The Devil Has Dimples Tour ~ Pepper Phillips- Book Review

I am participating in the The Devil Has Dimples Blog Tour. Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing Pepper's Phillips's book, make sure you stop by tomorrow, Pepper provides a Guest Post as she goes around the blogosphere on her virtual blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours.

Amazon - Smashwords - Nook

Adopted!

In the Deep South, one of the first questions asked when meeting someone new in a small town is, “Who’s your daddy?” The answer defines you as a person. Not knowing is disheartening.

Sara McLaughlin never knew she was adopted and is stunned to realize that if she wants to find out the questions burning in her brain as to the ‘why’ she was given up at birth, and who her father might be, she has to live in her birth mother’s apartment for the next six weeks.

Grant St. Romain, attorney, is supposed to be helping, but the hunky dimpled devil is making her mind think of other things.

Can she find the truth? Or will she break her heart trying to find out the answers in Boggy Bayou, where many secrets are hidden?

This book kept me in stitches. What a wonderful humorous and entertaining book. I think this would be a great beach book !  Sara McLaughlin is having an identity crisis, she learned she was adopted when she received word from an attorney of her birth mother's passing. The story is about her journey and along the way we are introduced to the most off the wall characters from Boggy Bayou.  You can't help but laugh out loud.  You can't help but cheer on Grant and Sara and see their romance blossom.

If you love contemporary romance novels, with a Southern flare, this is a good book!  This is the first time for me reading Pepper Phillips books and I just loved her writing style. And from one southerner to another she described the essence of the south perfectly.  Oh and a word of advice, I would read this book on a full stomach...  you'll understand once you read the book!!  

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!!  I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:

                 

                                
Pepper Phillips wrote her first play in the seventh grade. But before that she read every book in her age group at the small local library. An only child, she entertained herself in the worlds she created in her mind. She's still pretty mindless in some respects, but her writing world is where she is the happiest. She ventured into self-publishing in 2011.

Connect with Pepper!  Pepper Phillips Website  Twitter  Facebook

In the Spotlight ~ Smitten Over Books

Thanks for stopping by and learning about another fellow book blogger. Today, we welcome, Sarah from Smitten Over Books.  Sarah stops by today and talks about "the balancing act", between school, blogging and life.

Hello Sarah!!!

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
I really love books and reading. I first discovered Goodreads back in 2009 and I discovered that reviewing is something fun and worthwhile as well so I started doing it. Then I discovered blogs and I really loved them. I never thought of doing my own blog since I thought that I couldn't live up to it so I just I trolled a lot of my fave blogs but eventually the blogging bug finally succeeded in catching up and my blog was born on November 2011.

What’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
Mostly, it's the time factor and it requires a lot of scheduling and multitasking. I was in my 3rd year in college when I started my blog and it was definitely a difficult time to start one. Because, although blogging is not a job, it's a commitment and once you start having readers, you have to keep up so you won't let people down. Unlike in Goodreads, where I could just post reviews whenever I liked, now it's something I really have to do regularly especially because there are this amazing people who take time to visit my blog and that I'm now receiving books for review.

When you’re not blogging what other hobbies do you have?
I hang-out on Twitter. It's a really crowded place, but it's full of amazing, hilarious people and it's kind of weird that you could talk to a certain someone without even knowing them, only to find out that you have lots in common. It's a great way to strike up a friendship and I've met a lot of fabulous online friends there. My other hobbies would be playing the piano (I still suck) and singing (just in the bathroom much to the chagrin of my cats). I love watching movies and TV series as well.

Tell us how you came up with your blog name, Smitten over Books.
Honestly, it was something that just popped into my head. Like I said, I did not plan to establish a blog, I was just sort of inspired at the moment and realized that this could be fun. Smitten was the word that started it all. It was supposed to be just Smitten but it sounded really sloppy so I added another 2 words. Not that it really worked wonders to help improved the blog name. Heh.

The Balancing Act. How do you carve out time between school, your hobbies and posting to your blog?
I really suck terribly at this. I can't manage my time for the life of me. And it doesn't really help that I get so distracted easily and life has a penchant of getting in the way of my to-do lists. I hate scheduling and planning because I rarely achieved my goals so I always end up disappointing myself and sadly, others as well. I'm working on this now, but as of the moment, I just go with the flow to avoid unnecessary pressure that may lead to the notorious burn-out.

Who are your three favorite authors?
Right off the bat, I could say, J.K. Rowling. The other two could be anyone so can I have a Top 5? Pretty, please? OK, Rick Riordan, Sarah Dessen, Neal Shusterman and Gayle Forman.

Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)?
Jane Austen and J.K Rowling preferably in one major meet-up. They're inspiring and their achievements are very empowering for women.

How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review in a month?
When I was starting out, my reviews were really laughable. It's a struggle for me to write. But now, I learned a thing or two on how to get the reviewing done without tearing my hair and eventually going bald. I think there's still a huge room for improvement in how I write my review but as of now it’s not as much of a struggle as before. Currently, I regularly review at least 5 books a month but I read more than that.

And my TBR pile needs some serious intervention. It’s ginormous. It's like piles of books, I think on Goodreads, it's roughly about 850 books? 0_0

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? The Kitschy Life of a Depp fangirl and an undercover roach slayer. I think I don't have to explain since the "kitschy" word totally works, right? ;)

On A Personal Note
Sarah is the humble apprentice of Cupid, that currently runs her own blog, <a href=” http://smittenoverbooks.blogspot.com/”>Smitten over Books</a>. She is currently taking up nursing and aspires to be a doctor someday or even a nurse astronaut, if such a job exists. She has two adorable cats that enjoy sleeping inside her bag and dismembering her laptop’s keyboard. She currently resides in the beautiful island of the Philippines where everything is humid and everyone is welcoming. You can hunt her on  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads

Blog Tour: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis - Review

I am so excited on being part of the Lucky in Love Tour. Jill Shalvis has a special place on my bookshelves and my Kindle :), today I am reviewing her latest release in the Lucky Harbor series: Lucky in Love.

Paperback:  Amazon | B&N
Ebook:   Kindle |  Nook 

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone . . .

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn?t?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all . . . anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

My Thoughts:

Lucky in Love is the 4th book in the Lucky Harbor Series.  For those who know I am an avid Jill Shalvis fan, you won't be surprised when I tell you I absolutely LOVED this book.  (((SIGH))

We finally get to meet the  Mysterious Cute Guy!!  We learn that Ty, a former Navy Seal, is recuperating in Lucky Harbor not only from physical injuries but from emotional wounds as he was the only survivor of the copter crash that killed the rest of the squad.  

Mallory Quinn, is a nurse and has always played it safe. Mallory is ready to break out of the mold, walk on the "wild side".  And if "luck"  ((no pun intended) would have it, Mr. Wrong appears at her feet during a storm.  She comes to his aid after he is injured during a snow storm. As he lays in and out of consciousnesses, her friends devise a plan for Ty to be Mallory's date at an upcoming charity auction.  As fate would have it, Ty didn't remember "the date" but he shows up anyway.  

The rest of the book is filled with their on and off chance encounters until they finally realize their love for one another , that they both are worthy of happiness and love in their life.. Jill Shalvis does another awesome job, building the tension between the two characters and when they do connect it is a steamy hot combustion.  Jill does it again with this book, the story line is refreshing and I simply could not put it down. Although the setting is in Lucky Harbor, the characters from the previous books are not secondary characters. This book can be a stand alone  if you have not read any other the first three books in the series.

The book give you a glimpse of tension between Amy and Matt, they will be the featured couple in "At Last".    There is a must read for all Jill Shalvis readers. She is always on my auto buy!! 

Rating:

                   

I would love to hear from Jill Shalvis fans: tell me why you love the Lucky Harbor series.  Please comment below...

Don't Miss the rest in the Lucky Harbor Series:

Taking Shots Blog Tour ~ Toni Aleo ~ Guest Post and Review

Welcome everyone, Toni Aleo is joining Forever Book Lover on her Taking Shots Blog Tour. To see the other blogs that she will be visiting, click here.

Hello Toni!!

Ten Things you didn’t know about Taking Shots

by Toni Aleo

Ten things that you didn’t know, well, here we go!   

1.   Eleanor Fisher’s name came from my favorite Beatles song: Eleanor Rigsby!
2. Shea Adler’s name came from Shea Weber, cause he’s my hockey crush!
3.  Harper Allen, is basically my best friend, minus the wanting to sleep with everyone! Lol
4. I had a 40 pound pug! That’s where Adler came from!
5. Every place that is mention in Taking Shots is real. I love Nashville and Clarksville, so I just used my home town places!
6.  I listened to a whole lot of country while writing Taking Shots, so a lot of country songs inspired a lot of what was written.
7. Those season ticket seats that Elli has for the Nashville Assassins’ hockey games, I have gotten to sit there and OMG it’s amazing!
8. I eat nachos at every Nashville Predator game. They are honestly the best hockey food ever!
9. Elli’s house, is my grand momma’s house.
10. I have sung Undo It by Carrie Underwood in a bar once. Yes, my husband had to carry me out.

Amazon B&N LULU

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn’t do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.


Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her.

Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn’t understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn’t going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn’t feel alone.

But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy? Would Ellie miss her shot at love?

I enjoyed Elli and Shea's story. To meet and have the man you have the hots for fall in love with you, who wouldn't love that fairy tale story to come true for them. Elli may not think that much of herself, but Shea knows she is that and more. Can he make her love herself and much as he loves her.  If you have a quite weekend without errands, take a few moments for yourself and give this a try. 

I can't speak for most but I think this book was longer than most novels, I would have reduced the wording as many of the scenes could have been cut, even some of the sizzling sex scenes could have been eliminated. All in all, I still would pick it up and try it. Who knows you may find a new author and a new sport to love  :)

My name is Toni Aleo!
I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?
I hope to hear from you on here, my Facebook, or my twitter! Thank you so much!

Connect with Toni!    http://tonialeo.com/   Facebook   Twitter

In the Spotlight ~ Curse of the Bibliophile

This month is flying by, I can't believe it is time for "In the Spotlight".  Today we are joined by Katie from Curse of the Bibliophile.
If you haven't stopped by and visited her blog, take a few moments to do so... the graphics are unique and very whimsical.

Welcome Katie..

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
I actually started thinking about it around January last year. That was when I started checking out all of these great blogs and came across some amazing book blogs. I really wanted to start one because I love to talk about my books, but I didn’t know many people personally who shared my passion, except for my best friend of course. However I really wasn’t sure how to start one and even then I didn’t think many people would actually want to see my blog. Weird as it is the thing that got me to finally start my blog was a Manga that I had read called “KOKO NI IRU YO!” in short it was about a girl who started a blog about something she was passionate about and even though she didn’t have many followers she was still happy and put her whole heart into what she did. This is kind of silly I know, but after reading that I decided I would do my best and create a blog to celebrate the thing I was passionate about books.

What’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
Staying in touch with all of my lovely followers. I really want to keep up with everyone and try hard to do just that after all its because of them that I came this far.

How many followers do you have? How long did it take to rise to that level?
I have 111 followers at the moment and it took me about 6 months to make it this far.

How do you keep in touch with your followers? Any tips?
I don't really have any tips, but I try to visit at least a few of my followers blogs everyday and also participate in a few memes to interact with everyone like Waiting on Wednesday, It’s Monday What are You Reading?, and Swoon Worthy Saturday where I post romantic quotes from some of my favorite books. 

Your blog name is very unique, please tell us how the name " Curse of the Bibliophile' came about?
I decided on the name Curse of the Bibliophile partly because I love paranormal romance books and wanted something a bit different and dark. Another reason I decided on this was becuase even though I love books it can be a curse sometimes when I get a bit obsessive over my favorites and pull all nighters to finish them.

How do you write a review for a book not to your liking?
I personally believe that there is value in all books, even if they are not great or to my personal liking, and even though one book may not be that great to me it may be the next all time favorite for another person. So when writing a review for a book that I may not have enjoyed I will say what about it I didn’t enjoy (never any degrading or nasty comments about it of course), but also address many of its good points and what I did like about the book.

Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more..
I would love to meet Colleen Houck she is one of my favorite authors of all time. She is the author of the Tiger’s Curse Saga. I enjoy many books, but it takes a lot to make me all out crazy about a book and I am definitely crazy about this series.

How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review in a month?
It varies depending on the month and length of the books I read, but I think I read/review about 20 books in a month sometimes more sometimes less. My TBR pile is about 20 review copies and over a hundred personal ones.

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
The Life of a Book Lover and Die Hard Romantic

On a Personal Note
Hi,
I’m Katie I am a confirmed bibliophile who reads almost any chance I get. I am also a diehard romantic so almost every book I review on this blog will be some type of romance.

Random Facts: The first book I ever really got into was Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. Yes I read the Order of the Pheonix before any of the other books in the series and then read the first one onward (don’t ask why I am really weird).

Favorite Food: Strawberries and bacon(not together) yummy

Favorite type of music: I have an eclectic taste in music, but I do love the band Daughtry and Three Days Grace.

Movies: I love scary movies, but my favorites tend to be the older ones because recently it has all just been gore though there were a few good ones.

I adore Fairytale retellings and Beauty and the Beast themed books and here are a couple of my recent favorites:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Tiger’s Curse Saga by Colleen Houck (All time favorite book)

Favorite Authors:
Christine Feehan
Colleen Houck
Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle)
Catherine Anderson

Are you interested in being featured "In the Spotlight", stop by and fill out the contact form.

Guest Post ~ Erica Manfred "Interview with a Jewish Vampire"

Today Forever Book Lover is welcoming Erica Manfred as she hops from blog to blog on her Virtual Book Tour.  If you want to see where she has visited or where else she plans on going, visit her  tour page.

My Jewish Journey—Promoting to a Niche Audience

By Erica Manfred

When I published Interview with a Jewish Vampire I thought it would be easy to promote.  After all, it was a funny book about old Jewish ladies becoming vampires.  Jews are big readers, right.  All I had to do was find the Jewish, and specifically old Jewish lady, audience.   Since I was one of them I figured it wouldn’t be too hard.  Ha!   Promoting fiction is hard, niche or no.

When the book came out I needed a kick start so I hired Wendy, a Jewish publicist.  She was recommended by a colleague who wound up very pleased with her services.  Wendy sent out a press release to her Jewish list and contacted 5 “influencers” as she called them for $500 which she said was a big bargain.  She usually charges a lot more to do publicity, which I don’t doubt since I know a publicist who charges thousands PER MONTH.    What was I thinking???    $500.  That’s a huge amount of money for me with no guarantee of anything.  

I had the fantasy that this good fairy publicist would wave her magic wand and presto, I’d be on the literary map.  Did I say that was a fantasy?    I did get requests for copies, so I sent out about 15 copies in paperback, eGalley and ePub.    It’s been two months now and I’ve only seen one review so far.   What I’ve also seen is a bunch of paperback copies show up used on Amazon and I have no other explanation except that the reviewers sold them.  Am I bitter??  Just a tad.  

Luckily that one review went far.  It was a great review on Jewniverse, an influential Jewish newsletter, and it garnered me a good blurb, and a mentor, successful Jewish science fiction author, Jacqueline Lichtenberg.   Jacqueline gave me a rave review and we’ve become regular correspondents.   She’s been helping me plot out the next book in the series, which encourages me to continue.   Was that worth $500?   Probably.

The next big expenditure I had planned was a Meet the Author event at the Jewish Book Council Network at Book Expo America this June.  It was going to cost $355 plus the formidable cost of an overnight stay in New York City to pitch 150 directors and committee members of Jewish book programs from around the country for the upcoming, year-round JBC Network tour.   This is a real book tour.  The book programs pay all your travel expenses to visit their cities and speak to synagogue groups, book clubs, etc.  I had stars in my eyes again.  I could see myself being flown from coast to coast to speak to scads of prospective readers, selling stacks of books in the back of the room.

This time, however, I did my due diligence. I saw a YouTube video of the event and noticed one author of a humorous memoir give a great pitch.   I wondered how many bookings he’d gotten so I looked at his website and saw he’d been to very few events.   I called the director of the program and she said fiction was a hard sell.  I contacted the author and he said fuggetaboutit.  They liked his pitch but he only got a couple of bookings.   Most programs wanted hard-hitting books about the future of Israel, or similar non-fiction.  The stars faded from my eyes, and I decided to pass.

  

I looked for Jewish book blogs and other Jewish sites to review the book, and found very few that would be appropriate for my book.  Most Jewish sites are pretty serious.  The ones I did find produced the same results as my publicists list.  They’d ask for a review copy and that’s the last I’d hear.

At this point I’ve given up on Jews, except for my own synagogue which has been very supportive.   I realize my book is funny and the people who enjoy it are as likely to be goyim (pardon the expression) as Jews.  Anyone who enjoys Seinfeld can appreciate Interview with a Jewish Vampire.   I’m spending that $300 on advertising, including a featured author slot on this site.  I recently read that advertising catapulted one author’s novel to bestsellerdom on Amazon. (cannot remember her name, but she’s the one who bought the ad on Kirkus)     I’ve paid a service for a blog tour for May which at the least will garner some reviews on Amazon, booked two days of banner advertising on Kindleboards.com.   I’ve set up two local readings as well.   I tried Facebook without success.   I did well on Facebook with my last non-fiction book: He’s History; You’re Not: Surviving Divorce After Forty.  Fiction is a hard sell.

I will continue looking for Jewish markets, but my book also fits into a lot of other categories, including “chick lit.”   There are a lot of blogs in that area so I’m approaching them as well.   

What’s the message here?   If you want to effectively promote niche books write non-fiction.   The first book I self pubbed was The Doctor’s Guide to Weight Loss Surgery.   I wrote it with a surgeon and it sold around 8,000 copies before Random House bought it for a whopping $64,000.  It was the first book on the subject and the niche was breathlessly awaiting it on forums and websites (no blogs in those days).   I participated, let them know about it, and it took off.    I wish I’d self-pubbed my divorce book.  It’s sold almost 10,000 copies but in traditional publishing terms that’s bupkis.   I haven’t even made back my $12,000 advance.

Unfortunately I have no desire to continue writing consumer medical books or other non fiction or I’d actually be making a living.   I’m a novelist now and we fiction writers are a quixotic bunch.   We just have to slog along for those sales. 

Erica Manfred is a freelance journalist, humorous essayist, and author. Her most recent book is the novel, Interview with a Jewish Vampire. She’s also authored two non-fiction self-help books, including most recently He’s History You’re Not; Surviving Divorce After Forty. Her articles and essays have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The New York Times Magazine, Ms., New Age Journal, Village Voice, Woman’s Day, SELF, Ladies Home Journal, and many other publications. Erica lives in Woodstock, New York with her Chihuahua, Shadow, and her daughter, Freda. Brought up by Jewish parents who spoke Yiddish but avoided religion, she got her Jewish education at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation which welcomes Jews from all backgrounds, from atheist to Orthodox, to vampire. Her website iswww.ericamanfred.com, or visit www.jewishvampire.com

Binding Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy #1) by Catherine Bybee

Binding Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy #1)
by Catherine Bybee

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Published December 4th 2009 

ISBN 1601546076 (ISBN13: 9781601546074)

Duncan MacCoinnich's task... Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both. Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock Hand-fasting binds them. When Duncan whisks her to his home in Scotland she could accept that. But, can she forgive him for taking away her modern life when she finds herself in the sixteenth century? And is it love they feel? Or something else?

Enter to win a copy of Binding Vows

Click here to enter

Giveaway dates: Apr 25-Jun 25, 2012

2 copies available, 333 people requesting

Countries available: US

My Thoughts:
I recently read the Highland Shifter and fell in love with the entire MacCoinnich's family. I knew that I wanted to go back and read the entire trilogy and fall in love with them all over again.

The first book in the series is Duncan and Tara's story. I loved the uniqueness of it, it was a quite refreshing. It was not the same old same thing time traveler story. I am ranking the entire series as a must read!!  This book has it all- romance, steamy hot romance scenes, a villian, time travel, and a bit of paranormal.  Oh my...

Not exactly how she planned to spend her vacation, Tara couldn’t believe she’d gotten herself roped into another one of her friend, Cassy’s adventures- to attend a Renaissance fair. "To attend they needed to wear the costume they think is most befitting their station in life. So, only young unmarried maids are allowed to wear their hair down and uncovered. If ye are married, divorced, or are no longer virtuous, your hair should be bound or covered the entire time ye are at the fair." Talk about having a "scarlet letter" across her virginal chest. And if that wasn't enough, everyone had to pass the scrutiny of the town’s Gypsy Queen. There was no fooling the Gypsy... she was to decide if the costume and appearance is appropriate to each guest.

Enter the time travelers, Duncan and Finlay MacCoinnich traveled from the sixteenth century to the present to stop an evil Druid witch. The brothers' mission is travel to the 21st century to deflower a maiden so an exiled witch, Grainna, didn't regain her powers. Grainna was cursed to an eternity in an aging and powerless body. She was pushed five centuries into the future; into a time and land she had little knowledge of. Now, in order to break the curse, she had to find a woman of Druid descent, a virgin. Only the virgin’s blood would set her free.

Tara finds herself the 'chosen' maiden for this year's event, as part of the closing ceremonies of the event she participates in what she thought was mock hand-fasting ceremony with Duncan. But they weren’t handfasting pledges of love and devotion, but Druid wedding vows, "binding vows."

“Where two hearts beat, there is now but one. This tie that binds us together shall never be undone.”

Once spoken, they could never be taken back. Once spoken by one of Druid descent, they would bind you to the other person past this life and into the next...soon after that vows, Tara's adventure begins as she travels back in time.. and meets the "family" and their magically ways. Can Duncan convince Tara that it was not just an act and that they truly were destined to be soul mates?

I am not much for cliff hangers, however Catherine Bybee did a wonderful job building the fantasy world and adding so much depth to the characters you felt like you were part of the family, then she cleverly took you right to the edge and left you wanting more.... in a good way, it had me looking for more that I immediately had to buy the next book in the series "Silent Vows".

My Rating:

The Saint (Highland Guard #5) by Monica McCarty

The Saint (Highland Guard #5)
by Monica McCarty

Publisher: Randome House Publishing Group

Published March 27th 2012
ISBN:  0345528409 (ISBN13: 9780345528407)

Robert the Bruce consolidates lands and loyalty in a bold war for Scotland’s independence, as his elite team of warriors, the Highland Guard, fight for king, country . . . and love.
Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.
A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them.

My Thoughts

I knew from previous books in the Highland Guard Series, that Magnus was in love with a woman who was either off limits or involved with a fellow Guardsman. There is an unspoken "Code" between the Guardsman and Magnus knew to bow out. This book was a rollercoaster for me, so much emotion, it had me crying like a baby one minute and laughing at the banter the next.

I have read the first 4 books in the series, and although I think you can get by without reading them to read this one, I would highly recommend you reading them in order. They all help set the background and provide in depth character building.

You may have read other reviewers may not have cared for the heroine, Helen. I liked her spirited ways, she loved a man who was an enemy to her brothers. She made choices that were hard but she was also a young woman in an era when woman did not or could not stand up for themselves or be independent.

Monica did an outstanding job depicting their romance and the struggles of their pride keeping them apart. I will tell you I was surprised at the end, I won't tell you more but you will be surprised as I was on the ending. But rest assured another Highland Guard finds love and happiness. ((sigh)))

As with all the Highland Guard Series, it is not without the intense battle scenes. You will love this tale if you enjoy action, romance and my beloved "highlanders". Pick up a copy you will not be disappointed.
I just took a peek at the next book in the series, The Recruit, it is due out in October...

My Rating:

                     

In the Spotlight ~ Reviews by Molly

Another treat today, we have Molly from Reviews by Molly stopping by today to be featured "In the Spotlight".  

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
I became a book blogger in August of 2009. I had read several Linda Lael Miller books, and I had decided to look them up on Amazon to post my thoughts. I saw that someone had created a review but used their blogger name as their name on the reviews. So, further checking led me to Google-ing book review bloggers. Thus, my very first blog was born.

What’s the hardest part of being a book blogger? 

The hardest? Hmmm. Well, the fact that some people don't like your reviews because they have their own opinions. Or, someone may not like the style of my reviews ( I tend to make up my own words from time to time <grin>) and the criticism can be much like that of an author: it hurts.

 
Any words of wisdom to new bloggers? 

No matter the thoughts of others, no matter the criticism you may receive in your reviews, do NOT give up! Stay persistent and enjoy the aspect of reading and helping the authors. :-) 

How do you keep in touch with your followers? Any tips? 

I keep in touch with my followers through Facebook pages, Twitter, my blog and email. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with them all, but I try. Tips? Well, I need them too, so I really don't have any tips other than letting your followers now through a blog post here and there that they mean the world to ya! 

 
The Balancing Act. How do you carve out time between work, your family and posting to your blog?

I do the majority of my blogging at night after the kiddos are in bed. I'm a divorced mom of two so it's a little hard to post when they are up and rowdy. They attend school, too, so I can sneak on while they are there. Currently, my job as a Pharmacy Technician isn't providing many hours, so I have lots of daytime time to get on the blog. 

 
How do you write a review for a book not to your liking? 

I try to include all the positive thoughts and incorporate them in to my negative thoughts. I let the followers know that while I didn't like such and such about a book, that they may have different tastes than I do and I encourage them to still give it a try. I always praise the author for their effort, regardless of what I didn't like about the book.

Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more.. 

I would most definitely love to meet Lori Foster! Her suspenseful romance novels are filled to overflowing with super sexy Alpha males and I drool over them constantly. I would love to sit down and chat about her heroes and find out all that's behind her work.

How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review in a month?

My TBR? Oh, I'd say bigger than the Empire State Building.....<grin>. Actually, it's more like 5 bookshelves full plus stacks upon stacks of books in my closet. Yea. I really don't need more but it's an addiction. I can review up to 40 books a month if they are smaller books. If they are larger, probably about 20. I can typically read a book in a day, sometimes 2 if they are smaller to mid size. The 400 + pages books, generally take me 3 days.

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? 

 Molly: The Too Many Books To Count Kindle Addicted Mama Who Obsesses Over Hot Fictional Guys.  Yea I know. Lame. But, it's true. I do obsess over hotness!

On a Personal Note:
A long term blogger, and avid reader of paranormal romance,crime, mystery and thriller fiction, Molly is the founder of Reviews By Molly. Listing authors such as Lori Foster,Carrie Ann Ryan, Terry Spear,Joel M. Andre, Vincent Zandri, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, and Stephen King amongst her favorites, she has been hosting tours and posting reviews for several years. Molly understands what’s involved in making a the blogging world a success and recognizing that all authors have a talent hidden within and deserve chances to be read and known. Molly is a single mom of 2 boys, who is having an affair with her Kindle, whose name is Kent. She adores Kent the Kindle ALMOST as much as she adores her sons. Where you find Molly, you'll find a great new (or old!) book close by, either on Kent the Kindle or in good ol' paperback form.




Are you interested in being featured "In the Spotlight", stop by and fill on contact form.

The Werewolf's Wife by Michele Hauf

The Werewolf's Wife
by Michele Hauf
Publisher: Harlequin
Published March 20th 2012

ISBN: 0373618808 (ISBN13: 9780373618804)

Review courtesy of netGalley

The legacy he must obey…The child she must save…The man who threatens to fulfill her every fantasy…and break her heart.
Alpha wolf Ridge Addison left his wife in Las Vegas, vowing to put their one reckless night of passion behind him and return to his clan. Thirteen years later he needs a divorce so he can become pack leader. Yet he's never forgotten the sensuous witch whose life he saved…or the knee-buckling kisses he still craves.
After they parted, Abigail tried banishing Ridge from her memory. Now her heart belongs only to her son. But when the boy is kidnapped, she knows she alone can't save him. Though Abigail's body still aches for Ridge, she's willing to give him his freedom in exchange for his help. But who will shield her heart from the only man she's ever let claim her, body and soul?

My thoughts:

I haven't read a paranormal shifter book in a very long time. The old saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", kept playing in my head while I was reading this. I saw the writing on the wall on this one, hmm... Seems like those quickie Vegas weddings just don't last, like they use to.

Ridge isn't able to be the "leader of the pack" until he cleans up some unfinished business. So off he goes looking for a witch, yes I mean that literally,  he married thirteen years ago so he can get a divorce. Little did he know their one night tied them together forever, yep you guessed it a little bambino.. 

This is the first time I read any of Michele Hauf's book, and I did enjoy it, just some of the plot was predictable. There were some hot steamy sex scenes to keep the pages turning, but I felt I could tell the outcome before I got to the third chapter.

I still think it is a good read and I think anyone who likes paranormal romance will enjoy this one. As I said it is the first time for me to read this author, but I liked her style her ease of words that I will definitely pick up another one of her books.  I will caution you that this was part of a series and at first I was a little lost without reading them first.  I also didn't get a good picture in my head of what he "shifted" to, so I had to google some pics just to get an image to reference back to.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:  

             

In the Spotlight ~ Twisting the Lens

"In the Spotlight" has become a popular weekly feature. I met so many talented bloggers, today is no exception. We are joined by Jamie from  "Twisting the Lens".  You can also follow Jamie's reviews at goodreads.

Let's all give a big welcome to Jamie!!  Thanks for stopping by today.

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
I started blogging about a year ago when I began having more time on my hands. There were so many books that I wanted to read, and I began writing reviews for the books I read, as a way of keeping track of how many I had read. Before I knew it, I was hooked on blogging and began having requests from authors to review their work.

So far, what’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
It is always tough to not be able to finish a book. I don’t leave too many unfinished, but there really is no good way to tell someone that you did not get into their book enough to be able to finish it for review. Authors put their heart and soul out there, and rejection- no matter how nicely delivered- is never easy to hear.

What do you do when you are not blogging?
Right now, I am in between jobs- so I am eagerly waiting to see where I am lead in that part of my life. Fitness and nutrition is a big part of my life; I enjoy lifting weights and finding new healthy recipes to try. I am also actively involved in the local domestic violence/sexual assault services agency as a board member.

What is your preferred reading device, a Kindle or a Nook (or another electronic book reader), or do you prefer reading a traditional book?
I definitely prefer a print book to anything electronic. There is just something comforting about curling up with one, that I am not sure I could find with an electronic device. I will admit, though, my dad recently got a Kindle Fire, and I am pretty impressed with it. So, e-books may not be too far away for me. I’ll never give up a perfectly bound book, though.

How many followers do you have? How often do you post to your blog?
I have about 150 followers right now- and hopefully growing! I try to post at least four times a week, if not more.

You have a catchy name for your blog, tell us the name and meaning behind, Twisting the Lens.
Originally, I wasn’t sure if I was going to devote my blog to predominately books, so I wanted a more neutral name. I was a sociology major at a liberal arts college, and one of the key things that I learned was viewing the world through different ‘lenses’, or different perspectives. I enjoy taking an idea and seeing how many ways it can be interpreted to find different meanings. I think of it as having a camera, and finding different ways to focus on the topic- or, ‘twisting the lens’.

Who are your three favorite authors?
This is harder than it seems! I really have to break it down into classic authors, and contemporary authors, to be fair.

Classic: Edgar Allen Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Anne Bronte

Contemporary: Jeffery Eugenides, Neil Gaiman, and Alice Sebold

Which author would you most like to meet (dead or alive)? Tell us more..
It would be very cool to meet Poe, but I suppose that would make him a zombie, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Neil Gaiman would probably be a better one to meet, on account of the whole not being dead thing.

How big is your TBR pile? How many books do you read/review in a month?
Right now, I have about 45-50 books on my pile. I am able to read and review about 8-12 a month.

Finally, if someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Pretty Dark and Twisty

On A Personal Note
I graduated from Albion College in Albion, MI with a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology, and a minor in Gender Studies. Since then, I have been moving around and bumming around trying to find a job that is the right fit for me. I have a lot of interests, and that sometimes makes me get bored when I am in one job for too long. One day, I hope to own a coffee shop, because that really was the best job ever and I met some really neat people there. People have said I am a bit weird, but I just say I am me.



Are you interested in being featured "In the Spotlight", stop by and fill on contact form.

Too Tempting To Resist by Cara Elliott

Too Tempting To Resist
Cara Elliott
Pubisher  Grand Central Publishing
Published  May 1st 2012
ISBN 0446584568 (ISBN13: 9780446584562)

Review courtesy of netGalley

Determined to stop her wayward brother from squandering their dwindling fortune, Lady Eliza Brentford decides to follow him to his favorite den of depravity. There, among the candlelight and raucous revelry, she encounters her brother's role model in debauchery, the notorious Marquess of Haddan, Gryffin Dwight. Staring into his smoldering green eyes, Eliza can't help but find the rakehell nobleman seductively charming-and sinfully attractive.

My Thoughts:

For those of you new to the series, this is the second book in the Lords of Midnight series.  It is a stand alone book, though there are some reoccuring characters from the first book, you won't feel lost not having read the first book.

Here is a quick summary of the "Hellhounds"... known for their fiery tempers, biting cynicism and taste for prowling the darker side of London, the trio of Connor Linsley, Gryffin Dwight and Cameron Daggett have been dubbed “The Hellhounds”. Though their august pedigrees allow them to roam at will through the highest circles of Society, they are seen as dangerous predators, whose appearances in the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair sends a frisson of fear through the ton.

Too Tempting to Resist centers around Gryffin, who as we learned a bit about last time, is a typical rake. But, what we learned in this book is Gryffin has a sensitive and private side, who would have known that this rake pens books on the language of flowers. His hidden talents are in landscaping. He is penning his newest book and he is in need of an illustrator. Our heroine, Eliza, well she is a surprise. She is a woman in a man's world. She has a hidden talent of

Our heroine, Eliza has her own private side, both personally and professionally. She has been living in a man's world and ready to escape. She is keeping her family's estate afloat despite her brother's gambling and immature ways. Where she finds her escape is in her illustrations; she has an escape plan and all she has to do is complete her this last assignment. As it is unheard of for a women in this time period, she herself uses a pen name for her work. Hmmm, can you guess how this is going to turn out....

I learned so much about the language of flowers, I love books where I can take something away from it. You will love this book, I read it from cover to cover within a day. Cara has done a wonderful job in building the characters and keeping the pace. There is no lag time in this book. This book was "too tempting to resist", and if you are like me and love historical romance and happy ever afters, you are sure to love this book.  And for those dragon lovers, wait until you learn about Gryffin's tattoo!!!  Steamy!!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 
                    
Author

Cara Elliott started creating books at the age of five, or so her mother tells her. And Mom has the proof preserved in a family scrapbook—a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses. Cara has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the covers of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

A graduate of Yale University, Cara has garnered numerous accolades for her writing, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery /Suspense and two RITAs nominations for Regency Romance. (She also writes a historical mystery series under the nom de plume Andrea Penrose.)

Book Spotlight~ Second Chance by Debbie Gould

Today we are spotlighting Debbie Gould, she is on a VBT for Second Chance.  Here are other stops on the tour.


Lieutenant Colin Beckett, US Air Force special ops, lost his wife in childbirth while off on a mission. Two years later, he’s still trying to come to grips with the guilt that tortures him. And to complicate matters, he finds himself undeniably attracted to his wife’s sister, Emily. Struggling with his desire, he tells himself he doesn’t deserve a second chance with such an amazing woman.

Emily wants Colin in her life and her bed. Enlisting the help of Colin’s teammate’s and Madame Eve’s 1 Night Stand dating service, she plans to prove to Colin he can have everything he lost once again.

Will their one night lead to the happy ending she longs for or the loneliness he thinks he deserves?

                                           

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of two Debbie and her mother moved to New Jersey, spending many happy years on her grandparents’ horse farm. You’ll sometimes find this setting as a backdrop in her work.

As a teenager, she and her mother found a new home in Vermont, where she currently resides. With a daughter in the Air Force, one son in college and the other working for the family business, Debbie now shuffles her time between a husband and full time job as a nurse, and writing.

About seven years ago, while looking at over three hundred treasured books lining her shelves, she realized there was a multitude of stories of her own clamoring for release. Since then, she’s seriously persevered in keeping the keyboard in constant motion.

With two novels, Mountain’s Echo and Infidelity, and two novellas, November Rain and Second Chance now published, Debbie is now also working with a partner, L.J. Garland. Together the two have written Sins of the Mind and are hard at work on many more manuscripts.

Debbie has been a member of KOD, FTHRW, ELEMENTS and RWA Online.

Website / Blog

In the Spotlight ~ Jess the Romanceaholic

Guess who is "In the Spotlight" today, , none other than Jess from Romanceaholic.  Many of you know her from her blog and her honest reviews on Goodreads.

Thanks Jess for stopping by....

When and how did you decide to become a book blogger?
I started my blog in February of 2011, as a way to spotlight my favorite books. I got my start writing reviews on Goodreads.com several months prior to that, but there are just so many more options for networking with readers, bloggers, and even authors when you have a blog of your own. I wanted a place where I could develop my own personal style of review, as well as a place where I could do fun things such as giveaways and host author interviews.

What’s the hardest part of being a book blogger?
There are many challenges I've faced as a book blogger, such as learning to use social media, tackling CSS and graphic design issues for the blog itself, and learning to "sell myself" in approaching publishers to request review copies.

For me, however, the biggest challenge is always writing the reviews themselves. I'm not a professional writer (far from it!), and so many times I find it hard to put my feelings for a book into words in a way that is not only fair and entertaining, but also in a way that expresses my true feelings about the book without being full of spoilers.