Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Make A Date With Harlequin



Make a Date With Harlequin!

Last year Harlequin sent two Harlequin Heroes, a Cowboy and a Viking, on real-life dates. The unsuspecting public couldn’t get enough… and their hilarious reactions were captured with hidden cameras! Remember this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OIxBqJu5NI Or how about this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6jT07uKjto By popular demand, they’ve sent 2 more heroes on dates—a Highlander and a Prince.



Escape to your happy place when you #MakeaDateWithHarlequin!

Whether you need an escape from your hectic day, or have some unexpected time to yourself—you can count on Harlequin Series for great romance reads whenever and wherever you are. From inspirational romance to heart-racing suspense, sweet or steamy sagas, Harlequin has whatever you’re looking for.

Not sure what you’re into? Sample from 16 series for FREE at TryHarlequin.com and find the one—or ones—that are right for you!



What happens when a tartan-clad Highlander goes on a real-life date? Check it out now!



Featured Novel

Title: Forbidden Night with the Highlander
Author: Michelle Willingham
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: January 16, 2018
Series: Warriors of the Night #2
Publisher: Harlequin Books
ISBN: 9781335522603

The handsome Highlander who seduced her…

…is the very man she must marry!

In this Warriors of the Night story, Lianna MacKinnon seeks to avoid her betrothal to a Norman lord by giving herself to an intriguing stranger. But afterward, she discovers her sensual lover is none other than Rhys de Laurent—her betrothed—in disguise! They’ve already had their wedding night… Now there’s no escaping their marriage vows!

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at:  Harlequin  |  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes

Connect with Michelle:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  BookBub









Monday, March 5, 2018

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Plum Tea Crazy


Plum Tea Crazy (A Tea Shop Mystery)

by Laura Childs

About the Book


Cozy Mystery
19th in Series
Berkley (March 6, 2018)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451489609
Digital ASIN: B071K4DPRH

Theodosia Browning investigates a Charleston steeped in tradition and treachery in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.
While viewing the harbor's Gaslights and Galleons Parade from the widow's walk of Timothy Neville's Charleston mansion, local banker Carson Lanier seemingly tumbles over a narrow railing, then plunges three stories to his death. But a tragic accident becomes something much more sinister when it's discovered that the victim was first shot with a bolt from a crossbow.
At the request of the mansion owner, Theodosia investigates the tragedy and is soon neck deep in suspects. An almost ex-wife, a coworker, a real estate partner--all had motives for killing the luckless banker, but one resorted to murder to settle accounts.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

Review: Plum Tea Crazy has to be one of the prettiest books I've ever held in my hands. The cover is just so gorgeous. I'm a huge fan of the Tea Shop Mysteries. I've been reading them as I find them for ages. This is book 19 in the series.

This was a particularly interesting mystery when a banker plunges to his death, which ends up being a murder. Theo ends up investigating and there is no shortage of suspects.

Like most of Ms Child's books, you'll have a hard time deducing who the real suspect was. Also, there where some fabulous recipes and tea tips.

Rating: 5 flowers



About the Author


Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links:



Purchase Links



Excerpt Tour: Playing the Pauses



When an ultra-independent tour manager meets the one musician she can’t resist, their kinks fit together perfectly, but their lives don’t. Michelle Hazen is back with PLAYING THE PAUSES, the second, stand-alone installment in her Sex, Love, and Rock & Roll series. Fans of Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive Series and YOU REALLY GOT ME by Erika Kelly, will love this bad boy, friends with benefits romance with a dash of BDSM mixed in.

Title:  Playing the Pauses
Author: Michelle Hazen
Release Date: March 5, 2018
Publisher: Self-published
Series: Sex, Love, and Rock & Roll #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 290

Synopsis:

Rock Star Dom + his Queen of the Spreadsheet employee = KRYPTONITE

Kate is a globe-trotting tour manager who can’t be tied down.
Danny is a Dominant rock star and tattoo artist who needs her help to explore his true kinks.

Kate just got her big break, running an international tour for a rising band. Her job is everything to her…at least until she meets the band’s enigmatic bass player.

After they collide in one unforgettably erotic night on a hotel balcony, he comes to her with a proposition. As a former BDSM club performer, Danny’s spent so long fulfilling other people’s fantasies that now he wants to reclaim his own—and he says she’s the only one who can help.

Getting caught in bed with her rock star boss could cost her career, and yet there’s something about Danny’s quiet intensity that she can’t resist. He steals her heart, hard. But the end of the tour is approaching, and their jobs are headed two different directions.

To be together one of them will have to stop touring, but the only thing they crave as much as each other is music.

** This book can be read and understood as a standalone, but does contain spoilers for earlier books in the series. **
Goodreads → http://bit.ly/2myge4G
Buy Now: Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

PLAYING THE PAUSES Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Michelle Hazen

Somehow, our rhythms just…fit together. In another life, I’d be asking myself if maybe, just possibly, he might be The One.

Except it’s not another life, it’s my life and if I find The One? I can give up the man, give up the job, or spend half my time missing my career and the other half missing my lover.

A fist squeezes inside my throat, and I scowl out the window of the taxi. I’m being stupid, letting the fantasy of this week spill over into the reality of my life. I’ve sacrificed everything for my dreams, and I’m not giving them up for a guy. Besides, I know I’m not built for picket fences and office jobs.

And what I feel when I look at Danny doesn’t change that.

I fight the urge to curl my knees into my chest. I wish I had a few minutes alone instead of heading back to the crew—all their knowing eyes waiting for me to lose myself in lust with a musician like so many girls before me.

Danny’s hand flips over and he catches my fingers. He ducks his head and finds my eyes, the question clear in the air between us. I don’t know why he ever speaks, because he can communicate so well with his silence. But right now, even that small familiarity strangles my chest and sends my gaze fleeing for the window.

When I don’t answer, his thumb strokes over my knuckles, and then he takes his hand away.

My fingers twitch at the loss and I look up and realize he’s taking the ring off his middle finger. He picks up my left hand and slides it onto my thumb.

Something jolts fiercely through me; I tell myself it must be fear of discovery. There’s no way it could be excitement because to a girl like me, a ring is just a cage. “Danny, you know I can’t wear this…”

“You play with it all the time. You like it.” He shrugs. “Keep it.”

I glance up. To Danny, it’s really that simple. “But everybody will know it’s yours,” I say hoarsely.

“We’re still stuck on what other people think? Seriously?” His jaw tightens.

I take off his ring, the silver warm like his body, and squeeze it inside my fist until the edges bite my flesh.

“Danny, I’m not ashamed that I’m sleeping with you.” Up front, the cab driver shifts in his seat. I wonder if he’s a Red Letters fan, if he recognized Danny. Well, screw it. If he did, he’d better hear this part too. “There is nothing about you that embarrasses me, nothing I’m not proud of.”

“Maybe not.” His shoulders are hard. “But you think if people see us together instead of separately, that makes you less.”

I shake my head, because he doesn’t understand. He’s the talent, not the crew. Everyone always falls for the star, and Danny O’Neil has no notion of what it feels like to be a cliché.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card + A CRUEL KIND OF BEAUTIFUL eBooks!




About Michelle Hazen:

Michelle Hazen is a nomad with a writing problem. Years ago, she and her husband ducked out of the 9 to 5 world and moved into their truck. As a result, she wrote most of her books with solar power in odd places, including a bus in Thailand, a golf cart in a sandstorm, and a beach in Honduras. Currently, she’s addicted to The Walking Dead, hiking, and Tillamook cheese.




Friday, March 2, 2018

TLC Book Tours Book Review: Steal Away Home

About Steal Away Home

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 2, 2018)
“This is a powerful story of grief, love, forgiveness, and holy mystery, and I loved it. Billy Coffey is a master storyteller.” —Lauren Denton, USA Today bestselling author of The Hideaway
Owen Cross grew up with two loves: one a game, the other a girl. One of his loves ruined him. Now he’s counting on the other to save him.
Owen Cross’s father is a hard man, proud in his brokenness, who wants nothing more than for Owen to succeed where he failed. With his innate talents and his father’s firm hand guiding him, Owen goes to college with dreams of the major leagues—and an emptiness full of a girl named Micky Dullahan.
Owen loved Micky from the first time they met on the hill between their two worlds: his middle-class home and her troubled Shantytown. Years later he leaves her for the dugouts and the autographs, but their days together follow him. When he finally returns home, he discovers that even peace comes at a cost. And that the hardest things to say are to the ones we love the most.
From bestselling author Billy Coffey comes a haunting story of small-town love, blinding ambition, and the risk of giving it all for one last chance.
“In one evening, a single baseball game, Coffey invites us into a lifetime. With lyrical prose and aching description we join Owen Cross on a journey of love, loss, faith, the unexpected—and America’s favorite pastime.” —Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and The Austen Escape
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Purchase Links

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review: I'm hard pressed for words to describe this book. There's romance between Owen and Micky, the girl from the wrong side of town. There's family drama with his family and with Micky's as the town is very much segregated between have's and have nots.

We see parts of the story told through Owen's memories as he is playing is likely one time game in the major league.

This book is weird. Its good, but oh is it weird. I often found myself thinking "This is why men don't write much good romance." Then I thought, but this isn't a real romance, at least not in the conventional sense. I

I loved seeing Owen and Micky through the years and how their relationship progressed and what happened after the prom. There's a certain amount of mystery there, as you learn about the events of their prom night and graduation.

I've finished the book, and truth be told, I'm not exactly sure what happened.

This is more than boy meets girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Its more than a book that through some strange turn of events ends up rooted with some sort of spirituality. Its more than a book about a boy that loves a girl and baseball.

Perhaps that's what this book was about, "something more."

This book was beautifully written and an easy read. It left me puzzled more often then not, especially the ending, but I think that was really what Mr. Coffey intended.

Rating: 5 flowers





Excerpt Tour: It Might Be You

 Beat the post-Valentine’s Day blues and the cold February nights with Jennifer Gracen’s latest The Harrison’s novel, IT MIGHT BE YOU!

Giveaway information:

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway


Direct Link:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29484/?

 

Title: It Might Be You
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Publisher: Kensington Publishing/Penguin Random House
Series: The Harrisons
Format: Print & Digital

 

Synopsis:


When Officer Nick Martell learns that a sick child needs his help, he flies to the young Harrison boy’s side. But once in the heart of the wealthy Harrison family, Nick faces a shocking truth—he is none other than a Harrison son himself, born of a secret affair. Though the blue-collar bachelor struggles to accept the elite clan as his own, compassion for the vulnerable boy compels him to stay. That, and the deep spark of connection he feels for the child’s beautiful nurse . . .

Amanda Kozlov never felt such a strong and sudden passion for a man before. But falling for Nick is not an option—the life the rugged cop leads is too dangerous, the wounds he carries from his explosive family history too fresh. Yet watching Nick bond with the young boy in her care, experiencing tenderness in his arms, Amanda longs to take a chance on the one man who could save the Harrison heir—the only man with the power to shatter her heart. And as drama swirls around them, only time will tell if they’re brave enough to give their love the future it deserves .


Available at:  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | Kobo |


 EXCERPT:

“Excuse me,” said a female voice. Nick’s head swiveled. He’d been so focused on the boy in the bed, he hadn’t realized someone else was there. A gorgeous woman, with dark honey hair, sky-blue eyes, and a sweet smile. Dressed in light blue scrubs, she approached him from the corner of the room, holding things. Nick blinked. She was beautiful... but a beautiful blonde. Couldn’t be a Harrison, then. Who was she?
“Sorry, but I have to ask you to use these before you get closer to him.” She held a white surgical mask in one hand and a bottle of antiseptic hand sanitizer in the other. She offered another smile as she opened the plastic bottle cap.
Something pinged deep in his chest as he looked at her. What the... it was like the air around him went wavy, even crackled with something like electricity. Finally, he blinked and cleared his throat. “Um, sure. Whatever you say.”
“Well, you travelled today, right?” she said. “So many germs in air travel...”
“Right. Of course. Sure.” He took the mask from her, and when their fingers brushed, he felt a jolt shoot up his arm. He almost shivered from it. Get a grip, dude. “I showered when I got to the hotel, though. Hope that helps?” He looked into her eyes.
“It does. But still.” She met his gaze and a light blush colored her cheeks. Maybe he hadn’t been the only one who’d felt that jolt. He couldn’t stop staring at her. What the hell was that about?
“This is Amanda,” Lisette said, jarring him from his momentary daze. “She’s one of Myles’s private nurses. She’s amazing.” Lisette dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “She’s also his favorite on the whole team, but don’t tell anyone.”
Amanda smiled at the compliment, winked down at Myles, then squirted some gel into Nick’s open palm. He rubbed his hands together, making sure to cover all his skin, but his eyes were glued to Amanda. He’d dated many women. He’d seen tons of gorgeous women... but never had one given him such a deep, visceral smack of an instant reaction.
He didn’t believe in love at first sight. But a... click, some kind of recognition, at first sight? Yeah, maybe. Nick felt something, he couldn’t deny it. It was bizarre... 
Then he almost grunted at himself out loud. This whole situation was messing with his head. He was losing his damn mind. He had to pull himself together.
“I’m Nick Martell,” he said to her, finding his voice just before he pulled on the mask. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Martell.” Amanda’s voice revealed a bit of an accent. Purest Noo Yawk. He loved it.
“Please, call me Nick.”
“Well, Nick, everyone’s been anxious to meet you since they got the news,” she said. “It’s amazing that you’re a match, and that you were found. What a gift...” She reached up to adjust the mask over his nose and chin. Their eyes met again, and his heart gave a little kick in his chest.

About Jennifer Gracen:

Jennifer Gracen hails from Long Island, New York, where she lives with her two sons. After spending her youth writing in private and singing in public, she now only sings in her car and is immersed in her passion for writing. She loves to write contemporary romance for readers who look for authentic characters and satisfying endings. When she isn’t with her kids, doing freelance proofreading, or chatting on Twitter and Facebook, Jennifer writes. She’s already hard at work on her next book.

Connect with Jennifer at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| Goodreads | Google+
Instagram: @jennifergracenauthor

Social Media quotes if you’d like to use them:

Twitter:

“Let’s have one really good night together. Just be together, and let go of it all... forget everything. Yes?” –IT MIGHT BE YOU by @jennifergracen @kensingtonbooks @Barclay_PR

Follow the #blogtour for IT MIGHT BE YOU by @jennifergracen for reviews, a #giveaway and more! @kensingtonbooks @Barclay_PR

Facebook:

“She felt exposed. And crazy turned on, and a little mad, and confused. But she couldn’t break away. He’d put her under a spell. Hypnotized her with raw sex appeal.

And he didn’t let up. “  IT MIGHT BE YOU by Jennifer Gracen, (Please link to your blog post) @Kensington Books @Barclay Publicity  (please tag Jennifer, Kensington & Barclay)

Follow the #blogtour for IT MIGHT BE YOU by @jennifergracen for reviews, a #giveaway and more! @kensingtonbooks @Barclay_PR


Thursday, March 1, 2018

TLC Book Tours Book Review: The Lucky Ones

About The Lucky Ones

Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: MIRA (February 13, 2018)
They called themselves “the lucky ones”
They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.
Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She’s determined to find out what really happened that fateful night — was it an accident or, as she’s always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?
But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she’ll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.
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Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble


Review:  If Tiffany Reisz isn't on your TBR pile with one of her books, she should be. I was so excited to read The Lucky Ones and it absolutely didn't disappoint.

I liked that this book was really a mixture of genres. You can't really pinpoint where to put it, which is great. I don't like books that can be pigeonholed into a certain area.

This book has romance, mystery, a little gothic creepiness, ok, maybe a lot of creepiness. There are secrets and lies.

This book was just amazing.

Rating: 5 flowers

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Review: The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover

The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover by Susan Wittig Albert

Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Presevero Press
Hardcover; ISBN-13: 978-0996904032
eBook; ISBN 978-0-9969040-5-6
Series: The Darling Dahlias, Book 7
Genre: Historical Mystery
NYT bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert returns to Depression-era Darling, Alabama...​where the ladies of the Dahlias, the local garden club, are happy to dig a little dirt! In the seventh book of this popular series, it looks like the music has ended for Darling’s favorite barbershop uiquartet, the Lucky Four Clovers—just days before the Dixie Regional Barbershop Competition. Another unlucky break: a serious foul-up in Darling’s telephone system—and not a penny for repairs. And while liquor is legal again, moonshine isn’t. Sheriff Buddy Norris needs a little luck when he goes into Briar Swamp to confront Cypress County’s most notorious bootlegger. What he finds upends his sense of justice. Once again, Susan Wittig Albert has told a charming story filled with richly human characters who face the Great Depression with courage and grace. She reminds us that friends offer the best of themselves to each other, community is what holds us together, and luck is what you make it. Bonus features: Liz Lacy’s Garden Gate column on “lucky” plants, plus the Dahlias’ collection of traditional Southern pie recipes and a dash of cookery history. Reading group questions, more recipes, and Depression-era info at www.DarlingDahlias.com.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

Praise for The Darling Dahlias Series

"This sweet book captures the true tone of a small town." —Times-Picayune, New Orleans "Cozy fans will be delighted to learn that the prolific Albert—known for her clever puzzles, engaging characters, love of nature, and outstanding historic research—is debuting yet another exceptional series." —Booklist Starred Review "Albert does a beautiful job of blending a whodunit with a vivid portrait of an idyllic Depression-era Southern town." —Publishers Weekly "Excellent timely regional Depression Era amateur sleuth that brings to life the atmosphere of a period in which people are concerned over the economy that has left no chicken in almost any pot." —Follow The Clue "The author of the popular China Bayles mysteries brings a small Southern town to life and vividly captures an era and culture—the Depression, segregation, class differences, the role of women in the South—with authentic period details. Her book fairly sizzles with the strength of the women of Darling." —Library Journal Starred Review

Review: I love Susan Wittig Albert's books. I'm a huge fan of the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series. I'm surprised that I hadn't discovered this series and it is 7 books in.

Ms. Albert is wonderful with crafting cozy mysteries with great historical detail.  She brings the depression to life for those of us that haven't experienced it.

I loved all the quirky characters and the mystery of the death of barbershop quartet member.

It looks like I've discovered a new series to love!


Rating: 5 flowers




About the Author

Susan Wittig Albert is the NYT bestselling author of over 100 books. Her work includes four mystery series: China Bayles, the Darling Dahlias, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and the Robin Paige Victorian mysteries. She has published three award-winning historical novels, as well as YA fiction, memoirs, and nonfiction. Susan currently serves as an editor of StoryCircleBookReviews and helps to coordinate SCN's online class program. She and her husband Bill live in the Texas Hill Country, where she writes, gardens, and raises a varying assortment of barnyard creatures. For more information please visit Susan Wittig Albert's website. Visit the Darling Dahlias Facebook Page. You can also find Susan on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, February 28
Review at Back Porchervations
Thursday, March 1
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Friday, March 2
Review at Trisha Jenn Reads
Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog
Feature at What Is That Book About
Saturday, March 3
Review at Cup of Sensibility
Monday, March 5
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 6
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Feature at A Literary Vacation
Wednesday, March 7
Review at Linda's Book Obsession
Thursday, March 8
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
Monday, March 12
Feature at Susan Heim on Writing
Tuesday, March 13
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Clarissa Reads it All
Wednesday, March 14 Interview at Passages to the Past
Thursday, March 15 Review at A Bookaholic Swede
Friday, March 16
Review at View from the Birdhouse
Interview at Donna's Book Blog

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away one paperback copy of The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover to one lucky winner! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Darling Dahlias
 
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