. James

Asking for Truffle by Dorothy St. James
Published by Crooked Lane Books on September 12th 2017
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town's seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she's immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize--only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate. Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn's quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she's learning to love. Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

Charity Penn wins a trip for free cooking lessons in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. The problem is she never signed up for anything. Her friend goes and checks it out for her and ends up dead. Penn goes to figure out what happened to her friend. She is met with some resistance as it seems someone is out to kill her too. She takes her free cooking lessons and falls in love with the Chocolate Box. Surprisingly she inherits the Chocolate Box. She wants to know why and what it has to do with her friend’s death.

In an Oyster Shell – A near perfect book that made for an amazing cozy. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

The Pearls – I love that it was set in a small town. It was quirky and made you feel like you were there. The town was full of eccentric characters that did not take too kindly to outsiders. After Penn inherits the Chocolate box when she keeps it open they take her in as one of their own. It’s really sweet and my favorite type of setting.

I liked the characters there were a lot of them but not too much. I liked the owner of the Chocolate Box she was interested in Penn and very passionate about chocolate. I like that the author made her an empathetic character. She even gave back to the village she got her chocolate beans from. Penn was a great character. She had a dog given to her by her ex who needed training but added a nice element to the narrative.

The mystery was intriguing. There were lots of layers to the mystery. I couldn’t figure out who did it. I like when the author keeps me guessing.

The Sand – I don’t know when the next book is coming out! I need it like now!

5 Pearls!

About Dorothy St. James

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, tiny little dog and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

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Published on August 28, 2017 00:00

August 25, 2017

Friday Coffee & Bookish Speaks – Superheroes, not just for comics anymore.

Hi, Everyone! It’s been a long time. I’ve just been focusing on getting reviews out and neglecting our little chats. I will work on getting better out it. Blogging is all about balance, and I am a little out of whack. Will get on that.

Today I am drinking a fresh roasted Mexican coffee. What are you drinking?

I’ve been hit up for a few reviews lately that have the unusual subject matter of superheroes. I am super excited for that. It might become a trend to do superhero novels, and I have to say I’m onboard. I have a couple of books coming up on the blog I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

I am not a comic book fan. Graphic novels and such are not my thing. I don’t want the visual; I want to imagine it up myself. This is why I think having superhero novels is so great. You get all the fun action that you expect from a comic in a story, but you are free to imagine your images.

I have most recently read Masked by J.D. Wright. It had the fun heroine with a superhero name. She even made up her costume! It was entertaining! It had a lot of action and was fast paced. Everything you probably get from a comic. Without being inundated with images.

I am excited for this new to me trend. I hope it continues and there are more superhero stories to revel in.

What’s a superhero novel you can suggest?

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Published on August 25, 2017 00:00

August 23, 2017

Review – CONduct Box Series by Jennifer Lane

The CONduct Series Box Set by Jennifer Lane
Series: ,
Published by Omnific Publishing on August 18th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, YA
Source: Purchased Amazon
Goodreads
Amazon

Box Set of the The CONduct Series by Jennifer Lane, including With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior.

With Good Behavior

In a world gripped by organized crime, family dysfunction, and dim hopes of redemption, can true love persevere? For Sophie Taylor, a beautiful psychologist who lost everything when she violated an ethical boundary, and Grant Madsen, a handsome naval officer who sacrificed everything to protect a loved one, finding that love may carry an unbearable cost.

Starting their lives over in Chicago, both are fighting influences from their family and running as fast as they can to escape the past. When their paths cross outside the parole officer's door, the attraction is instantaneous. But a hidden connection may not only shatter their fledgling love, but prove deadly to them both.

Bad Behavior

Grant Madsen’s got issues. He’s still battling his Mafia family and doing everything possible to keep his loved ones safe. With the cruising season coming to an end, he has to find another job soon or he’ll rejoin his father in prison. And he’s trying to convince his rebellious teenage nephew to stay away from their criminal relatives (you can imagine how that’s going). But worst of all, Grant’s parole officer has mandated that he attend therapy.

The only saving grace is that they’re couples sessions with his girlfriend, Sophie Taylor, a fellow parolee who’s struggling with a few issues of her own. Sophie desperately hopes her past with Grant’s brother won’t destroy her future with him. There’s a sleazy professor at work who revels in sexually harassing women in the psychology department. And her father still hates Grant.

Their psychologist has his work cut out for him.

When Grant’s ruthless father hints at a plot to get out of prison, Grant must use everything he’s learned in therapy and beyond to try to stop him. It’s a race against time -- and a race to rescue Sophie from the Mafia’s clutches once again. But this time McSailor and Bonnie refuse to play victims. This time the cuffs are coming off.

On Best Behavior

Planning a wedding is never easy—especially when the Russian Mafia wants you dead.

On Best Behavior—the third and final book in The Conduct Series—finds our favorite couple moving forward, despite the odds. Following a pardon by the Governor of Illinois, ex-cons Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen are finally free to pursue their love and the life that lies ahead for them. Grant now fights the forces that have hurt his loved ones by working undercover for the FBI, and he has infiltrated the Russian Mafia in Chicago. Sophie dives into swimming with Grant’s nephew, Ben, and into her career as a psychology professor. Thankfully, now it’s Ben’s turn to heal through therapy sessions with Dr. Hunter Hayes.

With so many things going right for Grant and Sophie, it's too bad the Russians aren’t their only threat. When Grant’s father, Enzo Barberi, discovers his own son thwarted his plan to break out of prison, his overdeveloped sense of vengeance flares to life. As Sophie scrambles to save her fiancé, it's impossible to say who will kill Grant first—the Russians or his Italian family. Can love triumph over evil? Are hard work and a pledge to be on best behavior ever enough?

Once again, author Jennifer Lane brings a harrowing tale of romantic suspense with a psychological twist, and it's sure to leave readers breathless.

Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen are fighting to get their lives together after prison. They find love in the most unexpected of places outside their parole officer’s office. In this series, they navigate life together after losing everything. They have to fight their past, and the mafia family that Grant is related to and Sophie is intertwined in. It’s a dangerous fight, but if they find freedom at the end of it, it makes it all worth it.

In an Oyster Shell – This is an impressive series. The author can keep the narrative interesting to the point I read all three books.

The Pearls – I liked that the author kept me interested for three books. I am glad she carried Sophie and Grant’s story over all the books. It did not feel over done each book was interesting and had a different focus.

I thought the idea of Con’s as the main characters were interesting. It could be a little frustrating sometimes the thought that basically, innocent people had to suffer. They kept running into trouble as they were both connected to the Barberi, crime family. It kept things interesting, but as the reader I just wanted Grant and Sophie to be free. It took three books to get there.

The characters were well done. I loved Uncle Joe he was a positive influence over Grant. Joe was an active character that added a nice depth to the story. The ship captain who gave the con’s chance was funny and grew through out the series. The main characters were flawed, but that made them believable. They work through their problems and as a reader you get to witness their tremendous growth.

The romance was simple. Grant and Sophie loved each other right from the beginning. The circumstances surrounding their romance made things complicated and therefore kept my interest.

The Sand – There were POV changes that messed with the flow a bit.

4 Pearls!

About Jennifer Lane

Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she’s a therapist, and by night she’s a writer. She can’t decide which is more fun.

Jen loves to create sporty heroines and hot heroes in her college sport romances. Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez finds her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in the Blocked series, it’s her brother Alejandro’s turn to get lucky in love. Spiked (Blocked #3) features Lucia’s younger brother, Mateo, and completes the series.

A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen writes swimming-based romances as well: Streamline, a military mystery, and the New Adult novella Swim Recruit.

Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic-suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Her current project is a psychological thriller, Twin Sacrifice.

Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and visiting her sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.

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Published on August 23, 2017 00:00

August 22, 2017

Review – The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin

The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin
Published by Swoon Reads on August 29th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, YA
Pages: 304
Source: Netgalley

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Danielle effed up. Big time.

Danielle's plans for the future were pretty easy to figure out... until she failed senior English and her single college application was denied. Suddenly she's in hot water with very few options, because honestly who applies to a safety school when their mom is a semi-famous "college psychic"?!

Determined to get her life back on track, Danielle enrolls in her hometown community college with a plan: pass her English class and get back into Ohio State and her mother's good graces. Romance isn't on her radar... until she reconnects with her childhood crush and golden-boy-next-door, Luke.

Between family drama, first love and finding her own way, Danielle can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Thankfully she has her friendship with the snarky and frustratingly attractive Porter, her coworker at the campus bookstore, to push her to experience new things and help keep her afloat.

One thing's for sure: This time, failure's not an option.

Danielle had big plans to go to Ohio state, she even had the toilet cover seat! When she fails her senior English class Ohio State revokes her acceptance. Danielle doesn’t have a plan b until she decides to make up the class at community college. She gets a job at a bookstore where she meets the smirking Porter. She gets back in touch with childhood crush Luke who happens to be Porter’s roommate. Perhaps going to community college won’t be so bad after all.

In an Oyster Shell – The narrative is a bit dry and hard to get into at first, it ends really well.

The Pearls – I just love the title. The Big F it is so ominous. It reminded me of the Scarlett Letter. The cover with the big F on it helped to add to that reminder. The cover, title, and description is what drew me into this book. I am glad that I read it.

The romance was not typical. Danielle ends up with her childhood crush Luke. His roommate and her co-worker seem to be a better boyfriend to her even though they are not dating. It’s not really a love triangle which is nice. It is just a juxtaposition of two guys that Danielle happens to be interacting with.

Danielle was an okay heroine. She didn’t jump off the pages for me. Her best friend Zoe, however, was really fun and stole the show. She was vibrant and the greatest best friend a girl could ask for. Zoe really jazzed up the narrative.

The Sand – The narrative was a little dull. It wasn’t exciting so it took me a while to get through it. I do like how it ended.

3.5 Pearls

About Maggie Ann Martin

Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel.

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