Archives for November 2017

* Review * A MOMENT AT CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Faye

November 22, 2017 Leave a Comment

A Moment at Christmas by Jennifer Faye
Series: A Whistle Stop Romance #5
Published by Lazy Dazy Press on October 19, 2017
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Needed: A nanny in time for Christmas!

Christian Danser keeps his home at the Broken Arrow Ranch just as his late wife left it: cozy and orderly. With an early winter settling in and the ranch shorthanded, he needs a nanny ASAP.

When Noelle Forrester finds herself unexpectedly unemployed, she and her young son are facing eviction. An ad for a live-in nanny appears to be the answer to her prayers. Until she comes face-to-face with Christian--the sexy yet irritating cowboy who cost Noelle her previous job!

Christian resists hiring the beautiful but failed waitress. She's too young, too busy, and far too tempting. Nonetheless, when his daughter takes a shine to Noelle, he reconsiders. But when Noelle's holiday cheer conflicts with Christian's avoidance of the holiday, sparks fly. Somehow, Noelle has to open Christian's heart to the spirit of Christmas...or she and her son will be homeless by the New Year.

A delightful holiday trip back to Whistle Stop, New Mexico! Jennifer Faye weaves a bit of magic every time we step into her next small town spiel. The characters are well developed, the plot is attention grabbing, and there is humor mixed in with angst as we watch this woman try to heal this broken man so his daughter can start to truly have her father whole again. Great story!

Rancher Christian Danser likes organization in his life, and he’s convinced that nothing in his life or his house should change from the way his late wife left it. When he finds himself in need of a nanny for his little girl right before Christmas, he tries to resist hiring the best option that comes to the door even though his daughter seems to have taken a shine to her right off the bat. He can’t possibly hire such a young, attractive woman to live in his house … can he?

Noelle Forrester unexpectedly loses her job and is on the hunt for something immediately to make sure she and her son aren’t living out on the street. When she answers an ad for a nanny, it brings her face to face with the cowboy who contributed in her losing her job! She doesn’t want to work for this guy ,… but how can she turn that little girl who seems to have her heart set on it down?

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* Review * SLEIGH BELLS IN CRIMSON by Michelle Major

November 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SLEIGH BELLS IN CRIMSON by Michelle Major

Sleigh Bells in Crimson by Michelle Major
Series: Crimson, Colorado
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on December 1, 2017
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Western Wedding Bells?

Lucy Renner doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas or forever after. Yet here she is in holiday-obsessed Crimson, Colorado, for her mother’s fourth walk down the aisle. But it’s the handsome-as-sin cowboy cradling a stray kitten who gets her blood racing! Even if Caden Sharpe is rude, surly and just plain Grinch-like, how can a man who finds homes for unwanted pets be all bad?

These days, former soldier Caden Sharpe is more comfortable with the animals he rescues than people. But now his widowed father is engaged to Lucy’s thrice-divorced mother, and Caden is determined to keep him from making a huge mistake—even as he finds himself falling for the bride-to-be’s lovely daughter. Will Crimson see a last-minute holiday exchange—at the altar?

I can always count on Michelle Major to give me the feels! She packs a powerful punch in the latest book in her Crimson, CO series with a couple of characters who each have a painful past that holds them back from believing they deserve love and happiness. With a complex plot, we get a sweet love story, as well as take a walk through sad times from the past to reach that happy ending once and for all. Great story!

Lucy Renner can thank her mother and her habit of collecting husbands for her lack of belief that happily ever after is out there for her. With a heavy heart, she treks to Crimson, Colorado when her Mom calls and says another walk down the aisle is in her future! When she arrives and is instantly attracted to the gruff, rude man cuddling a baby kitten, she’s not sure she’s going to be able to stomach this Christmas adventure!

Former soldier Caden Sharpe doesn’t trust this woman his Dad tells him he’s marrying after barely knowing her … and now her daughter shows up to add to the mix? He’s going to get to the bottom of what type of scheme these two are running before they can do any further damage to his father!

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* Blog Tour / Book Review * MS. DEMEANOR by Danica Winters

November 21, 2017 1 Comment

Ms. Demeanor by Danica Winters
Series: Mystery Christmas
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on December 1, 2017
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A cold-case Christmas in Mystery, Montana

Yearning to be known as something other than Mystery’s ultimate bad boy, rancher Rainier Fitzgerald isn’t pleased when he stumbles upon the remains of a dead body. Especially when Officer Laura Blade catches him with a gun in his hand.

Spending Christmas chasing down a cold case with a man she’s not supposed to fraternize with isn’t granting any of Laura’s holiday wishes, either. But could her favorite time of the year be working its magic on Laura’s feelings? Or is Rainier truly transforming from a charismatic rogue to a hero worthy of her heart?

Christmas comes to Mystery, Montana! When bad boy Rainier returns home, it seems trouble is brewing before he even gets to say hello to everyone! With the last brother’s story, we get a few answers uncovered in the ongoing mysteries of Dunrovin Ranch. This family has been a pleasure to read about and get to know.

Rancher Rainier Fitzgerald just wants to live in peace and enjoy his freedom when he returns to his family ranch, but his pleasure is short lived when he stumbles upon the remains of a dead body on the ranch on his first day back! With an investigation kicking off on top of the rest of the trouble that has been happening while he’s been away, he isn’t looking forward to losing that bad reputation any time soon.

Laura Blade knows Rainier is the last man she should be attracted to, but she can’t seem to resist the rugged rancher. Will Christmas bring her a man in her stocking … or will the secrets they uncover make it impossible for her to be with him at all?

Ms. Demeanor

by Danica Winters

Series: Mystery Christmas, #4

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Paperback Release Date: November 21, 2017
Digital Release Date: December 1, 2017

A cold-case Christmas in Mystery, Montana

Yearning to be known as something other than Mystery’s ultimate bad boy, rancher Rainier Fitzgerald isn’t pleased when he stumbles upon the remains of a dead body. Especially when Officer Laura Blade catches him with a gun in his hand.

Spending Christmas chasing down a cold case with a man she’s not supposed to fraternize with isn’t granting any of Laura’s holiday wishes, either. But could her favorite time of the year be working its magic on Laura’s feelings? Or is Rainier truly transforming from a charismatic rogue to a hero worthy of her heart?

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Book 1: Ms. Calculation

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Book 2: Mr. Serious

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Book 3: Mr. Taken

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Danica Winters is a Nielsen BookScan and an Amazon bestselling author who has won multiple awards for writing books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and occasionally a touch of magic. Most recently, Danica was the winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Paranormal Romantic Suspense Book of the Year Award and Chanticleer Media’s Paranormal Book of the Year for her novel Montana Mustangs.

When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery, and painting are not her thing). She always believes the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.

Danica Winters is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

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* Review * CHRISTMAS AT THE TYCOON’S COMMAND by Jennifer Hayward

November 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CHRISTMAS AT THE TYCOON’S COMMAND by Jennifer Hayward

Christmas at the Tycoon's Command by Jennifer Hayward
Series: The Powerful Di Fiore Tycoons
Published by Harlequin Presents on December 1, 2017
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Billionaire boss’s festive seduction!

Shy Chloe Russo is dreading her first Christmas running the family business. Working with Nico Di Fiore is the last straw! Once, Nico’s kisses promised Chloe every sensual delight, until he coldly rejected her. Now he’s her very commanding, very arrogant boss!

Control is paramount to Nico—after his father’s bankruptcy lost him everything, nothing will distract him from succeeding. He’s always kept a tight rein on his craving for Chloe, well aware she alone has the power to disarm him. But now, unable to deny their connection, Nico is determined to reclaim control and take Chloe as his own!

Forbidden love and second chances! This story takes us on a journey of painful remembrance of both happy and sad times in the character’s past. She’s stepping into shoes she never wanted to fill in this manner, and his place there is all about supporting her .. yet she doesn’t know, so she’s fighting him tooth and nail. The characters are a believable force in a strong story line showing us how to move forward even in despair … and how to forgive in order to find that happily ever after. A fast paced, drama filled delight!

Chloe Russo finds herself heading home to Manhattan just in time for Christmas … but she’s only there because her new boss dictated she had to be! She’s not looking forward to reuniting with Nico Di Fiore to spend her first Christmas of running her family business. He crushed her adolescent dreams long ago and doesn’t have the right to expect her to forgive and forget the second he needs her to cooperate with the way he wants things to run!

Nico lived with the pain of losing everything once in his life already, and he’s not relishing seeing it happen again. Chloe can stomp around as much as she wants, but like it or not, he’s in charge of the company and she needs to step up and learn what he has to teach her without the attitude she seems to always have flaring!

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* Review * CHRISTMAS WITH THE BEST MAN by Susan Carlisle

November 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CHRISTMAS WITH THE BEST MAN by Susan Carlisle

Christmas with the Best Man by Susan Carlisle
Series: Christmas in Manhattan
Published by Harlequin Medical Romances on December 1, 2017
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A kiss, a fling…a wedding ring?

Dr. Helena Tate still believes in love, despite her past heartbreak, and that one day she’ll have a baby of her own. Her gorgeous but brooding colleague Dr. Elijah Davenport, however, is not the man to pin her hopes on. He’s no longer interested in long-term relationships.

But being maid of honor and best man at a wedding in snow-covered Central Park heightens their attraction. Soon their Christmas fling becomes so much more! Can Helena tame Manhattan Mercy’s playboy—so they both get the love they deserve?

A delightfully sweet romance! The characters are really fun to get to know and connect with … and watching their attraction steam its way to life is exciting! A great story line of unexpected love between an unlikely couple makes for a great read … and along the way, we get to see them reach beyond their comfort zone to share their inner most thoughts and vulnerabilities in order to make it through to that happily ever after!

The wedding of his brother draws Dr. Elijah Davenport to see Dr. Helena Tate as more than just the casual colleague she has been in the past. A vision in the winter wonderland setting, she opens his eyes to how beautiful of a person she is. When sparks fly, he takes advantage of the fact that she’s feeling something too to offer up the tantalizing temptation of a fling!

Helena is still holding out for her Prince Charming to come along and give her the loving family she’s always dreamed of … and everyone knows that “good time” Elijah isn’t going to do that! … but who says a girl can’t have a little fun while waiting for Mr. Right to knock on her door??

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* Review * PROTECTOR’S INSTINCT by Janie Crouch

November 19, 2017 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * PROTECTOR’S INSTINCT by Janie Crouch

Protector's Instinct by Janie Crouch
Series: Omega Sector: Under Siege
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on December 1, 2017
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He knows he failed her once before. This time he’s determined to protect her by any means necessary…

Former police detective Zane Wales won’t let history repeat itself. He couldn’t save the woman he loved from a brutal assault, so he left the force—and Caroline Gill’s life. But now a psychopath has her in his vengeful sights. And the only way Zane can keep the strong-willed paramedic safe is to stay close 24/7—even as their reignited desire burns out of control.

Caroline can finally face down her past by helping Zane catch this perp. And she’ll give Zane all the passionate healing he needs to show they have a future together. But a danger they never saw coming will turn their second chance into a lethal, inescapable trap…

Danger strikes when they least expect it! With a riveting story line, Janie Crouch has us knee-deep in the next Omega Sector: Under Siege book. The characters have a past that make us want to keep turning page after page to see what led to their parting … and then had us hoping against hope that they were going to manage to pull themselves back together again! We recognized a few key players from the Omega Sector world and watched as the story line played out. Great book!

Paramedic Caroline Gill suffered a brutal attack a year and a half ago, and she’s still trying to find her new normal. She’s working hard to move forward with the job that she loves, and keep her demons at bay. Her hard work to redefine herself feels tested when she comes into contact with her ex again … he walked away from her when she needed him most, but she can’t find it in herself to regret the time they had together … or to stop wishing things were different!

Police detective Zane Wales felt like he failed the woman he loved when he couldn’t keep her safe, so he walked away from her … and the job that lived for. He couldn’t face the fact that he wasn’t there to protect her. Now he gets word that a psychopath has her in his sights again and rushes to her side … no one is going to hurt her on his watch again!

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* Review * A FORTUNES OF TEXAS CHRISTMAS by Helen Lacey

November 19, 2017 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A FORTUNES OF TEXAS CHRISTMAS by Helen Lacey

A Fortunes of Texas Christmas by Helen Lacey
Series: The Fortunes of Texas
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on December 1, 2017
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OOH-LA-LA! A FRENCH FORTUNE!

The Yuletide season brings something très magnifique to Austin, Texas, in the form of sexy French entrepreneur Amersen Beaudin. The sexy but standoffish playboy has zero interest in meeting his newly discovered Fortune relatives, least of all the man who is his biological father. But when matriarch Kate Fortune dangles an all-too-attractive business proposition, he is too intrigued to stay away. And once he meets Kate's beautiful gardener, Robin Harbin, he starts to rethink his holiday plans…

A spicy affair with the blonde, blue-eyed Texan is now at the top of Amersen's wish list. But all Robin wants for Christmas is the flirty Parisian's heart and soul. Can she convince him that love—and family—can lead to a joyeux Noël?

Sparks fly and tension mounts as temptation arrives on her doorstep! A great continuation to the Fortunes of Texas series. If you’ve read any of these books previously, you know the premise … and more illegitimate siblings are coming out of the woodwork every time we turn around. The characters were enticing and kept us entertained as their story played out. The plot was fun and fast moving. The only downside of this delightful book for me was the haste in which they reached their happily ever after … overall, a real pleasure to read!

Frenchman Amersen Beaudin has no interest in meeting his newly found Fortune family, but when Kate Fortune contacts him for a seemingly unrelated business venture, he is intrigued enough to make the trip to Austin, Texas to see what she has in mind. He’s planning a quick in and out visit so he doesn’t run into any of his half siblings who have been reaching out to him, but the second he sets eyes on the vision in white outside Kate’s home, he might be rethinking the rush!

Gardener Robin Harbin might be attracted at first glance to the handsome visitor, but the last thing she needs is another womanizing man! She can tell he’s interested by his heated perusal, but there’s no way she will allow herself to be interested in this playboy! She finds he’s persistent though, and after a few times spent getting to know the man beneath the exterior, she finds she likes him way more than she should … can she convince him that love isn’t as bad as he seems to think it is?

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* Review * THE SPANISH DUKE’S HOLIDAY PROPOSAL by Robin Gianna

November 17, 2017 Leave a Comment

The Spanish Duke's Holiday Proposal by Robin Gianna
Series: Christmas in Manhattan
Published by Harlequin Medical Romances on November 1, 2017
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Temporary Christmas fiancée—to future duchess!

When paramedic Mateo Alves unexpectedly becomes heir to his family's dukedom, he's asked to return home. But Mateo loves his New York career. So when sparks fly between him and beautiful ER doc Miranda Davenport, he sees a way to appease his family over the holidays…

Miranda can't believe she's agreed to be Mateo's temporary fiancée, but as love child to the head of the wealthy Davenports, she knows all about troubled families. Can a magical Spanish Christmas together bring them both the happiness and belonging they deserve?

Robin Gianna always knows all of the right buttons to push to pull at our heart strings! With Mateo and Miranda’s story, she gives us two accomplished people who carry scars of their past on their shoulders and yearn for a closer knit place in the world. The characters are well developed and the plot was fast moving and kept us entrenched in their story. I would have been happy to read a bit more of their relationship evolving into forever … but overall a very enjoyable read!

Happenstance puts New York paramedic Mateo Alves and Dr. Miranda Davenport in the right place at the right time to help each other during a bit of a stir up outside of the hospital. The friendship they strike up leads Mateo to ask a big favor … for Miranda to pretend to be his fiancee on a trip back home to Spain in order to get his parents to back off about him returning home to take over his newly passed down title of Duke full time!

Miranda isn’t so sure about this whole arrangement, but she likes Mateo and is willing to put in the time to help him. As they explore his countryside and delve into getting to know each other’s past better, they find themselves falling for each other for real!

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* Review * MIND GAME by Iris Johansen

November 16, 2017 Leave a Comment

Mind Game by Iris Johansen
Series: Eve Duncan
Published by St. Martin's Press on October 24, 2017
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Mind Game takes Jane MacGuire back to Scotland where she continues her search for the treasure she’s been chasing for years. But now she’s being plagued by dreams of a girl in danger. Who is this girl, and what is she trying to tell Jane? And will Jane figure it out before it’s too late—for her and the mysterious young woman? Things are further complicated when Seth Caleb comes back into Jane’s life. This time he’s the one in trouble, and Jane will find herself pulled unexpectedly into his world as she fights to save him.

With the adventure, intrigue, and explosive energy that Iris Johansen fans love, Mind Game is a high-octane thriller that readers won’t be able to put down.

With the latest in the Eve Duncan series, we move forward with Jane playing the biggest part as the lead heroine this time, but we still see plenty of Eve, Joe and other characters we’ve come to know and love during the series. It’s an interesting spin on the story and we have a couple of different plot twists going off simultaneously throughout the book. There were parts that drug a little bit, but overall, it kept my attention and gave us a thrilling excursion into their world!

Jane MacGuire is drawn back to Scotland to continue the search for the lost treasure she’s been involved with for a few years now, but amidst that drama, she’s having dreams about a young woman who she thinks is in danger. She’s running herself ragged trying to figure out why this girl has reached out to her and how in the world she can help her when Seth Caleb steps back into her life. The attraction she feels for him mixed with the conflicting relationship they share always sets her off balance. This time it’s him in need of help … and Jane will do anything in her power to help him like he has helped her family in the past!

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* Author Spotlight * JASMINE SEA by Phillipa Nefri Clark

November 16, 2017 4 Comments

Jasmine Sea: A River’s End Love Story. Book Two

Sometimes facing the past is the only way forward.

Starting over never felt better. Christie Ryan adores the little cottage she’s renovating, the seaside town that embraced her, and Martin Blake, the man she longs to marry. Ex-fiancé Derek Hobbs is finally out of the picture, and there are no more secrets in her life or mysteries to solve.

Will the arrival of a mysterious woman who commissions a portrait from Martin under a cloud of secrecy break her after all? Unrest and suspicion remind Christie that happiness can be fleeting, and when the peaceful town is shattered by crime, her past is again thrust into the limelight.

With one chance and only minutes to save those she loves, Christie comes face to face with her greatest fear—and there is no way around it.

Jasmine Sea follows on from The Stationmaster’s Cottage, set shortly after its stunning conclusion.

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Is there a special memory that you have about when you decided you wanted to become an author?

I remember as a teenager typing madly on an old Underwood typewriter, a song through my giant headphones reminding me to ‘do what you want to do, be who you are’ (Hall & Oates), and just knowing that this was right. At the time, I was writing science fiction but oddly, it had a big romance in it!

Is there a particular author that you remember being the first that drew you into being a fan of the Romance genre?

Difficult one. I think there is romance everywhere, so I see it in books that aren’t necessarily written in the genre, but have the elements that appeal to me. I write love stories, which are not always romances. For true romance, probably Georgette Heyer. Always liked a mystery and a bit of love.

If you could visit one place in the world that you have never been, where would it be?

The Burren in Ireland. My beautiful sister lives there and says it is a magical place.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

Reading, listening to music, playing with our Labrador, dreaming about writing.

Is there a topic you’ve always wanted to write about that you haven’t had a chance to yet?

I’d like to write about my Dad. He disappeared from my life as a child and passed away before we could reunite, but he had a very colorful life that would make a wonderful book.

Any future books or projects that you want to share with us to look forward to?

In the next year or so, I have two main projects in mind. One is Paddy’s Lighthouse, another dual timeline story. The other is Obelisk, my speculative thriller, quite different from my first two novels.

Phillipa Nefri Clark grew up around lonely Australian beaches with wild seas and misty cliffs. From a young age she wrote stories and dreamed of being a writer. There were many detours along the way as she trod paths as diverse as a travelling sales rep to singing and acting. Fascinated by film, Phillipa wrote five feature length screenplays, one which was optioned. Now living in regional Victoria on a small acreage close to a mountain range, she markets the family business a few days a week and writes the rest of the time. With nonfiction credits for specialist canine publications, she finally returned to stories with the release of The Stationmaster’s Cottage, a dual timeline romance, in February 2017. Her great loves, apart from writing, are her family of two young adult sons and her husband, their Labrador, music, fine wine, and friends.

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