Tuesday, August 29, 2017

My Six Year Blogiversary! ~ #Giveaway!


Hello, friends! It's my Blogiversary! Woohoo! {{throws confetti}}

Six years ago today I started this blog. I had no idea what I was doing. I was just playing around on Blogger to see what it was all about, and to see if I could make a blog page that looked like some of my favorite bloggers. I gave no thought to my blog name. I remember laughing at myself as I was setting it up, thinking I have no time for this, so I wrote "So little time..." for the title. And here I am six years later still plugging away! 

I found a direction and started posting reviews quite regularly. Sadly, that has fallen by the wayside. Posting one review a week burned me out. Plus, life, in general, got busier. I still have hopes of starting that up again. This should be my last year homeschooling, and, fingers crossed, I will have more time next year! 

This is the first year I have celebrated my blogiversary! Usually, I'm too busy with the start of school to even think about it! Lol! This year I have some books I need to give away and thought, this would be a good time to celebrate! 

So, let's get the party started! My shelves are overflowing with books, and I sadly need to thin them out. There are few I had doubles of! Plus, a dear friend gave me the set of Pamela Aidan books that she wanted to find a good home for. Lucky you!!

 * * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

I have 6 books and 1 set of books (counted as one book) - totaling 7 gently used books to give away. 



The set: Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Bk. 1, Bk. 2, & Bk 3) by Pamela Aidan. 



Haunting Mr. Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory ~ My Review
Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell
Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Jane Austen in Scarsdale by Paula Marantz Cohen

A couple of non-Austen: 

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg ~ My Review
Cinder by Marissa Meyer

To enter, leave a comment letting me know which book(s) you are interested in having in your library. I will be choosing 7 different winners - one book per winner.

  • 7 different winners will be chosen. 
  • One book per winner.
  • Please include your e-mail or twitter name. If you leave your e-mail, please put parentheses around (at) and (dot).
  • Winners will be picked randomly.
  • This giveaway is open to continental US residents only.
  • Last day to enter is Sept. 5th, 2017, 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Good luck! 

Thank you for all your support throughout the years! You're the best! 

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ August 23, 2017

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list: 

I haven't made any progress on A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin this week.







I just finished Sweet by Emmy Laybourne. After finishing Emmy's Monument 14 series, I wanted to jump into Sweet to see if I liked it as well. I bought Sweet soon after it came out, and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since! Why do we buy books and then take so long to read them?! 

Sweet is a story about a new sweetener that is about to come on the market. The week before its release, the company hosts a cruise, and everyone on board gets to be the first to try the product. It helps you lose weight very quickly, but the side effect is deadly -- turning the passengers into crazy, zombie-like creatures! 4/5 stars


I also finished Sky on Fire and Savage Drift (both Monument 14) by Emmy Laybourne this week. They were as good or better the second time around! 




What's next? I really want to get to The Journey Home by Karen M Cox! This is a side-sequel, novella to Karen's 1932, Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the Great Depression. It's Georgiana's story. 







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!



I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words


So, tell me, what are you reading? 

Friday, August 18, 2017

Spotlight: Knight on the Texas Plains by Linda Broday ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I love a good western romance, and I'm thrilled to spotlight Knight on the Texas Plains by Linda Broday! I read this book about five years ago and really enjoyed it. Sourcebooks Casablanca is re-releasing it, and it has a beautiful new cover! 




Title: Knight on the Texas Plains 
Author: Linda Broday 
Series: Texas Heroes, #1 
Pub Date: August 1, 2017 

He’ll do whatever it takes 
To keep them safe 

Duel McClain has lost everything he’s ever loved: his wife, his son, his sense of self. But when a strange twist of fate—and a poker game he’ll never forget—leaves an innocent little girl in his care, Duel vows to defend his new family to his very last breath. If only he knew a single thing about taking care of babies… 

Just as Duel swears his life can’t get any more complicated, a beautiful woman stumbles into the light of his campfire, desperate for help. Jessie Foltry is hungry, tired, and running for her life. She agrees to help Duel care for the child in exchange for his protection, even as she fights to guard her broken heart. But Duel will do whatever it takes to make Jessie see that the Texas plains have more than one kind of knight, and perhaps their salvation is closer than either of them could have dreamed…


Buy: AmazonB&NiBooks IndieBoundKobo
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! 

Excerpt:

Duel McClain lifted the whiskey glass and let the fiery elixir slide down his throat. The burning path brought an odd sort of relief, momentarily dulling the permanent ache in his belly. The dealer slapped three cards in front of him. Duel took his time picking them up. A baby, whimpering at the men’s feet, unraveled the tightly knit threads of his composure. How could he concentrate with that?

 A glance at the first card revealed an ace of spades. He stuck it between the eight of hearts and the two of clubs in his hand. Then he turned over an eight of diamonds. A pair might take the hefty pot in the middle of the table—that is, if he cared enough to try. Shielding his last card from the curious eyes of his opponents, he lifted it slowly. An ace of clubs. 

His blood turned to ice.

Aces and eights—the deadman’s hand. 

A resigned calm welled up. If lady luck rode with Duel tonight, the only space he’d take up would be on Boot Hill.

Something brushed the leg of his trousers. An animal must have sneaked under the swinging batwing doors and beneath the table. The baby’s sniffling grew louder. Tiny hands gripped his leg getting his attention. What in blue blazes? He leaned down. The baby had crawled to him and now tugged, trying to pull itself upright. Thin and dirty, the child stared up at him and he fought against the protective urge that rose at the sight of tears glistening in the kid’s big brown eyes. 

“Up the bet, mister, or fold.” 

The dealer broke his trance. Duel pitched two bits onto the pile. He just wanted to get this over with and leave. One by one each opponent around the table tossed down their cards in defeat until just two remained in the game—him and the stranger. The baby gurgled and played with the fringe running the length of Duel’s leg. 

He shifted in his seat, feeling as if a gang of horse thieves had staked him out in a red-ant bed. If he had a lick of sense he’d fold and get the hell out. Deadman’s hand be damned.

A smug expression drifted across the face of the babe’s father when Duel closed up his cards, intending to lay them down. 

Revulsion made Duel ache to smash the stranger’s jaw. Instead, he reached into his pocket for six bits—all that he possessed. He hesitated for only a split second, glancing down at the filthy child who deserved more out of life than the sorry-assed father it had gotten. Then he shifted his gaze, savoring the look of surprise on his opponent’s face when he placed his bet. 

The sour-faced weasel had been ready to reach for the pot, sure he’d won. His face colored. He was reduced to turning each of his pockets inside out for more coins. None came to light.

“Whatcha gonna do, Will? Either come up with more or Duel here wins.” The dealer’s impatience grew. 

“Hold your horses.” The man named Will leaned down. “Gal, where’d you go? Git your useless hide over here to your pa. Don’t know why I didn’t drown you when you was born.” 

So, the child was a girl. Duel reached down and drew her up. 

The weasel snatched the girl by one fragile arm. “Tryin’ to steal my daughter?” 

Ignoring the question and the loud wails that came from the child, Duel leaned forward to scoop up his winnings. 

“Not so fast, mister.” Will sat the baby in the middle of the table. “I’m puttin’ up this here brat. She’s worth six bits, I reckon. You win an’ you got yourself a young’un.” 

“I won’t gamble with a man’s flesh and blood,” Duel said.  

The dealer frowned. “The bet’s proper, I say. Let’s get on with it. Show your cards, Will.”

Tears ran down the baby girl’s face leaving white trails amid the filth. For a split second, Duel wished he held more than the lousy two pair, wished he could alter the hands of fate. But he’d never been able to change it before. What made him think he could now? He’d spent a lifetime making choices, and most had turned out wrong.

“Quit your sniveling, you brat,” Will snapped at the child as he flipped his cards face up. Two pair also. Kings and deuces. 

Quiet calm washed over Duel. He gave the group a wintry smile and revealed his hand. 

“Aces n’ eights. Beats your pair, Will. Done in by the Deadman’s hand.” The dealer straightened his silk vest and poured himself a generous drink. 

Duel stuffed the coins from the pot into his pockets. What on God’s earth did a man like him need with a babe? The girl had stuck a thumb in her mouth and sucked noisily on it between whimpers. He’d sooner grow wings and fly than take on the responsibility for another human being. The best thing would be to saunter out the door. 

“Ain’t you forgettin’ something, mister?” Will’s nasty snarl whipped the stale air like a thin, razor-sharp piece of leather. 

Much as he sympathized with the babe’s lot, he couldn’t accept her. “Take her home to her maw. Don’t have any need for a kid.”

Will grabbed his daughter’s sparse hair and pulled her small face next to his own. Ignoring her sharp cries, he yelled, “Ain’t got no maw. See there, Marley Rose. Ain’t no one wants you. You’re about as worthless as one of them Confederate greenbacks. Ain’t never goin’ to be any good for nothin’. Any o’ you cowpokes wanna buy a snot-nosed brat? Sell her cheap.”

Duel found himself reaching for the scared, helpless babe. “Changed my mind. Believe I’ll take what I won.” Tiny hands clung tightly to the neck of his collarless shirt as he strode for the door before he could backtrack.


About the Author:


At a young age, Linda Broday discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. Cowboys fascinate her. There’s something about Stetsons, boots, and tall rugged cowboys that get her fired up. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold Award. She resides in the Texas Panhandle and is inspired every day.


Connect with Linda 


* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Sourcebooks Casablanca is giving away a copy of Knight on the Texas Plains by Linda Broday! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


This is a group giveaway. So little time... is not responsible for books lost or damaged in shipping or any prizes shipped by publishers or authors.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for including me in this blog tour!

Congratulations to Linda Broday for the re-release of this Knight on the Texas Plains

Do you love western romances too? Share some of your thoughts below! :) 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ August 16, 2017

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list: 


Due to an unexpected trip, I wasn't able to read much of A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin as I hoped.






But, as I was driving, I relistened to Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne. It's such a great story! I really love it. 






I'm currently re-reading Sky on Fire (Monument 14, #2) by Emmy Laybourne. I got a little more than halfway through on my trip back home, so now I'm continuing to read it in book form. Still loving it!


What's next? Well, I'll probably re-read Savage Drift (Monument 14, #3) by Emmy Laybourne to finish the series. 

Then I hope to start The Journey Home by Karen M Cox.

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!



I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words


So, tell me, what are you reading? 

Friday, August 11, 2017

Spotlight: In His Hands by Adriana Anders ~ #Giveaway!

Another book I've been looking forward to is In His Hands by Adriana Anders. I read the first in the series, Under Her Skin not too long ago. It was really good! This one appeals to me also! 

Giveaway details are at the bottom of the post! 




In His Hands by Adriana Anders 

The rules are simple: 
Never speak to outsiders. 
Never yearn for something more. 
And never, ever seek the pleasure of a stolen kiss…or a whispered promise that with him, she can finally be free.   

Abby Merkley has been a member of the Church of the Apocalyptic Faith since she was a child, and there’s no way out…until her darkly handsome, brooding neighbor defies the rules and takes her into the safety of his arms.   

He should frighten her, but everything inside Abby thrills at Luc Stanek’s rough manners and shockingly gentle touch. He excites her, ignites her, leaves her shaken and wanting more. But evil men follow in her footsteps, and it may take more than one fierce beauty to defend her loving beast.

Blank Canvas series:

Under Her Skin (Book 1)
By Her Touch (Book 2)
In His Hands (Book 3)

Mature content.

Buy: AmazonB&NiBooksBAM
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!


Ooh! The idea of an escape from a cult, especially by a handsome man, really appeals to me!! 

You can take a look at my review for Under Her Skin here

About the Author

Adriana Anders writes romance that's dark, smart, and full of heart. She has acted and sung, slung cocktails and corrected copy. She’s worked for start-ups, multinationals and small nonprofits, but it wasn’t until she returned to her first love—writing romance—that she finally felt like she’d come home. Today, she resides with her tall French husband, two small children and two cats in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she writes the gritty, emotional love stories of her heart. - taken from Adriana's website.

Connect with Adriana Anders



* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

Giveaway time! Sourcebooks Casablanca is giving away the first two books of the Blank Canvas series! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


This is a group giveaway. So little time... is not responsible for books lost or damaged in shipping or any prizes shipped by publishers or authors.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for including me in this blog tour!

And Congratulations to Adriana Anders on her new book and for getting the whole series out so quickly! 


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

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

What Are You Reading? ~ August 9, 2017

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *


What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list:


I'm back into A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. I hope to make some good progress this week.






I recently finished reading Modern Love by Beau North. I had a hard time getting into this, and until I got to know the characters, I would get confused at who's POV the chapter was coming from. Slowly I got into it, and the ending was great! 





What's next? I have The Journey Home by Karen M Cox to review, so hopefully, I'll read that! :)








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!




I'm linking up with This Week In Books hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found.


And with Sam @ Taking on a World of Words


So, tell me, what are you reading? 

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

The Way It Hurts Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello, friends! Patty Blount has a new book out, The Way It Hurts, and I'm excited to be part of the tour! After reading Some Boys, I've wanted to read more from Blount!



In Patty Blount's THE WAY IT HURTS, two teens’ quest for fame goes terribly wrong when a single tweet goes viral and the online backlash follows them into real life. Fans of Gayle Forman's If I Stay will like how main characters Elijah and Kristen bond over their music in this edgy, real world contemporary young adult read that examines the impact social media has on the lives of today's youth.





The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Release 
Date: August 1, 2017 
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary 
Pages: 352 pages 
Format: Paperback and Digital 
Print ISBN: 978-1-492632-788 
Digital ASIN: B06XR172ZD 


Synopsis:


There may be two sides to every story, but sometimes there's only one way to set things right... 


Music is Elijah's life. His band plays loud and hard, and he'll do anything to get them a big break. He needs that success to help take care of his sister, who has special needs. So he'd rather be practicing when his friends drag him to a musical in the next town...until the lead starts to sing. 


Kristen dreams of a career on stage like her grandmother's. She knows she needs an edge to get into a competitive theater program--and being the star in her high school musical isn't going to cut it. The applause and the attention only encourage her to work harder. 


Elijah can't take his eyes off of Kristen's performance, and snaps a photo of her in costume that he posts online with a comment that everybody misunderstands. It goes viral. Suddenly, Elijah and Kristen are in a new spotlight as the online backlash spins out of control. And the consequences are bigger than they both could have ever imagined because these threats don't stay online...they follow them into real life.

Buy: AmazonBarnes & NobleKobo iTunes
Add to Goodreads.

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! 



Advanced Praise for The Way It Hurts:

"Blount writes authentically; both protagonists’ voices are distinct. The author explores the rapidly consuming world of social media and how it affects relationships online and in real life. A relevant read and must-have for all YA collections."School Library Journal

"THE WAY IT HURTS draws our attention to the joy, heartache and confusing contradictions that arise as we try to find our place in the real world and the virtual one."Kimberly Sabatini

“Elijah and Kristen’s personal evolutions through the novel, along with their chemistry, feel as authentic as the conflicts they face. A genuine plot filled with steady tension that will keep readers hooked.”RT Book Reviews


“This book sensitively covers topics such as sexism, handicapping conditions, communication, and ageism. Agency is also shown when Kristen says she wants to pursue studying in a conservatory rather than continue in the band and the three young men acknowledge her wish. Talking about what bothers us rather than trying to guess another person’s feelings is demonstrated through the actions of the characters. The characters’ issues are eventually resolved through hard work and understanding, making this an interesting and informative read."School Library Connection


Excerpt:

Elijah took my hands. “Okay, look. Maybe you’re right. Maybe these people are taking this whole battle thing way too seriously. If you’re scared, then we’ll stop. No more posts except for appearance information.”

“So no more battle of the sexes, no more make Kris scream?”

He held up his hand. “Swear to God.”

“Okay.” I sighed in relief. “You’d really do that?”

He leaned closer and repeated the vow. “I promise, Kris.”

And just like that, I forgot why I was mad at him. I couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even blink because I was afraid he’d let go. This was the part of him I adored. I clung to him for a long moment, and when his gaze drifted to my mouth, I wondered if—hoped—prayed—he’d finally kiss me.

And then, Etta’s voice suddenly spoke inside my head. “Well, my God, darling, it’s the twenty-first century. What on earth are you waiting for? You can kiss him.”

I could. Yes. Yes, I could just lift my head and lean in and kiss Elijah Hamilton like it was a normal, ordinary occurrence.

Right. Like kissing Elijah Hamilton would ever be ordinary?

I’d watched him kiss that girl at the mall and was sure I’d memorized all the steps in his routine. He’d move in, grip my face between his hands, run his thumb along my jaw, and finally, glide his arm down around my body, pulling me against his own, all the while, peeking through his lashes to see if I enjoyed it.

I wasn’t sure when I decided—even what made me decide. I just touched my lips to his and waited.

It took a second or two. But then there was a sudden, tiny squeak from him, and I felt the pulse in his wrist leap under my fingertips.

And then, his hands were in my hair, angling my head just the way he liked it, his tongue brushing against mine, so soft it might have been my imagination...except imaginary kisses were never so intense. He kissed me like I was a song he wrote, lips wrapped around every word until it hummed with hidden meaning and promise, and his hands held me the way they held his guitar—like the music would stop if he let me go.


Copyright © The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount 2017




About Patty Blount:

Native New Yorker Patty Blount is the award-winning author of several critically acclaimed internet issues novels for teens as well as a few adult contemporary romances. She is inspired to write by such greats as Judy Blume, JK Rowling, and Gayle Forman. In fact, Judy Blume is the reason Patty elected to write under her real name…so she’d appear on shelves next to her idol. Patty adores writing; she’s written everything from technical manuals to song lyrics (see THE WAY IT HURTS, coming August 2017). Patty wants you to know she loves chocolate…really, really loves chocolate.

When not crushing on actors Gilles Marini or Sam Heughan, Patty can be found sitting in traffic somewhere on the Long Island Expressway, listening to audio books or talking wildly to herself about plots and characters. Prone to falling madly in love with fictional characters, Patty suffers frequent broken hearts when they all invariably prefer the heroine to her… go figure. When she’s not writing, Patty loves to watch bad sci-fi movies and live tweet the hilarity, and scour Pinterest for ideas on awesome bookcases. Patty lives on Long Island with her family in a house that, sadly, lacks bookcases.


Connect with Patty Blount


* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Patty Blount is generously offering one (1) lucky winner a $50 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a group giveaway. So little time... is not responsible for books lost or damaged in shipping or any prizes shipped by publishers or authors.

Many thanks to Barclay Publicity for including me in this blog tour! 


Congratulations to Patty on the release of her new book! And a big thanks for your generous giveaway! 

You can see my review of Some Boys here. 


Any thoughts? We'd love to hear from you! 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...