Book Review: Take Me

Author: Maisey Yates
Title: Take Me
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Publish Date: June 1, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

Where it all began…

As the son of a high-powered attorney, Travis Beringer has never wanted for anything…except the elusive Sydney Davis. But everything changes in an instant with the shocking death of her roommate, Sarah Michaels, and suddenly Sydney is in his arms, desperately seeking oblivion.

Encased within a sensual web of desire, Travis and Sydney delight in every erotic touch they've fought for so long. But what will happen when the dust has settled and the harsh light of day ushers in a reality neither is prepared to face?

Review: I wanted to read this short little prequel the Fifth Avenue trilogy before diving into the rest of the books. I'm glad I did in some ways, however after finishing this little teaser story (its only about 50 pages), I felt Syd and Travis deserved a longer story.

Here's what I loved about the story:

Syd and Travis are bff's. Its always great when the couple are friends first. Its a rich boy poor girl kinda thing too.

The sex is smoking hot. The naughty bits of this story are hotter than the average Presents love scene. In fact, they seemed to cross over into Blaze territory.

It really sets the stage for what's to come.

This is what I wasn't so keen on:

Sarah's death seemed to get pushed under the rug for all the naughty bits.

Your other bff commits suicide and you shag your best male friend? I just can't realistically believe that along with the love declaration after sex. Oye.

It is still a good bedside read leading up to the next three books.

Rating: 3 flowers

Tasty Book Tours Cover Reveal: Finding Our Forever

Finding Our Forever 

Forever #2 

Lan LLP 

Releasing Sept 2014

Tragedy Strikes Again

Now weaved into Carson Bradley's web of boundless wealth and pharmaceutical rivalries, Lillian Ly is altering the course of her bright academic future. She’s determined to follow the beat of her devoted heart even after a devastating loss she'd suffered as a result of a deliberate accident.  With two missing researchers whose survival is based on a drug formula that Carson is unable to deliver, he fears the kidnappers will stop at nothing to get what they want—meaning Lillian’s life is also in danger. 

Can they find their forever with all the danger that still lies ahead?

Guilt gnaws at his conscience with each passing day, but despite his shame, he still can’t let her go. She is the flame to his fire, the soul of his heart. Without her by his side, he is just a body without a warm pulse.  Desperate to obtain the missing drug components and keep Lillian safe, Carson becomes overbearing and unreasonable.  Lillian’s strong-will tears them emotionally apart, stirring thoughts of doubt for their future. She knows she loves him irrevocably, but can she survive in his volatile world?

Over a long year ago, I picked up a pen and wrote the first sentence of a fantasy that I’ve imagined ever since I was a daydreaming little girl—minus the steamy parts of course. That initial sentence was the seed that grew into my flowering romance book, “Beginning with Forever.” With all my heart, I wrote, rewrote, edited, re-edited and now, I’m finally ready to share it with all of you. My one and only aspiration for this book is to have readers embrace my story and characters with their heart. If I can make someone laugh till their gut hurts, hate with vengeance, cry till their eyes dry out, fall in love all over again, drool over the hero or feel any other emotions, than I’ve succeeded my goal.

I’m the sappiest person in the world when it comes to romance. Don’t laugh! I believe in love at first sight, Prince Charming or Mr. Hot Billionaire in my book, and happy endings. In my heart, every women deserves all three, and they will when they lose themselves in my books. Your fantasy can become your reality with just the flip of a page, so come join me.

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BEGINNING WITH FOREVER

Forever Series #1 

Now Available

Book Review: The Amish Nanny

Author: Patricia Davids
Title: The Amish Nanny
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publish Date: July 15, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

A reclusive Amish logger, Ethan Gingerich is more comfortable around his draft horses than the orphaned niece and nephews he's taken in. Yet he's determined to provide the children with a good, loving home. The little ones, including a defiant eight-year-old, need a proper nanny. But when Ethan hires shy Amishwoman Clara Barkman, he never expects her temporary position to have such a lasting hold on all of them. Now this man of few words must convince Clara she's found her forever home and family.

Review: I think I fall a little more in love with Hope Springs with each book. The Amish Nanny sees Clara Barkman finding love. If you are following the series, her character was introduced in The Shepherd's Bride, which was her sister Lizzie's story.

I loved that book, but The Amish Nanny is even better.

I'm a sucker for books with young children, especially those in need of some extra TLC, and Micha, Amos and Lily are all in need of that, having lost both of their parents tragically.

Ethan is trying to be a good guardian to his young nieces and nephews, but as a single guy, he's in over his head. That's where Clara comes in.

It is easy to see the chemistry between these two, and Clara's connection to the children is marvelous. However, both Ethan and Clara have fears from their past that are keeping them from being happy together.

There's quite a few things that help them overcome these fears, but one is almost a tragedy, that really added a little bit of drama to an otherwise sweet romance.

I loved Ethan's backstory, with his brother and his ex. They really shaped the man he has become. We learn a little more about Clara as well, but if you read the previous book, you'll know what her demons are. We also get an idea of what might be in store for one of the other Barkman sisters.

I always look forward to Patricia's books and this one was really fantastic.

Rating: 5 flowers

Tasty Book Tours Promo Spot: Happy Pants Cafe

Three Winners will receive 

EIGHT Signed Paperbacks Each! 

HAPPY PANTS CAFÉ, FATE BOOK, 
ACCIDENTALLY YOURS Books 1-4, 

BAD TASTE IN MEN by Kylie Gilmore and 

LOVE BY DESIGN by Elizabeth James

Do YOU Believe in the Pants?

Each summer, thousands secretly flock to a tiny yet charming hole-in-the-wall known as The Happy Pants Café.  And what are they searching for?  It’s not coffee.  And it’s not pants. It’s true love, and they find it!

So what’s with the quirky name and what, exactly, is the café’s big secret? Harper Branton, a columnist for the San Francisco Tribune, who’d sooner believe in unicorns than in true love, is about to find out.  And it’s the perfect story to save her train wreck of a career.

Too bad she’s got competition. He’s sexy, he’s arrogant, and he thinks she’s crazy.(Perhaps a little dangerous, too.) What kind of person doesn’t believe in love? And this coming from a dude!

When these two rivals go head to head, it's more like a WWF smackdown. A shared history binds them in wonderful, terrible ways quickly making their duel about more than just a news story. Will they tear each other apart for the win or end up as two new satisfied Happy Pants customers?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When San Francisco native, Mimi Jean, went on an adventure as an exchange student to Mexico City, she never imagined the journey would lead to writing Romance. But one Mexican MBA, one sexy Mexican husband, and two rowdy kids later, Mimi would trade in corporate life for vampires, deities, and snarky humor.    She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.   She also enjoys interacting with her fans (especially if they’re batshit crazy). You can always find her chatting away on Facebook, Twitter, or saying many naughty words on her show MAN CANDY on Radioslot.com 

www.mimijean.net

http://radioslot.com/

https://twitter.com/MimiJeanRomance

https://www.facebook.com/MimiJeanPamfiloff

Book Review: The Amish Blacksmith

Author: Mindy Starns Clark & Susan Meissner
Title: The Amish Blacksmith
Publisher: Harvest House Publishing
Publish Date: August 1, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla’s mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla’s grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake’s boss is Priscilla’s uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla.

Jake then determines to prove to her that it’s not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.

Review: This was a really unique bit of Amish fiction/romance.

Why, you ask?

Because the authors give you the story from the hero's perspective, and Jake Miller is such a wonderful Amish guy.

There are actually two aspects to this story; the relationship with Priscilla and his job with horses, he's a Blacksmith/Horse whisperer.

The dealings with the horses is actually the more enjoyable part of the story, as is getting Priscilla's back story.

Jake's romances were a little bit too predictable. You knew what was going to happen with Amanda long before it did.

It is really Jake, Priscilla and Patch, January and Duchess that bring the novel to life. I loved the horses, and I loved how the two of them figured out each animal's needs. I would have loved more of the story to have focused on Jake, Priscilla and the horses.

One of the reasons for this is Priscilla. Even though we got to know her better in the second part of the book, through her recounting the weeks leading up to her mother's death, you don't feel like you really "know" her. She's really a mystery.

I did like how Jake found himself through his letters to Priscilla. It was a different twist, and another reason why I enjoyed getting a novel from the hero's point of view.

A great read for lovers of all things Amish.

Rating: 4 flowers

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Granny Skewers A Scoundrel

Granny Skewers a Scoundrel:
A Fuschia Minnesota Mystery
Cozy Mystery – 225 Pages
Cozy Cat Press (March 11, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1939816382

Synopsis: Granny has a new addition to her arsenal of crime fighting weapons as Fuchsia, Minnesota’s most colorful detective. Now, along with her famous crook-hooking umbrella, she’s acquired a scoundrel-skewering knitting needle. And just in time! Residents of Fuchsia seem to be dropping dead like flies! First, it’s Granny’s neighbor Sally (who gives up the ghost in her weed-filled front yard), followed by Esmeralda Periwinkle (the squirrel lover on Main Street), and then, Mr. Nail, owner of the local hardware store (who is squashed when dozens of bags of fertilizer fall on top of him). Granny is baffled. Who is behind this murder spree?

Granny enlists the help of her sort of boyfriend franklin Gatsby, the town’s police chief Cornelius Stricknine (or “The Big Guy”), her reality-show loving neighbor Mavis, and her own son Thor. And, of course, the special assistance of her menagerie of pets — including Mr. Bleaty, the goat. Soon Granny is hot on the trail of this dastardly murderer. Unfortunately, when Granny herself is poisoned, everyone insists that she cool her crime solving ways and stay indoors and out of harms way. Of course, that’s never going to happen! Not when Granny knows all the secret passageways and tunnels that run underneath Fuchsia. Out she goes–and watch out, you evil doers! Granny will solve this mystery–you can bet your pink undies, she will!

Review:  OMG, I fell in love with the cover of this book in a glance. Once I started reading, I fell in love with the series too.

Granny is a feisty old lady, and how can you not love a feisty crime solving old lady!

That's right, you can't.

We should all have a Granny like her. It would definitely make life so much more fun! She doesn't take guff from family or law enforcement. But then again, what cozy mystery sleuth does? And I absolutely love Granny's crazy fashion sense and her taste in cars! I mean, she drives a 57' Chevy convertible and it is red!

Then there are the animals! Dogs, cats and even a goat. And their names! Oh my! They are almost as funny as the names of her children. She has three and two of their names are Thor and Starshine!

This has everything that you could possibly want in a cozy mystery, quirky characters, a fun small town and a lot of laughs!

I can't wait for the next book!

Rating: 5 flowers

About This Author

Julie grew up in a small Minnesota community. She knows the value of neighbors looking out for neighbors.

Julie has worn many hats during her lifetime. She has been a waitress, barmaid, activities assistant, store clerk, office manager and for the last 14 years has worked in computer repair, and finally owning her own computer repair business. In January 2014 she closed her computer business to write full time.

Her most important career in her estimation has been wife, mother and grandmother. Nothing could equal the gift of nurturing and watching her children and grandchildren grow.

Julie is also a columnist for the Albert Lea Tribune. Her column “Something About Nothing” brings a little fluff to an unfluffy world. She believes there is always something underlying in the nothings we talk about. In 2011 she self-published “Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig?. It is a book about grandmothers and grandchildren. It was a collaboration between her grandchildren and Julie. Along with a glossary and lots of weird words, it is a mystery that reveals to the characters grandchildren who Grandma used to be.

In 2013 Julie signed a contract with Cozy Cat Press for the publication of her Cozy Mystery “Granny Hooks A Crook.” It fulfilled one item on Julie’s bucket list. Granny lives in the fictional town of Fuchsia, Minnesota. The Fuchsia, Minnesota books is a series. Granny Skewers A Scoundrel, book two in the series was released in March 2014. The Fuchsia books are unusual cozies with a little satire about small communities and an over the top Granny that gives a new meaning to old.  Julie also writes free lance for the Courier Sentinel and the Albert Lea Tribune. She also is designing a line of shirts, cups and other material to complement her books.

Never quit dreaming is Julie’s motto. Dreams are the gateway to fun, fantasy and the future.

Author Links

http://www.julieseedorf.com,http://www.sprinklednotes.com,http://www.facebook.com/sprinklednotes,http://www.facebook.com/grannyfromfuchsiaminnesota, Twitter: @julieseedorf

Purchase Links

AMAZON  B&N

Book Review: Suddenly Last Summer

Author: Sarah Morgan
Title: Suddenly Last Summer
Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: June 24, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the grand opening plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O'Neil is back in town and looking more delectable than ever. Memories of the electrifying night they shared last summer leave Élise very tempted, but she knows all too well that eventually Sean will be leaving…again.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O'Neil's worst nightmare. Returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means confronting the guilt he feels about rejecting his family's lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise is still in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Remembering last summer and how good they were together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine….

Review: I adored Sleigh Bells In The Snow, so I was really eager to read the next book in the O'Neil trilogy. This is Sean and Elise's story.

Elise was so spunky and outspoken in the first book, and she is still that way here, but for some reason, I didn't like her as much in her own story as I did in Jackson and Kayla's. Go figure. I think it was because she was so damaged by her past relationship that it made things hard for her to move on, when love was knocking at her door.

Sean on the other hand is a dream. I love the O'Neil men. They are so different from the alpha males that can be found in the Presents heroes. These guys have a lot more heart. Sure Sean is a workaholic, but he's also a good doctor, so you can see his reasoning in not wanting a relationship. In fact, its almost admirable.

The story opens with Sean's grandfather suffering a heart attack. This brings him home to Snow Crystal. I can't begin to say how much I love this resort. If it existed, I would want to go there. His relationship with his grandfather is strained, but through his almost relationship with Elise he starts to mend fences, and he learns her secrets too.

I burst in tears reading the scene where little Sam was injured on one of the trails. I loved seeing how good Sean was at his job and how good he was with a child.

There's a lot of heat between Elise and Sean too. It isn't all family stuff. These two are smokin' hot and they usually find themselves gettin' in on outside. Thankfully there was no poison ivy about!

I knew they would have a happily ever after, but I was relieved when Elise finally admitted her love for Sean.

It was great to see the whole family in this story and to see Jackson and Kayla's relationship moving on too.

Now I can't wait for Tyler's story!

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Dog Gone, Back Soon

Author: Nick Trout
Title: Dog Gone, Back Soon
Publisher: Hachette Books
Publish Date: April 8, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: When Dr. Cyrus Mills returned home after inheriting his estranged father's veterinary practice, The Bedside Manor for Sick Animals, the last thing he wanted was to stay in Eden Falls, Vermont, a moment longer than absolutely necessary. However, the previously reclusive veterinarian pathologist quickly found that he actually enjoyed treating animals and getting to know the eccentric residents of the tiny provincial town-especially an alluring waitress named Amy.

So Cyrus is now determined to make Bedside Manor thrive. Not an easy goal, given that Healthy Paws, the national veterinary chain across town, will stop at nothing to crush its mom-and-pop competitor. And the rival vet practice isn't Cyrus's only competition; a handsome stranger shows up out of nowhere who clearly has a mysterious past with Amy. To top it off, Cyrus finds himself both the guardian of a very unique orphaned dog and smack in the middle of serious small town drama.

This charming sequel to The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs is a wild and delightful ride through one jam- packed week, where Cyrus must figure out how to outsmart the evil veterinary conglomerate, win back Amy's heart, solve several tricky veterinary cases, find a home for an orphaned dog, and detangle himself from an absurd case of mistaken identity. DOG GONE, BACK SOON brims with Nick Trout's trademark humor, charm, and captivating animal stories, and is proof that all dogs, lost or not, on four feet or two, deserve a second chance.

Review:  If you are an animal lover, this is a series of books you won't want to miss. Its a cozy veterinary sort of read. The mysteries involve the animals brought to Dr. Cyrus at Bedside Manor, and many of them are hard to solve.

This book is so well written from a vet's perspective.

I loved Dr. Cyrus. He's like the vet version of Temperance Brennan. He's very smart, and very socially awkward. His foot goes into his mouth a lot, but like Brennan (at least the Bones version of that character) he's well liked by everyone, except maybe the office manager at Healthy Paws, a rival veterinary practice.

To stay true to a cozy format, Cyrus has a sort of love interest in Amy, who I had a hard time liking for most of the novel, and a not so real love interest with Healthy Paws vet Winn Honey, who he gets sort of involved with, thanks to some manipulating by her daughter Charlie.

For the most part, I really wanted Cyril to get together with Winn, because she felt more suited to him, and I loved her daughter and the cat, Marmalade Succabone. (That's her porn star name).

Oh and then there's Stash. the doodle dog that comes into his life through some pretty strange means. I loved that dog!

This was really a sweet fun read that animal lovers will definitely embrace. If you love James Herriot type stories, this is definitely a series for you!

Rating: 5 flowers

Cover Reveal: The Secrets Of Richard Kenworthy

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

Book #4 of the Smythe-Smith Quartet

Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second—or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.

Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.

Out: January 27,2015

Book Review: The Shepherd's Bride

Author: Patricia Davids
Title: The Shepherd's Bride

Publisher: Love Inspired

Publish Date: March 18, 2014

Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

Shunned by the Amish community, shepherd Carl King has given up on his dream for a family. Yet when captivating Lizzie Barkman shows up at the sheep farm where he works, Carl sees the wife he once dreamed of. Lizzie is looking for a new start, for herself and her sisters, and discovers Carl to be a kind and gentle man who cares deeply about the Amish way of life. But he is under the bann. Is it possible that this forbidden man holds the key to her family's safety—and the one to her heart?

Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.

Review: I'm a sucker for Amish romance! I love Patricia Davids' Brides Of Amish Country Series. She really brings real life to her stories. In this case the hero, Carl is under the Bann for a secret he won't share with the community. Its a pretty big secret too.

Lizzie is trying to save herself and her sister's from her nasty uncle and a bad marriage to an abusive man for her sister Carla. So she takes her savings and gets on a bus in search of her grandfather.

I liked that nothing was really easy for her, when it came to trying to bring her sisters to Hope Springs. You get to see how hardworking, loyal and loving Lizzie is and how strong and devoted Carl is. Lizzie proves her mettle when working with the sheep.

There's a lot of conflict between Lizzie and both her grandfather and Carl, but as things progress they smooth out more than a bit. It takes a coydog to really bring the two of them together and get his secret out in the open.

I loved Lizzie's granddad, who can only be described as an old codger. His nickname is Wooley Joe.  He's a lot softer than he lets on. He's been through much in his life and lost his daughter, so it gives him some rights at being curmudgeonly.

This is a great read for lovers of Amish fiction and romance.

Rating: 4 flowers