The Mariposa Hotel (A Tangerine Street Romance) by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, and Heather Moore-Review

Product Description:

• Title: The Mariposa hotel
• Authors:  Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, and Heather Moore
• File Size: 3010 KB
• Print Length: 265 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Mirror Press (November 9, 2015)
• Publication Date: November 9, 2015
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01663NIQM
• FTC, FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
The Mariposa Hotel
A Tangerine Street Romance
(a novel in three parts)

Welcome to Tangerine Street

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and exclusive bed-and-breakfasts. The Mariposa Hotel, a new resort, has revitalized Seashell Beach, bringing new life to the sleepy beach town. In the charming gardens of the hotel sits a three-hundred-year-old wishing well transported from Mexico. One toss of the coin, a sincere wish, and lives are changed forever…

Other books in the Tangerine Street Romance series:
The Fortune Café
The Boardwalk Antiques Shop 

My Review:
The Mariposa Hotel is another book in the Tangerine Street Romance series. I truly love how in some way all of the books are connected by the businesses that call Tangerine Street their home and the people that live and work there. 

In The Mariposa Hotel, there are three stories of very different people from all walks of life. They all meet in the hotel and a romance blossoms, some have a more difficult time, but in the end love conquers all. I like that this is a book of people changing and striving to make their hopes and dreams come true. The wishing well in the secret garden of the hotel was my favorite part. You will find some great romances in this book, with some swoon worthy kisses too. 

The Mariposa Hotel can be read in one sitting, or read one story and come back later to read the next. As I've said before when reviewing books with novellas, this kind of book is perfect for the busy woman trying to fit everything in to their day, including some time for themselves. All three of these authors are fantastic writers, so you know you will be reading high-quality stories and clean romances. 


Meet the Authors of The Mariposa Hotel...

Julie Wright started her first book when she was fifteen.  She’s written over a dozen books since then, is a Whitney Award winner, and feels she’s finally getting the hang of the writing gig.  She enjoys speaking to writing groups, youth groups, and schools.  She loves reading, eating, writing, hiking, playing on the beach with her kids, and snuggling with her husband to watch movies.  Julie’s favorite thing to do is watch her husband make dinner.  She hates mayonnaise but has a healthy respect for ice cream. 

 

  Connect with Julie:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

 

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper.  She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels.  After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants.  Melanie is a former English teacher and a sometime blogger who loves to laugh and make others laugh.  In her downtime (ha!), she writes romantic comedies and pines after beautiful shoes.

Connect with Melanie:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

 

 

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers, written under the pen name H.B. Moore.  She writes women’s fiction, romance and inspirational nonfiction under Heather B. Moore.  This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom.  Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah.

Connect with Heather:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | BLOG

 

Blog Tour Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Annette Lyon Collection by Annette Lyon

  Product Description
 Title:A Timeless Romance Anthology: Annette   Lyon Collection 
 Author: Annette Lyon
Published: July 3, 2015, by Mirror Press 350p, 
Genre:Clean Romance
FTC, FYI: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review









Book Description:
The ANNETTE LYON COLLECTION contains brand new contemporary romance novella OUR SONG, as well as five hand-picked readers’ and reviewers’ favorites of Annette’s popular Timeless Romance Anthology novellas. Readers will love this selection of three contemporary and three historical romance novellas.

In OUR SONG, a charming romance novella, Cassie and Matt have been dating in the Yellowstone area for two years, and things are, well, average. When Cassie meets up with two college friends who are visiting, their love lives like sound like fairy tales: rose petals, chocolates, candles on the beach… Cassie goes home feeling like she’s missing out. After all, repeatedly watching Old Faithful erupt and walking through sulfur-smelling gases at Fountain Paint Pot don’t exactly say “romance.” Maybe things with Matt aren’t going anywhere, and it’s time to move on. Then she discovers that perception and reality are completely different things. Now she can only hope it isn’t too late to show Matt how much she really cares.

In the sweet novella GOLDEN SUNRISE, Natalie takes time out of her crazy schedule to fly to Vegas for her best friend’s wedding. Sierra and Jason, high-school sweethearts, are finally getting married. Fortunately for Natalie, her old high-school flame, Adam, has a work commitment and can’t be there as best man. But when she arrives at the wedding rehearsal—late and ragged—Adam is there. When Adam makes a wild suggestion, Natalie just may take him up on it, even though she knows he’s moved on. A single choice may mean Natalie is taking a shot at reclaiming the past—or that she's putting her heart in harm’s way a second time.

FIRSTS AND LASTS, an enchanting novella, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home.

In the compelling novella WAR OF HEARTS, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her now-former boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She arrives at a snowy Finnish battlefront only to discover that Pete is already there—as her photographer. She’s determined to be professional about the situation until a battle breaks out in camp, putting her and Pete in harm’s way and putting their love to the test.

The captivating novella BETWEEN THE LINES follows Jane Martin, who is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the charming novella A TASTE OF HOME, we meet Claire Jennings, who’s on her way to spend Christmas with her family. As she rides the train with William Rhodes, who grew up across the street, memories of Christmases past flood her mind. He may be twenty-one now, but she can’t forget his torturous teasing from their school years. At the rail station, Claire discovers that her home is under quarantine because her little brother has measles. She's stuck in town, away from her family, on her favorite holiday. William stays behind with her, and as Christmas Day approaches and her homesickness deepens, she discovers that perhaps he has changed in more ways than one.

My Review:
 I love the Timeless Romance Anthologies. The novellas have grown on me, and I look forward to having short stories to read when I don't have a lot of time. 

In this anthology, author Annette Lyon has written all six of the novellas. The first one is brand new and the other five novellas are some of her best from other anthologies. The first three novellas are contemporary and the last three are historical fiction. It's really hard to pick just one that stood out for me, because there was something to like about each novella. 

Annette always writes great characters, and I especially loved Claire and William from the novella, A Taste of Home and Anna and Pete from the novella, War of Hearts. Their stories made me wish to read more about them and what happened later. One common thing you'll find in all of Annette's stories, is that your heart will be touched by what you read. You are pulled in quickly and care about the happiness of the couple and how they will eventually get together. You can also be assured of a nice, clean romance, that is still filled with kisses that will make you melt. The overall message from these stories is to open your eyes and embrace love when its there right in front of you. 

This book is one more I recommend you put on your summer romance reading list.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble

If you want to read about other Timeless Romance Anthologies go to this site
 

Meet Author: Annette Lyon
Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, the recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction and the author of ten novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide as well as over a hundred magazine articles. She’s part of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, a senior editor at Precision Editing Group, and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she’s not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Tour Schedule:

July 27th
Katie’s Clean Book Collection http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
Bookworm Lisa http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
I Love to Read and Review Books http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/

July 28th
Lindzee Armstrong http://www.

lindzeearmstrong.com/
Literary Time Out http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
Rachel DeVaughn http://empowermoms.net

July 29th
My Book a Day http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/
Mel’s Shelves http://www.melsshelves.blogspot.com/

July 30th
Wishful Endings http://www.wishfulendings.com/
Singing Librarian Books http://www.bubblebath-books.com/

July 31st
Min Reads and Reviews http://www.minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/
LDS Women's Book Review http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/
Fire and Ice http://fireandicereads.com/
Why Not? Because I Said So http://www.whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
Smiling Book Reviews http://www.smilingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little-Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

 

Product Details

• Title:  Forbidden
  
• Author: Kimberley Griffiths Little
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (November 4, 2014)
• Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
• ISBN-10: 0062194976
• FTC, FYI: Received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart. Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying. With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself. Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

Book Trailer for Forbidden!!

My Review:
I must admit right off, I love everything that Kimberley writes. She has a way of making her characters seem so real. You become so absorbed into the story, you forget you are actually reading and not living the experience. The main character is Jayden, who lives in the early Mesopotamian area before Christ. Her people were the Nomad Tribes that wandered the desert areas. It is a rich and beautiful time period of adventure, danger, hardships and survival. These people wandered through the deserts to look for food and water. They form bonds with other wandering tribes. This is where the story begins at Jayden's betrothal ceremony. Soon we find out that this marriage is not one that Jayden wants because frankly, her betrothed, Horeb, is a rich, but mean man. Then of course a very young, handsome man, Kadesh, comes along that does steal Jayden's heart. This may seem to you that this book is a typical romance, but you'd be so wrong. There is a rich story woven into this romance with plenty of strife and intrigue. Nothing is ever easy in life, and Jayden finds this out too. Though she wants Kadesh in her life, she knows it's Forbidden because he is not part of her tribe. At this time, and with this people, you really had no choice when a marriage when arranged for you. Oh, it hurt to read about Jayden and the choices she had to make and work through.

Another thing that really pleased me was the fabulous historical research that was done for this book. You can always tell when an author digs deep to make the story accurate for the time period, the people and country of the characters. Kimberley did exactly that: of writing a novel that was realistic and true. This is another reason that this novel is not just another romance, but a story of depth because of it's historical accuracies. 

Schedule some good time this winter/Christmas to just sit and read this novel. You will be pulled in and not want to leave. Unfortunately there is a cliff hanger that will make you beg for more in this series. I can't wait to read more about what will happen in Jayden's life. I love Kimberley's writing style and I know I'll always read a great story that will be remembered way after I've finished it. 

AMAZON * Barnes and Noble

  Praise for Forbidden
 *STARRED* Review, ALA BOOKLIST ". . . At its core, this is a romance, with all the push and pull that goes along with impossible love, and Little elevates the story by creating a perilous landscape, both outward and inward, as Jayden must deal with the hardship of desert life as well as her own desires." 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "This is a fast-paced, entertaining choice which will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance." 

"Lush, lyrical, romantic. Forbidden transports readers into a vividly imagined place and time." -
 -Claudia Gray, New York Times bestselling author 

 "The harsh beauty of the deserts of ancient Mesopotamia come to life in Forbidden, with beautiful descriptions that will make you crave water and check for sand in your clothes. Your heart will break as you root for Jayden to triumph over the many struggles that threaten to tear her world apart, and the ending will leave you thirsting for more!" --Sara B. Larson, author of Defy    

EXCERPT:  
The night was starkly beautiful under a canopy of jeweled stars. I savored my moments of freedom, which were marred by the realization that it was dripping away day by day. The sizzle of coffee beans roasting in the skillet floated across the still air. Cups clinked on a tray as my father passed them around the circle. The aroma of roasted brew spiced with cardamom seeped into the night. As I tried to slip past, Horeb’s eyes caught mine. Firelight flickered over his face, outlining his jaw and wind-tangled black hair. He was devastatingly handsome just as all the girls said, but his lips curled into a smile that sent shudders down my spine. Horeb’s glance lingered on my body, settling not on my face, but lower, as if he was undressing me right there on the dirt path. His eyes locking onto mine, Horeb rose from the circle of men. I jerked around, breaking off his stare. Walking faster, I turned the corner of the tent just as his arm reached out to stop me. “So, little cousin,” Horeb said. “Have you been enjoying the betrothal ceremony? Tell me, are the women telling stories of marital relations?” My breath caught like a thorn in my throat. The women’s ceremonies were not discussed with any male—only inside the privacy of a marriage bed. “You shouldn’t be saying these things to me,” I said. Running his fingers down my arm, Horeb continued to study me. “There are many things I’d like to say to you, Jayden. Do to you.” There used to be a time when my throat pounded every time Horeb turned my direction. A time when he was growing into those big, dark eyes and that hard, muscular body. Moments when I wanted to touch his thick, black hair, or run my finger along his jaw to discover what a boy’s skin felt like with a newly growing beard. But now that I was sixteen, and he twenty, his stares made me uneasy. My heart still pounded, but not from love. And I wasn’t sure what it was or what to call it.  

Author Kimberley Griffiths Little

Award-winning author Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and their three sons. Her middle-grade novels, When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, have been praised as “fast-paced and dramatic,” with “beautifully realized settings.” Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She’s stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Blog Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/4/15 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

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection by Karey White, Krista Lynne Jensen, Diane Darcy,Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Heather B. Moore-Review

Product Details

• Title: Love Letter Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology)
• Authors: Karey White, Krista Lynne Jensen, Diane Darcy, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Heather B. Moore
• File Size: 2022 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Mirror Press (January 22, 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00I20ABJU
• FTC FYI: Received a review ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Just in time for Valentine's Day...  

 LOVE LETTER COLLECTION

Three Contemporary Romance Novellas
& Three Historical Romance Novellas
in one anthology

In Maggie’s Song, a charming story by Karey White, Maggie Jensen is part of a trio of best friends with Lucas and Dan. Together, they own and run Wild Country Hiking Tours. When Lucas returns to the company after getting his college degree, Maggie realizes that the crush she had on him as a teenager has now blossomed into so much more. But Lucas still treats her as one of the guys, and Maggie worries that if she tells him her real feelings, their relationship will be damaged forever.

In Just Fly, Krista Lynne Jensen's captivating novella, Wren is faced with the devastating news of her grandfather's death. But when her mom finds a mysterious letter from a woman named Dot in Seattle, Wren decides to visit the woman herself to deliver the news in person. Wren learns of the bucket list Dot and Gramps had put together with the help of Dot's grandson, Seth, and Dot challenges Wren to take her grandfather's place in completing the list. Before the week of adventure is over, Seth has impressed Wren in more ways than one. But is that enough to overcome Wren's fear of losing those she loves?

How to Rewrite a Love Letter, an enthralling novella by Diane Darcy, high school teacher Julie Ashburn believes she’ll never live the “event” down in which she wrote her true feelings in a love letter to Principal Dane Parker, and he laughed out loud, mocking her. Now that her honors English students want to write love letters for the school fundraiser, Dane turns down the idea flat. Julie tries to convince him that it was her students’ idea and not any sort of payback. But when a student writes a fake love letter from the principal to Julie, everything gets even more mixed up, and both Julie and Dane are caught up in a series of misunderstandings that might be impossible to sort out.

In Sarah M. Eden’s delightful story, A Thousand Words, Shannon Ryan has been waiting half a year to be reunited with her fiance, Patrick, with only the letters between them keeping their relationship alive. He finally sends for her after securing a good job with the Sidney newspaper, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, swept up in his arms and thoroughly kissed. And of course, married as soon as possible. But when she arrives at the train station, there is no Patrick waiting for her. Shannon must discover if the man she loves still has feelings for her.

Between the Lines is a sweet romance by Annette Lyon. Jane Martin is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the enchanting novella, Blackberry Hollow, by Heather B. Moore, Lucy Quinn travels to England to inspect her inherited estate. Unfortunately, as a resident of New York and nearly engaged, Lucy needs put the house on the market. But first, she wants to learn more about her ancestors. What she doesn’t expect is Calvin Bevans, the man living next door. The two families have been divided by a misunderstanding decades old, and when Lucy discovers a set of love letters, she learns the truth. As Calvin helps her unravel the hidden secrets between the two families, Lucy finds that she has more reasons to stay in England than to return to New York. And Calvin is at the top of that list.

 My Review:

The new Timeless Romance Anthology, The Love Letters Collection, is a perfect read for Valentines Day. I loved the combination of contemporary and historical stories. There is a story to fit your every mood and reading tastes. The unique thing that binds all six stories together is that there are love letters in every novella. From the first story, Maggie's Song, where two best friends finally confess their love through some letters (This happy ending gave me chills and I gave a huge sigh) to the last story, Blackberry Hollow where two great grandchildren of former lovers become close themselves(and maybe more...you need to read it yourself!). These romance stories are high on the clean factor and zero on anything erotic. All of the stories are written with appealing characters whose stories stayed in my mind days after reading them.

I love how each of these stories are told. I have become a true lover of these novellas. The Timeless Romance Anthologies are always quick easy reads. They never fail to make me smile. As a busy woman I like to be able to read a story and have it resolved quickly. A full length novel doesn't always work with my busy schedule of working full-time and being a single mom. 

Do yourself a favor and pick up this new collection of romance stories. They are well written by authors I've come to trust, and they know how to deliver a great story. 

You can purchase your copy here at Amazon.

 

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection

A Timeless Romance Anthology:Winter Collection 

6 Historical Short Stories by 6 Award-Winning Authors

Product Details:

• File Size: 463 KB
• Print Length: 251 pages
• Publisher: Mirror Press; Winter Collection edition (September 30, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Genre: Romance
• ASIN: B009JZB4RA
• FTC FYI:  I was given a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 Summary:

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed brand new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection. A collection unlike any other, readers will love this compilation of six sweet historical romance novellas, set in varying eras, yet all with one thing in common: Romance.

The Road to Caven Town by Sarah M. Eden, set in 1864 Ireland, combines Eden’s sense of humor with her signature sweet romance. Alice Wheatley walks each weekend into town, accompanied by Isaac Dancy. And while Alice finds herself falling in love with the gentleman, unfortunately he has his eyes set on the belle of the town, Miss Sophia Kilchrest. Alice must find a way to turn Isaac’s eyes toward her.

Regency author Heidi Ashworth’s delightful story, It Happened Twelfth Night, set in England 1812, follows Luisa Darlington who discovers the man of her dreams, Percy Brooksby, isn’t in love with her as much as she thought he was. When Percy’s friend, the mysterious foreigner, Mr. Flynn, visits for the twelfth night holiday, he promptly sweeps Luisa off her feet, quite literally. Luisa is left catching her breath in more ways than one.

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon is a captivating romantic novella, set in remote Wood Camp, the snowy canyon of Logan, Utah, 1880. When Caroline Simpson is forced to thwart the aggressive advances of Mr. Butch Larson, she discovers that her long-time friend, James, has genuine affection for her. But as stubborn as Caroline is, she minimizes the feelings he’s awakened in her, and it takes almost losing James to admit her true feelings for him.

In Joyce Di Pastena’s charming medieval story, Caroles on the Green, we enter England of 1151, in which Lady Isabel has a dilemma. She promises herself that she’ll marry the man who sent a ring hidden in her pastry since the man she truly loves, Sir Lucian de Warrene, has proved to be impossible and exasperating. To forget him, Isabel sets her eyes on other eligible men, only to face another confrontation with Lucian—who isn’t about to back off and leave her to her newest plot.

Donna Hatch’s enchanting novella, A Winter’s Knight, begins when Clarissa Fairchild’s coach just happens to break down in front of the most forbidding estate in the county, that of Wyckburg Castle, a place where young brides have been murdered for generations by their husbands. Clarissa is horrified yet curious all in the same breath. When she meets widower Christopher de Champs, Earl of Wyckburg, she must decide if she should flee or uncover the greatest secret in the county about her handsome rescuer.

In Heather B. Moore’s exciting turn-of-the-century story, A Fortunate Exile, Lila Townsend finds herself the victim of a broken heart—broken by the most notorious bachelor in 1901 New York City. If that isn’t bad enough, her father sends her to Aunt Eugenia’s remote farm where Lila must wait for her father’s anger to subside and the gossip columns to find new fodder. When Lila meets her aunt’s boarder, Peter Weathers, she discovers a man who isn’t afraid to stand up to her formidable family and take a chance on a woman with a sullied reputation.

My Review: 

 I was so thrilled to get to read a collection of stories written by some of my favorite authors. I know that these women can write, and I have read their previous work. I have to say I was not disappointed. The best part is that these are clean stories full of romance. Reading this anthology was like eating a platter of appetizers: you were able to get yummy bites of everything. The only thing I didn't like is that I would just start to get into the story and then it would be done. All of these stories could easily be continued in a longer novel. 

On the plus side, these stories are perfect for the busy reader. You could read one, enjoy it, finish it and then go off and run your errands. Then later that night you could come back and read another story. I was telling someone about the anthology. They asked if I had a favorite story out of the six, but it would be hard to choose just one. All of the stories had unique, and fun characters set in various eras. I liked the spunk of  the women in the anthology. I loved the romance and the awakening that takes place when you realize that love is there. **sigh**

I can see these anthologies becoming guilty pleasures for women everywhere, especially those that want to read about romance without the gratuitous sex that is prevalent in today's society.  Curl up in your jammies, grab your hot chocolate and get lost in this anthology of timeless romances! 

Purchase Here:

• Amazon--Kindle $3.99
• Smashwords--all versions $3.99
• Barnes & Noble--Nook $3.99
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• For updates on the Timeless Romance Anthologies visit their blog:
  http://timelessromanceanthologies.blogspot.com/
   

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway for Smart Move by Melanie Jacobson

Product Details:

• Title: Smart Move
  
• Author: Melanie Jacobson
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (October 1, 2012)
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• ISBN-10: 1608615685
• ISBN-13: 978-1608615681
• FTC FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Publication Date: October 1, 2012

The spark was undeniable the night Sandy Burke met the devastatingly handsome Jake. Conversation flowed easily, so after they parted, she waited eagerly for his call. It never came. A high-powered career woman at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, Sandy feels she has had her heart broken one too many times, and now the redheaded trendsetter is facing a major quarter-life crisis. After some introspection, Sandy determines that helping others may be the key to helping herself. When she's presented with a job offer in Washington, DC, as the director of New Horizons, a nonprofit organization benefiting women in poverty, it seems providential. But now that she's moved, two major obstacles threaten the success of her first assignment: The first is her mother and her constant fog of less-than helpful New Age advice. Secondly, plans to build another New Horizons outreach center have come to a screeching halt, thanks to the interference of a pesky lawyer and his attempts to reverse zoning approval for the building project. After weeks of verbal sparring over the phone, Sandy is in for a shock when she comes face-to-face with her foe. The smooth voice at the other end of the line is a heartwrenching blast from the past. In this twist of fate, Sandy sees the perfect opportunity to ensure the success of the outreach center and to enact a little payback on this man she thought she'd left behind. And so the battle of wits begins. Will Sandy's flirt-to-convert plot sway her nemesis's determination to block the center, or will his charming and undeniably attractive ways convince the sassy redhead to give love a second chance?

My Review: 

Sandy's heart was broken a year ago. With her new move back East to the Washington D.C. area she has a chance to start anew in her life. Little does she know the reason for her heartache has also moved back East to the same town. They soon meet again and sparks fly as they clash in business and in love.

Melanie Jacobson has written a strong character in Sandy Burke who is confident in life, but not necessarily in love. Sandy grew up with a distant mother and an absent father. Trust issues are huge for her and she has built a wall around her heart. Along comes Jake who with his good looks, impeccable style and brains to boot, and this successful lawyer will do anything to win her heart.

I always love the humor that is infused in Melanie's books. Even with serious issues, her characters seem to find funny things happening to them. One of the most humorous things in the book is when Sandy gets stuck in a cabinet with her behind sticking out.

Ten seconds later, Magdalena's voice,sounding strangely hollow to her inside the cabinet, asked, "Why is your bottom sticking out of the cabinet Sand Dollar?"
Please let her be alone, Sandy begged silently.
A choking noise that masked a laugh told her that her Ridiculous Situation guardian angel was currently off duty.
"Yes, Sand Dollar," Jake said from above her. "Why? And how can we help?"
A burn crept up her neck and face. "I'm dusting."

The other thing I loved in this book was the witty dialogue between Sandy and Jake...

She offered him a slow, mysterious smile, determined to restore some lightness to the evening. "If it makes you feel better, being near you does cause me some serious issues."
He leaned closer and coked his head, morphing in an instant from goofy to sexy. "Like what, " he drawled. 
She closed the gap between them until a mere breath separated them. "I have to tell the truth," she whispered. "being this close to you is hard. I feel this overwhelming urge to..."
"What?" he whispered back.
"Kick you."
There was a moment of silence, and then he burst out laughing again. When he pulled himself together, he gave her hair a playful tug. "Leave it to me to find the perfect woman and have her hate me."

There is so much more for you to read, enjoy and laugh about. There are some serious moments as she tries to heal her relationship with her new-age mother, Magdalena. Smart Move is different from Melanie's other books in that the characters seemed more mature, but this didn't take away any of the appeal that is always there in a Melanie Jacobson book.  I liked this novel and every fan of Melanie's will love this new book too!

Guess what? My USA readers have a chance to win a paperback copy of Smart Move. I know it's hard to contain your excitement! I felt the same way when Melanie asked me to be part of the blog tour! Enter in the Rafflecopter form below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 Purchase your own copy of Smart Move here.



About the Author:

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time (ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her humorous slice-of-life blog. Visit Melanie on her website or blog. 

Blog Tour Review of, Reality Check by Karen Tuft: Reminder...Enter to Win Your Own Copy!

Product Details:

• Title: Reality Check
  
• Author: Karen Tuft
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (June 1, 2012
• Genre: Romance
• ISBN-10: 1608613976
• ISBN-13: 978-1608613977

Book Description:

Publication Date: June 1, 2012

 

After college graduation, Lucy Kendrick heads home with big plans for work, travel, and relishing her freedom which means no romantic entanglements. But her two best friends have other ideas. Lucy is seriously steamed when she realizes they've signed her up to be a contestant on the reality dating show Soulmates, but she decides not to renege and soon finds herself in Los Angeles a small-town Mormon girl vying for the love of millionaire bachelor Ethan Glass. At first this cute, smart, fun young woman, who would rather pray than party, bewilders Ethan. But his interest and admiration grow with every encounter. However, the conniving associate producer is determined to stir up some made-for-TV drama and takes strides to make this reality television show anything but real. When the show finally airs, Lucy has been recast as someone she unquestionably is not. Lucy is left humiliated in front of the world, and Ethan is left wondering who the Lucy is that he was falling in love with. Will the duplicities that have created this humiliation ever come to light? And will the truth emerge too late for the would-be soul-mates?

My Review:   

Reality Check is the story of an LDS young women who becomes a contestant on a reality TV dating show. As my post last Saturday showed, I do watch the Bachelor and Bachelorette. Sometimes I watch it because of liking someone on the show and wanting to see how far my favorite actually advances. Other times I watch to get a good laugh at how crazy people act when they are on a show like this. Well, Reality Check was like watching the TV show, but better. Yes, there were drama queens and wacko contestants, but the main characters added some much needed depth you usually don't get in the TV show. 

Karen Tuft's new novel is fun, fast-paced and hard to put down. This is another book that I read late into the night. Once Lucy's friends trick her into going onto the show Soulmates,  you are hooked. You really want to see what will happen. I had to LOL when Lucy told herself she probably wouldn't make it past the first night, then she would get to visit Disneyland for the first time. I laughed at this because it's truly something that I would think and plan! The biggest thing you will notice in the story, is how different Lucy is from the other girls. She stands out because of her standards and morals. The "bachelor" on the show, Ethan Glass, notices her on the first night because of how modestly she is dressed.This story would be considered an LDS romance, but it never shoves anything in your face religiously. It is all presented in a way that you cheer for Lucy as she stays true to herself and her religion. I loved the character of Ethan Glass and how he was in this contest for all of the right reasons. Females will find him "Awww"" worthy and wanting an Ethan in their own lives; or wanting their husbands to follow Ethan's lead. 

Reality Check is a great first book from Karen Tuft. This is another book, that you must tuck away in your bag, when you go on vacation. You will finish reading this book feeling like maybe, just maybe, soul-mates are truly real.

 

 You can purchase Reality Check here:

Reality Check

Karen Tuft

Best Price $13.00
or Buy New $16.99

Remember that Karen is hosting a giveaway in conjunction with the blog tour. Here again are the details.

Giveaway Information:

Karen is generously donating a paperback copy of Reality Check plus a starfish charm bracelet to one lucky reader. All you have to do to gain entries is to leave a comment on any of the tour stops. Each comment will gain you an entry. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win! Here is a full list of the tour stops . For those readers who prefer a non-LDS read, she is also giving away an ARC copy of The Selection by Kiera Cass. It is such a cute book with a reality based dating show as well.

Make sure you leave your email address and which book you are entering for in your comments (i.e. Reality Check, The Selection, or Both).

Also,go visit Karen's blog for more information. http://kktuft.blogspot.com/2012/06/where-did-you-have-reality-check.html

Schedule:

July 9: Book Bug - Tour Kickoff + Sneak Peek + Giveaway + “Bachelorette” Polls
July 9: "Bachelorette" Episode - The Final 3
July 10: Getting Your Read On - Review
July 11: A Tuft Act to Follow - “Bachelorette” Episode Recap
July 12: Book Bug - Update and "Bachelorette" Thoughts
July 12: Getting Your Read On - “Bachelorette” Post
July 13: Fire and Ice - “Bachelorette” Post
July 14: Why Not? Because I Said So! - “Bachelorette” Post
July 16: Book Bug - “Bachelorette” Post
July 16: "Bachelorette" Episode - The Men Tell All
July 17: Bookworm Lisa - Review + Author Guest Post
July 18: A Tuft Act to Follow - “Bachelorette” Episode Recap
July 19: Fire and Ice - Review
July 20: Why Not? Because I Said So! - Review
July 22: "Bachelorette" Episode - Finale and After the Final Rose
July 23: A Tuft Act to Follow - "Bachelorette" Finale Recap
July 23: Book Bug - Review
July 24: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Author Interview
July 25: Book Bug - Wrap Up

About the Author:

Karen Tuft was born with a healthy dose of curiosity about pretty much everything, so as a child she taught herself to read and play the piano. She studied composition at BYU then graduated from the University of Utah in music theory as a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies. In addition to being an author, Karen is a wife, mother, pianist, composer, and arranger. She as spent countless hours backstage and in orchestra pits for theater productions along the Wasatch Front. She also has a 75 percent success rate when it comes to matchmaking and is a big believer in happy endings. Among her varied interests, she likes to figure out what makes people tick, wander through museums, and travel, whether by car, plane, or paperback. 

**I was given a review copy of Reality Check. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.**

Review of, My Lucky Stars, by Michele Paige Holmes

Product Details:

• Title: My Lucky Stars
• Author: Michele Paige Holmes
• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (April 2, 2012)
• Genre: Romance
• ISBN-10: 1621080358
• ISBN-13: 978-1621080350

 

Book Description:

Publication Date: April 2, 2012

 

High-powered, highly pampered Tara Mollagen couldn't imagine a worse start to the holidays than boarding a crowded plane. A stolen wallet and lost suitcase later, she finds herself stranded in unfamiliar territory,Salt Lake City, after being rerouted to avoid a Colorado blizzard. With her temper running as wild as her red curls, Tara realizes her only option out of town is with Benjamin Whitmore, her reluctant knight in shining armor, er, overalls. For being a nice guy, Ben is rewarded with one aggravating situation after another with sassy, spoiled Tara. While doing his best to bring her pride down a notch, he begins to see another side to her, and a side of himself he's not overly fond of. When tension between them reaches a crescendo, he takes matters into his own hands and Tara into his arms. Unable to forget her experience with Ben, Tara returns to Seattle and long-time friend Jane, who offers possibilities Tara had never even considered. But change is difficult, and she's not so sure she has what it takes to make that leap of faith, or if she has the courage to leave her old life behind.

 

 

My Review:

My Lucky Stars is the third installment in this series of Romantic books. It first started with Counting Stars, 

 

then continued with All the Stars in Heaven, and finishes up with My Lucky Stars. Let me say, Michele is so good at writing a believable romance.  The characters are people just like you and me. Their problems are like those that many of us have. It also takes awhile for the characters to realize that they love each other. 

My Lucky Stars is the story of Tara, whom we first met in Counting Stars. She is worldly, spoiled, rude and overall NOT a nice person. Life has not been good to her and she doesn't have many close people in her life, including her parents. She is on her way to stay with friends for Christmas when her plane is detoured to Salt lake City, Utah. Stuck there with no luggage, no wallet and no friends, she meets Ben and his sister Ellen. They take her in to offer food and shelter. Tara complains, silently and out-loud, about all of her problems and how unhappy she is. You basically smile to see all of these bad things happening to such an unlovable character. At the beginning you wonder if you will ever learn to like this character, let alone tolerate her. Ben on the other hand, isn't much nicer to her than she has been to him. They give each other a hard time, amongst many several funny happenings. Ben and Ellen end up giving Tara a ride all the way to Colorado. Some of the funniest moments happen during this trip. After this the story shifts gears as Tara ends up leaving her fancy lifestyle in LA, and moves back to Seattle, Washington to help her bedridden, very pregnant friend. A transformation takes place during this part of the novel. Tara has a spiritual awakening where she starts to believe in God and Jesus and his life's ministry and words. Even though Tara goes through this spiritual awakening, I never felt like I was being preached to. Though she eventually joins the LDS church, anyone of a Christian faith will relate to Tara's experience of coming to know Christ. At the end, Tara is redeemed and I learned to like her a lot. After all, none of us are perfect and need a break.

Out of all of the books in this series, My Lucky Stars feels the most serious in spots, but it's also interwoven with the most lovable supporting characters of Jane, her daughter Maddie and Ben's sister Ellen and her children. To me, Michele's biggest writing strength is how well she writes her characters! Your emotions will be all over the place when you read this romance: you will laugh, you will sneer, you will cry and of course you will cheer. (If my 2nd graders were reading this, they would point out that I just rhymed, even though it wasn't on purpose. ;)  I loved this series by Michele Paige Holmes, and know that readers of Christian Romances will also love it!

About the Author:

Michele's first published novel, Counting Stars, won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. The companion novel, a romantic suspense titled All the Stars in Heaven was a 2009 Whitney finalist. My Lucky Stars continues the series. Michele also enjoys writing historical romance. Her first, Captive Heart, was published by Covenant in 2011 and was a Whitney finalist. 

 

To learn more about Michele and her books, please go to her website here.

***I was given a review copy of My Lucky Stars in exchange for an honest review.***