Monday, August 31, 2015

Month In Review ~ August 2015



Hey, Everyone! It's time to look back to see what my August looked like! Month in Review is a monthly meme hosted by Kathryn @ Book Date!

Books Read:

The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant
Inspired by Grace by Jeanna Ellsworth
Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein <<< LOVED!
Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma


FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


Reviews:


The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant 
(link to my review)







Newly Purchased Books:

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Shackled by Tom Leveen

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 




That's about it for this month. School started this month, so I've been busy homeschooling one and chauffeuring the other to school and back. 

Have a great September, and let me know in the comments how your August was! :)

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant ~ My Review

The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant 

Publication Date: July 26th, 2015 
Publisher: Twelfth Night Publishing 
Pages: 262 
Received: e-copy from the author 
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars






The One That I Want is the second of Marilyn Brant’s stand-alone Mirabelle Harbor Series. I have to say, I really enjoy this sweet and touching story! 

Julia Crane has been a widow for about seven months now. It’s been very hard for both her and her 10-year-old daughter as Adam was an amazing husband and father. Julia is sure her heart will never love anyone as much as she loved Adam, not even by a little bit, but it’s time to start living again. Her daughter is suffering from depression, and Julia wants to show her it’s okay to be happy again after losing her father. So, she agrees to go out for drinks with her best friend, Sharlene. There she runs into her high school sweetheart! He is just the first of three men from her past that is suddenly back into her life. Things start off poorly as none of the first encounters with these gentlemen goes well! Poor Julia! 


I thought Ms. Brant did a wonderful job showing a mother and daughter dealing with the grief of losing a beloved husband and father without being too heavy. 

I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this story. Mainly because I wasn’t finding anything to like about these three men (which is what I think Ms. Brant intended). Until one of them starts rising to the top, and I start falling in love with him myself! I won’t name him because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but he was so sweet to Julia and her daughter. *sigh* 

I liked Julia’s best friend, Sharlene, and her four brothers! I look forward to getting to know them better in the previous (Take a Chance on Me, book 1) and upcoming books in the Mirabelle Harbor Series!

I loved The One That I Want! I always enjoy Ms. Brant’s stories, and this was no exception!


FTC Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the story from the author for my honest review.


Buy: Amazon

Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 



Connect with Marilyn Brant




Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ August 26, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:


  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you plan on reading next?



What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma. I think I'm on a WWII kick! It's interesting to get another look at the war from an American/German woman and an escaped British POW who are trying to get out of Germany before the Russians invade. They are being heavily bombed and shot at by Russian aircraft.  So far it's good. 





What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein. Wow! What an amazing story! It's about a girl, she's a secret agent, who is captured and interrogated by the Gestapo during WWII. This historical fiction is more than just a WWII story, it's a story about courage and friendship.  I would really encourage you to read this one!





What do I plan on reading next? Again, I'm not sure. There is so much happening in my life right now that it's hard to know what I will feel like reading. I do have Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess that I need to read and review, so maybe I'll read that one. It looks like a fun modern retelling of Emma by Jane Austen!




FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


What are you reading? I'd love to hear!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ August 19, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:




  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you plan on reading next?

What am I currently reading? I'm currently reading Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein. It's pretty good. I'm not reading through this very fast, though. Taking my time. 






What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Inspired by Grace by Jeanna Ellsworth. This was very good! I truly enjoyed it! Hopefully, I'll have a review up soon! 





I also read Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams. This was a quick, sweet read! More of a novella, I read this romance in one sitting. 









What do I plan on reading next? I'm not sure at the moment! :)



FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


What are you reading? I'd love to hear!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Guest Post with Zoe Burton ~ Promises Kept ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hey, Everyone!  Today, I would like to welcome Zoe Burton to So little time...! She has a new book out, Promises Kept, and she's here to tell us about it and give us a little taste with an excerpt! Plus, she's giving away a copy of her new book! Details about the giveaway are below! 




     Thanks so much for having me today, Candy! I’m excited that I have the opportunity to talk about my new book! :D

     “Promises Kept” came about because the characters from my first book, “I Promise To…,” would not let me go, and also because I got so many requests for a sequel. Since I did love the characters and their story, I went ahead and wrote more about them. When I posted on the forums, prior to publishing, I got requests for a third volume! For now, that is not a priority, but I won’t rule it out for the future. ☺

     You might wonder if you need to read “I Promise To…” to understand “Promises Kept” and the answer to that is no. It is a stand-alone book in which I have explained what happened in the first one. That being said, if you want more actual detail, you can read “I Promise To…” ;)

     You might also wonder about the characters in my book. Lizzy is 16 when she marries Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is barely 21. She turns 17 in “Promises Kept” though I did not show her birthday. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s father, named George Darcy in my book, is alive and well (mostly), and Georgiana is around 12. The Fitzwilliam family is slightly altered in that the Colonel is still a Lieutenant, as he is also younger than canon. There are villains aplenty. Caroline Bingley and George Wickham make an appearance, as does Lord Regis from “I Promise To…” and several catty women of the ton out to destroy Our Dear Girl.

     What I wanted to show in this book is how Elizabeth goes from being fearful after her assault by Lord Regis to being the self-assured young woman we know from the original Pride & Prejudice. I think I did that, and I hope readers agree. What I think I unintentionally did was address the issue of bullying. There are several examples of it in this story as well as examples of responses to it. The clear message is that being a bully is not acceptable, and Elizabeth’s path back to herself is, in my opinion, a realistic example of what happens when one has gone through a traumatic event. Elizabeth’s relationship with her Fitzwilliam is a sweet one. I love his devotion to her and the way she teases him. ☺ And even though there are hints at their activities, I always leave my readers to use their imaginations as to what goes on in their private times.

     Now that I have described my book, here is an excerpt for you to try. I hope you like it!

~ * ~ * ~

     Finally, the night of the party arrived. As the family, minus Georgiana, who ate in the nursery that night, stood in the foyer ready to greet their guests, Elizabeth nervously smoothed out her skirt. Noticing the sign of anxiety, Mr. Darcy and Fitzwilliam both gave her words of encouragement. When words did not seem to help, Fitzwilliam decided she needed to relax a bit. Excusing them, he drew her into a nearby room, shutting and locking the door behind them before kissing her senseless. When he finally felt her lean bonelessly into him, he slowed the caress of his lips before drawing away. The sight of her half-lidded eyes and slightly swollen lips made him smile, and he asked, “How are you feeling?”

     “Wonderful,” Elizabeth breathed.

     Chuckling, he replied, “Then let’s get you out there before the effect wears off.” And so he led her back out to the receiving line in time to greet the Matlock party.

     Lady Matlock examined the pair with narrowed eyes. “What have the two of you been doing?”

     “I took my wife into the other room for a few minutes. She was anxious and needed to relax. Her hair is not mussed, and neither is her gown. She is happy and at ease.”

     “Hmph,” his aunt replied. “Anyone with eyes will guess how you relaxed her. You really should be more careful about these things, but since your father was aware of what was happening, I suppose nothing I can say will make a difference.”

     Her nephew only smiled and bowed, his hand settled against the small of the blushing Elizabeth’s back, where his thumb rubbed up and down.

     As Lord and Lady Matlock joined the receiving line, the first of the guests began to enter the house. Smiling graciously and glad that her husband had distracted her from her concerns, Elizabeth was able to greet each visitor with confidence. She curtseyed and smiled, asked after family members, and received comments and the inevitable subtle criticisms with grace.

     The dinner itself went well. The staff did the family, especially the young mistress, proud. Every course was timed perfectly and served at the correct temperature. Sharp-eyed footmen made sure wine glasses remained full at all times, and the hosts kept the conversation flowing. It was only after the ladies retired to the drawing room that cracks began to show in the harmony of the gathering.

     Not long after Elizabeth led the ladies into the room, a young woman approached her with a pinched look and her nose in the air.

     “Mrs. Darcy.” The two curtseyed to each other.

     “Miss Pennywhistle, how good of you and your family to attend our little soiree.” Elizabeth smiled at her guest, though every warning gong in her head was sounding. She was sure this young lady was going to try to discompose her.

     “I spoke recently with my close friend, Lady Penelope Mays…perhaps you remember her?” At Elizabeths’ nod, she continued, “I must say I agree with her estimation of you. You do not belong. I believe I will join her in her quest to remove you from our society.”

~ * ~ * ~




Book Blurb:

This "Pride and Prejudice" novel variation follows Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy through the first year of their marriage. Arranged by his father in the I Promise To… novella, their union saved Elizabeth from a persistent, abusive suitor. The couple has known each other for years and quickly come to realize their love for each other. However, not everyone is happy with the marriage, and trouble comes quickly upon them. Dealing with jealous ladies and scornful gentlemen in London as well as illness and injury at Pemberley, they grow together as a couple while Elizabeth regains the confidence she has lost.

      

Promises Kept is available at Amazon , and will soon be on Nook and Kobo, as well.

Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!



Connect with Zoe Burton

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* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

It's giveaway time!! Zoe is generously giving away one e-copy (Kindle only) of Promises Kept to one lucky winner! To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment! 

Thank you, Zoe!


  • One person will win an e-copy (Kindle format only) of Promises Kept.
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: August 18, 2015, midnight PDT.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Many thanks to Zoe Burton for being a guest on So little time...! It's been a pleasure having you here! Congratulations on your new book! 

Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above) and leave a comment below. If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks and good luck! :)

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Guest Post with Lory Lilian - Sketching Mr. Darcy + Giveaway!

Hello, my fellow readers! Today brings the lovely Lory Lilian to So little time...I'm delighted to have her here with us! As many of you know, she has a new book out called Sketching Mr. Darcy! And she's here to tell us a little bit about what inspired her to write it! 




It is my great pleasure to be here, and I want to thank Candy for inviting me and you all for joining us.

I will take this opportunity to share a few things about my latest book “Sketching Mr. Darcy” – without giving away anything from its mystery. Well, it is also true that those who have known me for years can easily guess what is the book: moderate angst, lots of hot mush and lots of scenes/dialogs between our dear couple. Not much an of surprise from me in this area!

The idea of a forced marriage scenario had been twisting in my mind for a very long time; I was rather reluctant to do it because there are already lots of forced marriage JAFF stories. Some of them really excellent. Basically, the scenario is one of two: either Elizabeth accepts Darcy because of her family’s tragic situation, or she is forced due to some unfortunate circumstances that threaten her reputation, or she is forced into it to avoid an even worse fate (marrying Mr. Collins or something similar). So what to do, what to do to add a touch of originality, to make something new, to hold the reader’s interest?

It is my strongest wish to put in each of my books something that had not been done before in JAFF. Something to single out my story, to make the readers remember it. In this, I have the invaluable help of one of my awesome editors: Margaret Fransen (some of you might know her as marliz on jaff sites). So basically, Margaret is an incredible encyclopedia of everything regarding JAFF! She knows all the stories, all the plot lines, all the original characters. So each time, I ask her: had this been done before? I want to be sure it is new and original. Lol 

In Rainy Days I had the cottage, Lady Matlock and little Becky; in Remembrance of the Past – Lady Cassandra and Lady Catherine’s confrontation with Mr. Bennet; in His Uncle’s Favourite – Lord Matlock and Lady Sinclair – who tried to insinuate herself into Darcy’s bed - ending up sleeping with his valet. lol

So, coming back to Sketching Mr. Darcy: what new can be done with a forced marriage E&D scenario? First – we have the prologue, which you might read for free on Kindle. Second: we have Darcy’s past story – and please do not let yourself be distressed by it, as some reviewers did. For me, it is the golden rule that Elizabeth and Darcy can only be in love with each other! Yes, I am strongly convinced that Darcy was an experienced man – any gentleman of the world, at 28, was, IMHO. But I also strongly believe that he had never been in love before Elizabeth – nor she had been before him!

Now back to point number three: there are some rumours that induce their hastened marriage, but both of then enter into it with their heads clear and minds open.  Nobody dies, no tragedy occurs. Elizabeth and Darcy had a long and clarifying discussion before the marriage – and both decided towards it. Nobody forced Elizabeth – quite the contrary. She is a powerful character and – surprisingly – a very rational one. At least in behaviours, if not always in feelings and own thoughts. They often have misunderstandings, but always settle them.

They are both strong and daring – just as they were during their first dance at the Netherfield Ball – a battle of wills, with two opponents with different but equally strong skills.

The rest of their story, why it is called “Sketching Mr. Darcy” and what is the meaning of the beautiful cover? I invite you to find out by reading the book yourself to discover if I did manage to add a trace of originality in it or not.

I am proud and deeply touched to say that many people seemed to like it, as the story has held an incredible rank of 385 in total Amazon Kindle books. And it stays on first positions in 3 categories: Regency, Classics and Historical stories, both on Amazon.com and Amazon UK. Hope you will enjoy it, too.




The morning after the Netherfield Ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy is ready to leave Hertfordshire, taking his friend Bingley away from the lady of his choice and distancing himself from her sister, who has disturbed his tranquility for weeks. 

The path, meant to lead him away, unexpectedly brings him close to the person he most wants to avoid, and saving Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s life becomes not only his immediate goal but also a decision that affects his future. 

A strong and powerful yet forgotten bond from their past—combined with startling events in the present—brings Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy into a marriage not planned but accepted by both, forcing them to break the barriers between them in order to build their future happiness. 

The book includes mature content.


Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads.


FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!




Connect with Lory Lilian




* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

It's giveaway time!! Lory Lilian is generously giving away one paperback and one e-copy of Sketching Mr. Darcy to two lucky people! This giveaway is open Internationally! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment.

Thank you, Lory!


  • One person will win a paperback of Sketching Mr. Darcy.
  • One person will win an e-copy of Sketching Mr. Darcy.
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: August 13, 2015, midnight PDT

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Many thanks to Lory Lilian for being a guest on So little time...! It's been a pleasure to have you here! Congratulations on your new book and your high rankings on Amazon!

Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above) and leave a comment below. If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks and good luck!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ August 5, 2015


What are you Reading? is my weekly Wednesday meme! You are welcome to join me, just answer the following questions:


  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you plan on reading next?



What am I currently reading? I just started reading Inspired by Grace by Jeanna Ellsworth. I've only read the first chapter and it's good so far! 








What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading  The One That I Want (Mirabelle Harbor, Book 2) by Marilyn Brant. I really like this! It was a sweet read!






What do I plan on reading next? Again, I'm not sure. Maybe, Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess. This is a modern Emma retelling. Sounds fun!





FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


What are you reading? I'd love to hear! 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Mr. Darcy's Rival by Kara Louise ~ My Review

Mr. Darcy’s Rival by Kara Louise 

Publication Date: May 29th 2015 
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 
Pages: 362 
Received: e-copy from the author 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Book Blurb:

Mr. Darcy has learned he must prepare himself when he and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, make their yearly visit to his aunt, particularly when it comes to Lady Catherine’s expectation that he marry her daughter, Anne. 

This year, however, will throw in a few additional obstacles to Darcy’s peace of mind with the presence of a nephew on the de Bourgh side of the family, and quite unexpectedly, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. 

An interrupted proposal, a letter written and unknowingly lost, a harsh accusation, and a rival all conspire to thwart Mr. Darcy in securing Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s affections when he visits his aunt at Rosings. 

Will Elizabeth find the handsome and engaging Mr. Rickland more suited to her than Mr. Darcy? And will a novel she reads that was written secretly by Miss Anne de Bourgh help smooth the path to the couple finding true love?

My Review:

Kara Louise is one of my favorite Austenesque authors, and I always look forward to one of her stories. I’m happy to report that she has done it again with Mr. Darcy’s Rival! It might be my new favorite of hers, possibly tying with Mr. Darcy’s Voyage!

What if, while in Hunsford visiting Charlotte, there happens to be another guest at Rosings. Not Darcy, but another of Lady Catherine’s nephews on her late husband’s side of the family, Mr. Rickland. He has arrived before Darcy and has a full week to get to know Elizabeth before Darcy arrives. Darcy is surprised to find Elizabeth visiting in Kent, and he is annoyed to find Rickland there as well with his easy manners, enjoying Elizabeth’s company. Darcy now realizes Elizabeth is perfect for him, and he can't live without her, but is he too late? Will he lose her to Rickland?

With Mr. Rickland, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy all at Rosings there is much more excitement and activity! Poor Darcy doesn't stand a chance with both Rickland and the Colonel monopolizing Elizabeth's attention! 

I wasn’t a fan of Mr. Rickland, but of course, I’m never a fan of a rival of Darcy’s. ;) Elizabeth enjoys his company and likes that he seems to be singling her out. But I believe fate has a hand in getting Elizabeth and Darcy together in ways I’ll let you discover as you read the story yourself! But let me say, I took great pleasure in this version of “the letter".

I loved this Anne! She is still sickly and quiet, but she has a little something going on in the story that I quite enjoyed, and I loved how it turns out!

I would high recommend Mr. Darcy’s Rival for your reading pleasure! This Pride and Prejudice variation kept me up late into the night anticipating what was going to happen next! I loved it!


FTC Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the story from the author.

Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads.


FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!


Connect with Kara Louise



Any thoughts? I'd love to hear from you!
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