August 14, 2016

Pumpkin Patch Blessings by Kim Washburn - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: August 2, 2016
Number of pages: 18
Genre: Childrens

Synopsis;
Pumpkin Patch Blessings celebrates fall and shows little ones there are blessings all around us, especially in the pumpkin patch! The sweet rhyming text by Kim Washburn and whimsical illustrations by Jacqueline East bring autumn alive for readers young and old as they take in the fun of the fall season and remember how much they have to be grateful for.

My thoughts:
This is another very cute board book that I picked up for my little niece. I loved the illustrations they just make you want to reach in and cuddle the little bunnies. We follow the little bunnies to the pumpkin patch with their family and on their adventures of playing in the fall weather. I thought this was a cute little board book to get you and your little one in the mood for the fall weather during this hot summer. It also teaches little ones how to count their blessings. 

About the author:
Kim Washburn began her career in Christian publishing with Focus on the Family. While she worked on their Clubhouse Jr. magazine, two of her original stories were recognized by the Evangelical Press Association, including first place in the fiction category in 2006. Currently Kim stays home - and stays on her toes - with her eleven-year-old daughter and nine-year-old twin sons.

One Big Turkey by Anne Vittur Kenney - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: August 9. 2016
Number of pages: 20
Genre: Childrens

Synopsis:
Count your blessings! Join one big turkey and his forest friends as they celebrate the harvest season.

Children will count along with big turkey, squirrel, and their forest friends all the reasons they have to be grateful. Sweet, rhyming text will help children count everything they have to be thankful for, including food, friends, full tummies, and most of all, God! This board book presents parents with an adorable and simple way to teach their children about giving thanks.


With sweet rhyming verse, lots of fun images to count, and warm, charming artwork, this book will surely be a favorite every holiday season!


No turkeys were harmed in the telling of this story.

My thoughts:
I thought this was a cute book for little ones. The colors are very bright which will grab their attention. Also it is a board book so it is sturdy enough that the little hands can read it over and over with it ripping. There are many of the animals from the forest in this book and they are all adorable. This is a fun way to teach your little one how to count to ten. Each page has a new number and a new friend so by the time you get to the end you have met many of the cute little forest friends. 

About the author:
Anne Vittur Kennedy started out as a music teacher in public schools, but shifted to illustration in 1982. She has illustrated many children’s books, including the Miss Fox series by Eileen Spinelli and the Pony Scouts series by Catherine Hapka. Anne Vittur Kennedy lives near Columbus, Ohio.

August 13, 2016

The Loyal Heart by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: July 12, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Lone Star Hero #1

Synopsis:
Robert came to Galveston to fulfill his promise to a dying man and look after his widow. He didn’t expect to find love in the unlikeliest of places.

Robert Truax, former Second Lieutenant and Confederate officer in the Civil War, made a promise to his comrade Phillip Markham. If anything happened to Phillip, Robert would look after his beloved wife, Miranda. She was his life, his world, his everything.

After the war, Robert is left to pick up the pieces and fulfill his pact. When he arrives at Miranda's home in Galveston, Texas, things are worse than he imagined. Phillip's name has been dragged through the mud, everyone in town believes him to be a traitor, and his widow is treated as an outcast. Even more disturbing is her emotional well-being. Miranda seems hopeless, lost, and so very alone.

Robert had thought his duty would be simple. He would help Miranda as quickly as possible in order to honor a promise. But the moment Robert laid eyes on her, his plans changed. He's mesmerized by her beauty and yearns to help her in any way he can.

He makes it his duty to protect Miranda, turn her reputation around, and to find some way to help her smile again. But it doesn't prove to be an easy task—Robert knows something about Phillip that could shake Miranda to the core and alter her view of the man she thought she knew so well.

My thoughts:
This was an enjoyable book set in the Civel War period in Texas. The author captured the time and place with such ease that you know she did a lot of research when writing this. Like most women in this time period Miranda was a strong woman. I enjoyed getting to know her and to follow her on her journey through life. It was very nice of Robert to help Miranda out. I also enjoyed following their relationship grow. I can not imagine all the things she had to go through. Although through her writing the author does a good job of escribing it all. A very enjoyable book. 

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Find Shelley on her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com, on Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray, and on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

August 12, 2016

The Beauty of The End by Debbie Howells - Spotlight


Published: July 26, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Synopsis:
From the acclaimed author of The Bones of You comes a haunting and heartbreaking new psychological thriller about a man thrust into the middle of a murder investigation, forced to confront the secrets of his ex-lover's past.

"I was fourteen when I fell in love with a goddess. . ."

So begins the testimony of Noah Calaway, an ex-lawyer with a sideline in armchair criminal psychology. Now living an aimless life in an inherited cottage in the English countryside, Noah is haunted by the memory of the beguiling young woman who left him at the altar sixteen years earlier. Then one day he receives a troubling phone call. April, the woman he once loved, lies in a coma, the victim of an apparent overdose--and the lead suspect in a brutal murder. Deep in his bones, Noah believes that April is innocent. Then again, he also believed they would spend the rest of their lives together.

While Noah searches for evidence that will clear April's name, a teenager named Ella begins to sift through the secrets of her own painful family history. The same age as April was when Noah first met her, Ella harbors a revelation that could be the key to solving the murder. As the two stories converge, there are shocking consequences when at last, the truth emerges.

Or so everyone believes. . .

Set in a borderland where the past casts its shadow on the present, with a time-shifting narrative that will mesmerize and surprise, The Beauty of the End is both a masterpiece of suspense and a powerful rumination on lost love.


About the author:
Debbie Howells is the author of The Bones of You, her debut thriller which sold internationally for six-figures in several countries. While in the past she has been a flying instructor, the owner of a flower shop, and a student of psychology, she currently writes full-time. Debbie lives in West Sussex with her family, please visit her online at DebbieHowells.com.




Random Acts of Marriage by Boone Brux - Spotlight, Guest Post and Giveaway

A
Synopsis:
A wedding. A playboy. And a week he’ll make sure she never forgets.
Kinni Corbet is the perfect bridesmaid. She’s efficient and has a to-do list for every occasion. When the bride-to-be adds “relax and have some fun” to Kinni’s schedule, Price Lyons seems to tick all the right boxes. He’s guaranteed fun, and it’s only for one week—what can it hurt?

Playboy hotel owner Price Lyons has wanted to break down Kinni’s walls for years. Her plan to relax for a whole week is the perfect opportunity to get to the one person he’s never been able to charm. And this time, she seems…receptive to his advances. Unexpected, but he’ll take it. There’s just one problem. Kinni’s allergic to spontaneity, and the only thing predictable about Price is his unpredictably. There’s no way they’ll last beyond the week, and Kinni’s going to make sure of it…

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
Add to Goodreads

About the author:
Boone's stories range from high fantasy to contemporary romance.

Having lived all over the world, and finally settling in the icy region of Alaska, she's always looking for the next adventure. It's not unusual to find Boone traversing the remotest parts of the Alaskan bush, gathering information for her stories. No person or escapade is off limits when it comes to weaving real life experiences into her books or blogs.

Connect with Boone: Site | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Guest Post:
Top Five Tips For a HEA (Happily Ever After)

Marriage is tough. That’s why romance novels are a billion-dollar business. We want to live vicariously through a character, feeling her first flutters of longing, and having magical sex.

I’ve been married for a thousand years, and have been with my husband since the dawn of civilization. There have been magical moments, and times when he needed to be smothered in his sleep. That’s marriage. The bottom line is that we’ve carved out an amazing relationship built on trials and triumphs, and I’m going to share my pearls of wisdom with all of you today.

If you’ve been married a long time a lot of this will probably ring true. If you still think your spouse can do no wrong, then you probably won’t believe me, but if your relationship lasts you will, young Skywalker...you will.

So let’s get started.

1. Settling. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn’t a person on earth who can maintain the thrill of a new relationship. Over time the glow wears off, so you’d better love your mate. No doubt a couple times a week Chris Hemsworth’s wife wants to throttle him for something he’s done or said. Pick your battles and change your perception. When you’re a newlywed, football every Sunday might piss you off. My suggestion is to embrace that time as a personal day for you and your friends. Toss a bowl of chips and six-pack at your spouse and call it good.

2. Manipulation. It can’t be helped. If you want to get your way sometimes, you’re going to have to manipulate your spouse. It might be something as simple as waiting for the best time to suggest a movie or going out to eat. It’s the natural order of things. After living with somebody for several years, you learn their moods and ways. Everybody needs a win sometimes, and it’s best to let them think they’ve come to the decision on their own.

3. Repression. Sometimes you’re going to have to keep your pie-hole shut. You might want to point out their mistakes, give your lover a well-deserved “I told you so”, but don’t. This will save you hours of angst and silent treatments. Again, pick your battles, be forward thinking. Is the satisfaction of being right going to gain you the result you want? Sometimes it’s just not worth it. Being right has taken a back seat to peace and harmony in my life.

4. Obligation. Some people like to call this compromise, but I prefer the term obligation. When my husband doesn’t have anybody to play golf with, it’s my obligation to step up to the plate even though I don’t love the sport. Why? Because when I want to go to the movies, he’ll be obligated to go because I was super awesome in his time of need. We both get what we want.

5. Fantasize about other men. Trust me, he’s doing it about other women. Don’t feel guilty, just allow yourself the pleasure of watching Alexander Skarsgard swing through the African jungle, shirtless.

6. Marriage can feel like a rut sometimes, no matter how much you love your mate. It’s okay to settle, manipulate, repress, obligate, and fantasize as long as it’s done out of respect and love. I’d do anything for my husband. He’s one of the best things that ever happened to me, but I am damn sure going to suggest (manipulate) he call some buddies and set up a time to play on this weekend. Win—win—peace and harmony.

I’d love to hear your marriage advice, and be sure to check out Random Acts of Marriage, book two in my Wedding Favors series.

Giveaway: 
One $25 Amazon Gift Card 



Tour Schedule:

8/8/2016
A Bluestocking's Place - Feature ov099.wordpress.com
I Love Romance - Feature & Review lovestruck677.blogspot.com
What Is That Book - Feature www.whatisthatbookabout.com

8/9/2016
Reading on the Rocks - Feature readingontherocks.blogspot.com
Romance Reviews Today Blog - Feature romrevtoday.blogspot.com
Splashes Into Books - Guest Post splashesintobooks.wordpress.com

8/10/2016
Romance Novel Giveaways - Feature romancenovelgiveaways.blogspot.com
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium - Guest Post silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com
Reviews by Crystal - Feature reviewsbycacb.blogspot.com

8/11/2016
The Lusty Literate - Feature thelustyliterate.com
Romance Book Nerd - Feature www.romancebooknerd.com
life, books and hidden dis-abilities - Feature & Review lifebooksandhiddendis-abilities.blogspot.com

8/12/2016
Nicole's Book Musings - Feature www.nicolesbookmusings.com
The Starred Review - Q&A Post starredreview.wordpress.com
A Holland Reads - Guest Post ahollandreads.blogspot.com

8/15/2016
SOS Aloha - Feature sosaloha.blogspot.com
Dreamland of Liv - Feature & Review dreamlandofliv.blogspot.co.at

8/16/2016
More Books Than Livros - Feature & Review www.morebooksthanlivros.com
BadandDirtyBooks - Feature & Review badanddirtybooks.blogspot.com
Becky on Books - Top 5 Post beckymmoe.com

8/17/2016
The Reading Frenzy - Feature thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com
Short and Sassy Book Blurbs - Feature & Review shortandsassybookblurbs.blogspot.com

8/18/2016
Ramblings From This Chick - Guest Post www.ramblingsfromthischick.com
Smexy and Fabulous - Feature & Review smexyandfabulous.blogspot.com
Read Your Writes Book Reviews - Guest Post readyourwrites.blogspot.com
Between Books - Feature & Review blogbetweenbooks.blogspot.com

8/19/2016
babbling about books, and more - Feature & Review kbgbabbles.com
Romancing the Book - Top 5 Post romancing-the-book.com
Read-Love-Blog - Feature www.Read-Love-Blog.com


August 11, 2016

Fire Brand by Diana Palmer - Spotlight and Giveaway


Published: August 30. 2016
Number of pages: 384
Genre: Romance

Synopsis:
He’ll risk his whole heart to save her from the past

Gaby Cane was always a bit afraid of her attraction to Bowie McCayde. Even when she was fifteen and Bowie’s family took her in, she had sensed his simmering resentment. Now ten years later, she’s an aspiring journalist who can hold her own with any man professionally, the dark shadows of years gone by far behind her. Then Bowie strides back into her life—only this time, he needs her, and the pull of loyalty to his family is too strong to ignore.

When Bowie asked Gaby to help save his family’s Arizona ranch, he never expected the girl he once knew to return transformed into a stunning, successful woman. As they work together, Bowie is shocked to find that her innocence and beauty stir a hunger he can’t deny. But the rogue rancher can sense something holding her back, and he’s determined to uncover the terrible secret Gaby is fighting to keep hidden…


Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About the author:
The prolific author of more than one hundred books, Diana Palmer got her start as a newspaper reporter. A New York Times bestselling author and voted one of the top ten romance writers in America, she has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. Diana lives with her family in Cornelia, Georgia.

Connect with Diana
Website | Facebook

Giveaway: 

Excerpt:
Bowie realized belatedly why Gaby’s face had turned white. “No, no,” he said shortly, noting her horrified expression. “She’s not hurt or anything.”

She relaxed visibly and put a hand to her throat. “You might have said so.”

“Are you through here?” He looked around as if he couldn’t see what she had to do anyway.

“I need to file my story before I go.”

“Go ahead. It’ll keep.” He walked back out into the lobby and sat down on one of the sofas. Trisa leaned her chin on her hands and sat watching him shame lessly while he read a magazine. If Bowie even noticed, there was no sign of it.

Gaby had to drag her own eyes away. He was most incredibly handsome, and totally unaware of it.

She turned on her word processor, got out her notes, and spent fifteen minutes condensing two hours of work into eight inches of copy one column wide.

Bowie was still reading when she came out of the newsroom, after calling a quick good night to Johnny.

“I’m ready…oh, no,” she groaned.

Carl Wilson, the Bulletin reporter, was just com ing in the door with a Band-Aid over his nose, breath ing fire.

“So there you are, you turncoat,” he growled at her. His ponytail was soaked, and Bowie was giving him an unnerving appraisal. He turned his back to get away from that black-eyed stare. “This is the last straw, Cane,” he raged. “I know you’ve got the whole damned police force in your pocket from your old days on the police beat, but that was a low blow. My cam era’s busted to hell, my film’s exposed…!”

“Poor old photographer,” she said comfortingly. “Did the big bad policeman hurt its little nose?”

He actually blushed. “You stop that,” he muttered. “You told them to do it.”

“Not me,” she said, holding up one hand.

Bowie had gotten to his feet now and his narrow black eyes were watching closely.

“If you didn’t point me out, who did?” Wilson per sisted, eyeing Bowie warily as he spoke.

“You were walking right into the line of fire,” she reminded him. “We all saw you.”

He sighed miserably. “First my car gets towed away, despite the press sticker, because I parked in front of a fire hydrant. Then I get tackled and my film is ruined…it’s somebody’s fault!” he added with a pointed glare.

Gaby grinned. “God must be mad at you,” she told him. “He’s getting even with you for the Garrison story you conned me out of last week. You do remember hav ing your crony at City Hall send me out to the parking lot while you got the final word on the new landfill site?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “That was in the line of duty. We’re rivals.”

TOUR STOPS:

Monday, August 8th: From the TBR Pile – excerpt
Tuesday, August 9th: A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, August 10th: Stranded in Chaos
Thursday, August 11th: A Holland Reads – excerpt
Friday, August 12th: A Splendid Messy Life
Monday, August 15th: The Sassy Bookster – excerpt
Tuesday, August 16th: Reading Reality
Wednesday, August 17th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Thursday, August 18th: Books a la Mode – excerpt
Friday, August 19th: A Bookaholic Swede – excerpt
Monday, August 22nd: Moonlight Rendezvous
Tuesday, August 23rd: Mignon Mykel Reviews
Wednesday, August 24th: Bewitched Bookworms
Thursday, August 25th: Dog-Eared Daydreams
Monday, August 29th: Worth Getting in Bed For
Tuesday, August 30th: Becky on Books
Wednesday, August 31st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, September 1st: Buried Under Romance
Friday, September 2nd: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers


August 10, 2016

The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John - Review

02_The Lady of the Tower
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: January 30, 2016
Number of pages: 246
Genre: Historical fictions

  

Synopsis:
Orphaned Lucy St.John, described as "the most beautiful of all," defies English society by carving her own path through the decadent Stuart court. In 1609, the early days of the rule of James I are a time of glittering pageantry and cutthroat ambition, when the most dangerous thing one can do is fall in love . . . or make an enemy of Frances Howard, the reigning court beauty. Lucy catches the eye of the Earl of Suffolk, but her envious sister Barbara is determined to ruin her happiness. Exiling herself from the court, Lucy has to find her own path through life, becoming mistress of the Tower of London. Riding the coattails of the king’s favorite, the Duke of Buckingham, the fortunes of the St.Johns rise to dizzying heights. But with great wealth comes betrayal, leaving Lucy to fight for her survival—and her honor—in a world of deceit and debauchery. Elizabeth St.John tells this dramatic story of love, betrayal, family bonds and loyalty through the eyes of her ancestor Lucy and her family’s surviving diaries, letters and court papers. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My thoughts
This was an enjoyable book. I thought the author did a great job with all the historical details and descriptions. Like a few other books I have read in the last month I have not read much about this subject (James I). It is always nice to read new to me subjects as then I can learn something while being entertained. I liked getting to know Lucy and following her life through court. First she is orphaned and then is in court and then loses everything and is at the bottom again but through it all stays strong. I thought Lucy was a strong woman. It was also interesting to me how Lucy knew so much about plants and such and how to use them. I liked that this was a put in the story. There are many people at the tower and it seems like a community with so many people. You get a glimpse into this time and what it was like in this time. I will be looking for more books by this author. 

Praise
"Elizabeth St.John has brought the early Stuart Court in the years before the English Civil War vividly to life." - Historical Novel Society Review "Elizabeth St.John offers great drama and intrigue in her compelling debut novel The Lady of the Tower." - M.K. Tod, author of Lies Told in Silence "The Lady of the Tower is a good combination of a historical romance that is well researched, with the added spice of the author being directly related to the heroine." - Tobsha Learner, best-selling author of The Witch of Cologne 

About the Author
Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and sites from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and the British Library to Castle Fonmon and The Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it's hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth's family still occupy them - in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that's a different story... Elizabeth is currently writing a sequel to The Lady of the Tower, following the fortunes of the St.John family during the English Civil War. The working title is "By Love Divided", and it is due to publish in early 2017. For more information, please visit Elizabeth St. John's website. You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook and Goodreads

04_The Lady of the Tower_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 8 Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Tuesday, August 9 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway at The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
Wednesday, August 10 Review at A Holland Reads
Thursday, August 11 Review at Book Nerd
Friday, August 12 Review at Jorie Loves a Story Interview & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Saturday, August 13 Review at 100 Pages a Day
Sunday, August 14 Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Monday, August 15 Review at A Book Drunkard Interview at The Maiden's Court