Saturday, October 31, 2015

Month in Review ~ October 2015


Hey, Everyone! How was your October? Mine was pretty good, and I have some awesome news! We bought a house, and we're moving into it this weekend! Woot!

So, let's take a look at how my month went! Month in Review is a monthly meme hosted by Kathryn @ Book Date! Check out her lovely site! 



Books Read:

No More Tears by L.E. Smith
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
The Infinite Sea: The Second Book of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Shock Loss (Southern Fraud Thriller Book 5) by J.W. Becton

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon (*except for No More Tears). I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

*No More Tears is linked to CreateSpace. I am not affiliated with CreateSpace.


Reviews:


Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess

Link to my review.









Newly Purchased Books:

Sadly, I don't think I bought any books this month, except the new Rick Riordan book, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer, which I bought for my son. He was pretty jazzed about that! 

Books Received for Review:


The Twisted Road to You (Perfect, Indiana Book 4) by Barbara Longley, Published by Montlake Romance.







Giveaways: 

I had one giveaway this month. 

Arjanne won a paperback of Angel of the Centerfold!


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!




The Big Purchase:

Here's a picture of the charming house we bought!!





I hope you had a fantastic October! Are you trick-or-treating tonight? As always, I'd love to hear what you're up to! 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ Oct. 28, 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 Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin, Book I (His Fair Assassin Trilogy 1) by Robin LaFever. This has been on my TBR pile for a while, and I'm so glad I'm finally reading it! Beautiful cover, too!




What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Shock Loss (Southern Fraud Thriller Book 5) by J. W. Becton. I loved it! Love Vincent and Julia!! I hope to write a review soon!






What do I plan on reading next? We are moving this week! I'm super excited about that!! But it doesn't allow much time for reading. I'm so tired by the end of the day, I can barely keep my eyes open. So, I'll let you know next week if I get anything read! :)

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, October 21, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ Oct. 21, 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 Shock Loss (Southern Fraud Thriller Book 5) by J. W. Becton. It's so good! Looks like someone is trying to frame Julia for murder! But she and Vincent are hard on the case. And I'm soooo happy Vincent and Julia are more than just partners now! ;)






What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading Shutter by Courtney Alameda. Wow! I really liked this YA paranormal thriller! It is a perfect read for this time of year! I could see this being scary on the big screen when they were trying to capture the ghosts! 







What do I plan on reading next? I'm going leave that open for now. We are going to move soon, so it will depend on how I'm feeling.  

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! 

 Happy Back to the Future Day! 

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ Oct. 14, 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 Shutter by  Courtney Alameda. I'm not much for horror stories, but I'm really enjoying this YA paranormal/thriller, and it's a perfect book for October!





What did I recently finish reading? I finished reading The Infinite Sea: The Second Book of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. I thought this was good, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first. I thought it was a little too much, and at times a bit unbelievable. I'm still planning on reading the third book when it comes out. I hope it's as good as the first! 





What do I plan on reading next? I hope to read  Shock Loss (Southern Fraud Thriller Book 5) by J.W. Becton. Woot! I'm looking forward to spending some time with Julia and Vincent! 







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!


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

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Angel of the Centerfold Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & GIVEAWAY

Hey, Everyone! I'm happy to be part of the Angel of the Centerfold Blog Tour. At my stop, I have an excerpt for you to enjoy, and you have a chance to win a copy of the book! Meryton Press is giving away a paperback to one lucky winner! Giveaway details are at the bottom of the page. 



Excerpt: 


Callie throws a dinner party

Charles was having a pleasant dream of mermaids when suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he had a feeling somebody was watching him. He awoke with a start to find Callie sitting in her nightgown staring at him. Her face was less than six inches from his and wore an unpleasant expression.

Abruptly, Charles realized that the effects of his dreams were showing. Grabbing the sheet, he wrapped it around his torso and pulled back from his sister. “What in hell are you doing in here, Callie?”

“I was waiting for you to wake up. I want your promise to be home next Saturday night. I’m going to have a dinner party—a special dinner party. Molly Walker-Pine sent me an e-mail last night about the chef who helped her get that eight-carat ring she has on her finger. You did hear that she’s going to wed into the Vanderbilt family, didn’t you? Anyway, she swears the secret to her success is this chef—”

Grabbing her arm, Charles interrupted, “Callie, none of your schemes are going to work. He’s not interested in you. You need to accept that and move on.”

She continued as though he hadn’t spoken, “—who specializes in meals made with aphrodisiacs: truffles, asparagus, avocados, basil, all natural ingredients. At Molly’s dinner, he made Oyster and Brie Champagne Soup and Garlic Chicken Parmesan with “opulent” asparagus. Molly swears that this dinner, coupled with the mind-blowing sex afterwards, was what sealed the deal.”

As Callie continued droning on about the proposed dinner party, Charles thought of Lliam’s phone message. Maybe Lliam was right; Callie did need professional help. As his attention returned to his sister, the fact that she was planning a rather large guest list with this particular menu struck his funny bone.

His laughter caused his sister to pause. “Callie, you do realize, if this meal does what you believe it will, then we’re not hosting a dinner party, we’re hosting an orgy.”

“Charles, don’t be silly. I’ll make sure everyone has their own desirable partner. You could even bring a girl, or better yet, I’ll choose one for you. The last time you dated was two years ago. If you insist on taking each debutante out only once, you’re going to run out of acceptable mothers for your children. You do know you need an heir—a boy of course—to carry on the family name. I’d give one of mine the Bampfjord name, but I’m certain Lliam wouldn’t have it.”

“Callie, you are not going to have children with Lliam. He can’t stand you!”

“What’s that got to do with anything? Our kind don’t marry people we like; we marry for prestige and money. I’ve got the right connections, and he’s been like part of the family for ten years. I won’t change his life much. Redecorate the townhouse maybe, give him an heir or two, spend his money, but he won’t have to spend time with me. I’d even let him keep a mistress as long as he takes me to all the best social events.”

“What part of never don’t you understand?”

“Do you even know where babies come from? You do know that you have to sleep with someone to have an heir, don’t you? Dad gave you the birds and bees talk, didn’t he? Just think: if I choose a woman for you with the right background, connections, and genes, the next Bampfjord could be on his way by next Sunday. Once we’re sure he is, you can marry the girl. I’ve got to call around and see who’s available, someone who finds you attractive enough to sleep with. That could be a challenge.”

Charles couldn’t stand it any longer. When he spoke, it was harsher than he intended, but in his current state of agitation, he had no control. “Stop! Stop talking right now! We are not hosting this party, I forbid it.”

Callie was surprised at the vehemence in his voice. “But—”

“No, Callie, no buts. You will stay out of my love life, and you will leave Lliam alone. I am serious about this. If you continue, there will be serious consequences.”

As he looked past Callie to the alarm clock on the nightstand, his ire erupted once more. “Did you turn off my alarm? I have a meeting this morning, an important meeting, and now I’m going to be late. Dammit! Get the hell out of my room and go do whatever you normally do at this time of the morning. Remember, no dinner party!”

“Whatever.”

Charles took another look at the clock before entering the en suite bathroom. I’m going to be really late, and both Lliam and Ric told me not to be. This is shaping up to be one of the worst days ever.


He hurried into the shower where he thought about the more humorous aspects of their conversation. Callie clearly had no idea what kind of sensation she would cause amongst the New York elite by having this chef cook a meal for twenty people. He could just see it now. The society page of the New York Reporter would look like a gossip rag with headlines such as, “Bampfjord Heiress seduces Party” or “Skin, the new Gucci, says Bampfjord Heiress.”




Book Blurb: 

Disguise of every sort creates difficulties for recent Yale grads Elizabeth and Jennie Blackwell, who are eager to begin the next chapter of their lives. 

Elizabeth hopes her remarkable voice and academic training will help crown her the new darling of the Met. But will her burgeoning romance with world-renowned philanthropist Lliam Dafydd benefit her career or derail it before it begins? 

Elizabeth’s minutes-older twin, Jennie, plans to translate her impressive résumé into a successful medical research program, but her demanding academic pursuits leave little time for romance. Feeling trapped by her girl-next-door image, Jennie adopts a daring alter ego who behaves as she never would. As “Ariel De Mer,” Jennie becomes captivated by a mysterious photographer, Chance Bly. Handsome and suave, he smoothly awakens her desires, while Ariel’s sexiness and sassiness mesmerize her smitten lover. 

But Jennie’s innocent charade has a powerful impact on the lives of those she loves, and she is not the only one playing games.


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 Michaela Robertson




Angel of the Centerfold blog tour schedule


10/6: Excerpt & Giveaway at Fly High
10/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at Romance Novels Giveaways
10/8: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
10/10: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen
10/11: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life
10/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
10/15: Character Interview at Leatherbound Reviews
10/16: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars
10/17: Excerpt & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
10:18: Excerpt & Giveaway at Margie’s Must Reads
10/19: Review at Warmisunqu’s Austen

Many thanks to Jakki at Leatherbound Reviews for organizing this Blog Tour and to Meryton Press for the giveaway below!

Congratulations to Michaela Robertson on the release of her new book! 

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time!! Meryton Press is giving away a paperback  copy of Angel of the Centerfold to one lucky winner! To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment! 

  • One person will win a paperback of Angel of the Centerfold.
  • Open Internationally.
  • Last day to enter: October 15, 2015, midnight PST

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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, October 7, 2015

What are you Reading? ~ Oct. 7, 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 The Infinite Sea: The Second Book of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. It's pretty good, and I'm burning through it, but I'm not sure if I like it as well as the first. Lol! I guess I should finish it before I decide that. 






What did I recently finish reading? I read two books this week! First I finished No More Tears by L. E. Smith. It was really good! In this variation, a mournful Darcy accompanies Bingley to Meryton where he meets Elizabeth. She's the only one who has the power to make him happy since losing Georgiana the year before. She makes him happy enough to go against the wishes of his family and marry her, but he's still a prideful man and has a lot to learn. 




I also read The Distance Between Us by Kasie West. This was good! I was surprised by this book, and I'm glad I read it! A cute "poor girl meets rich guy" story.






What do I plan on reading next? Again, I'm going to wait to see what I feel like. 



FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon (*except for No More Tears). I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

*No More Tears is linked to CreateSpace. I am not affiliated with CreateSpace. 


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

Monday, October 5, 2015

Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess ~ My Review

Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess 

Publication Date: April 15th, 2015

Publisher: Independent 
Pages: 203 
Received: E-copy from the author 
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars







I really enjoyed Emma Knows All! This modern Austenesque is a mesh of Emma and Pride and Prejudice. I also thought I saw a little of You’ve Got Mail in there too! 

Emma Benton is a radio relationship therapist on a syndicated talk show called, Heart Therapy.  She gives out relationship advice to her listeners who call in for help. 


Doctor Colin Ferris is the author of Relationship Realities: Dating Truths for Modern Men with Traditional Manners.  To promote his new book, Doctor Colin is a guest on Emma’s Heart Therapy. They get off to a rocky start as Colin refuses to be anything but formal, coming across as arrogant and rude. It gets worse when Colin disagrees with the advice Emma is giving a caller (Harriet) while they are live on air.


Emma can’t believe it when the station manager, Bill Lucas, decides to expand the spot by having Emma and Colin work with Harriet, to help her find her perfect match! For six weeks, they would advise Harriet on dating and relationships while recording their sessions with her and then debate their progress on a TV show called In the Moment. But the last thing Emma wants to do is spend the next six weeks working with that cold, snobby, arrogant man! 


I really enjoyed the whole helping Harriet storyline! "Relationship Boot Camp" is what Emma jokingly called it. I was chuckling at some of the situations Harriet finds herself in! And the way they spun Elton worked well for me. 


I love the mix of characters from both books. Emma's family is similar to the Bennet’s of Pride and Prejudice having four sisters and a nervous mother. And you will see Mr. Darcy very clearly, although the name given to him is an interesting choice. Catherine D. Burg is Colin's literary agent, and Janet Fairfax is the host of In the Moment.  A fun blend! 


I was delighted in Emma Knows All! It's a clever mesh of Jane Austen’s Emma and Pride and Prejudice!


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


Buy: Amazon

Add to Goodreads



Connect with Laura Briggs



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

Friday, October 2, 2015

Cover Reveal! ~ Angel of the Centerfold

Hello, My Lovely Readers! I'm going to be part of the Angel of the Centerfold Blog Tour coming soon, but for today, I have a little sneak peek of the cover and book blurb! 

So, here it is! 




Book Blurb:

Disguise of every sort creates difficulties for recent Yale grads Elizabeth and Jennie Blackwell, who are eager to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Elizabeth hopes her remarkable voice and academic training will help crown her the new darling of the Met. But will her burgeoning romance with world-renowned philanthropist Lliam Dafydd benefit her career or derail it before it begins?
Elizabeth’s minutes-older twin, Jennie, plans to translate her impressive résumé into a successful medical research program, but her demanding academic pursuits leave little time for romance.
Feeling trapped by her girl-next-door image, Jennie adopts a daring alter ego who behaves as she never would. As “Ariel De Mer,” Jennie becomes captivated by mysterious photographer, Chance Bly. Handsome and suave, he smoothly awakens her desires, while Ariel’s sexiness and sassiness mesmerize her smitten lover.
But Jennie’s innocent charade has a powerful impact on the lives of those she loves, and she is not the only one playing games.

Release Date: First of October
Publisher: Meryton Press

Author Bio:

Michaela Robertson has dabbled in writing since her teenage years. In college, she initially majored in music until deciding she'd rather eat than enrich the world with her talent. A few years later, with a still-damp business degree in hand, Michaela entered the world of statistics. As the author of many dry technical documents, her artistic side was hidden from the world. Only her husband and daughter were aware of the musical talent hidden beneath the surface.   

In the late 1990's, she began traveling extensively for her job, and being away from home and family created something she was previously unfamiliar with—spare time. Bowling, mixed-doubles darts, and touring temporarily filled the void. A chance encounter in 2004 with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle led Michaela’s down a new path. Having read Fan Fiction in other genres, she went on a quest for Austen Fan Fiction and discovered a world rich in stories and history.

Music continues to be Michaela’s muse and has inspired her writing. Now a widow, she lives on a couple of acres on the edge of the world in the Pacific Northwest with the current love of her life, a border collie.


Connect with Michaela Robertson



I think it's gorgeous! What do you think?

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Month in Review ~ September 2015


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

Books Read:



Emma Knows All by Laura Briggs and Sarah Burgess
Shackled by Tom Leveen
One Love - Two Hearts - Three Stories: A Pride & Prejudice Anthology by J. Dawn King
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
10 Years Later: A Second Chance Romance by J. Sterling

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:


Inspired by Grace by Jeanna Elsworth 

(link to my review)

Sadly, I only got one book reviewed this month again!




Newly Purchased Books:


The Infinite Sea: The Second Book of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (I actually bought this in August. Forgot to post.)
Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
The Shade of the Moon (Life As We Knew It Series) Book 4 by Susan Beth Pfeffer



Plus, numerous e-books!

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!


Giveaways:

I had one giveaway this month. 

Becky C won a paperback of Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory! Congratulations! 

Many thanks to KaraLynne Mackrory, Meryton Press, and Jakki @ Leatherbound Reviews



It's been a busy month. Yes! I was able to sneak in one more book than I usually read! I really need to pick it up in the review department, but I only want to review about two books a month anyway. I burnt myself out something fierce trying to review one book a week in the past. Two I think is a good compromise. :) 


I hope you all have a fantastic October! Let me know how your September went in the comments below! Thanks!


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