Cami Checketts's Blog, page 38

Hawke's Nest by Darcy Flynn

Hawke’s Nest book blurb:



Running away is nothing new for Annie Dell, aka high-fashion model Anna Delany. With the paparazzi hot on her trail, an out of town wedding couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. What better place to hide out than the quaint Florida beach town Liddy’s told her so much about. But a delayed flight, the mix up with the car rental, then a speeding ticket from the local Sheriff of Nottingham, her getaway is looking anything but relaxing.



Franklin County Sheriff, Levi Hawke, is tired of the spoiled, out-of-control students on fall break, who think they can speed through his county without consequence. After giving a ticket to a beautiful young woman he assumes is just another daddy’s girl looking for some fun in the sun, he discovers she’s his weekend date at his best friend’s wedding.



Through gritted teeth, masked by a half-hearted truce, they survive the weekend, only to find themselves stranded alone in the middle of a hurricane. You can discover a lot about a person while spending thirty-six hours without the comforts of electricity and modern conveniences. When circumstances further extend her stay in town, Levi pries deeper to find out what Annie’s running from. He knows when someone is haunted by their past. As the saying goes ... it takes one to know one.





Excerpt:



Annie took a sip of Sauvignon Blanc and glanced at Levi. He had shoved his chair back from the table and sat holding his wine glass in his right hand while perusing her with his keen baby blues.

Blatantly.

Openly.

Audaciously.

Fine, she could handle his rude stares. She’d been ogled by far worse than him. She tilted her head to one side and smiled. The smile photographer Dave Mandel of Glamour Magazine claimed was irresistible. Well, no time like the present to put that ridiculous statement to the test.

“So, Sheriff.” She scooted her chair closer to his and the sudden alarm that entered his eyes was delicious. She lifted her glass in the air. “I propose we call a truce. After all, we’re here to celebrate the wedding of your best friend and my best friend. And since we’ve been paired for the weekend, by the matchmaking bride, we may as well make the most of it.”

She gave him her most candid, but coy expression, daring him to disagree. “What do you say?” she coaxed softly.

“How could I deny such an earnest and sincere request?”

Something about the way he said it churned her insides, but she gave nothing away as she smiled brightly at him. Tilting his head in salute, he raised his glass and touched it to hers, the sound of crystal sealing the deal.





Bio:



Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.



Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.



Website/Blog: http://www.darcyflynnromances.



Twitter: https://twitter.com/darcyflynn



Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DarcyFlynnAu...



Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0077AG3ZM



Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...



Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dflynnauthor/boa...



Google+: https://plus.google.com/1165636094693...

My Forever - Triple Treat Romance

I feel honored to be part of this Triple Treat Romance set with authors Annette Lyon and Karey White. I love their books! The release date is August. I'll post more details soon.

Hope you're having a fabulous summer day! We're getting ready for a lacrosse tournament in Park City. Good food, beautiful scenery, and watching my boys play lacrosse, can't imagine anything better!

The Book Stalker

I love The Book Stalker's blog. She does a fabulous job of sharing clean and inspirational books. I especially appreciated her kind review of The Colony. What an amazing lady.

Do you have any favorite book review sites?

I'd Rather Be Reading at the Beach, I Love to Read and Review Books, Socrates Book Reviews, Blooming with Books, Rockin' Book Reviews, and Pieces of Whimsy are a few other of my favorites. I know I'm missing some, there are so many great sites out there.

Unbearable by Sherry Gammon

The Port Fare Series~Three Stand-Alone Novels






You met and fell in love with Maggie and Seth as they struggled to survive a couple of ruthless drug dealers and Maggie's incorrigible mom in UNLOVABLE





**



Next came Cole and Lilah as they found love despite her deception while working with Booker (Much to his dismay) to protect everyone from being murdered.














 Now discover Booker and Tess's story!


Booker Gatto is done. Done with women, his old life, all of it. Only the love of his friends in Port Fare keeps him going as he leaves the MET in exchange for the quiet 

life his new law practice will provide. 

Tess Selleck, once as ambitious and determined as she is smart and beautiful, had to leave everything and everyone she loves in San Diego to escape the man who destroyed her dreams and now wants her dead. 

Together Booker and Tess find love when they least expect it, until their pasts drive

them apart. Is there a happily ever after for these damaged lovers? Or is the thought of loving and trusting again simply Unbearable?




Unbearable is the exciting conclusion to the Port Fare Series. Join Booker as he struggles to find his happily ever after.



Sherry's Web Page: WordpaintingsUnlimited.com






Available as an eBook at (Click Icon):


         [image error]      
     

Also available in Paperback on Amazon!



My Review:



I've loved this entire series, but have been impatiently awaiting Booker's story. I was not disappointed and fell in love with Booker all over again! I also adored Tess. Her story is heartbreaking but also inspiring to see what she was able to overcome. Unbearable has it all - romance, suspense, intrigue. I would highly recommend the entire series. 

Find Sherry Here (Click on Icon):


                       [image error]



a Rafflecopter giveaway
























Check out the playlist too!

The Godmother Spell - Free

The Fairy Godmother Chronicles Release Party

June 5th and 6th




Book 1, The Godmother Spell , is FREE! 









The GodmotherSpell






Despite her mother's
objections, all Lyndee's ever wanted was to become a fairy godmother. But once
she's bonded to two goddaughters, she realizes that godmotherhood is much more
than granting wishes. Not only does she have to protect the girls from an evil
fairy bent on destroying Lyndee's career before it begins, she has to deal with
an overzealous overseer named Gavin. Not that she minds Gavin so much - he's
gorgeous; he just happens to make things worse when he tries to help.



I absolutely love Lucy McConnell's books. I didn't even know about this series and can't wait to read them all. Let me know if you enjoy them. Hugs, Cami




Books 2, Twisted Happy Ever Afters, and 3, Complicated Kisses, are also available.

Summer!

Happy first day of summer vacation! I'm thrilled to have the boys home from school - no schedules, ice cream every day, fun bonding times with my boys, swimming, bike rides, the list could go on. My only worry is how to teach them how to work when they'd rather be shooting some alien on the XBOX. Any advice? I think my first attempt is absolutely no devices until chores are done and they've done something outside to improve a talent. Should work for a few weeks!

Missing Lily by Annette K. Larsen

Tour Schedule
 



 
Missing Lily
“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house.

He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night.

Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.

 



Purchase on

AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * iTunes




My Review




I really enjoyed Missing Lily. Lord Fallon (Rhys) was definitely a hero you can fall in love with - very honorable and kind. I found myself wishing Lylin and Rhys would just open their mouths and solve their issues, but that's me being impatient! The book had a great mix of romance, suspense, and family drama. I would recommend it, especially if you like historical, the author does a great job of staying true to the time period and keeping the reader in the story.




Excerpt



I found a cloak in the wardrobe and put it on, then quietly unlatched the door, hoping to leave without anyone’s notice.

Rhys sat on the floor, leaning against the wall opposite my door, sleeping. It broke my heart to see him there, obviously waiting for me to come out. But with any luck, he wouldn’t discover my departure until later. I slipped through the door and crept past him, trying to keep my breath quiet even with my nerves jumping every which way. I reached the top of the stairs before his voice stopped me.

“Where are you going?”

I looked back. His head still rested against the wall, but his eyes were fixed on me.

I faced the stairs again, contemplating running down them. I cleared my throat. “I’m just going for a walk outside to clear my head.” My foot stepped down.

“The sun is down.” Confusion infused his voice as he stood to follow.

My pace increased. “I won’t be gone long.”

He grabbed my arm, stopping me. “What has you so upset?”

I tried to hold his gaze He hated me, even if he didn’t know it. “I’m just…worried.”

“That’s not it.” How could he know such a thing? “There’s something else.”

I tried to invent a lie, but my thoughts wouldn’t cooperate. He moved closer to me, making my neck grow hot. I swallowed, desperately searching for something to say, or even something to focus on besides the warmth spreading through me. I ignored it. I didn’t know this man, he may very well be a traitor, a conspirator. But all I could feel was his proximity.

“Won’t you tell me?” he pled. I made myself look at him and his eyes delved into mine, searching for any clue to explain my behavior.

I closed my eyes, whispering, “I can’t.”

“Please?”

I opened my eyes at his pleading tone, then opened my mouth, trying to say something. His eyes locked on my parted lips and I stopped trying to talk. He lowered his head, glancing at my eyes before refocusing on my mouth and moving closer. He was going to kiss me. Half of me wanted it, desperately. The other half was terrified. It was all wrong. This was wrong. He was wrong.

I turned my face away and he froze.

 “You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house.



He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night.






Author Annette K. Larsen
I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.
I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it.

I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.




Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

Not yet read Just Ella?

It is on sale for $3.99 for the duration of the blog tour.

Grab your copy on Amazon.




Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.
But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.
Until… Erik.
Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.



Amazon




My Review

I found myself smiling throughout this book. It was so fun to watch Lisette's transformation from the make-under and I just loved Lisette's voice. Great pacing and a great story line. A fun and intriguing romance that I would highly recommend. 







Excerpt



Erik Gunnarson was unbelievable. Her mouth went dry when she saw him. Lisette hadn’t seen anything this good in months. Years. Maybe ever. At least not in person. Sure, in movies, when men were all filter-lit and filmed from just the right angle, they might have looked this good, but not in person.

Suddenly the room was far too hot for this stupid fuzzy pumpkin sweater with the shoulder pads. And this wig? She felt like a blooming fool in it.

“Hello. I’m Lisette Pannebaker.” She extended her hand, but immediately saw it tremble. His olive skin. Those dark brown waves in his thick hair. She could feel her voice quavering. Tiny beads of perspiration formed on her upper lip, and she touched the side of her eye, then her neck.

He looked up at her, looked puzzled a moment, and then gave her a crooked smile before standing to shake her hand. When he touched it, the trembling went into high gear, like she’d received an electric shock. Did he feel it too?

“Ah, you are speak the English now. I see.” His voice was like…butter. He cleared his throat and said, “I am please to meet you. My name is Erik Gunnarson.”

The accent came heavy, and the lilt was definitely Scandinavian. She’d lived in Norway, traveled all the Scandinavian countries. Was he Danish? He looked Danish. Lots of Danes she’d met had darker hair. Like Erik’s.

With effort she remembered to speak to him. “Where do you come from, Mr. Gunnarson?”

He squinted and shook his head, a sign she’d seen a thousand times before in these meetings, so she asked it more slowly.

“I come from Reykjavik. No.” He puzzled a moment and then continued. “A village…near…Reykjavik.”

Oh, Iceland. She wanted to ask him all about his life there, his upbringing, his family, his plans for a family of his own, and could she please be the mother of his children?

Get a hold of yourself, Lisette. She nearly slapped herself. This had to be professional. What a crying shame, too. He had such a nice crooked grin. And those upper arms. While most clients wore stinky sport coats over golf shirts or boring business suits and ties, Erik Gunnarson wore a plain grey Henley shirt—and looked like he’d just been at Henley itself, pulling the oars in the Thames. Those triceps. Who did he think he was? Thor?









Author Jennifer Griffith

Jennifer Griffith studied French, German, Japanese, and a wee bit of Spanish in her school days. Her grandmother was Norwegian, and Jennifer grew up with lots of Scandinavian traditions floating around, including fabulous cardamom laced cookies called Krumkaker, made on a fancy waffle iron. However, she’d never dream of trying to teach someone any of those languages. And she might botch the cookies. Instead, she writes novels in English, drives her five kids a million places, and laughs with her husband, who came up with the plot for Immersed because he’s just a cool muse like that.



Website * Twitter * Facebook
 
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/9/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dozens of clean books for only $.99 or free

This sale is amazing. Dozens of books for $.99 or free and the chance to win all these fun prizes. Go to Bookmarked Bargains to click on the books you'd like to purchase and to enter to win. 



My books The Colony and Fourth of July are being featured at only $.99 as part of this sale. Thanks for supporting clean authors!



Here are the other participating authors. Happy reading!




CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Imperfect Love, Rebecca Talley

Wild Hearts, Heather Tullis

Fallen Angel, Lisa Swinton

The Daisy Chain, Heather Moore

Sweet Confections, Danyelle Ferguson 

A Portrait for Toni, Annette Lyon

      

ROMANTIC COMEDY

My Own Mr. Darcy, Karey White

Home Matters, Julie N. Ford

Silver Linings, Kaylee Baldwin

Third Times the Charm, Heather Moore




INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE (LDS/ CHRISTIAN)

Discovering Sophie, Cindy Roland Anderson

The Making of a Queen (Ariana Book 1), Rachel Ann Nunes

Prank Wars, Stephanie Fowers

Mr. Wrong, Alivia Anderson

Intercession, Vicki Budge




HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Amazon, Sunset, Marie Higgins

Loyalty’s Web, Joyce DiPastena

The Man from Shenandoah, Marsha Ward

Intertwine, Nichole Van

Illuminations of the Heart, Joyce DiPastena

Spinster’s Folly, Marsha Ward

               

 ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Tell me No Lies, Rachel Branton

Spy Noon (Spy Another Day prequel), Jordan McCollum

A Change of Plans, Donna K. Weaver

Fourth of July, Cami Checketts

Homecoming Identity, Heather Justesen

I, Spy (Spy Another Day #1), Jordan McCollum

To Sleep No More, Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

The Colony, Cami Checketts




NONFICTION

There, Their, They're: A no-tears guide to grammar from the word nerd, 2nd edition, Annette Lyon   

Homeschool Lifestyles from Homeschool Moms, Valerie Steimle

The 2012 Book Bloggers' Cookbook, Christy Dorrity

Of One Heart: Being Single in the LDS World, Valerie Steimle




INSPIRATIONAL FICTION (LDS, CHRISTIAN)

Nourish and Strength, Maria Hoagland

Wall of Faith, J Loyd Morgan

Intercession, Vicki Budge

Family Size, Maria Hoagland




YA GENERAL/ YA ROMANCE

Just Like Elizabeth Taylor, Lu Ann Staheli          

Worth It (an LDS love story), Taryn Taylor

The Princess Sisters, Stacy Lynn Carroll

Frogs and Toads, Stacy Lynn Carroll

Confessions of 16-year-old Virgin-Lips, Cindy Hogan

Samara: A Kilenya Romance, Andrea Pearson

Tides across the Sea, Lu Ann Staheli

Gravediggers, Cindy Hogan




MIDDLE GRADE

Heroes of the Highest Order (1-3), Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

The Secret Sisters Club (A Ginnie West Adventure), Monique Bucheger

The Stone of Valhalla, Mikey Brooks

The Key of Kilenya, Andrea Pearson

Simply West of Heaven: A Ginnie West Adventure, Monique bucheger

The Dream Keeper, Mikey Brooks




FANTASY/ SCI FI

The Waxing Moon, author J Loyd Morgan

Blue Dragon (Dragonbound Series book one), Rebecca Shelley

Nexus Point, the Fall of the Altairan Empire Book 1, Jaleta Clegg

Soul Windows, Jaleta Clegg

DragonBound IV: Red Dragon, Rebecca Shelley







YA FANTASY

Inevitable, Tamara Heiner

Twisted Tales Trilogy, Stephanie Fowers

The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain,  Anna del C.

Awakening: Book One of the Geis, Christy Dorrity

Fateful, Cheri Schmidt

The Silent Warrior Trilogy, Anna del C.

What do I love?

“What we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are — and who we will become.” 
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf



I love President Uchtdorf! I was thinking about this quote the other day and pondering what I'm spending my time on, what I'm loving. Most of my focus is my boys and most of their focus is lacrosse. Watching them play lacrosse is seriously one of the highlights of my life. Lacrosse has given them a core of great friends who we all love. My husband also coaches three lacrosse teams so you can imagine what the conversations center around in our home! I told my husband the other day I've got to make sure that more important things are occupying my thoughts: how I can help others, how I can teach my boys to be loving and kind, how I can improve the world around me. Do you ever find yourself becoming preoccupied with something that is fun and worthwhile but maybe is making you miss out on the most important things?