Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Sheila has read 4 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Monday, December 26, 2016

Featured Freebie: Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

featured freebieprejudice-meets-pride
Don't miss this fabulous freebie! Grab your copy of Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson today!!  


 Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own. Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them. amazon  

Friday, December 23, 2016

Mischief and Manors by Ashtyn Newbold-Blog Tour Review




Product Details:

  • Title: Mischief and Manors
  • Author: Ashtyn Newbold
  • Perfect Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (December 13, 2016)
  • Genre: Romance
  • ISBN-10: 1462119379
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review paperback copy in exchange for an honest review.



 
Book Details:
 “Although his voice was gentle, his words struck me with the panic ridden feeling of being unarmed. He was uncovering buried truths from the deepest recesses of my heart, and I felt completely exposed by it.”

When Annette Downing and her mischievous little brothers were orphaned, Annette closed her heart off, dedicating her life to raising her brothers and protecting them from her abusive aunt. But when her wicked aunt sends them to Kellaway Manor for the summer to reform the boys’ bad behavior, Annette is reunited with the handsome Owen Kellaway, a childhood friend just as mischievous as her brothers. She soon finds her closeted heart in jeopardy in the battle between fear and desire. Does she have room in her heart for another?
My Review:
 More and more, it's hard to find good clean romances that also have a great story line with compelling characters. Mischief and Manors has so much what readers are looking for. We meet older sister Annette who has two younger brothers who she feels she must take care of. They are orphaned and at the mercy of a mean aunt who is tiring of the younger boys and their horse play. She threatens to send them to an orphanage if they don't shape up. Soon Annette and her brothers are sent away to Kellaway Manor for the summer where Annette meets up again with Owen Kellaway, who was very much like her brothers when he was young. 

I liked the two brothers Peter and Charles who are typical boys for their ages and they bring much humor to the story, along with Owen helping out with said humor. Annette seems very serious in much of the book, but she has had to be the one to watch over her brothers since their parent's deaths five years earlier. Basically she's sacrificed many things in her life for her brother's benefit. It was fun to see how Owen brings Annette out of her shell as he is also helping her brothers. This book isn't all about humor though, there is mystery, plot twists you may or may not see coming, and of course the romance that blossoms throughout the book. There were a few times I wanted to bop Annette up side the head and help her see what was right in front of her. Eventually things head in the right direction. There is definitely much witty banter in this book, which I truly liked. There were a few inconsistencies with some of the dialogue concerning the time period the story takes place in. This could bother some readers, though mainly I overlooked them. I got carried away in the story and just wanted to keep reading to see when Owen, whom I truly liked a lot, would charm Annette enough to win her over.

This was a fun, clean, and refreshing debut novel. I look forward to reading more books from Ashtyn Newbold.
Meet The Author: Ashtyn Newbold   
 Ashtyn Newbold discovered a love of writing early in high school. Inspired by regency period romance, she wrote her first novel at the age of sixteen. Because she can’t vacation in her favorite historical time periods, she writes about them instead. When not crafting handsome historical heroes, she enjoys baking, sewing, music, and spoiling her dog. She dreams of traveling to England and Ireland. Ashtyn is currently studying English and creative writing at Utah Valley University. She lives in Lehi, Utah with her family.
Mischief and Manors” blog tour schedule:
December 13: Getting Your Read On
December 14: Compass Book Ratings
December 15: Cause Everyone Needs Romance
December 16: Book Loving Mommy
December 17: The Things I Love Most
December 18: The View From My Window
December 19: Mel's Shelves || Wishful Endings
December 20Katie's Clean Book Collection || Rockin' Book Reviews
December 21Bookworm Lisa
December 22Jorie Loves a Story
December 23Why Not? Because I Said So
December 24Blooming With Books
December 25Bab's Book Bistro
December 26Kindle and Me || My Book a Day || Writing Worm || Fire and Ice
December 27Jorie Loves a Story || Literary Time Out
December 28My Love for Reading Keeps Growing || Robyn Echols Books

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Cover Reveal and Giveaway for Tarragon: Dragon Mage by Karlie Lucas





Karlie Lucas is a preschool teacher by day and a writer/artist by night.

A graduate of Southern Utah University, Karlie received a B.A. in Creative Writing, with a minor in art. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, as well as ANWA, the American Night Writers Association.

Karlie is interested in all things magical and mysterious, especially elves and dragons. She is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling.

When not writing, Karlie can often be found drawing, baking, watching her favorite old school shows, or just spending time with her family.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and a cat named Kally

Connect with the Author here: 
Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~



-->After hundreds of years, the gates to Tarragon are open once more, fulfilling age-old prophecy. However, Anwen’s journey is far from over. The dragons still sleep and she has no clue how to wake them. Forced to retreat from the Mountain, she and her newfound friends must devise a new plan to wake the inhabitants of Tarragon.

Meanwhile, the Mage Circle, a group of dragon mages with a vendetta, is camped outside the Gates. Calling on allies of their own, they will stop at nothing to gain control of the Dragon City and all who dwell inside.

To complicate matters even more, Anwen’s mother has joined the party. But even with the help of all her friends, can Anwen overcome the ordeals set before her or will this spell the end of the dragons and the world as we know it?

Purchase your copy of the first book in this series,here:



Now lets check out the cover for the second Book in this brilliant Series!

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Isn't it epic!
Now lets take a look inside the book


Snippet:

Courtney stopped abruptly as the scatterings of a cave-in came into view. “Oh no,” she whispered, one hand to her mouth. Moving slowly, she noticed a body slumped in the hallway. “Please don't be dead,” she said over and over again as she moved closer. She couldn't help but wonder which of her friends lay there, and what had happened to the other.

The closer she came, the more detail came to light. She recognized Tyler Durand as he lay on his side. His light-colored hair lay limp against his head. His skin was unnaturally pale. At least she didn’t think he was dead. It took a lot to kill a dragon. But just beyond him, a little more out of the way, lay Anwen Porter. And she wasn’t moving.



To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas Romances for .99 cents-Featuring books by authors, Cami Checketts, Lucy McConnell, Taylor Hart, and Jennifer Youngblood

Here's a Christmas gift for you...
All of these books will be priced at .99 cents until Christmas,including a 15 book box set. What a great time of year to read Christmas inspired romances. Check out all of the selections below.

 
Oh, Come On, Be Faithful
Oh, Come On, Be Faithful - Find it on Amazon
Former Army security expert Matt Degan is in desperate need of a Christmas miracle. His ex-wife cleaned out his savings account and abandoned their son. Sadly, he has no presents stashed.When he finds a job as a bodyguard for Mikayla Lambert, a billionaire heiress who has been tormented by a stalker for four years, he’s caught up in family drama that threatens this beautiful woman he’s becoming enamored with and might also endanger his son. Can Matt protect everyone and save Christmas for his son, or will the stalker succeed at kidnapping Mikayla and destroying any chance at love between them?

The Faithful One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance - Find it on Amazon
Now available in paperback also.
Spend Christmas in a welcoming bed and breakfast filled with romance and heartache in the latest Billionaire Bride Pact by bestselling inspirational romantic suspense author, Cami Checketts.
Zander Keller survived a stint on reality TV and the addiction recovery center that fame forced him into, but he should never have agreed to do an undercover boss ploy to help his father. The beautiful manager of the Southern bed and breakfast makes him laugh and forget his troubles, until she tries to solve his commitment issues like every woman has since his mother’s murder.
Trin Dean has no intention of becoming besotted with Zander like every other red-blooded female who drooled over him on television. But when he begins helping out at her ancestral bed and breakfast, she discovers the true Zander, who has overcome more heartache than most people can understand. Can she risk falling for him and jeopardize her job and the home her family has treasured for generations?

Christmas Makeover: An Echo Ridge Romance - Find it on Amazon

Chelsea Jamison has been infatuated with Drew Stirling longer than she's loved playing basketball, high-top sneakers, and the Knicks. Unfortunately, all Drew sees is the kid who kicked his trash in the high school free throw contest and not the girl whose heart breaks into a fast dribble when he's near.
Drew makes an unexpected visit home to Echo Ridge and their friendship picks up where they left off as they scheme to make a teenaged boy's Christmas dreams come true. When Chelsea realizes she's fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she's stuck in buddy-status for life.

Full Court Devotion: A Snow Valley Romance - Find it on Amazon
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.


Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology - Find it on Amazon
Also available in print or audio.
Christmas Kisses is a collection from five best-selling and award-winning authors. Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.
Christmas Kisses received a Crowned Heart Review.
"The stories are all very well written.... The authors have also been able to give the reader a vivid picture of Echo Ridge - from the sights and smells of the town to the freezing cold of winter juxtaposed with the warmth coming from the hearts of Echo Ridge's people. Readers will not have any difficulty investing in the stories that are perfect reads as they sit by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate." -- InD'Tale Magazine with a Crowned Heart Review for Christmas Kisses




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Cover Reveal for...Condemn Me Not by Heather B. Moore

I am excited to announce the 
cover reveal of 
USA Today Bestselling Author 
Heather B. Moore's 
CONDEMN ME NOT.

CONDEMN ME NOT releases 
March 14th, 2017!

Preorder links ebook / paperback







*******Here it is!******



Isn't it so beautiful? I can't wait to read this book!
Book Blurb...
 In CONDEMN ME NOT: ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT, USA Today Bestselling author Heather B. Moore brings the life of her 10th great-grandmother to center stage. Susannah North Martin, accused of witchcraft in 1692, joins five women in the Salem Jail, all sentenced to death for their crimes. Amidst tragedy, Susannah finds hope and compassion as she remembers a well-loved life, and readers discover that love reaches far beyond the grave as Susannah faces the magistrates in Salem.

Book Blitz and Giveaway for Saving Lord Whitton's Daughter (A Regency Romance Novel) by Susan Tietjen





Susan was born and raised a California girl but is grateful to have lived on the Oregon coast and in the Rocky Mountains of northern Utah. She’s now enjoying living with her husband in the incomparable beauty of the Redwood forest, nestled against the rugged coast of Northern California.
Susan raised a tribe of children, making ends meet as a registered nurse and lactation consultant, and now her tribe members have tribes of their own and she just doesn’t get to see enough of them. She loves to travel and is thrilled with a good movie or a great book, but writing is her passion. She writes almost anything, especially epic fantasy and romance. Saving Lord Whitton’s Daughter is her first Regency Romance.
Susan would love to hear your comments. Please review her book at your favorite retailer, and at Goodreads, and/ or drop her a note at: stietjen.author@gmail.com.



Connect with the Author here: 





Lady Bethany would rather die a spinster than submit to marriage—and thus reveal the horrible secret she has harbored for more than a year
Lord Locke is far too immersed in his service to the Crown for romance, but Lady Bethany is in dire circumstances.
Indebted to Bethany’s late father and his close friend, the earl offers a perfect solution for both of them: a marriage in name only.
Perfect, if only they weren’t so irresistibly drawn to each other—and if Bethany hadn’t found herself falling in love with a man even more mysterious than his reputation. Perfect, until she unwittingly learns he’s protecting her from a threat to her life.
To Mark, Bethany is just another assignment, a woman he’s convinced is hiding something. His offer of marriage was meant only to make it easier to safeguard her.
But when the simple threat turns to attempted murder and treason, Mark realizes that Bethany has stolen his heart and he can do nothing less than throw himself into a race against time to save her, whatever the price.



Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~
Amazon AU ~ Goodreads ~



Top Ten List:

1)    Of course, my very favorite pastime is reading. (Writing is both my job and my lifeblood, so one cannot replace the other!) I love almost every genre, everything from women’s lit and romance (of all kinds) to fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and dystopian. I love so many writers and specific works it’s hard to pick just a few. I’m just as excited about Harry Potter and The Hunger Games as I am by Jodi Picoult, Dean Koontz, Anne McCAffrey, and Robin Hobb. I’ve savored every word of The Lord of the Rings (3 times), and devoured Sarah Eden’s work. I admire Brandon Sanderson and David Gemmell, and loved the Divergent books and the Twilight series. My favorite Regency Romance is The Scarlet Pimpernel and I’ve read all of Georgette Heyer’s and Barbara Cartland’s Regencies as well as a number of the Scottish Highland time-travel series. Mostly, I love authors who can create a world for me that allows me to step away from my own and enjoy an adventure.
2)    One of my favorite leisure-time activities is going to the movies—and enjoying a bucket of popcorn. I’d go every week if I could.
3)    I love to knit and crochet and have won awards doing so. I’ve made everything from clothes, children’s sweaters, baby blankets, beanies and booties to jackets, afghans, and shawls.
4)    I love to travel. I’ve been from Florida to San Diego and Arizona, from Portland to New York, from Texas and New Mexico to Colorado, from Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois to Hawaii. I love living near the beach and the redwood forest, but my favorite vacation spot was Hawaii and I’d love to go there again. However, if I could have the dream vacation of a lifetime I would love to follow my family’s roots to Ireland, England, and Scotland.
5)    I love sushi. I’ve eaten it at all types of restaurants all over the country and even in Hawaii. I’ve even learned how to make it myself and think I do a pretty darn good job of it. In fact, I love to cook so much I have at least one or two recipes in almost every well-known cuisine in the world and have created so many of my own recipes, I’ve sworn someday I might publish my cookbook. Maybe I will.
6)    My list of favorite actors is way too long. I count myself lucky to have lived long enough to be able to jokingly claim a relationship with some of the greats. I cried when Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, and recently Sally Field died. There are so many wonderful new actors and actresses coming into their own that I look forward to decades of brilliant performances. I’ve loved Sandra Bullock since her career began; I think Jennifer Lawrence has a great career to look forward to; Scarlett Johanssen is fascinating; and I always have and always will adore Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Juila Roberts, Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon. I will never forgot the place carved in my heart by the stars of Harry Potter: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint or the amazing Lord of the Rings crew.
7)    I still love the songs of Simon & Garfunkel, especially “The Sound of Silence” and “Scarborough Fair”, and “Angel” by Sarah Mclachlan. I love Celtic Woman, Kelly Clarkson, Lisa Kelly, The Piano Guys, Mercy River, David Archuleta, and Celine Dion to name a few.
8)    I love animals. I once considered becoming a large animal vet. My first true love was with horses and I wanted a career that would keep me around them every day. I feel so fortunate that I not only eventually had the opportunity to own horses, I rode, trained, showed, and bred them. My husband says my relationship with horses is uncanny and calls me a horse whisperer. I don’t think I’m that great, but I would not deny that they seem to like me, too.
9)    My husband and I have 8 children (7 living) and 22 grandchildren with #23 on the way! We’re very proud of our family’s accomplishments and we love them all.

10) My father is still alive at a robust 89 years old. He says he plans to live to 102. That means he’ll outlive me, ‘cause I’m not sure I want to live that long. Unless I can keep on writing!



To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 



Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Book Blast and $50 Giveaway for The Battle for Christmas by Jeremy Hinshaw

battle-for-christmas 


 The Battle for Christmas by Jeremy Hinshaw 
 After training and practicing for the auditions, Andy's friends excelled. Andy, however, failed miserably. When the positions were posted, his worst fears came true - he was the only angel not given a job for the birth of Lord Jesus. Would Andy be the only angel not to have an assignment for this climactic event? How did Heaven defend Bethlehem from the onslaught of Lucifer and his horde of demons?  
amazon

Praise for the Book This was a great book to bring alive the story of Jesus birth, especially for those who have heard it many times before. Although fiction, it challenges us to remember that we are not doing this on our own. There is a whole army of angels at our disposal. Thank you Jeremy for captivating my thoughts and painting such a glorious picture, not often considered when thinking of that blessed day. From the very beginning as you described the landscapes I was hooked. The details breaking out the characters and each one's place in the story are masterfully woven. The story is packed with enough intrigue, adventure, and truth to be enticing to readers of all ages, and especially the youth of today. Compared to other books I have read on the subject, this one takes the cake with its creative story-line that is jam packed with adventure, humor, and close-calls. I recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of adventure. A fresh take on the matter that is certain to wow its readers. Especially those interested in a view behind the veil that we all know exists! I loved The Battle for Christmas. Not only is it a book I’ll read again, but it’s also a book I can’t wait to share with my children and nieces and nephews. In The Battle for Christmas we get a great fantasy paired with reminders of our hope and our faith. Plus, what an adventure! I really liked Andy. He’s the type of character young readers will want to emulate, and one we’ll want our children to emulate. I think his gift is one we all struggle with and one of the most important. 

 Excerpt “We had to send angels to Earth to speak to people in dreams. Because of what was going to happen, some of the humans needed direct communication from Heaven to prepare for His Majesty’s birth. IDTs would be needed as guards for John the Baptist, Elisabeth, and Zechariah, not to mention Herod, the scribes, the wise men, the shepherds, and the …” “The shepherds needed guards?” “What about Mary and Joseph?” “Well, of course, the shepherds needed protection. What would happen if the Heavenly Host showed up to proclaim the Lord’s birth and no one was there? Everyone needed protection. The day Lucifer tricked Eve, the Lord Almighty cursed Lucifer. The Lord Almighty warned Lucifer that Lord Jesus was going to crush his head and Lucifer would be lucky to strike at Lord Jesus’s foot. Lucifer didn’t want this to happen. He knew if Lord Jesus was going to be born, it would be another step closer to his demise.    


jeremyAuthor Jeremy Hinshaw Jeremy Hinshaw grew up in central Indiana. He graduated from Olivet Nazarene University, and now resides in Muncie, Indiana.
  amazon paypal  
Blast Giveaway
 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/3/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.      a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day 12: Caitlyn's Christmas Wish by Laura L. Walker





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Laura L. Walker grew up in a large family in the beautiful Gila Valley of southern Arizona. From the time Laura was young, ideas for stories bombarded her brain. She would spend hours drawing her characters on paper and fantasizing about their adventures. Life became more serious, however, when Laura met her own hero while at college in northern Arizona and they later became the parents of six children. In between spurts of grocery shopping, sewing costumes or quilts, transporting kids to practices, and making dinner, Laura still enjoys putting her imagination to good use. Laura is the author of two LDS contemporary romances, Pierced by Love and The Matchup. Caitlyn’s Christmas Wish is her first e-novella.


Q & A With The Author:

5. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

Even though I've lived through several difficult events, I would have to say the hardest thing for me is raising my six children. I love them all to pieces and wouldn't trade them for the world, but each of them has presented unique challenges to me. As their mother, collectively, I feel exhausted at times but am especially proud when they accomplish or pull through something that was hard for them.


6. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?


True story: My favorite all-time movie is The Sound of Music. As a tween, I was absolutely enthralled with that story (and to this day, I can't even explain why). Maybe it was the songs Julie Andrews sang, maybe it was her character or the gorgeous scenery . . . I'm not sure. For me, all of the story elements in that movie combined to make the perfect story for me. I watched it so many times on television that my adult brothers now will not allow their wives to watch it. This is something I only found out about a few years ago when I was sitting at a table with my sisters-in-law. I was stunned and felt so bad that I ruined it for them.



Connect with the Author here: 


Just when former model and single mother Caitlyn Drevier Reel has finally put her life back on track after a divorce and six-month stint in rehab, she is surprised to receive an invitation from her ex-in-laws to spend Christmas with the family. After all, she reasons, her ex-husband Grant is constantly on the road with his band and it's only fair to allow them to get to know her young son, Brody. What Caitlyn isn't prepared for, however, is the spark of attraction she feels for Ridge, Grant's older brother, or the sense of belonging to their wonderful family once again. Ridge, who is recovering from his own personal heartache, seems to feel the same about her. As they work together to ensure the success of the Winter Festival that his parents have organized for their small Wyoming town, Caityln begins to envision a bright future. But will Grant's unexpected arrival keep her Christmas wish from coming true?

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~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK



Top Ten List:

1. my hubby and children 
2. red roses 
3. chocolate chip cookies 
4. swimming pools 
5. writing 
6. clean and uplifting romances 
7. music 
8. quiet (when the music is finished and the kids have gone to bed) 
9. pumpkins 
10. Thanksgiving and Christmas


To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page