Excerpt: SWEETEST MISTAKE by Candis Terry

Title: Sweetest Mistake

Author: Candis Terry

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

See my 5 star review!

From the book:

When friends become lovers . . .

Firefighter and former Marine Jackson Wilder has tough guy down to an art, but he’s learned the hard way that promises were made to be broken. Abigail Morgan was once his best friend, his first kiss, his first love, his first everything. He’d just forgotten to mention all that to her and she blew out of his life. Five years later, she’s back and he’s battling a load of mistrust for her disappearing act. But for some reason he just can’t keep his lips—or his hands—to himself.

It can lead to disaster or . . .

When her stint as a trophy wife abruptly ends, Abby returns home to Sweet, Texas, and comes face-to-face with Jackson—her biggest and sexiest mistake. Time and distance did nothing to squash her love for the act-first-think-later stubborn hunk of a man, and when he suggests they renew their old just-friends vow, Abby realizes she wants more. She’d cut and run once. Could she do it again? Or could she tempt him enough to break his promise?

Follow this tour to see more about this book!

Excerpt:

By the time Abby came out of the barn with Jana Wilder and the antique clock chosen for her son’s return, there were trucks and cars parked all over the place. Indeed it looked like a party was in full swing.

Abby knew she needed to find a quick escape. She wasn’t ready to face the entire Wilder family.

“I really should go,” she said. “You don’t need a party crasher.”

Jana took her arm and gave her a comforting smile. “Nobody’s gonna bite, sugarplum,” Jana said. “Don’t you worry about a thing.”

She wasn’t so sure about that.

Abby took deep breaths to calm the dread and stepped up onto the veranda that surrounded the big ranch style home. Before they even got to the door enthusiastic chatter from inside drifted through the screen. Reluctantly she followed Jana into the house. Behind them the screen door banged. All heads snapped in their direction.

Yikes.

Their entrance was met with the echo of crickets.

A quick scan of the crowded room revealed that not only had the impromptu celebration included a spread of take-out pizza and tin containers piled with salad mix, it had also gathered everyone in one place to easily pass judgment. Then again, to most of the people in this room Abby wasn’t much more than another body taking up precious floor space. So who was she to think she’d warrant such curiosity?

To her relief Jackson appeared conveniently absent. He’d probably bailed the moment she’d gone into the barn. She couldn’t blame him. She’d like to pull a vanishing act too.

Jana broke the brittle silence by sweeping into the room with a grand gesture of welcome to Reno and the gorgeous brunette on his arm.

Abby took the moment to inconspicuously inch toward the door. Surely in the commotion of welcoming Reno back to the fold no one would notice she’d bolted. They’d probably be glad. Relieved.

When Jana moved on to greet others in the room Reno stepped forward in all his dark-haired handsomeness and put a halt to her escape. “I knew you’d come back someday.”

She noticed he didn’t say he was happy to see her. “Well I certainly didn’t.”

A brief smile tipped his mouth. “I can see that by the sheer panic on your face.”

“Me? Panicked?”

“As your old friend, take it from me, Abby. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Everything?”

He nodded. “Just make sure you pay closer attention than I did. Because it took me a while to realize that some of the best things in life are surprises.”

The gorgeous brunette appeared at his side. “I hope you’re talking about me,” she said with a smile. Then she extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Charli. Reno’s surprise.”

Abby returned the gesture of the woman she’d seen once or twice on the cable design show.

“As soon as we unpack and get settled,” Charli said, I’d love to meet up for lunch.”

“I’d like that,” Abby returned. “But I’m not really sure how long I’ll be here. I only came back to fix up my parents’ house and put it on the market.”

“Really?” Reno lifted a dark brow. “That’s the only reason?”

“Of course.”

“You keeping thinking like that, sparkplug,” he said, using the name he and the other Wilder boys--minus Jackson--had always called her. “And I guarantee you’ll be in for a surprise.”

Charli gave her a wink as arm-in-arm she and Reno walked away to chat with a silver-haired gentleman Abby didn’t recognize.

As polite as Reno and Charli had been, Abby couldn’t help feeling like the ugly stepsister at the prince’s ball. She gave another longing glance to the front door and the freedom beyond.

“Hey, sparkplug.” Jesse came forward wearing his typical woman-eating grin. “Good to see you.”

Really? Jesse had always been a professional bullshitter so Abby wouldn’t know if he was sincere or lying to the bone. “You too.” How was it that all the Wilder men had only gotten more breathtaking over the years? “How are things at the clinic?”

“Keeping me on my toes. Old Doc Michaels finally retired. I bought the place from him about a year after my time with the Marines ended.”

“I was really sorry to hear—”

“I know.” He lifted a hand. “Dad and Jared both adored you. They’d be happy to see you back home where you belong.”

“Oh. I don’t—”

“Sure you do.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead. “And now it’s time for you to figure out the rest.” He gave her arm a squeeze then wandered off to join the others in the pizza line.

Random.

And weird.

Jesse had never been the philosophical guru type. But now both he and Reno had made ambiguous comments that had her scratching her head.

Before she could take that thought any deeper, the silver-haired man came up and shook her hand. He introduced himself as Martin Lane—“Jana’s friend.” The smile on his face when he made the claim had Abby wondering exactly what kind of “friend” he might be. 

And then she caught Jana’s affectionate smile from across the room.

Ah. Well, good for Jana.

Chatting amongst themselves were a few neighbors plus Gladys Lewis with her cottony blue hair, lipstick smeared mouth, and traditional floral dress and, of course, old bowlegged Chester Banks, who’d given up on eyebrow waggles and was now tossing Abby a few winks. Lost in the shuffle, Abby figured it to be as good a time as any to get the hell out of Dodge.

About the Author

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after.

Author Contact

Website: http://www.candisterry.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candis.terry

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CandisTerry

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4935263.Candis_Terry

Giveaway

The Ultimate SWEETEST MISTAKE Prize Pack: Including SOMEBODY LIKE YOU, SECOND CHANCE AT THE SUGAR SHACK, ANYTHING BUT LOVE, a Sweet TX Mug, a Houston TX Firefighters 2014 Calendar, and a "My <3 belongs to a firefighter" necklace pendant.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Book Review: Just Once by Julianna Keyes

Title: Just Once
Author: Julianna Keyes

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Release Date: October 29, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

From the book:

Kate Burke is done making bad decisions. Thirty years old and belatedly determined to grow up, the successful travel writer and one-time party girl returns to work at the remote Ponderosa Pines Ranch to reassess her life.

Although her kitchen/cabin staff is lacking and the workload never relents, Kate's main challenge is Shane Maddox, the ruggedly handsome and doggedly stubborn ranch foreman. Instantly at odds, they battle over everything from ceiling fans to bothersome bats-studiously ignoring the sparks they generate with each confrontation.

They can't explain their explosive physical chemistry, but after a few frustrated weeks they can't deny it either. Their solution? Just once. They'll get past their inconvenient lust and move on.

Kate's been trying to think with her head instead of her hormones, but is this just another bad decision in a lifetime of careless choices? Has she really changed at all?

Set in the striking and serene hills of southern Colorado, Julianna Keyes' debut novel offers a sizzling and satisfying tale of unexpected chemistry and the power of second chances. Her characters will get under your skin and into your heart. Just once may not be enough for you either.

My review:

JUST ONCE is a book that most definitely got to me. I couldn't stop thinking about Shane and Kate - their chemistry was natural and explosive. Their shared journey of self-discovery is one I don't think I'll ever forget.

Kate is a woman who thinks she knows what she wants, but, as in real life, she doesn't know exactly what she's looking for. She's tired of the same old/same old. Travel and glamour had its time and place, but she's been there and done that so much that the shine wore off. 

She returns to the place where she felt safest - and later in the book, we discover why (no spoilers here). It's an event that, while scary, wasn't so scarring that she's sworn off travel forever, but it does make her rethink her life.

Shane is the strong, silent, stubborn type. He also experiences a great amount of growth in this novel; he falls hard for Kate, and he makes a (major) mistake when jealousy rears its ugly green head. His reactions to Kate, before she finds out about the transgression, had me first concerned, then horrified, then heartbroken for Kate. I experienced a pretty large range of emotions within just a couple of pages; my heart hurt within my chest and I had to stop reading for a minute to remind myself that this was, in fact, just a book. 

The supporting characters of this book aren't only for decoration; each one has a purpose and their own journey during the summer. I am (desperately) hoping Hailey gets her own novel; she and Brandon, one of the ranch hands, intrigued me and were most definitely left with unfinished business. I loved 18-yr-old Lisa who takes the summer to spread her wings; she breaks away from the "mean girls" and becomes involved with Pete, a rather slow (but super sweet) employee, and has that "I'm ready to experience life!" moment that makes life so fantastic, amazing and full of hope for a young adult. 

My favorite part of this story, however, was at the very end. Kate has such a joy about her, despite having lost/gained so much during the summer. She finally finds herself, and as a result of that, finds love. It's refreshing and wonderful to see the story end that way, instead of the other way around. 

Kate and Shane will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this novel; the writing is descriptive without rambling prose and the ranch is somewhere I'd love to visit (and my idea of a cabin is one built by HGTV and designed by Vern Yip). The characters are complex, well-comprised, and ones I could relate to (despite the differences in career choice). Four and a half stars - I look forward to more from this author, and hers will be an automatic pre-order for me.

About the Author

Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She's been skydiving, bungee jumping and white water rafting, but nothing thrills - or terrifies - her as much as the blank page. She loves Chinese food, foreign languages, baseball and television, not necessarily in that order, and will go to her grave swearing that 'ain't' is not a word. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. It'll happen.

Website: http://juliannakeyes.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JuliannaKeyes 

Click below to follow the JUST ONCE tour:

(Disclaimer: I was provided an digital copy from Irresistible Reads Book Tours for an honest and unbiased review.)

Read More

Author Interview: Meet Cheryl Harper!

Cheryl Harper, author of quite a few novels (her latest is SANTA, BRING MY BABY BACK, due out on December 17, 2013) was kind enough to answer a few questions for At the Corner of First and Romance about her novel and her writing process.

INTERVIEW

Welcome to At the Corner of First and Romance, Cheryl! I love the Elvis-themed hotel in this series of books! What made you want to write books with this theme?

The theme of the series is really about finding love and home in unexpected places, a favorite of mine. I really wish I could say I had this master plan all along, but I just love places like Graceland that draw true fans. I still remember my first visit there. It was so much fun to imagine who would build a hotel like this, who would work there, who would visit, and whether or not they’d love it or hate it or somewhere in between.

Introduce us to SANTA, BRING MY BABY BACK. What is your favorite scene and why?

My stories all start with a single scene (see the answer to question 6 for more on why), so when I was trying to come up with this book, I could see an impatient man in a gold lame jacket and a beautiful woman in a wedding gown. I knew he was supposed to be performing the wedding and she was missing one groom. From that point I had to figure out what happened and how to get the two of them together. Turns out that Charlie is the hotel owner’s son, and he’s impatient because he doesn’t much care for the hotel but he’s trying to make up for a big mistake by helping his mother out. And free-spirited Grace is a failed gold digger who’s spent too many years looking for the place she belongs. He doesn’t trust many people, certain they’re out to take advantage of his mother. And Grace has a hard time staying in one place. But as sometimes happens, they find exactly what they were looking for in the wrong place at the right time.

Of all your books, which one is your favorite? Why?

Hard question! Am I really allowed to have a favorite??? Okay, well…I love this one because I love holiday stories and it’s the last one in the series so it’s a little bittersweet, but my favorite of the series is probably Can’t Help Falling in Love, mainly because Misty the bloodhound has such an important role. And there’s a bookstore kiss.

Of all your books, which character is your favorite? Why?

I love all my heroes. KT from Stuck on You was the handsome charmer. Charlie in Santa, Bring My Baby Back is the take-charge leader type. But my favorite of all has been Tony from Can’t Help Falling in Love. He’s had a hard life, but instead of being bitter or hard, he’s thankful for what he has. He doesn’t give up. He’s the strong, silent type, inspires a lot of faith, and never once lets anyone down. Plus, he’s a bookworm and hot like whoa.

Are there more stories like this in the pipeline for you? What's next?

This is the last of this series, but I’m working on another sexy series now. My next book will be released by Harlequin Heartwarming in February. A Minute on the Lips is a sweet romance about a small-town sheriff who has a case to solve, an election to win, and a too-handsome newspaper editor who always shows up when she least expects it.

Tell us about your writing process - are you a plotter, a pantser, or both?

I’m still figuring out how to do this writing thing, so I hope I’m transitioning from pantser to plotter because I think it would be easier. My first book was pretty pantser, but since then I’ve tried to plot loosely. Still, no matter how it flows, every story starts with one scene in my head and it builds as I figure out more about the characters in that scene.

What do you do when writer's block strikes?

Moan. Play Candy Crush. Really, I’m not sure I believe I have writer’s block where I don’t know what’s happening with the story. Instead, what I have is days where I’m overwhelmed with the certainty that I have no idea what I’m doing, everyone in the world writes better than I do, and I should go watch television instead. I usually  know what happens next, but I have to get around the fear that makes it hard to put words on paper.

Give us your top 3 favorite kiss scenes - movies or books!

I have the world’s worst memory for stuff like this. My favorite kiss that I’ve written was Tony and Randa’s first kiss in front of the bookstore. Books and a hot guy are totally my idea of the perfect first kiss. Let’s see…movie kisses…one that sticks out in my memory is Bridget and Mark at the end of the first Bridget Jones movie. She says, “Nice boys don’t kiss like that.” And he says, “Yes, they…do.” A kiss that takes your mind off the fact that London can see your underwear is a good kiss. And let’s see…the kiss in Sixteen Candles was seriously sweet, a fabulous way to end that movie. Oh, Jake Ryan…where were you when I was in high school?

What is your most interesting writer quirk?

I’m not sure I have one. I need to get on that! Maybe it’s that all my writing is fueled by Diet Coke.

Tell us about you - what do you like to do when you're not writing?

I spend way too much time in front of the television. Shopping is always fun and I’ve been known to wield some serious knitting needles. Given a free hour or two, though, I want a good book in my hand.

How can readers get in touch with you?
They can always visit my website, http://cherylharperbooks.com, or tweet with me @CherylHarperBks.



Thanks, Cheryl! And if you haven't yet, go grab some of her books. They're sweet, humorous, lovely reads that are guaranteed to put your in a good mood!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whether she's writing, reading, or just checking the items off of her daily to-do list, Cheryl Harper loves her romance mixed with a little laughter. When she's not working, you will find her ignoring housework, cursing yard work, and spending way too much time with a television remote in her hand. 

Read More

Book Excerpt: The Christmas Wish by Katy Regnery

Title: The Christmas Wish

Author: Katy Regnery

Publisher: Boroughs

Release Date: October 27, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From the book:

Waitress Tess Branson is looking for love in all the wrong places…until the scarred Lucas Flynn arrives in small-town Gardiner, Montana, giving them both a second chance at love.

Excerpt:

Lucas uncrossed his arms, moving his white apron aside to put his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Go out to dinner with me on Monday night, Tess.”

“What?”

“I’m asking you out on a date.”
 
“Why?” she murmured, brows knitted in confusion.
 
“Because I’d like to get to know you better.”
 
“You don’t have to take me to dinner to get to know me better,” she said softly, dropping her eyes.
 
“But that’s the way I’d like to do it,” he said, holding out his hand, palm up.

She looked at his hand then back up at his face. She’d kissed many men in her life. So many men, she couldn’t possibly even guess at how many. But she’d never wanted to kiss a man as desperately as she wanted to kiss Lucas Flynn.
 
She placed her hand in his and watched him lift it to his mouth, brush his lips softly against her cold skin. It sent a deluge of shivers up her arm, down her back, made her tingle before turning her insides hot. A small, breathy sound escaped her throat as she stared at the dark brown, lightly wavy hair on the head bent over her hand. Then he released her hand and turned, reaching for the doorknob.
 
“Make a wish on a star before you come in,” he said softly, without turning to face her. “It’s Christmastime. It might come true.”
 
He slipped inside, leaving her hot and alone under the starry sky.

Read More

Release Day Blitz, Book Review and Giveaway: Hard As It Gets (A Hard Ink Novel) by Laura Kaye

WINNERS!

Shadow Realm, Sue Fahey and Sara Howe - congratulations!

Title: Hard As It Gets

Author: Laura Kaye

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)

Release Date: November 26, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From the book:

Tall, dark, and lethal...Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

My review:

My reaction, the second I finished this book was:

Holy. Hell.
That was awesome!! 

(It really was. I posted exactly that online in my Avon Addicts group within a minute of finishing the last sentence.)

Becca Merritt is one determined woman. Her brother, Charlie, has gone missing, and he's left her a single clue - to find Nick Rixey. Becca is driven to find her brother at any cost; he's her only family left, and she's not willing to give him up without a fight.

Nick Rixey is a self-loathing Afghanistan war vet who's shut out everyone except his brother. He was discharged from the military with dishonor, and it was because of his ex-commander...who is also Becca's father (he was killed in Afghanistan). These days, he hangs out at his brother's tattoo place and does some ink art...and he's really, really good at it. The tattoo parlor, where Nick and his super-awesome, best-secondary character ever brother, Jeremy, is also where they live - and where Becca stays when the same guys who have her brother...well, I'll leave that to you to discover. ;)

(Handy tip: Keep an eye out for Jeremy's shirts. They will make you laugh and wonder what he'll be wearing next!)

The chemistry between Nick and Becca is phenomenal. Kaye has a definite talent when it comes to sexual tension; she would Nick and Becca so tight, my Kindle almost imploded. The two of them moved very naturally into a relationship, and I really adored them together. Becca, while a strong female lead, has a genuine softness to her; Nick's shell is so hard, it's nearly unbreakable. 

What unfolds in this book is a crazy, fast-paced suspense that had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put this book down if the house was on fire around me - I needed to know who had Charlie, what they wanted, and how it all circled back to Becca's dad.

The world building was amazing, the plotting perfect, and the characters fun, smart and believable. One more thing to make this story one of my top picks of the year? It's a series...and while the issue of Charlie is resolved in this novel, the why of his disappearance - and how it ties back to Becca's father - looks like it'll be tied throughout this series of 5 books:

Hard As It Gets 11/26/13
Hard As You Can 2/25/14
Hard to Hold Onto 8/19/14 (novella)
Hard to Come By 11/25/14
Hard Ink #4 is untitled, spring 2015

Overall - this was a great, smart, fun, sexy, suspenseful read.  Highly recommended - get yourself a copy, you won't regret it!

Giveaway

I have 3 SIGNED bookmarks from Laura herself! All you have to do to enter is comment below. Happy reading!

(Disclaimer: I was provided an digital copy from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.)

Read More

Book Review: Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry

Title: Sweetest Mistake

Author: Candis Terry

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From the book:

When friends become lovers . . .

Firefighter and former Marine Jackson Wilder has tough guy down to an art, but he’s learned the hard way that promises were made to be broken. Abigail Morgan was once his best friend, his first kiss, his first love, his first everything. He’d just forgotten to mention all that to her and she blew out of his life. Five years later, she’s back and he’s battling a load of mistrust for her disappearing act. But for some reason he just can’t keep his lips—or his hands—to himself.

It can lead to disaster or . . .

When her stint as a trophy wife abruptly ends, Abby returns home to Sweet, Texas, and comes face-to-face with Jackson—her biggest and sexiest mistake. Time and distance did nothing to squash her love for the act-first-think-later stubborn hunk of a man, and when he suggests they renew their old just-friends vow, Abby realizes she wants more. She’d cut and run once. Could she do it again? Or could she tempt him enough to break his promise?

My review:

As you know, I was a big fan of ANYTHING BUT SWEET, which was my introduction to Candis Terry. And, after reading SWEETEST MISTAKE, I am fully convinced: Terry is, hands-down, one of the best contemporary romance authors I've read in years. Her stories come across as effortless, even though Jackson had to be difficult to write. He is so stubborn and so thick-skulled, that sometimes you just want to smack him upside the head.

Thank goodness Abby's known him her whole life, or she would've given up on him years ago.

Jackson's story is full of the emotional turmoil I experienced in ABS, but this hero has so much more in his soul. He was there when his oldest brother (his hero) died in battle. He saw it go down, and he holds a lot of guilt with that. He has a daughter, and his sweet side comes through, which is such a testament to how Jackson himself was raised. And his unwillingness to trust in Abby's love packages up all his insecurities into a not-so-neatly tied bow.

Le sigh. :)

The entire book was a joy to read, and to be honest, I've read it twice already. It's one I'll re-read many times, but especially when I need to remember the simple pleasures in life, and how stubbornness can only be overcome if you're willing to let it go.

I don't want to give away too much, but there is a scene in which Jackson takes out Jared's (his brother who died at war) truck. Jackson is cruising, listening to the last CD his brother had in there, trying to clear his mind. And when Jackson sits in the truck, parked at his favorite spot, and he asks his brother for advice...I had tears in my eyes. The scene is so beautifully written, so full of what Jared must've been like in Jackson's life, made my heart hurt for the entire Wilder family. It took me a good hour or so after I finished the book to convince myself that this family is, indeed, a fictional family.

Fictional or not, this is one of my favorite families in all of romance. And the next book, SOMETHING SWEETER, is about the youngest Wilder, Jesse. He's a veterinarian (swoon!) who loves animals and kids...and I simply can't wait to read about him. 

Order this book immediately - you won't be disappointed.

(Disclaimer: I was provided an digital copy from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.)

Read More

Preview: Once Upon a Highland Summer by Lecia Cornwall

A new book is up for sale today from Avon Impulse, and it was such a fun read that I have to recommend it to you. If you enjoy regencies (even if you don't, it's not set in the ballrooms of England!), if you love the lush setting of Scotland, and if you enjoy a bit of midsummer magic and paranormal matchmaking (gotta love those meddlesome specters!), I think you'll really love Lucia Cornwall's ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER. I couldn't put it down!

From the book:

An ancient curse, a pair of meddlesome ghosts, a girl on the run, and a fateful misunderstanding make for the perfect chance at true love. 

Lady Caroline Forrester is on the run from her brother’s scheme to marry her off to the highest bidder. An escape to Scotland offers a chance at employment as a governess and freedom from an unhappy marriage-it’s the perfect solution. But Caroline wasn’t prepared for the feelings that her new employer brings out in her.

Alec McNabb, the reluctant Earl of Glenorne, never expected to return home to Scotland. But now that he’s there, he realizes he has obligations that he cannot escape. Alec needs to marry well, and quickly.

When a case of mistaken identity-coupled with the sensual, magical atmosphere of Glenorne castle-results in a passionate encounter, Caroline and Alec must decide whether their attraction is enough to overcome the problems of their pasts, or whether this one chance at true love was over before it began …

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• iTunes
• Kobo 

Follow the Blog Tour for a Chance to Win!

Follow Lecia Cornwall this week as she takes readers on a tour of her lush Scottish historical e-original, ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER, on sale from Avon Impulse TODAY, November 5! All week, you’ll find out about the romantic setting, the lively characters (both alive and…otherworldly), and the Scottish romance genre in general!

Visit each blog on its designated day to get the full behind the scenes picture of ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER, and to enter for a chance to win a signed book by Lecia Cornwall:

• 11/4—Rakes, Rogues, and Romance Find out all about the hero and heroine of ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER
• 11/5—Crystal Blogs Books Lecia shares pictures from her firsthand research of the Scottish setting
• 11/6—For the Love of Bookends Learn more about the ghostly matchmakers who bring our hero & heroine together
• 11/7—Romancing the Readers  Lecia names some of her favorite Scottish-set historicals
• 11/9—Coffee Time Romance Top 10 Best Scottish Romances of All Time!

Read More

Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn

Title: The Sum of All Kisses

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)

Release Date: October 28, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-a-Million

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In this post: 

• From the Book
• My Review **contains spoilers**
• Excerpt (external link to Prologue)
• About the Author
• GIVEAWAY

From the Book:

Hugh Prentice has never liked Lady Sarah Pleinsworth, and his opinion is confirmed when he overhears her yammering on about how she must get married this season or she will simply die. He’s never had patience for dramatic females, and the words shy and retiring have never been in Sarah’s vocabulary. Besides, even if he did grow to enjoy her company, it wouldn’t matter. A reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now, unable to run, ride, or even waltz, he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought three years earlier, the one that forced her cousin into exile, nearly destroying her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn’t matter. She doesn’t care that his leg is less than perfect, it’s his personality she can’t stand.

But when the pair is forced to spend a week in close company they discover that opinions--even those firmest held--can, in fact, be altered. And when a kiss leads to two, three and four the mathematician may lose count and the miss may, for the first time, find herself speechless. 

My Review (CONTAINS SPOILERS):

Lord Hugh Prentice is first introduced to us in A Night Like This, where the story between him and Lady Sarah's family first begins. In that novel, Hugh isn't made out to be a terrible person, but rather a seriously flawed one, and perhaps a bit more than touched in the head.

The Sum of All Kisses begins in 1821, at the time of the ill-fated card game where Hugh loses to Daniel Smythe-Smith and calls for a duel. They're both rather drunk, and definitely not entirely in their right minds. Hugh can't understand how he lost (he's a math genius - hence the title!) and Daniel is as pig-headed as his friend, so the duel happens, and Hugh is seriously injured from it. When Hugh's father, the Marquess of Ramsgate, realizes that his only chance at an heir has been stolen, he chases Daniel through many countries, trying to kill him...and Hugh is the one who brings him back to England (really, you've got to read A Night Like This, it's a fabulous read). 

Fast-forward to the here and now (1824). Hugh is a man of few words. He's brilliant, and serious, and never breaks a promise. But he also hates drama...and that is exactly how Lady Sarah Pleinsworth seems to appear each time he's had the (mis)fortune of hearing her voice.

Lady Sarah is cousin to Daniel, and blames Hugh for the scandal brought upon her family. She, like almost everyone in the ton, suspect it to be Hugh (not his father) who kept Daniel from home. She hates him with every fiber in her being, and she believes him to be the reason why she hasn't wed - she missed her first season due to the scandal, and fourteen (this number is very important to her, as she tries, unsuccessfully, to explain to him) men married that season. 

Their first meeting is explosive - it starts with Sarah confronting him and goes as badly as you'd expect from two people who cannot stand each other. Hugh is curious about her and Sarah is disgusted with his very presence, but they are brought together for the wedding of her cousin Honoria and Marcus Holyrod (Earl of Chatteris). As Sarah loves Honoria above almost all else, she'll do anything to make her happy - even if it means babysitting Hugh during the festivities, so it is obvious to the tongue-wagging ton that the Smythe-Smith family welcomes him and accepts his and Daniel's amends. 

We're given our first punch in the stomach in a very unexpected way, which makes it all the more intense. Instead of it being between both protagonists, it's from an exchange between Sarah and her cousin, Iris. This scene stole my breath, and I felt the burn of tears and hollowness in my chest at Iris's callousness. Iris says, in "that scornful way one could adopt only with family and still hope to be on speaking terms the next day," that Sarah is, at her core, selfish. Sarah is shocked, humiliated, horrified, and shaken - with one sentence, Irish rocks her world from its steady axis and makes Sarah question herself from the inside out. 

Hugh's been dealing with his own self-loathing for years. When he meets Sarah after Iris's comments, he affords her a very basic, but very kind gesture - he affords her the chance to turn her back to a very crowded ballroom and allow her a moment to collect herself, under the guise of studying a painting.

This is opens the door to some very smart, quick and wonderful dialogue. You can actually see, through their words, the feelings that begin to develop between them. Even when Hugh dispels the notion that it is his fault she remains unwed (the fourteen men, you see) and tells her to look in the mirror for the real reason, I could see that she valued the truth in it. They're attracted to each other's wit, and they work very well together in navigating the sometimes vicious ton.

Hugh is desperate not to fall in love with Sarah, but as he gets to know her (and her sisters), he begins to value what he saw as dramatics, but realizes it actually just her personality in the presence of her siblings. The interactions between the Pleinsfields are mind-boggingly dizzying. (Really. That's the best term I could come up with the conveys the speed and inanity that only those lucky enough to have close sisters understand.) Their interactions, though filled with more child-like ideas (the youngest is only eleven), are reminiscent of the much-envied relationship of Quinn's Bridgerton siblings. 

I saw Sarah come out of her "family" shell and into her womanhood throughout this book, and I can't say I've seen that in any others by Quinn. I've always adored the fast-paced dialogue and heart-hurting scenes she manages to consistently produce in new ways, but this book felt just a bit deeper than any of her others (I've read them all at least twice...and in the case of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, probably close to ten times). I enjoyed watching Sarah blossom from a slightly self-centered typical young lady of the ton (who, in theory, put her family above herself) to a thoughtful woman who, in practice,  actually does put her love and her family first.

A warning, though - if this is your first Julia Quinn novel, there are a of couple things you should know:

1. Quinn writes as though she expects her readers to be intelligent. Her characters have phenomenal vocabularies, don't dumb anything down, and are smart themselves. Quinn rarely spells everything out for you, and this is a VERY good thing. It keeps her books engaging.

2. The dialogue in this novel is, perhaps, her fastest to date. I love when characters go back-and-forth so fast that I'm slightly out-of-breath when the scene ends, but in this, the dialogue is not only fast, but so confusing. I think it's intentional. We are, after all, dealing with a family of four sisters who know each other inside and out. Sarah is the eldest, Harriet is an, um, imaginative playwright, Frances (the 11-yr-old) strongly believes in unicorns., and Elizabeth is superior in such a teenage way...their interactions are so startlingly dead-on as to how sisters talk with each other, that I wonder how much fun the author's family get-togethers might be.

3. Pick up every other JQ novel out there. She is a master of human interaction, of human connection. And she'll get you right in the heart every time.

About the Author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is one of only fifteen members of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 26 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

You can find her at her website, on Facebook, or at her author page on Avon Romance.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow this Tasty Book Tour!

Read More

Book Review: Things Good Girls Don't Do by Codi Gary

Title: Things Good Girls Don't Do

Author: Codi Gary

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)

Release Date: August 27, 2013

Where to Buy: Amazon | Nook 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From the book:

For Katie Conners, being a good girl just isn't worth it anymore. It used to mean getting the life she always wanted. But that was before she got dumped and her ex got engaged to his rebound. So, after a bad day and one too many mojitos, Katie starts making a list of things a girl like her would never do, not in a million years...

As a tattoo artist with a monster motorcycle, Chase Trepasso isn't the kind of guy you bring home to mom and dad.

And when he finds Katie's list in a bar, he's more than happy to help her check off a few items. Especially the ones on the naughtier side...

Katie's more than tempted by Chase's offer, as long as they keep things uncomplicated. But as they spend more time together, she may just wind up breaking the most important rule of all: Good girls don't fall in love with bad boys.

My review:

I love my romance novels to be realistic with a happily-ever-after. Characters can be placed in extraordinary situations, but if the beta hero suddenly goes all alpha, or the heroine does an uncharacteristically or unexplained stupid move, I become exceptionally disappointed.

This book was not disappointing in the least. 

Katie is working hard to figure out who she wants to be. It's taken awhile - including the death of her mother and being dumped by her long-time boyfriend - for Katie to realize that she's sick and tired of doing what everyone expects - which is to say, a doormat. 

Katie was raised by a mother who drilled good manners and good breeding into her core. Katie is a lady - doesn't yell, doesn't argue, and and doesn't do anything outside of her mother's (and society's) good-girl standards. But after she has just a couple of drinks at a bar (a no-no), she draws up a bucket list of sorts - a Things Good Girls Don't Do list. She resolves to check each and every one of them off her list...and she would've simply tossed the list in the trash when she sobered up, if it hadn't been for Chase Trepasso talking a very close, very embarrassing look at the list - and holding her to it.

The romance between these two evolves quite naturally. On the surface, each is the opposite of the other. One is rough-and-tumble, drives a motorcycle, and is a tattoo artist. The other is sweet, fresh-faced and strives to put her best face forward, always. The people they are beyond what the world sees are complex. They face the same battles we all have - bucking society's conventions, breaking free from our parents' expectations, and finding that one imperfect person who is perfect for us.

I thought I'd get annoyed by Katie and all her do-goodiness, but I was thrilled to be wrong. It is with a significant effort and a lot of self-growth that she's able to push her mother's voice out of her head. She held tight to the values instilled in her, but by the end of the book she refuses to let them define her anymore. I actually said, "Bravo!" aloud (which raised The Husband's eyebrows, but he knows me enough now to just shrug his shoulders and keep on doing whatever it is he does while I lose myself in a book). 

Chase isn't off the hook, either. He comes out of the gate as closed-off, rough, and uninterested in a relationship. But he's a caring person, and after a few times taking care of Katie (he brings pizza to her house, and she's - of course - worried about the gossip mill in town; he brushes the gossip off in such a logical way, it makes you laugh), it's apparent that there is WAY more to Chase than what he allows people to see. Katie's personality really works its magic on him - it's almost with bemusement that he finds himself missing her presence when she's not near, and his jealousy is not over the top in some effort to prove to the reader that he really does love her.

Everything in this story just fit. I was able to so fully lose myself because there wasn't any part where I thought, Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen. Jealousy between the characters? No one was told off in an over-the-top and unwarranted way (it's always the poor waitress who somehow becomes the one to get told off in stories...). No one had a lightning bolt revelation of love. And no one had someone else point out that one was in love with the other. The big gesture in the book was not on a grand scale, and it was just right for this couple.

The only issue I had was the best friend, Steph. She came across as trying to step in as the mother figure, and I found her to be annoying. What saved it was when Katie did, too - a fact I really appreciated and related to.

Seamless, flawless brilliance. We need more Codi Gary books on the shelves - I do hope she keeps writing. I can't wait to read her other titles in this series - she has two more coming next spring. I highly recommend this book.

 (Disclaimer: I was provided an digital copy from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.)

Read More