Life and The Next Best Read

Release Day: Kristen Ashley's First Traditionally Published Book

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:24:00 +0000

Every time a Kristen Ashley book is released is a good day. Today, April 2 is the official release day for Own the Wind. It's the first book in the Chaos series and it's also the first book that is traditionally published. You may have seen all the buzz regarding her indie books and I'm not surprised - they are really, really good. I love the blurb for Own the Wind and can't wait to start reading it. I am curious to see how they will compare to her other books, particularly because this book will now have the benefit of being well-edited. As long as the way she tells a story is there, I'm all for it!

Happy Book Birthday!

Too hot to handle . . .

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos-the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship . . .

Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more-much more-he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn . . .

Here's the cover for the next book in the Chaos series, Fire Inside.

Review: Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:46:00 +0000

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

Genre: Romantic Suspense

I always enjoy Nora Roberts's romantic suspense books. I just like the combination of romance and suspense which are paired together wonderfully. This is was the case here. After all Reece has been through (she has a pretty tragic past) I wanted her to find peace and love. I knew that to have this she also needed to face her past, which she definitely did. I was really involved in the mystery. It took almost to the end for me to solve the mystery and it was a good one. Is Reece going crazy, or is there something more sinister going on? In comes Brody, whose traits match his name well. He's rugged, gruffy and very much like a mountain man. It works considering the environment. I really liked the setting. I could understand why Reece would run away to such a wild and isolate, yet beautiful place.

Other romantic suspenses by Nora Roberts:
High Noon
Midnight Bayou
Blue Smoke
The Search
The Witness

Right after reading this I knew I wanted to see the film version just to see the story come to life. It wasn't as good as the novel but I did enjoy seeing the setting and the characters act out certain scenes.

Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:46:00 +0000

The winner from the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop has been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

Jessica Schank Snow, you've won The Second Chance Cafe by Alison Kent

...and the winner from the Aleatha Romig Giveaway has also been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

Sara you've won Consequences and Truth by Aleatha Romig

Review: Mirror Image by Sandra Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:20:00 +0000

Mirror Image by Sandra Brown

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller

It's hard to imagine being in Avery's shoes, especially since she survived a horrific plane crash and undergoes drastic facial reconstructive surgery. It's to the point where she looks just like another woman and finds herself playing the role of wife to that woman's husband. That said, the plot was an interesting one and I found myself quickly turning the pages. It turns out the person she impersonates isn't a normal everyday wife, but one to a powerful man with many enemies. Being a reporter she takes it upon herself to investigate and uncover the mystery and stay away from the danger that lurks everywhere. There was some great chemistry between Avery and Tate. I found it hard at times that he really couldn't tell Avery apart from Carole, his wife that Avery is pretending to be. Aside from that the plot was complex with a lot of players involved and the mystery kept me guessing as to who were the bad guys. The story was fast-paced, had dangerous moments, and romance. These are all the things I like in a romantic suspense. It isn't my favorite book by Sandra Brown but still a good read.

Recommendation:
Obsession by Karen Robards

New Releases and Pre-order deals

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:37:00 +0000

There are some amazing deals to be had on recent releases and pre-orders of mature adult and adult romances.

The Temptation of Lila and Ethan by Jessica Sorensen (The Secret #3)

The Redemption of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (The Coincidence #2)

The Edge of Always by J.A. Redmerski (Sequel to The Edge of Never)

Out Of Breath by Rebecca Donovan (Breathing series #3)

Jagged by Kristen Ashley (Colorado Mountain #5)

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
All The Way by Jennifer Probst
Never Too Far by Abbi Glines
Pretending He's Mine by Lauren Blakely
Play with Me by Kristen Proby
Relentless by Cassia Leo
Wait for You by J. Lynn
Suicide Note by Teresa Mummert
On Every Street by Karina Halle
Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen

Giveaway: Lucky Leprechaun Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:23:00 +0000

Thank you to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer & Books Complete Me & Author Cindy Thomas for co-hosting. Click on the image to check out the other participating blogs.

★ Giveaway ★
Kindle edition of The Second Chance Cafe by Alison Kent

Kaylie Flynn was luckier than most children left to the Texas foster care system, blessed with a foster mother who taught her the comfort of home…and the healing power of baking the perfect brownie. Now, Kaylie has journeyed back to Hope Springs to open a café in the charming Victorian she once shared with her foster family — and to finally find answers about her past and where she came from. Yet Kaylie’s carefully laid plans quickly become complicated. The house needs far more work than she realized, and Tennessee Keller, the carpenter Kaylie hires, stirs up feelings she hasn’t felt in a long while. When an unexpected crisis threatens to unravel her dreams, Kaylie seems to have all the ingredients for a perfect disaster — or quite possibly the perfect love.

★ Open to anyone who can accept a Kindle book from Amazon.com.

★ To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your email address. Leave your GFC name if you follow for an extra entry.

★ Ends midnight March 22. I will randomly select a winner. Good luck!

Review: For You by Kristen Ashley

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:27:00 +0000

For You by Kristen Ashley

Series: The 'Burg #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense

This is one of my favorite book by Kristen Ashley ever. It's a second chance romance with a great suspenseful mystery. Like most of Ashley's couples, Colt and Feb have this amazing chemistry even when they are not together. They have this long history that is both mysterious and painful. Even when keeping his distance, Colt is still super protective of Feb, which is one of many great trait he has. Feb is also a great character. She has a unique personality and quirks that makes her really lovable. She wasn't perfect but has her flaws and hardships. I was really rooting for them and curious as to what went wrong. Well, I got my answer to that in a really interesting plot. I did wish it didn't take them so long to find each other again but I'm so glad they did. If you are new to her books, definitely try this one.

The 'Burg series order:

Giveaway: Consequences and Truth by Aleatha Romig

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

I'm excited to give one of you a chance to win an e-copy set of Consequences and Truth, generously donated by Aleatha Romig. I recently read both of these and was instantly hooked. You can read my review of Consequences and Truth here and here. There are so many twists and turns in this thriller you won't know what to expect. I know after reading the first book I was desperate to see what happened next. Over on Goodreads, Consequences currently has over 6000 ratings with an average rating over 4.0. Here's a chance to see what all the buzz is about.

★ Giveaway ★
E-copies of Consequences and Truth by Aleatha Romig

★ To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment along with your email address.

★ Ends midnight March 23. I will randomly select a winner who will win e-copies of both books. Good luck!

Connect with the author:

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Review: Truth by Aleatha Romig

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Truth by Aleatha Romig

Series: Consequences #2
Genre Thriller

If you haven't read Consequences then you need to read it! It was such a thrill ride with such an ending that I absolutely needed to find the Truth and learn more about these characters. Ms. Romig did not let me down! The twists and turns and compelling characters which I found in the first book have returned with more mysteries and higher stakes. There are new characters introduced who added to the plot. One of the best thing about the series is definitely the plot. It's so intelligent and has so many layers and characters and significant events involved. Everything matters, from the people, the past and present events, and especially people's actions which always have consequences. Tony, the villain is back and I found he was even more interesting because he has so many faces to him. He's still cunning but he has a weakness and that is Claire. She has toughened up and isn't about to allow herself to be controlled by Tony (or so she thinks). Claire has her much fought for freedom but quickly realizes she is far from escaping Tony and his plan. What exactly is his plan? What past actions is Claire paying for? Who is the mastermind? All this will be revealed in this book and it is revealed in an addictive way. The book switches from characters and although it's not always clear purpose at first, it does eventually make sense. Towards the end, I was in for another twist. Some things I expected and some I did not. What I expected and got was a compelling read.

Series order:
Consequences
Truth
Convicted

Check out the giveaway to win both Consequences and Truth!

Review: Consequences by Aleatha Romig

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:53:00 +0000

Consequences is one of those books that will leave you stunned in the end. You'll be trying to wrap your mind around every single event that has happened and be wanting more. There are so many twists and turns, you may think you know what is coming and you'll second guess that. I enjoyed every minute of this thrill ride. I was curious about the premise and am so glad I decided to try it. The story is a long one and it took a while to pick up but once it did I really got into it. Basically, it's about a woman who is abducted and held hostage by a man with a hidden agenda. Claire doesn't know what to make of Anthony. One minute he's charming and other times he is chillingly scary. There are moments that she finds herself falling for him (Stockholm Syndrome) and others where she finds him unbearable. Where it gets interesting is how Claire manages to get under his skin. She toughens up and earns his admiration. There is a game to be played and the question is who will be the pawn? Despite being a long story I flew through it pretty quickly. Sometimes Claire frustrated me and I wondered why she didn't try harder to escape and other times I could see where she was coming from. Anthony was a very interesting villain. The cliffhanger ending will have you desperate to find the Truth.

Consequences and Truth by Aleatha Romig
Genre: Thriller

Check out the giveaway to win both Consequences and Truth here!

Review: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:05:00 +0000

Catherine takes us step in step into her dark past and the post-traumatic world she now lives in. Having barely escaped alive from an abusive man she lives with OCD and has some major trust issues. It was so interesting to see how her normal world changed into a scary one and now into a dysfunctional life where she spends her days checking and double-checking locks, obsesses over what to wear, when to wear and which days to buy groceries. All this is the result of her terrible experience with Lee, the man who tormented her and held her under his control during their relationship. I like seeing both Cathy's past and present. It was interesting to see how events unfolded and how she came to be. When Lee is released it turns suspenseful and I anticipated every move. It wasn't easy for her but I was proud to see Cathy begin to trust again and gain strength to face her future.

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Genre: General Fiction, Thriller

Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:36:00 +0000

The winner from the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop has been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

Ash, you've won The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

Best Love Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:03:00 +0000

These are some of my favorite love stories. They made me cry, smile and fall in love. I know not every love story is going to be easy but that means they tend to be emotional and those are the kinds I enjoy best. In fact, I like for a love story to take work and go through good and bad times. I picked the ones that stayed with me long after.

The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred All I can say is keep plenty of tissues handy! It's a second chance story and these two are so tormented and desperately in need of a happily ever after.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers I don't read a lot of Christian fiction but this is one of those stories I wish everyone could read. It is dark at times and heart-wrenching. The hero is so patient and shows her what love is and how it can heal.

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) by J.R. Ward It's book three of the vampire series so it's probably best if you read them in order. I cried reading this. Zsadist is probably one of the most tortured alpha hero I've ever encountered.

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons It's a forbidden love story and the couple's journey towards love is a long but unforgettable one. You'll have to read the sequel to find a happy ending though.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas One of my favorite romance by her. The woman faced domestic violence in a former relationship and the hero teaches her to love again. I love Hardy! He first makes an appearance in Sugar Daddy (the book before this one), although he's not a hero but it gives us a look into his life growing up.

Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson Sometimes sad but mostly sweet. Alex is a wonderful hero and I love seeing him and Annie fall in love in a simple and touching way.

Paradise by Judith McNaught You can't really go wrong with a book by her and she writes some of the best second chance romances. Paradise is one of them.

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips If you want a great romance with some humor then definitely try her books. Her characters are so much fun!

Giveaway: Random Acts of Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:29:00 +0000

Thank you to I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Read For Your Future for co-hosting. Click on the image to check out the other participating blogs.

Giveaway

A Kindle copy of The Perfect Game by J. Sterling that will be gifted from Amazon.com and is open to anyone who can accept a Kindle book.

To enter the giveaway, follow me on GFC and comment once telling me what your favorite sport is. I will use random.org to select the winner. Good luck!

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

TBR: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:35:00 +0000

I've been meaning to read this book for ages, and I really have no reason for why I haven't. It sounds so emotional and the time period is one that is interesting to me. I was reminded of how much I want to read this with Ms. Sepetys's latest release, Out of the Easy which also sounds great. I haven't read a historical novel in a while so it might be time to do so. Isn't the cover lovely?

TBR: My pile is huge and I have way too many books I want to read than I have time to. This is where randomly spotlight a book that I want to read eventually. It's my visual motivator.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Historical Fiction

A moving and haunting novel for readers of The Book Thief

Fifteen-year-old Lina is a Lithuanian girl living an ordinary life--until Soviet officers invade her home and tear her family apart. Separated from her father and forced onto a crowded train, Lina, her mother, and her young brother make their way to a Siberian work camp, where they are forced to fight for their lives. Lina finds solace in her art, documenting these events by drawing. Risking everything, she imbeds clues in her drawings of their location and secretly passes them along, hoping her drawings will make their way to her father's prison camp. But will strength, love, and hope be enough for Lina and her family to survive?

This powerful tale of heartbreak and hope is sure to haunt readers long after they finish the last page.

Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:53:00 +0000

The winner from the Follower Love Giveaway Hop has been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

nurmawati djuhawan. She won a book of choice and picked:

Thanks to everyone who participated. I now have a ton of books to add to my TBR!

Series I Have Every Intention of Finishing ...

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:02:00 +0000

(Or at least get back on track with.) I enjoy both standalone books and series and probably read slightly more series books. What I love about series is the ease I can get into them especially after the first book. The world has been built, the characters have been introduced and I can focus on the plot. Even though I start many series it seems I have a hard time finishing them even when a series has been wrapped up. For series that are known to have major cliffhangers with the next installment being months or a year in the making, I often end up saving the book until a second release is closer. In other cases, I just stop reading and it's hard to get back into the series. So, these are a few series I have every intention of getting back on track with.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

This was one of my first adult vampire books and I sunk my teeth into it right away. The way the characters talked and their over the top personalities really stood out. Plus they live in a pretty exciting paranormal world and the romance is hot! Hello, we're talking alpha vampire warriors here. I'm halfway through the series and I'm itching to get to Lover Reborn which I know is going to emotional. I've been trying to avoid spoilers regarding this book because I have a few more books to go.

The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

Well, I love Cat and Bones together. They are one of my favorite paranormal characters. I only have a couple of books to go so I can definitely catch up if I can just find myself the time and mood to read it. I just have to remind myself of Bone's accent and their adventures to motivate myself.

The Lakeshore Chronicles series by Susan Wiggs

I actually started this series out of order but for the most part it was fine and they could be read by itself. I do want to fill in the missing stories from the characters. I like visiting this town and the stories are always so sweet. It's mostly the earlier books I need to read and hopefully I can get to the newest installment even though that character's story doesn't appeal to me like the others.

The In Death series by J.D. Robb

To be fair I only recently started this series and considering how many books are in it (36 books and counting), I know I won't finish it anytime soon. I do want to read more of the books and see what Eve and Roarke are up to. I'm still in the early books and am curious to see how the series develop.

The Colorado Mountain series by Kristen Ashley

I'm a big fan of Kristen Ashley's books and have already read the first two...only the last time I visited this series was months ago. Even though there are so far only four books in the series and I am halfway through, they are long books and I'm not a speedy reader. Still I know I'll get to them because her books are so enjoyable.

Review: Shiver by Karen Robards

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:16:00 +0000

Thrilling! I was in the mood for a suspenseful story with lots of action and some romance and this book had it. Within a few pages, the action starts and it continues like that almost the entire book. Some of the scenes were scary because they were disturbing and violent but it goes to show the kind of trouble Sam finds herself in. I like the way she came across, a bit down on her luck but working very hard to change that being a single mother to a young child. She is both vulnerable and independent. Then there's Danny, who's just plain trouble. Wherever he goes trouble finds him but he's strong and able to protect. They are both caught up in Danny's mission with bad guys chasing after them. Danny's mysterious and being secretive doesn't exactly help him earn Sam's trust, but she does anyway. I thought they worked well as partners. He gets his moments to protect her but in some situations she has her own strengths. I liked Tyler, Sam's son. He was adorable but also helped soften Sam and Danny's personalities and brought out their protective sides. Around the middle of the story I did wish the action would pick up since they were holed up in the safe house for a while, but overall when there was action it was memorable. It's not my favorite book by this author but it was good.

Shiver by Karen Robards
Genre: Romantic Suspense

When she swore off love, he was the last man she imagined would steal her heart.

If driving a piece-of-crap tow truck through the seediest part of town with a Smith & Wesson beside her means putting a roof over her son’s head, then Samantha Jones is going to be the best damn repo woman on the books. The streetwalkers, the drug pushers, the bands of looking-for-trouble punks haunting the mean streets at midnight don’t intimidate her. These are her people. The guy she finds bound and bloodied in the trunk of her latest conquest, a flashy new BMW, is a different breed entirely.

Daniel Panterro was certain he was going to die. Instead, by a stroke of luck, he was beaten to within an inch of his life and left for dead. But if he’s having a bad day, Sam’s day is about to get way worse. Danny knows he hasn’t seen the last of the vicious drug runners who kidnapped him from protective custody. His only recourse is to take his pretty savior hostage and force her to help him. There’s no going back for Sam and her four-yearold son, Tyler. They’re in way too deep.

With ruthless killers stalking their trail, Sam’s only choice is to trust this handsome, menacing stranger. But as she relinquishes control, Sam feels an unmistakable desire. Could she be tempted by Danny, who seems intent on protecting her and Tyler from even his own darkest secrets? And what is the price of falling in love with a man who operates on the edge of danger—her heart, her life . . . or both?

Other books by Karen Robards:
Pursuit
Sleepwalker
Shattered

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Hello all you wonderful followers from all around the world! This giveaway is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Reader's Antidote. Click here for a list of the other participating blogs.

Giveaway

One book/ebook of choice up to $10 from The Book Depository/ Amazon.com

International, as long as TBD ships to you for free or you can accept a Kindle gifted book

Some ideas of what to choose...

To enter the giveaway, I want to know what book are you currently reading or last read? Please comment once along with your:

- GFC follower name (required)
- Email if it's not already located in your profile
- I will use random.org to select the winner. Good luck!

TBR: 2013 Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:06:00 +0000

I can't wait to read these upcoming releases. While waiting I can tackle my already huge TBR pile.

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

Genre: General Fiction

On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

________________

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah                   The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

Genre: Women's Fiction                                    Genre: Women's Fiction

Review: Lethal by Sandra Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 02:47:00 +0000

The action is there practically from the start and doesn't really let up until the end. Loved that! I like Honor who came across as strong and protective of her daughter. She's not helpless but able to hold her own. Considering the life threatening situation she finds herself in she definitely needs her smarts with her. Then there's Lee who like many of Brown's heroes is dark and mysterious. I found him intriguing because of all his secrets. It was obvious he was hiding something and just like Honor I was looking forward to finding the truth behind him and about the people in Honor's lives. She's in danger and needs someone to trust, but who? I read through this pretty quickly and it was a thrilling ride. In this story there is a nice combination of action and romance, mainly action which kept me reading on.

Lethal by Sandra Brown
Genre: Suspense

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.

But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society.

Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 02:41:00 +0000

The winner from the Happy Endings Giveaway Hop has been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

Katie Amanda, you've won Tucker's Crossing by Marina Adair

The winner from the random giveaway has been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

Lily B, you've won Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers

Review: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:25:00 +0000

I think I would like to live in a town like Friday Harbor because it's a small island full of magical and sweet things. There is everything from the picturesque sights, the waters, a bit of magic and a toy shop. Everything is quaint and welcoming. It's the perfect place to fall in love, the perfect place to heal the soul. That is exactly what Lucy and Sam find there. I liked the first book in this series, Christmas at Friday Harbor but I liked this book even better. Lucy has such a unique occupation and the way it's described throughout the story is stunning. It's more than art because there is a bit of magic involved. It was semi-believable and not intrusive on the story. The way the romance started out was a bit unconventional and I wasn't sure I would like it (Lucy's ex asks his friend to romance her) but their relationship worked out nicely. It's a tender romance in a beautiful town.

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Friday Harbor #2

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy's bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.

Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:20:00 +0000

The winners from the Bad Boy Rehab Hop have been randomly selected and contacted.

Congratulations,

GABY, you've won Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

and

Erika, you've won Crush by Lacey Weatherford

Happy Endings Giveaway Hop - INT #Hegiveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Life and The Next Best Read) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

This giveaway hop is perfect for romantics and is hosted by reading-romances.com. I love books with happy endings! My giveaway is a choice of either Sugar Springs by Kim Law or Tucker's Crossing by Marina Adair. Both are second chance stories and feature a hero named Cody :) Or Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis. I will be gifting this from Amazon.com and this is open to anyone who can accept a Kindle book.

Sugar Springs by Kim Law
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Lee Ann London once had big plans…scholarship, college, love. Then she found herself raising her deceased sister’s twin girls when their father disappeared. Now, with her beautiful girls, a community that depends on her, and her photography studio finally taking off, Lee Ann may not have the life she’d imagined, but it’s definitely where she wants it. Until Cody, her bad-boy ex, returns to Sugar Springs.

Cody’s childhood put a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas. Bouncing around the foster care system, he was always the one to leave before anyone left him first. Then he found a place he wanted to stick. Lee Ann was the best thing that ever happened to him. Only, he hurt her. Bad. He’s back now, and determined to earn her forgiveness…and maybe win back her love while he’s at it.

Tucker's Crossing by Marina Adair
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Sweet Plains #1

Sweet Plains, Texas, wasn't so sweet to Cody, Noah, and Beau Tucker. But now the Tucker boys are men, ready to take on the questions that have haunted them since they left home. . .

Cody Tucker shook the dust of his two-bit hometown off his boots ten years ago--right about the time his college sweetheart, Shelby Lynn Harris, married his so-called best friend. But when his dad dies, Cody finds himself home again and knee deep in the past. Except now his rowdy beer buddy is the sheriff, his housekeeper is a blue-ribbon chili chef, and the family ranch is in the red. The only thing that hasn't changed is Shelby Lynn. . .

Shelby Lynn has gone through a lot of heartache thanks to Cody. But that's all over now. She just wants a chance to live the life she's made for herself in peace. The trouble is, the Sweet Plains chili cook off is heating up, the Ladies of Sweet are as riled as hornets, and as soon as Cody gets near, she's forgets all about peace. Cody is pure temptation--and she knows just how good it feels to give in. . .

Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Wilder #1

The first in a sensational new series, Jill Shalvis introduces Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder--three bad-boy heroes who effortlessly mix breathtaking adventure and scorching sex appeal. . .

Get Wild. . .And Then Get Wilder. . .

Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl--working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that--and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed--that part defies explanation. . .

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I have a random giveaway going for Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers over here.

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