Trouble in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas #4) by Katie Lane

Trouble in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas #4)
by Katie Lane
Expected publication: December 18th 2012 by Forever
ISBN 145551571X (ISBN13: 9781455515714)

THERE'S A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy's murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can't pull himself away.

Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble's newest bad boy?

My Thoughts:

For inquiring minds.... This is the fourth book in the author's "Deep in the Heart of Texas" series. I have not read the other three, but this book stands on its own.  I must say that now that I fell in love with this one, I am going to scoop up the other ones.  I seem to be adding Western Romance to my genre; there is something about a man with in a cowboy hat...

This was a quick and fun read. I found myself in stitches within the first few chapters.  Here is this strong, hunky man taken down by a three aging women. Three "living in the past" ladies, they are trying to revive the "Hen House", a place of haven for troubled women or those escaping an abusive relationship. Don't judge a person by where they may reside, these ladies are a class act.  Too funny for words. The author also threw in a mystery murder in the midst of this laugh out loud book. This book grabbed my attention ifrom the very beginning and kept it the entire time.

This author is new to me, but rest assure that I will add the rest of the books in this series to my pile. I loved the banter between the characters, the secondary characters stole the show for me.  I can't wait to see what else she brings us in this series...

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:





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And the Winner is.....

I had the best time with Fall in Love Blog Hop. I loved meeting new friends and learning about new authors and why you fell in love with them.

Thanks for all that participated in my giveaway... and without further ado.....



LACEY T
commented as laceyblossom



The lucky winner won a $20 E-card gift certificate from either Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or up to a $20.00 (USvalue) in books from the BookDepository.com, but there is a catch you have to live in one of the countries they ship to for free. Click here for list of countries.

I sent an email- you have 48 hours to respond to let me know your choice.  Thanks everyone. 

Keep coming back, never know when I may have another giveaway!!!

In the Spotlight ~ Kimberly's Kozy Korner

It's time for another addition of "In the Spotlight". I have to say I see many bloggers creating similar meme's on their blog,  it is rather humbling to see that something that I began has been shared around the blogosphere.

Well, today I am happy to welcome Kimberly, from Kimberly's Kozy Korner. Right from the start you will notice her sense of happiness when speaking of her love of books, she is a funny and whimsical blogger...

Here is a snippet about her from her blog....
Sixteen year old book addict. Will read anything—well, mostly anything. Loves gardening, pumpkin spice lattes and history. Hates change and spiders. I believe strongly that mustard can be eaten with anything, and I hate layered foods. Avid Book Nerd (And not ashamed). Dream Job: Professional Reader of Books (Or a Physical Therapist, depending on the mood) Maybe I could do both? Hmmm...

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
This is actually kind of a funny story. I started my blog back in April of 2012 and then didn’t do anything with it. It wasn’t until September that I actually started posting… But it wasn’t about books. I didn’t plan for my blog to become a book blog, it just kind of happened. And I am SO happy it did. J

So far, what’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
I would have to say is writing a less-than stellar review for a book. It kills me, especially when I was really excited for that book.

What do you do when you are not blogging?
I really like to random things; Like gardening, history, science, baking. Most of all though? Reading. J

Tell us about the name of your blog, Kimberly's Kozy Korner, how did you chose this name?
I came up with the idea because in my house, there is this big, fluffy armchair that I like to go and curl up in. I liked the idea of retiring to a warm, cozy place to read. And then I had to make it unique. So I changed some of the lettering to match my name. Thus, Kimberly’s Kozy Korner. J

What genre(s) do you read, can you tell us what is it about the genre(s) that grabs your interest?
Usually YA, but lately I have been leaning towards science fiction, and historical fiction (Like I said, I like history). Well, it is always cool when the main character and I are around the same age. That just helps me connect with them more. And it is always cool to see how different authors portray teenagers.

Who are your three favorite authors?
AHHH! That’s like asking which of your children if your favorite. :Deep breath: I’d have to say… Aimee Carter, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and… Carrie Harris.

Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more..
Oh! Definitely either Aimee Carter, Jennifer L Armentrout, or Carrie Harris. (I could never chose). I’ve been following them on twitter for a while, and they just seem like awesome people.

How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review in a month?
It’s actually not that big. I’ve been having more time, so I’ve been able to comb through my TBR list. I usually go through about anywhere between 20 and 25 books a month. But I usually don’t blog all them. I have been trying to though! J

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Haha! Oh my… From the Kozy Korner would be kinda cool. J

On a Personal Note:
Well, my blog is KimberlysKozyKorner.blogspot.com.
I am on Twitter! @Kskozykorner
And on Goodreads! Kimberly’s Kozy Korner

Thank you so much for having me on your blog! You rock! :)

Your Blog Name ~ Be Unique ~Do Your Homework

Wanted to share a personal experience I encountered a few weeks ago.

Every so often I Google my blog name, I created my blog almost 2 years ago. I will admit "Forever Book Lover" is not unique but no one else had claimed to the name back in 2011. So as I am drinking my coffee one Sunday morning, imagine my surprise when I found the same name as mine being used by someone else. Shock was just one of the many emotions I had.



How Can This Be? Didn't this blogger do a search before naming her blog? This is my name, I worked so hard to get it where it is today!!

So what did I do, I followed the advice of Rachel @ Parajunkee, who wrote a blog post on this exact topic.  I tried to find a way to contact the blogger but there was no email option that I could find. So, I had to leave a blog comment, "Hi (name), it appears you have chosen the same blog name as the one I already have established. Please make some changes to your blog name as it is confusing for authors and blog tour hosting sites, as they may mistake yours for mine. Best of luck."

I waited for a response but nothing ever came. Then I popped back to her site to see if she made any changes, only one ~she deleted my post!

I felt violated, like my name and identity was stolen, but honestly there is little I can do, except tell my story.  I reminded myself that I have an established blog, I have the follower based already established, I have A LOT more contacts than her.

Do I think she did it on purpose, definitely not. But since she knows now, why does she want to use the same name~be a copy cat?  Why not be unique?

"Readers get confused and are not able to distinguish bloggers. (There are so many bloggers out there, if you are like me and follow hundreds of blogs, how do you know what blogger you are chatting up on twitter or even reading — when they are all named the same??) The person that will be hurt the worst will be the start-up…and all because that wanna-be blogger didn’t do their homework."     Parajunkee

Thanks for listening.

And, if the blogger I am referencing reads this posts, I would appreciate it if you would change your blog name. It will only be that much harder if you wait.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Kissing Under the Mistletoe (A St. Helena Vineyard Novel Series #1)
by Marina Adair (Goodreads Author)
Published October 16th 2012 by Montlake Romance

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything—her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry—after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

My Thoughts:
I want to personally thank Marina and the publicist for the Montlake Romance imprint, Susan for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book.  This was a wonderful holiday inspired book!!

From the first page I was hooked.  At a young impressionable age, Regan fell in love, unfortunately to the wrong kind of man- a married one.  She found out he was married and she was pregnant at the same time, talk about mood kill.  It seems the wife of the man has a very strong devoted family, willing to do whatever it takes for their sister.  But,  no matter what punches are thrown at her, Regan is resilient, she keeps her positive attitude against all odds. She is portrayed as a loving mom, putting her child and her welfare first.

I will admit at first I wasn't sure what to think of Gabe (the scorn wife's brother), as he was behind may of the roadblocks that Regan came up against. He was very obsessed with ruining her, to the point where she needed to move around alot to keep one step ahead of him. Eventually, Gabe became a hero, trying to do whatever he could to keep a roof over Regan and her daughters head. I loved reading the interactions and banter between the two of them.  I was routing for Regan, but she didn't need me in her corner, she was a fighter, her determination shown through the pages.

The secondary characters strengthen the depth of this book. I am looking forward to read more from the  St. Helena Vineyard Series. I want to thanks Marina for sharing her wonderful work with me, I enjoyed every page and fell in love with the entire family. Please hurry!!

Rating:


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Fall in Love ~ Giveaway Hop

fall in love giveaway hop
The Fall In Love Giveaway hop was organized by Reading Romances!


Welcome to my first blog Hop!!

When I heard my friend Nat from Reading Romances was having a another fabulous Blog Hop, I thought it was about time I joined in on the fun.

Fall in Love ~ Giveaway Blog Hop!

Fall is my favorite time of the year, the change in foliage~orange & red leaves, the gathering of friends and family of a day of Thanksgiving! There's something about this time where love is in the air. 

What better way to celebrate the Autumn then to have a Giveaway.. As my blog name says ~I am a Forever Book Lover, so why not share my love of books with those all you!!!

Here's your chance to win a Gift Card to purchase some of your Favorite Books!!   Just follow the rafflecopter widget below and enter to win a $20 E-Gift Card ~ Either Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or up to $20 (USD) in books from the Book Depository, the best news, this is open internationally!!  Good Luck All!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hop and find more prizes!

Own the Night (Made in Montana #2) by Debbi Rawlins

Own the Night (Made in Montana #2)
by Debbi Rawlins
Published September 18th 2012 by Harlequin
ISBN   0373797176 (ISBN13: 9780373797172)


Welcome to the Sundance Dude Ranch in Blackfoot Falls, Montana…where the cowboys are hot, and the town sheriff is smokin'!Ever since the Sundance became a dude ranch, Sheriff Noah Calder has been a "must-see attraction" for hordes of visiting women. But when a suspected (and suspiciously sexy) con artist rolls into town, it takes all of Noah's control to stop himself from giving her a very thorough strip search….

Alana Richardson is no con artist—she's a marketing executive in desperate need of a vacation! But with her luggage stolen and her identity in question, she's under the very close surveillance of Sheriff Noah Sexypants. Now she has to prove she's one of the good guys…but she may just have to be a little bad to convince him!



My thoughts
I have a little secret, I am a Harlequin Blaze junkie!! Yep, I admit it. I can't wait until the new batch is released each month, I  love Leslie Kelly, Jennifer LaBraceque, and Debbi Rawlins to name a few, so when I saw that netGalley had the upcoming Debbi Rawlins sequel to Made in Montana, I had to request it.

You don't have to read the first in the series, I feel this is a stand alone book.  I love the premise of the book, where better to go on vacation and get away from everything then to spend your time at a dude ranch, what could be better when there's a sexy sheriff that is part of the package.
Well Alana's didn't start off they way she thought- she was a victim of a purse/luggage snatcher. She arrives late to the dude ranch and her room was given away. Don't fret, the sexy sheriff, Noah, thinks she is a con artist and what better way to keep an eye out on her than to offer his home for her to stay until she can get things settled.

The two of them sizzling with the heat between them, and Debbie writes gives them some sexy scenes.
I can't wait for the next in the series.


My Rating


Jane's Gift by Karen Erickson

Jane's Gift
by Karen Erickson
Entangled Publishing, LLC Bliss
Pub Date Nov 5 2012

review courtesy of netGalley

A fire captain afraid of commitment. A widow afraid of fire. Can the holidays bring them together?

A devastating house fire cost Jane Clark nearly everything: her husband, her confidence, and her looks, with the physical scars marbling her body. Now, two years later, she’s living and healing back in her childhood hometown of Lone Pine Lake. The upcoming holidays are the perfect opportunity to bring some Christmas cheer into her young children’s lives, starting with a visit to the firehouse, where her brother’s best friend has offered to help quell their residual fears.

Lone Pine’s resident playboy, fire captain Christian Nelson is happy with his single-guy lifestyle. He’s an everyday local hero, so he’s never wanting for attention around the holidays. But when Jane Clark shows up, Chris is immediately drawn to the beautiful widow—even though kids and commitment have never been his style.

Despite her brother’s warnings about his friend’s playboy status and dangerous occupation, Jane can’t help but fall for the gorgeous fire captain. The holidays are a time of new beginnings, but can two scarred people find the strength to let go of their pasts to live in the present, when a lifetime together might be the sweetest gift of all?

My Thoughts:
I am a fan of Karen Erickson, she is known for her sexually charged erotic books.  This my friends is quite different from her normal writings, this story is sensual but not overly heated. It is a true holiday romance book, it warms your heart, brings a tear to your eye and after reading it you know that love can overcome fear, loss and brings two seemly opposite people together. I think one of the things I liked about this story is the characters own up to their screw ups, they know what they may have done was hurtful and they immediately right a wrong.  When reading other books, it is not uncommon that you need to read through several chapters before they admit to their mistakes, this was quite refreshing.

I fell in love with Christian and Jane, both wary of commitment but being patient with each other as they learn and begin to open their hearts to the possibility of a future together.

Karen introduces you to a wonderful mix of characters, you immediately take an interest to, within a few pages you feel like you are part of the story. I can not wait for more to come in this series, could Cam be next or maybe Max..  Hurry Karen, I hope that you write one for Valentine's Day...

I reached this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:


                                                                  Buy Yours Today!

Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane

Hunk for the Holidays
by Katie Lane
Published September 25th 2012 by Forever

Review courtesy of netGalley

Always putting business before pleasure, Cassie McPherson works hard for her family's construction business. That might explain why she doesn't have a date for the company Christmas party. But it doesn't quite explain why she's crazy enough to hire an escort for the event or - crazier still - why she's dying to unwrap him like a present . . .

With whiskey-colored eyes and a killer smile, James is one gorgeous hunk who really knows how to fill out a tuxedo. He charms everyone, including Cassie. And when the night ends, the party doesn't stop. As Cassie falls, literally, into his bed, James falls head over heels in love. Now he has to figure out a way to tell her the truth: he's not an escort. He's her family's fiercest business rival. But all he wants for Christmas is her . .

My Thoughts:

It is that time of year when authors flood the book aisle with Christmas themed romance books.  I saw this cover and knew I needed to  "uncover " what was hidden inside.  Oh my I made a funny pun. ;)
Well it was a great read, it was humorous and plenty of sexy romance to fill the pages. The premise was about mistaken identity and then getting to involved  that the truth may end this perfect romance.

This story was filled with great secondary characters to join in on the fun. First you will get a kick out of all of Cassie's brothers, since so much time was spent on giving these sexy men some page time, I am hoping that we are going see their stories soon!  And Cassie has the sweetest Aunt, who would imagine she still had enough spunk in her 90's!! Talk about meddlesome. If you are deciding upon which holiday romance to read, pick this one up, you won't go wrong.
I plan on adding Katie Lane on my must buy list.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


My Rating



Mistletoe Cowboy (Spikes & Spurs #5) by Carolyn Brown

Mistletoe Cowboy (Spikes & Spurs #5)
by Carolyn Brown
Published October 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 1402270151 (ISBN13: 9781402270154)

Courtesy of netGalley
'Tis the season for...
•A matchmaking grandma on a long-disantance mission
•Mistletoe temptation in every doorway
•A sexy cowboy with a killer smile
Commitment! It made Sage run the other way. It made Creed shudder. But Sage's granny, the Widow Presley, was determined to get her granddaughter a cowboy for Christmas. And who better than Creed, the man interested in purchasing the widow's Rockin' C Ranch?
The fact that a three-day blizzard was blowing in just made things all the better. A person can't run from commitment when they're snowed in, now can they?
My Thoughts:
I love reading holiday romance books, it's that time of year that I search for any and all holiday theme books.  I stumbled across this at netGalley.  And to be perfectly honest, yes it was the cover that caught my eye.  And it was double the pleasure since it was a Christmas themed book, too.

The premise of the book is Widow Presley is wanting to sell her ranch.  She makes arrangements with the buyer, Creed, he must stay at the ranch for a bit and if he keeps things afloat until she returns, Widow Presley will sell the ranch to him.  Sage, her Widow Presley's granddaughter,  is driving through a blizzard to make sure that doesn't happen.  Well you can guess the rest,  Sage and Creed end up snowed in and it is not just the fireplace that is melting things.  The sparks fly between these two.

Don't miss out on this one, it is sure to warm your hearts!!  I think "cowboys" are giving my "highlanders" are run for their money. I am finding myself reading more cowboy romances lately. If I am not drooling over a man in a kilt, I find myself swooning for a man tight jeans and cowboy hat. :) I am looking forward to reading more books by Mrs. Brown.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


My Rating




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And the Winner is........


Thanks for all who participated in the Reflections ebook Giveaway. I am happy to announce the winner....



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Entry #6   Denice C.


Denise, I have emailed you, you will have 48 hours to reply or I'll have to pick a new winner.

In the Spotlight- Moosubi Reviews!

It is Wednesday and another post of "In the Spotlight" where FBL spotlights a blogger.  Today, FBL welcomes Rachael and her wonderful blog Moosubi Reviews.

Here is a bit of trivia about Rachael:
Her name is Rachael, although sometimes people also call her Madison, so she adopted the alias Rachael-Madison.


When and how did you decide to be come a book blogger?
I decided to become a blogger in May! I'm not quite sure "how" I decided... it just happened! At that time I just started writing reviews and giving recommendations, and having a blog seemed like a good way to publish them. Plus, on Goodreads I knew a lot of bloggers who, like me, loved books, so I suppose that's how it happened(:

So far, what's the hardest part of being a book blogger?
For me, it's the time constraints. I'm actually still in high school so I shouldn't be too busy, but this summer I happened to be doing a lot of volunteering and summer classes. I didn't really have time to schedule posts or to network during the day, and I was pretty tired in the night. Still, I try my best!

What do you do when you are not blogging?
I'm assuming this also includes things that are related to blogging, like reading or networking. Otherwise, I'm a marching clarinetist & marimba player in winter percussion, and I swim :D I'm quite proud of my tan lines and callouses on my hands.

I love the header on your blog. Tell us how you went about choosing it and is there a meaning behind it.
Thanks so much :D  To be honest, there's not really much meaning behind it other than it's cute. "Moosubi" is a misspelling of "musubi", a japanese rice ball I practically live on and have an obsession with. It also happens to be my Tumblr URL, so that's how I decided on it. As for choosing it, I picked that particular banner because it was cute and used some fonts I downloaded to make the text. Erm. That's it :D

What genre(s) do you read, can you tell us what is it about the genre(s) that grabs your interest?
I mainly read YA anything (dystopian, sci-fi, UF, PNR, LGBT, romance, etc.), but sometimes I also read Adult Fantasy / Contemporary or Middle Grade Fantasy. I probably like YA because, erm, I'm a teenager and YA happens to entertain me (or, I guess, make me bawl or scream with joy). As for MG Fantasy, I read it because it's just so magical :D It's very, very entertaining and just a bunch of fun. I'm not quite sure why I read Adult Fiction - I suppose, like YA, it just happens to entertain me. But honestly, if the book isn't boring, doesn't offend me too much, and isn't too risque, I'll probably read it.



Who are your three favorite authors?
Ugh. Well. That's hard. Usually I only have to answer one (Melina Marchetta), so now I'll have to wheedle down two more. Hmm. Probably also Neal Shusterman (Unwind, Everlost, etc.) and Cynthia Hand (Unearthly series)

Which author would you like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more...
For now, it's definitely Melina Marchetta. I can't describe in words how amazing I think her books her. Everything just comes together, and the characters are amazingly developed and beautiful. If I end up meeting her though, I'd be the awkward person with a million books that she wants to get signed and will gush for ten minutes straight about how amazing her books and writing are.


How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review a month? 
My TBR pile is huuuuge. On Goodreads, it's only listed at 410, but in reality, I still have a bunch of books I've bought from a year ago & still haven't read, along with lots of Kindle freebies. If I had to estimate, it's probably around 600 - 700 by now :/

During the summer, I probably read a lot more than during the school year, although the number probably varies. During May I read 39, April 10, June 45, and right now July has 31. As for reviewing, I probably complete around 20 reviews per month, maybe more depending on the number of review requests I complete. But again, it differs each month.

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? 
Awkward Asian Girl Who Eats & Reads A Lot.

(First phrase describing me that popped up. Otherwise, it would just be titled Me) 

On A Personal Note
I live in NorCal, so I'm super lucky to be near places like NYMBC & Keplers! I love local authors & they're so sweet, despite the fact I'm so awkward =___=

That's about it :D & in case you're wondering:

Favorite Food: EVERYTHING. Well, not everything, but I especially like noodles & Oriental food! If you took a peek at my Tumblr, you might notice 1/2 the posts are scenery, and the other half is filled with food!

Favorite Books: Notice the plural haha! Some of my favorite books include:

Finnikin of the Rock (series),
The Piper's Son,
Saving Francesca,
& Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Unearthly trilogy by Cynthia Hand
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
Eon (series) by Alison Goodman
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
+ many, many more...

Favorite Anime: Code Geass, Full Metal Alchemist, Ao no Exorcist, Naruto, Kuroko no Basket, Tonari no Totoro, Fairy Tail

Where You Can Find Me:
Email: crystallaux@gmail.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/moosubi
Twitter: @ohmoosubi
Tumblr: http://www.moosubi.tumblr.com/ (no longer on hiatus! Not exactly book related, just mostly pretty pictures I like. I have another more book related blog here, but I don't really post there often)

The Recruit (Highland Guard #6) by Monica McCarty

The Recruit (Highland Guard #6)
by Monica McCarty
Expected publication: October 30th 2012 by Ballantine Books
ISBN 0345528417 (ISBN13: 9780345528414)


Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce is retaking his kingdom from the invading English. To win, he’ll need all the grit and courage of his elite band of warriors, the Highland Guard, men who fight without fear and love without limits.

Fiery, aggressive, and bold, Kenneth Sutherland is a true champion—skilled with any weapon and driven to win. Now Kenneth is ready for his great.

My Thoughts:  
Oh My!!!   You know I drool over Highlanders, and this book made my mouth water!!  What an action packed story this was.  This is the 6th in the series, many of you can pick this book up and not have to read the previous books, but for me, this series has so much background and information in each book that I am glad I have read each one.  Monica does provides plenty of background but why miss out on the other 5 sexy hot highlanders... I say read them all!!

Mary, has had on heck of a life and still she stands strong and determined to protect all that she loves. When we first meet Mary she is widowed, her sister is thought to be killed in an explosion and her young son is taken away to be fostered in an English household.  Honestly, I am not sure if I was faced with all this will I have the willpower to go on, but not Mary, she definitely should be every young girl's hero.  When faced with odds, pick up and go on!!

Kenneth, he is determined to be one of the chosen, one of the few that can be part of the "Highland Guard". He has to win a series of tournaments and out best the best.  He fails the first go round, but in the end, his determination and skill gets him in. I wasn't sure what Monica had in store for Kenneth, I didn't know what to expect for Kenneth, and it was more than I could have hoped.  Seeing the trepidatious relationship between him and the Magnus grow and each one earning the others respect was right one. The bonding between Kenneth and Mary's son was heartwarming.

I love Monica's writing style, she gets you invested right from the start.  Another must read for Highland lovers.

My Rating
  



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Reflections (Whisper Cape, Book 2) by Susan Griscom Excerpt and Giveaway

FBL is excited to welcome author Susan Griscom (writing as Regan Walsh). She is touring the blogosphere celebrating the release of  REFLECTIONS (Whisper Cape, Book 2)  the second novel in her paranormal romance series, Whisper Cape (Book 1).  Today, you will get a sneak peak of Reflections, check out the excerpt below.  Also, for one lucky person, enter for your chance to win an ebook copy of Reflections!!!





Book Title: REFLECTIONS, A Whisper Cape Novel, Book 2
Series: Whisper Cape
Author: Susan Griscom, writing as Regan Walsh
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: Amber Glow Books

Picking up a handful of nuts from the bowl on the counter and popping them into his mouth, Gerry walked out of the kitchen and paused at the doorway. Maia stood facing the sofa, holding a basket of clothes. Placing the bulky container on the cushion, she pulled out a small white garment, holding it at arm’s length in front of her. She tilted her head. He could almost feel her smile as she stared at the tiny cotton outfit. Christ, she was beautiful, even wearing his old tattered sweatpants and stretched-out bulky sweater. And … she was his.

“You can’t have too many Onesies,” Maia called over her shoulder, tossing the rest of the pile of tiny clothes onto the sofa.

“What the fuck’s a Onesie, Maia?” Gerry scooted around the rectangular glass table trimmed in mahogany positioned between the two loveseats and walked over to where Maia stood. He grinned at the loveseat now completely covered with tiny clothes mixed in with all the multicolored pillows of red, sage, tan, blue and even a little purple that adorned each one. The gray and tan stone fireplace glowed with hot embers from the fire he’d made earlier that evening, warming the cozy two-bedroom cottage with a wonderfully romantic and homey atmosphere.

It never ceased to amaze him how Maia could make his breath stick in his throat, how perfect her body was, with her long shapely legs and firm, sculpted bottom. Her pregnancy only accentuated the radiance of her smooth skin and the sparkle in her bright golden brown eyes. Gerry smiled as his own eyes fell to the small bump below her waist. How the hell had he gotten so lucky? He decided he shouldn’t question fate but simply revel in his good fortune.

Maia sighed, picking up a tiny T-shirt with snaps at the bottom, and turned toward him grinning. “This is a Onesie.”

“Ahhh …this thing’s about as big as my hand. Are babies this small?”

“They can be at first. I’d say these will be out grown within four to six weeks.”

“So … is my daughter going to need a charge card at the tender age of one month?”

“Well … your son might, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Gerry, this wouldn’t be such a big surprise if you’d been with me for the sonogram this morning.”

“Sorry, darlin’, I thought you understood I couldn’t get away from the bar. I was a wee bit busy, with Nick being sick and Addie away to—wherever the fuck she’s gone—ahhh … right, to Bora Bora with Cael. I’ve had to train Darcy to bartend and I couldn’t leave her alone, yet. You know I wanted to be there.” The rhythm of his Scottish accent thickened, begging forgiveness.

“I know, but it would have only taken you an hour at the most. You make it sound as if you begrudge Addie being gone. You can’t deny that Cael and Addie deserved this time away.”

Gerry walked to her, reminding himself Maia had barely turned eleven when Addie had been born. They’d grown up together, more like sisters than aunt and niece. And age hadn’t really taken hold of Maia, yet. She still looked almost as young as Addie. Good genes, he mused.

He touched her cheek. “I know it, and I know Addie is the only child of your late brother and you would do anything for her, including putting on some fancy dinner for her and Cael, when I know you’re exhausted.”

“Come on, you’re excited to see them too. I understand it’s been difficult for you to relinquish your protective inclination toward Addie. Ristéard would be proud of the way you’ve kept your promise to him. But I swear, between you and Cael, poor Addie can’t make a move without some sort of dissension from the two of you.”

“Well, I guess it’s been hard for me to let go. I must admit, at first I was a bit skeptical of Cael’s intensions.”

“Yes, and he’s proved himself way beyond any of our expectations. You know he would never let anything happen to Addie.”

In truth, Gerry didn’t think a more suitable man for Addie existed. He loved Addie as if she was his own blood. “She may be your niece, but to me Addie is like a little sister. I can’t help but want to protect her, and yeah, I miss her, damn it. With my star bartender away, I’ve needed to be at the Cliff Hanger more than I’d like.”

“After tonight, you’ll have your star bartender back and you can spend more time here at home.”

Gerry may not have had a fondness for Cael at first, but he had to admit that Addie, a very capable and talented woman, and Cael, trained by Addie’s father to protect and guide her, together had powers unparalleled to any Gerry had ever witnessed. As much as it hurt, he was resigned to letting go. Besides, he had a new little one coming to worry about. He took Maia in his arms, held her close, and brushed a wild golden-brown curl behind her ear with his finger.

“So … it’s a boy then,” Gerry said, unsure if he was relieved or disappointed.

A boy would mean the baby would not inherit Gerry’s gift of compulsion, mind altering or his telekinetic abilities, considering supernatural gifts were only passed down to a child of the opposite sex; Maia, of course, had no powers to pass on. Her brother, Ristéard received the powers in that family and he had passed his abilities down to Addie.

Lowering his hand, Gerry splayed his fingers protectively over her swelling abdomen.

“Are you disappointed?” Maia asked.

“No,” his voice softened. “No. I think I’m more relieved than anything.” The thought of having a daughter with his kind of abilities had seemed exciting but made him a bit nervous when he thought about helping her control them and hide them from unsuspecting “normal” humans. He remembered his own childhood and how it had been for him and his father, a single dad without any abilities of his own. He’d never told Gerry about any of the powers. His pop hadn’t even seemed to know anything about them. Without his mother around, Gerry had discovered his abilities on his own when he was a teenager. What a shock that had been! He smiled, remembering his friend Aiden, and how they acquired their powers at almost the same time. A surprise to each of them, considering they’d both been kept in the dark when it came to something as bizarre as supernatural abilities. Aiden had been adopted and had no idea. A coincidence that they were friends? Maybe. But thanks to Maia, Gerry believed that fate always played its part.


Regan Walsh was born, Susan Marie Whittaker, in a small town in Pennsylvania. Under the name, Regan Walsh she writes the popular paranormal-urban fantasy, Whisper Cape, series and writes young adult and mainstream under her married name, Susan Griscom.

Her paranormal playing field delves into a different milieu, abandoning vampires and werewolves, but not discounting them. Someday she might like to write a novel about vamps and those furry creatures. But for now she likes the bizarre mixed with romance. A strong hero or heroine confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers and capabilities gets her blood running hot.

She enjoys traveling. She hates running, but does it once in a while. Reading and writing are her favorite pastimes.


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    Amazon Buy link for Reflections (Whisper Cape, Book 2)

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A quote from Susan:

I daydream often and sometimes my daydreams interrupt my daydreams. So I write to remember them. If I didn't write, I think my mind would explode from an overload of fantasy and weirdness. To the annoyance of my friends and family, my characters sometimes become a part of my world. During my childhood, I would frequently get in trouble in school for daydreaming. Eventually, my vivid imagination paid off and I had the privilege of writing and co-directing my sixth-grade class play--a dreadful disaster, though not from my writing, of course, I must blame it on the acting.  

REFLECTIONS Blog Tour Schedule
Remaining Stops:
November 2 – http://heartofawolfseries.blogspot.com/- spotlight
November 3 – http://www.literaladdiction.com/ - review and giveaway
November 4 – www.crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com - Interview/review
November 5 – http://darkestaddictions.blogspot.com/ - Guest post/review
November 6 – http://reviewsbymolly.com/ - Interview/review
November 7 – http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/ - Guest post/giveaway

To celebrate the release of 'Reflections', Susan is giving away an e-copy to one (1) lucky winner. Open internationally. You must use the Rafflecopter form to enter to win.

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