Bea's Book Nook

Interview with Author Tiffany Allee

2013-06-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome, pull up a seat and get comfy. Today I'm chatting with author Tiffany Allee. Her newest novel, "Don't Bite the Bridesmaid" (that title makes me laugh every time I see it ~ Bea) just came out on May 27th. It's the first in a new series, Sons of Kane.

CPA-turned-romance-author Tiffany Allee used to battle spreadsheets in Corporate America, and now concentrates on her characters’ battles to find love. Raised in small-town Colorado, Tiffany currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, by way of Chicago and Denver. She is happily married to a secret romantic who tolerates her crazy mutterings.

She writes about ass-kicking heroines and the strong heroes who love them. Her work includes the suspense-driven From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series which revolves around a group of paranormal cops solving crimes and finding love, and Don’t Bite the Bridesmaid, a lighthearted paranormal romance (Entangled Publishing).

Tiffany has an MBA in accounting and nearly a decade of experience in corporate finance. All super useful stuff for a writer who spends far too much time trying to figure out fun ways to keep her characters apart, and interesting ways to kill people (for her books—of course!).

Tiffany is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Find Tiffany online:

website
facebook
twitter

Tiffany: First of all, thank you so much for inviting me here today!

Bea: What’s a typical day of writing for you? Are you a planner or do you wing it?

Tiffany: I am very much a planner, although I do change things up if a more interesting opportunity presents itself while writing. And with some books, I have to start with a very high level outline and figure out much of it as I go along, but I prefer to have a pretty solid outline going in. :)

Bea: What prompted you to start writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

Tiffany: I was a dabbler in writing growing up. Addicted to epic fantasy, I would plan out my worlds to a crazy extent, draw maps, and (only sometimes) write part of the actual story. When my cousin started writing a few years ago, it triggered something in me, too. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Writing is almost an addiction for me now. I don’t think I could quit if I tried!

Bea: Does your family read your books? What do they think?

Tiffany: My family is hugely supportive of my writing. My mom is my biggest cheerleader. One of my brothers has even read some of my books, although he skips ahead when things get sexy, haha. But he’s really only interested in the ones that have murder and mystery elements, so he’s probably not going to be attempting Don’t Bite the Bridesmaid. A good thing, since I still want to be able to look him in the eye at Thanksgiving.

Bea: What, if any, similarities do your current career as an author and your former career as a CPA have in common? Do you ever draw on your former career when writing?

Tiffany: The skills I learned while working in accounting and finance have crossed over far more than I would have guessed. Not much directly translates, but the skills I learned there have helped me so much. Discipline. Meeting deadlines. A professional attitude.

As a writer, there are so many things we can’t control, like how well a book will sell, or how people will react to our stories. But professionalism and work ethic is something we can control. I am so thankful that my time in corporate jobs helped me to become a professional writer.

Bea: Tell us about your obsession with Firefly, what made it a great show?

Tiffany: Uh…everything. Nathan Fillion. And Joss Whedon’s writing—especially his snappy dialogue. And Nathan Fillion. Damn, now I have to go watch it again.

Bea: Do you prefer to read paper books or ebooks? Why?

Tiffany: For most fiction I prefer ebooks, with the occasional exception that I just have to own in print. Books are just easier to lug around and store that way. Plus, one-click ordering has made it almost too easy to immediately read something that catches my interest.

For nonfiction I strongly prefer paper books. I like to be able to flip back and forth through pages easily while reading nonfiction.

Bea: What draws you to the romance genre? Why paranormal romance instead of straight up romance, straight up paranormal or straight up mystery? Do you think you might ever try a different genre?

Tiffany: I love paranormal romance because it offers a chance to explore a few genres mixed together. I get to mix two of my favorite things: fantasy and romance. And with some of my books there is mystery as well. I also enjoy these genres alone, and plan on writing some different genres in the future.

Bea: Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

Tiffany: At the moment, I am working my way through the rest of the Entangled Covet books. They are so much fun!

Bea: Thanks Tiffany for taking the time to answer my questions. Best of luck with your tour.

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(I really like the colors of this cover! :D)

Publisher: Entangled Covet

Series: Sons of Kane #1

Format: ebook

Release Date: May 27, 2013

Buying Links: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | ARe

Cat Thursday - In the Light

2013-06-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

Goof loves to sit on the windowsill; sometimes he looks out and sometimes he just relaxes. It's as close as he gets to going outside, barring trips to the vet and evacuating when the building fire alarm goes off.

Read-a-Long: How (Not) to Kiss a Toad (Cindy Eller Cupcakes #1) by Elizabeth A Reeves

2013-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's stop on the read-a-long for How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A Reeves. Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying, "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read." In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Find Elizabeth online:

Who is Cindy Eller? | The Last Selkie | Facebook

I am the eighth stop on the tour; if you want to read the earlier excerpts or read the next ones, check out the tour schedule:

June 3rd- Paranormal Romance Fans for Life (Excerpt #1)

June 4th- My Seryniti (Excerpt #2)

June 5th- Deal Sharing Aunt (Excerpt #3)

June 6th- Gimme The Scoop Reviews (Excerpt #4)

June 7th- A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner (Excerpt #5)

June 10th- I am, Indeed (Excerpt #6)

June 11th- Simply Infatuated (Excerpt #7)

June 12th- Bea's Book Nook (Excerpt #8)

June 13th- Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews (Excerpt #9)

June 14th- Total Book Geek (Excerpt #10)

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EXCERPT

He cracked a grin that made him even more gorgeous, if that was even possible. I was pretty sure I was starting to drool. So much for avoiding that whole zombie thing. “Not an evil step-mother?”

I shook my head, sure I was creating a flour halo around my head. “Nope. I wish I could say she was my stepmother, but she’s really all mine.”

He laughed and I managed to smile back at him, hopefully not looking too frightening.

Wow, he had serious dimples. He must have frequent dimple mileage.

Darn it. I was staring again.

Toads, I reminded myself. Big, bad, slimy, toxic toads.

It didn’t help.

“This cannoli is spectacular,” Timothy Borden was saying, apparently--and hopefully!--oblivious to my inability to rub two brain cells together in his presence.

“Um,” I dazzled him with my stunning charm and wit. “Thanks.”

“What made you think to use crushed pistachios in the cream filling?”

I shook my head, trying to clear it. “I love pistachios with honey,” I managed, only slightly too fast. “I was thinking they would play off each other with that little hint of lavender.”

He smiled. “I think you aced it. In fact, I’ll take the rest of these. I can’t wait to show them off at work.”

Jessi nodded and started packaging the order.

“Would you like anything else?” I asked, hoping I sounded professional and not... like I was desperately asking him to order a serving of me.

He frowned slightly in thought, creating an adorable crooked furrow between his eyebrows.

“Bad girl,” I told myself. “Toads. Think toads.”

“I’ll take the ‘Road to Bliss’,” he decided, pointing at my brownie creation featuring three kinds of chocolate and Macadamia nuts covered in a shell of ganache.

“One piece?” I asked. “A dozen?”

He shook his head in thought. “No. I’ll just take the whole tray.”

I gaped at him yet again as Jessi compiled his order and rang it up. I stood stupidly as he paid with a credit card.

“You’ll be seeing me again,” he said over his shoulder, as he carried his packages out the door.

“Um,” I cleverly retorted.

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Title: How (Not) to Kiss a Toad

Series: Cindy Eller Cupcakes #1

Author: Elizabeth A Reeves

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: self

Format: Ebook, Paperback

Length: 315 pages

Buy Links: Amazon |

Book Blurb from the author:

Life isn't always sweet for magical baker, Cindy Eller. All her life she's been cursed-- every man she's ever kissed has turned into a toad. Love isn't likely to come her way, she knows.

If that weren't a big enough problem, her 'curse' has come to the attention of the Council of Magic and she may never be able to use her powers.

Enter the perfect man-- handsome, sweet, and loves food just as much as Cindy does. It would seem to be a match made in Heaven, or is it?

Cindy isn't the only one keeping secrets.

With toads, cupcakes, romance, magic and ice cream, life never has time to get dull!

Excerpt from Wounded Angel by Stacy Gail

2013-06-11T03:00:00.000-04:00

This is another busy week for excerpts and read-a-longs and today's is the first one. "Wounded Angel" is a new paranormal romance by Stacy Gail. A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By the age of fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance writer, or a romance writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.

Find Stacy online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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EXCERPT

He took the bottle with a nod of thanks, and by the time she’d settled next to him, he’d downed half its contents. “Sorry about this.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

That was that, then. “I’m not sure, but I thought I heard you call my name.”

“I don’t remember.”

“Okay.” She didn’t believe him, but she’d had enough nightmares to know there were some kinds of pain rooted too deeply to be tugged out in just one idle conversation.

That he was hurting was obvious; the light streaming in from the living area of the suite struck harsh lines in his face, underscoring the haggard restlessness she sensed prowling inside him. But even exhausted and strung out he was still the best-looking man she’d ever crossed paths with. She’d never known anyone with such an aggressively masculine jaw, now covered in the black shadow of a days-old beard. And there was something about those strong brows hooding intense eyes that had the ability to put a spell on any female over the age of consent. His body was pure centerfold material, fueling her dreams with a hair-roughened chest as thick as a cinderblock wall and a muscle-padded rib cage that made her fingers itch to learn his contours like a blind woman memorizing a statue through her sense of touch…

Those eyes were watching her as she took her time drinking in his savage masculinity. He wore the familiar sweatpants and nothing else, and she had a feeling he’d only slipped those on to sleep in out of respect for her.

Respect was overrated.

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Publisher: Carina Press

Series: Earth Angels #3

Format: ebook

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May 27, 2013

Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press

* affiliate link; clicking and making a purchase results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from Carina Press:

Book three of The Earth Angels

A descendant of the Angel of Vengeance, Nate da Luca was gifted with an uncanny ability to find things. It made his job as a detective a breeze--until he learned the hard way that some things should remain hidden. After that, his powers vanished, along with his belief in himself. Which is going to make tracking down Gabriella Littlefield for his latest client a challenge.

Personal trainer Ella Little paid a hefty price for her life--now all she wants is to live it in peace. Then a sexy hulk of a man turns up in her gym, reigniting desires she thought she'd left behind along with her real name and hair color. Desires she can't deny even after she discovers Nate's no stranger to her dark past.

Before he can convince her the attraction is mutual, Nate's going to have to earn Ella's trust. But a demon is playing for keeps in the world of humans, using Ella as bait, and the last thing they have is time...

Go back to the beginning with Nobody's Angel, available now!

63,000 word

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Stacy will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-excerpt-tour-wounded-angel-by.html

Review of The Diabolist by Layton Green

2013-06-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher:Thomas and Mercer
Series: Dominic Grey #3
Format Read: Kindle ARC
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Buying Links: The Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble | Amazon*
*affiliate links; clicking and making a purchase will result in a small commission for me.

Blurb from goodreads:

In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.

Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.

The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.

Bea's Thoughts:

When Layton emailed me about reviewing his new book, I happily agreed as I had enjoyed the first two books very much. He also mentioned that his books have been picked up Thomas and Mercer Publishing, an imprint of Amazon. They are publishing this one and will re-publish the first two which were self-published. I'm excited about that as I hope that a publisher will be able to give them the push and the PR that can be difficult for an author to do alone. Layton did a fantastic job on the first two books, the quality was excellent but doing all that promo is exhausting and takes away from writing time, so I am hoping that Thomas and Mercer will make this series the best seller it should be.

As I said, I really enjoyed the first two books and had high expectations for this one. Although I didn't love it as much as the first two, it mostly lived up to my expectations. It had one major flaw, which I address later.

Viktor and Dominic have worked together for a year now. Although employer and employee, they are also friends, though they rarely share intimate details. Both are troubled, both are loners, both are inquisitive, both will do whatever they have to to solve a case and protect the innocent. This case is personal for Viktor, involving someone from his university days and he finds it difficult to share necessary information with Dominic though eventually he does. They butt heads several times and each makes some poor choices. Viktor and Dominic are real; they have flaws, they make mistakes, they lead lives that are sometimes boring, they make the best choice they can in whatever circumstances they find themselves and hope for the best. With the involvement of the person from Viktor's past, we get to know more about him and some of his layers are peeled away. As a result, he becomes even more real. I felt as if I actually knew him.

The locations in this book were less exotic than the first two, being set in San Francisco US, Paris France, Sicily, and London England with most of the book being set in England. I loved how Green made the settings in the first two books practically characters in the story and not just a foreign setting for the sake of being exotic. Since this book bounces around so much, the locations are not as strong but they are still important and we don't get the tourist perspective, which I appreciated.

Despite the exotic location, and the religious/supernatural/paranormal phenomena they investigate, and the many skills they each have, neither Dom nor Viktor are supermen. They get hurt and that affects them, they don't jump up and keep going. Okay, Dom does but he also passes out from blood loss before reaching his goal. They make the effort to keep going despite their injuries and it's realistic, not cartoonish. Instead it adds to the depth of the story and helps keep the book grounded in reality; that's a plus since the emphasis as always is on ephemeral things such as good, evil and faith.

The thing that I didn't like, that I'd like to see Green move away from, that kept the book from being a five star story, is how he incorporates women into the stories. The stories have few women but there's always one whom Dominic gets involved with and then she either suffers serious injury and they split or she turns out to be one of the bad guys. I'd really like to see a major female character with whom Dom does NOT get involved and I'd like to see more use of women as secondary characters. Honestly, that was the main flaw in the book and you may feel differently about it. The story didn't grip the way the first two did and I think a lot of it was due to my reaction to his use of women in the stories. It didn't help that Anka never felt as real to me as Dominic or Viktor or even the main villain.

So if you like a smart, complex, story with depth, that will make you think, then try these books. But read in order; you could read out of order but they're best appreciated in order.

If you're interested in some quotes from the book, see this post.

My review of book one, The Summoner. My review of book two, The Egyptian.

Quote-Tastic #6 What is Evil?

2013-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup has created a new weekly meme. Want to join along?

Click on the link above. Anna is posting hers on Mondays, as am I, but you can choose any day of the week that works for you. Leave me a link in your comment and I will check out your quotes!

Layton Green has become one of my favorite mystery authors. But his mysteries are not typical. His characters investigate crimes involving religious phenomena, typically cults, and Green ruminates on all manner of religious and philosophical questions. He also has a knack for taking a location and making it part of the story, almost another character. The quote below is composed of several related quotes that I edited and strung together.

My review of this book will be live at 8AM EST today.

But Christianity's and Zoroastrianism's version of the Devil, as well as the original Jewish concept of a Satan--which simply means adversary in Hebrew--all beg the same question: from where did evil arise?

"I think it best if we know and understand our adversaries, or at least that which we perceive our adversaries to be. I believe in combating ignorance with knowledge, and hopefully wisdom."

"Pure hedonism as the highest form of evil, the antithesis of selflessness. And from where do you believe the impetus for such behavior derives?

"I'd like to say nature, but I'm not sure I believe that. Plenty of evil acts serve no biological or evolutionary function. But nurture just begs the same question, since it started somewhere."

Summer Lovin' Read-A-Thon

2013-06-09T16:45:00.001-04:00

The Summer Lovin’ Readathon is a week-long readathon event hosted by seven independent bloggers! (Oh, Chrys!, Tumbling Books, Effortlessly Reading, Love Life Read, Shelf Addiction, Read Sleep Repeat, and Reviewing Wonderland)

Spend the week reading at your own pace, when and how you want too. There will be daily challenges for awesome prizes and opportunities to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs.

As if that weren’t enough – the week will end with a 24-hr marathon readathon! Twitter parties, mini-challenges, games, prizes given EVERY HOUR, and more chances to get points toward the Grand Prize Packs.

Sign-ups will be open through July 6th. I need all the help I can get to keep up with my TBR pile so I’m in, are you?!

Apple Crisp Recipe - Guest Post by Author Peg Cochran

2013-06-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

"Steamed to Death" is a cozy mystery that just came out on the fourth of this month and as part of her blog tour, Peg has shared a recipe for apple crisp. If I baked, I'd bake this in a heartbeat though I'd have to leave out the cinnamon as I'm severely, call 911 and take me to the ER, allergic. Before we get to the recipe, let's talk a little about the author, Peg Cochran.

Peg grew up in a New Jersey suburb about 25 miles outside of New York City. After college, she moved to the city where she managed an art gallery owned by the son of the artist Henri Matisse. When her first daughter, Francesca, arrive, the new family moved back to the New Jersey suburbs where her second daughter, Annabelle, was born.

After her husband died, Peg remarried and her new husband took a job in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they now live (on exile from New Jersey, she likes to joke). Peg managed to segue from the art world to marketing and is now the manager of marketing communications for a company that provides services to seniors.

Her greatest love though as always been writing – particularly mysteries! She has two cozy mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime: The Gourmet De-Lite series set in Connecticut and featuring Gigi Fitzgerald, who provides gourmet diet meals to a select group of clients, and the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series, written as Meg London, set in Paris, Tennessee with Emma Taylor who finds murder and mayhem in this quiet country town.

As for pets – she has a schizophrenic cat (really!) named Frazzle and a Westhighland White Terrier, Reggie, who is desperately in need of losing a few pounds. But you know what they say: If your dog is overweight, it means YOU aren’t getting enough exercise!

When she’s not writing, Peg can usually be found cooking, which she loves. When asked to bring a dish to a potluck she invariably opts to bring dessert – partly because she loves making sweet dishes and partly because she and her husband always manage to be late so there’s no point in putting them in charge of appetizers!

Find Peg Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Apple Crisp Recipe

This recipe for apple crisp comes from my husband’s aunt “Toofy” (her nickname from childhood--her pronunciation of “toothy”) via his sister Jane. It’s right up there as one of his favorite desserts.

6 -8 apples, peeled, quartered and cored (depending on size)

1 cup sugar*

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Place apples in greased baking dish. Mix other ingredients by hand or in food processor until it resembles corn meal. Pack over apples and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour.

* I like to use a combination of half brown sugar and half white.

Now doesn't that sound easy? Even I could manage that, minus the evil, deadly spice . :D ~ Bea

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Publisher: Berkley

Format: ebook, paperback

Series: Gourmet De-Lite Mystery #2

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository*

*affiliate links; clicking and making a purchase will result in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

Gourmet health food caterer Gigi Fitzgerald is used to helping dieters drop a dress size. But when her clients start dropping dead, she’s ready to switch her chef’s hat for a detective’s cap and track down a killer. . .

Aging soap star Felicity Davenport is looking to revamp her image, and she’s using Gigi’s Gourmet De-Lite to help her shed a few of those unwanted pounds. Having such a high-profile client is definitely good for business, but when Felicity is found murdered in her sauna, things start getting too hot for Gigi to handle.

The list of suspects is a mile long, and Gigi’s best friend, Sienna, is at the top. Refusing to let her friend get blamed for a crime she didn’t commit, Gigi is determined to hunt down the real killer. But, as the case reaches a boiling point, Gigi will have to be careful or she could be the next one getting burned.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS—AND HEALTHY—RECIPES!

Sunday Book Share #40

2013-06-09T01:00:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer; Showcase Sunday hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea; and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. These memes allow book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and different posts and events at their blogs.

Last week was another busy week, with way too much going on but some of it was fun so that helped. I've had a lot going on personally, professionally, and blog-wise and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now. I'm booking the blog for September and October! O_o Time management is not one of my better skills. Still, overall life is good; I just have to keep reminding myself of that. :D

The Week In Review

Reviews: South of Surrender by Laura Kaye (PNR)

Interview: Jean Fullerton, historical fiction

Excerpts: A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson (Contemporary romance)

Call Nurse Millie by Jean Fullerton (General Fiction, Historical)

Cover Reveals: Hunted by D.B. Reynolds (PNR)

The Shining by Stephen King (Horror)

News: New Romance Anthology Helps Animal Shelter Help Rebuild Moore Oklahoma's School Libraries May's Reading Challenges Wrap Up

Memes: Cat Thursday - Editor Cat is NOT Amused Quote-Tastic #5 Drink Beer and Cook a Cow Sunday Book Share #39

Giveaways:

2 Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtles, ends June 12th.

15 copies, 1 per winner, of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book, ends June 12th.

2 paperback copies of A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson, US & CA, ends June 14th

Odd and interesting search phrases that led to the blog: "erotica book excerpt", yeah, I've had a few of those :D ; "skillingstead life on the preservation", I'm clueless about this one; "dear diary cat", and "dear cat diary" are related to a Cat Thursday post and of course "how to catch a cat" remains popular.

Upcoming Week

Blog Tours - Guest Post by mystery author Peg Cochran (today)

Excerpt from Wounded Angel by Stacy Gail

Read-a-Long: How (Not) to Kiss a Toad (Cindy Eller Cupcakes #1) by Elizabeth A Reeves

Read-A-Long: Brown and The End of the Line by J.A. Campbell

Interview with Tiffany Allee

Book Blitz for A Celtic Tapestry Anthology

Trailer Reveal for Irish Kisses by JoAnne Kenrick

Book Blitz and Giveaway for the Rylee Adamson series by Shannon Mayer

Reviews - Review of Flirting with Disaster by Ruthie Knox

BOOKS

Library

Review Consideration - Print

Review - Kindle

Kindle Freebies

Dang, it was a good book week. I need another challenge to get some books read! :D Remember to leave a link to your post in the comments and I'll come visit.

Help Rebuild Moore, Oklahoma's School Libraries

2013-06-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

I get a ton of promo emails every week and most never make it onto the blog. But this one is for school libraries, which hits two of my buttons (kids and libraries) and will benefit Oklahoma which has been badly hit by Mother Nature this spring. I'm not familiar with Capstone Young but I've seen ads for their books in PW so I'm hoping their legit.

From their press release:

Help Rebuild Oklahoma's School Libraries

Buy a Book, Give a Book

In light of the horrible tornadoes that devastated the city of Moore, Oklahoma, Capstone Young Readers is lending its support to help the town recover and rebuild. For every book purchased on www.CapstoneYoungReaders.com, Capstone Young Readers will donate a book of equal value to help rebuild the school libraries in Moore, Oklahoma.

Simply enter the code MooreRelief in the promotion field when you checkout at www.CapstoneYoungReaders.com.

When the schools in Moore are ready to receive new books, Capstone Young Readers will send a shipment of books to fill the school libraries.

May's Reading Challenges Wrap Up

2013-06-07T20:30:00.001-04:00

I'll put up a wrap up post every month or early the next month for all of my 2013 reading challenges. I'm a little late this month, running behind. Some books, I posted reviews on the blog, some are on goodreads, there may be one or two without reviews, especially books I edit or that are put out by my publisher.

In May, I took part in the Clean Sweep ARC Challenge hosted by The Caffeinated Reviewer and The Windy Pages. I posted my results here. I didn't do as much as I wanted but I did make a dent in my ARC pile so I'm happy.

Book Chick City's 100 Books in 2013

For this challenge, I am not counting any children's books, unless it's YA or MG, nor am I counting books that I edit. I am also doing goodreads' reading challenge and I'm counting everything for that one, but not tracking here on the blog. :D

1. First (Wrong) Impressions by K.Ball
2. The Intercept by Dick Wolf
3. The Farm by Emily McKay
4. Eliza's Forever Trees by Stephanie Lisa Tara
5. The Rising by Kelley Armstrong
6. The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs and Other Stories from the Tipi by Paul Goble
7. Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr
8. Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book: Fotos, Facts, and Fun! by Stephanie Lisa Tara
9. Targets of Revenge by Jeffrey S. Stephens
10. Playing Hooky by Rita J. Webb
11. Summer in Napa by Marina Adair
12. Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
13. The Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin Hearne
14. The Cat Whisperer: Why Cats Do What They Do and How to Get Them to DO What You Want by Mieshelle Nagelschndeider
15. Marry Me, I'm Irish by JoAnne Kenrick
16. Hot Winter Kiss by JoAnne Kenrick
17. Threesome Sweetness by JoAnne Kenrick
18. Shamrocked by JoAnne Kenrick

Total to date: 59

Cruisin' Through the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013 - Goal 13 or more
None. But I'm only 3 away from my goal so I'm not worried.

Total to date: 10

2013 Ebook Challenge - Goal 25

1. First (Wrong) Impressions by K.Ball
2. Playing Hooky by Rita J. Webb
3. Summer in Napa by Marina Adair
4. The Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin Hearne
5. The Cat Whisperer: Why Cats Do What They Do and How to Get Them to DO What You Want by Mieshelle Nagelschndeider
6. Marry Me, I'm Irish by JoAnne Kenrick
7. Hot Winter Kiss by JoAnne Kenrick
8. Threesome Sweetness by JoAnne Kenrick
9. Shamrocked by JoAnne Kenrick
10. The Ugly Duckling and The Turtle by Sharlene Alexander
11. Zoophabets ABC Book: Animal Alphabet A-Z by Rob Mabry & Michael Golez
12. The Five Mouse Brothers by Rachel Y

Total to date: 34 WOO! I made goal. I'll look at what the other levels are and choose a new one.

Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2013 - Goal 1 A Month

1. The Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin Hearne

Total to date: 5 (I have more for the year but for the challenge we can only count one per month.)

I am rocking it! I'm well on track for all of my challenges and managing to read for fun and for work as well as for review. I am happy.

GIVEAWAY & EXCERPT! A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson

2013-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today I'm delighted to present an excerpt from, "A Brother's Honor", which is the first book in a sizzling new series, The Grangers, about one legacy, three brothers, and a lifetime of secrets by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Brenda Jackson. Similar in style to the television series, DALLAS, Jackson’s hottest new series is filled with family drama, wealth, sex, intrigue, power, and even murder.

The series revolves around the Grangers; a wealthy Virginia family whose fortune was made in the aeronautics industries. As a deathbed promise to their grandfather, the three Granger brothers (Jace, Caden, and Dalton) vow to take over the family business— Granger Aeronautics—and to continue the fight to prove their father’s innocence on a decades old murder case. But when the eldest brother Jace Granger takes over as CEO, he quickly realizes the company is failing badly and decides to hire Shana Bradford — the sexy, confident, smart founder of a consulting firm—who has a reputation of being able to identify corporate problems and then getting the company back on track.

Jace and Shana butt heads at first, but they finally come to a mutual understanding that sparks a steamy relationship. The passion between them is jeopardized when old secrets begin to emerge and an explosive discovery changes everything Jace thought he knew about his mother—and his father— who was convicted of her murder.

Brenda is a prolific writer of contemporary multicultural romance novels and a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 books and is the first African-American female romance writer to become a USA TODAY and New York Times bestselling novelist. Jackson continues to reach new milestones as A BROTHER’S HONOR is her first book in a new series for Harlequin MIRA. With her first title in the Granger series, Jackson taps into all of the remarkable storytelling gifts that are the mark of her fiction— polished and confident writing, a sexy spark, and characters that burst off the page.

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EXCERPT

Prologue

“Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?” the judge asked in the still, quiet courtroom, packed to capacity. The trial of the State of Virginia versus Sheppard Granger had lasted for five weeks, and the eight men and four women had deliberated for sixteen hours.

“Yes, we have, Your Honor.”

“Will you hand the verdict form to the court, please?”

Within seconds, the bailiff presented the form to the judge, who took a moment to read the document before handing it in turn to the clerk who faced those in the courtroom.

Sheppard Granger showed no emotion as the clerk began reading what would be his fate. At one point, he was tempted to glance over his shoulder to look at his three young sons—Jace, sixteen; Caden, fourteen; and Dalton, who would be turning twelve in a few days. He hoped and prayed that, no matter what the jury decided, they would believe he was an innocent man. There was no way he would have killed the mother of his beloved sons.

Instead, he listened as the clerk spoke the words… “Of the charge of first degree murder in the death of Sylvia Granger, we, the jury, find Sheppard Granger guilty.”

Sheppard suddenly felt his knees weaken, but he refused to go down, and he refused to glance back at his sons. His father, Richard Granger, would know what to do now. Richard would now become responsible for his grandsons, and he would be there for them since Sheppard would not.

The judge was talking, addressing the court. But whatever he was saying Sheppard couldn’t hear for the pounding in his head. As far as Sheppard was concerned, nothing else mattered. Only one thought repeated itself in his head with blinding clarity—his life as he’d once known it was over.

PART I
We do not remember days; we remember moments.
–Anonymous

Chapter One
Fifteen years later

Hoping it wasn’t obvious that he was watching the time, Jace Granger took a sip of his wine and looked straight ahead at the huge clock hanging on the wall, directly above the entrance of the upscale Los Angeles restaurant. He’d been there for exactly one hour and twelve minutes, and was biting at the bit to call it a night.

He appreciated his friend Alan Carter’s concerns about his solitary life, but blind dates had never been Jace’s thing, and he had known after the first ten minutes that he’d made a mistake by letting Alan talk him into one tonight. No doubt Angela Farlow was a looker—he would give her that, but so far it had been one hell of a night. For starters, she talked too damn much. She had a lot to say…a lot about practically nothing.

Jace took another sip of his wine and listened…or at least pretended to do so. The last couple of times he had tried interjecting his own thoughts and views, she had unabashedly cut them down, letting him know what she thought of any opinions other than her own.

Noticing a lull in the conversation, Jace shifted his gaze from the clock back to her and saw the sultry pout that touched her lips.

“Why do I get the feeling that I’m boring you?” she asked in a low tone.

Because you are, he was tempted to say. But being the gentleman that he was, instead he said, “On the contrary, I happen to find you anything but boring,” plastering a smile on his face. “In fact, I find you simply fascinating.” Now, that wasn’t a lie. He doubted there were many women like her. Hell, he hoped not.

“Well,” she said, smiling all over the place at the compliment. “I’ve talked enough about me. Now I want to hear about you. Alan tells me the two of you went to law school together and that, as a government attorney, you’re in charge of making sure the great state of California stays on a straight and narrow path.”

She rested her chin on her hands. “What made you want to work for the government instead of going into private practice? Alan said you graduated from UCLA at the top of your class.”

Jace forced his body not to tense, something that usually happened whenever he was questioned about his decision to work in the public sector instead of the private, where he could have become a millionaire if he’d set his mind to it. Little did she know he had been groomed for just that kind of life and had intentionally walked away a long time ago.

His shoulders mimicked a careless shrug before giving her the same spiel he gave anyone who had the audacity to inquire. Briefly and thoroughly, with a not-so-smooth edge, he basically told her that he preferred working for the people instead of kissing asses for any amount of money. He really didn’t expect people to understand and didn’t really give a damn if they didn’t.

He took a sip of his drink and smiled inwardly. The woman was finally at a loss for words, and he understood her dilemma, honestly he did. She thought the same way his ex-wife did. Eve’s belief had been that the more money you had, the happier you were. All he had to say to that theory was bullshit.

It didn’t surprise him when his date suggested they end the evening. That was fine with him, since the last thing he wanted was to become involved with another woman who had the same mindset as his ex-wife.

An hour later, he was entering his condo, grateful the evening with Angela had ended and that his path wouldn’t cross hers anytime soon. He figured she was probably on the phone with Alan at that very moment, giving him a piece of her mind about setting her up on a blind date with a man who evidently hadn’t any plans of making anything of himself.

Jace pulled off his jacket and was about to take it to the closet and hang it up when his cell phone rang. He wondered if it was Alan calling him already. He checked caller ID and saw it wasn’t Alan but his grandfather. It had to be past midnight in Virginia, and he wondered why the old man was calling so late.

“Yes, Granddad?”

“Jace?”

He frowned. It was not his grandfather’s deep, authoritarian voice but that of a woman. A woman whose voice he recognized immediately as the family’s housekeeper’s. “Hannah?”

“Yes, it’s me. You need to come home immediately.”

His heart nearly stopped at the thought of returning there, a place he hadn’t thought of as his home for years. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s your grandfather. He’s had a heart attack, and it doesn’t look good. It’s serious, Jace.”

Jace drew in a deep breath. His strong, robust grandfather? Heart attack? But he knew Hannah. She had been housekeeper to the Grangers for years. She wasn’t one for theatrics or drama. If she said it was serious, then it was. He rubbed his hand down his face. “All right, I’m on my way.”

“What about your father, Jace? Can you get word to him?”

“Yes, I’ll contact Warden Smallwood right away.”

“All right. I tried calling Caden, but I couldn’t leave a message. His voice mail box is full, and I have no idea how to reach Dalton. He changes phone numbers probably more than he changes his underwear,” she quipped.

Jace couldn’t help but smile. Hannah was still Hannah. “I’ll get ahold of them, don’t worry.” He pushed to the back of his mind the memory of the heated argument between him and his brothers when they were together last year.

“But I am worried, Jace.”

He knew she was and he could hear it in her voice. The usual no-nonsense tone was diluted with distress. Something that was uncommon for his grandfather’s unflappable housekeeper. “Okay, just take it easy. We don’t need you in the hospital, as well. Granddad’s at St. Francis Memorial, right?”

“Yes, on the Ava Granger wing.”

“Okay,” he said, trying not to think about the fact that his grandfather was in the part of the hospital that had been dedicated to Jace’s grandmother over twenty years ago. Jace could remember that day well, especially the ceremony. They’d all been there. His grandfather, his brothers, his father…and his mother.

He immediately pushed the thought of his parents from his mind. To think about his mother meant remembering how she had died and that the law had decided his father had been the one responsible for ending her life.

“Jace, it will be good seeing you again, although I wish the circumstances of your coming home were different.”

He wished the circumstances were different, too. “I’ll catch the next available flight out, Hannah. Hold down the fort until I get there.” He clicked off the phone and immediately called the airlines. He knew how to reach his brother Caden, but getting in touch with Dalton would be a challenge.

Moments later, after securing a flight, he went into the bedroom to pack.

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Damn, that model is good looking, and the suit and the glasses. Oh my. *fans self* I think I need this book.

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Series: The Grangers #1

Formats: paperback, ebook

Length: 400 pages, 458 KB

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository*

* affiliate links; clicking through and making a purchase will result in a commission for me.

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GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to McAllister PR and Harlequin MIRA, I have 2 copies to giveaway to US and CA residents. Please read my GIVEAWAY Policy. Enter using the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Author Jean Fullerton & Excerpt from Call Nurse Millie

2013-06-06T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today I have the lovely author Jean Fullerton here and she kindly answered some questions for me concerning her new book and her writing. So get comfy and let's talk. Jean was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. Jean still lives in East London, just five miles from where she was born. She feels that it is that her background that gives her historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity.

She first fell in love with history at school when she read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then she has read everything she can about English history but is particularly fascinated by the 18^th and 19^th centuries and my books are set in this period. She just loves her native city and the East End in particular which is why she writes stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.

She is also passionate about historical accuracy and enjoys researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of her characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where her characters played out their stories.

Find Jean Online:

Website

Bea: Hi, Jean, just tell us a little bit about yourself if you don’t mind.

Jean: Not at all. I have four previous historical novels all set in Victorian East London. I’m also a qualified District and Queen's nurse and have spent most of my working life in the East End of London.

I have three grown-up daughters and I lives just outside my native City with my Hero-at-Home husband, an eight stone Bernese Mountain Dog, called Molly, and two cats.

Bea: What’s a typical day of writing for you?

Jean: There’s no such thing. I am a qualified District Nurse but I don’t practice any more as I’m now a full-time university lecturer I teaching nursing studies at a London University so I could be teaching, seeing students, interviewing prospective undergraduates or preparing lectures. After finishing my teaching duties I hurry home and start writing. I usually manage 1500 words a day but on a good day it could be 2000. I also write on weekends and when a deadline is looming I have been known to take a few days leave.

Bea: Are you a planner or do you wing it?

Jean: I plot out my work on a grid as you can see from the first chapter of Call Nurse Millie below. With so many subplots in my books I find it easy to keep track of characters by plotting out the story. I even colour code the scenes on a grid with a particular colour for some characters to ensure I keep an eye on how often they appear.

Of course, it’s not written in stone and it changes as I go along but it helps keep me on track. It’s very easy to get lost in a 140,000 word novel. Even your own!

I also have a work schedule on which I mark dates when I should have reached a certain point of the story. I usually start writing for a February deadline after Easter with an aim to finish before Christmas. Of course it doesn’t always work out that way but so far the system has helped me hit my deadline with a week or two to spare.

Bea: What prompted you to start writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

Jean: I won’t stop writing until they wrench the keyboard out of my cold dead hand but how I started writing is another matter.

I am District Nurse and eight years ago I was a manager in the NHS in charge of six community clinics when my boss sent me on a stress management course. In order to unwind at the end of the working day the tutor advised us to take up a hobby so I thought I’d have a bash at writing a story- just for fun. You know. Nothing serious! But after just a dozen or so pages the story just seemed to pour out as if someone had shaken up a bottle of cola and undone the top.

After writing 10 books, submitting to umpteen agents and editors I finally wrote No Cure for Love which won the Harry Bowling Prize in 2006. Through that I got my first two-book deal with Orion and when A Glimpse at Happiness was shortlisted for the 2010 Romantic Novel of the Year, I got my second two-book contract. I’m on my third contract now and waiting for number four.

Bea: What is your favorite part of writing?

Jean: Living a different life through my characters and falling in love with my hero and having someone who has read your book tell you they’ve done the same.

Bea: What is your least favorite part?

Jean: Edits. And I’m sure every author would agree.

Bea: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Jean: I have to have a bag of Haribo Tangfastic at hand as I write, which does nothing for my ‘writer’s rear’. (Oh, nommy, but I bet it doesn't the rear. :D ~ Bea)

Bea: Was there someone who was, or is, particularly helpful to you?

Jean: Not so much as someone but something; the Romantic Novelist Association’s New Writers’ Scheme. It’s the only organization in the world, as far as I know that allows probationary members to send in a whole manuscript for critique as part of their membership.

Bea: What genres do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favorite authors?

Jean: I enjoy romance and crime although not always in the same book. I’m a bit of a medievalist at heart so I like well-written and factually-accurate stories with multiple characters, such as those Elizabeth Chadwick and Bernard Cornwell writes. I also enjoy contemporary women’s fiction from authors like Carol Matthews, Jill Mansell and Julie Cohen, too. And as for crime give me a Lee Child any day.

Bea: Does your family read your books? What do they think?

Jean: I have three grown-up daughters who all read my books and love them.

Bea: Do you prefer to read paper books or ebooks? Why?

Jean: I prefer to see paper books on my shelves but I don’t mind how I read and having a kindle means I can take dozens of books on holiday.

Bea: Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

Jean: I’m reading my own manuscript as I’m doing edits and all the time I hope readers enjoy it.

Bea: If you could be a character in a book, which one would it be, and what part would you play? (Romantic lead, sidekick, etc)

Jean: I am the heroine in all my books but If I had to choose one I’d be Millie as I’m already a nurse and I get to go dancing with Alex Nolan.

Bea: What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

Jean: Call the Midwife is the closes book to mine and it differs in that Jennifer Worth’s book is her biography and Call Nurse Millie is fictional.

Bea: On your site, you mention your love of history and all of your books have been set in different eras in English history. Did you ever consider becoming a historian? What was the appeal of 1945 for your new book?

Jean: I’d loved to have studied history formally but sadly never had the opportunity to do so and the appeal of the immediate post-war period is being able to incorporate so much of my own family history into the story.

Bea: What is your favorite era in history?

Jean: I don’t think I’ve got one really. Whether the characters are in togas or crinolines is all the same to me as long as there’s a cracking plot.

Bea: If you could travel in time, when and where would you go?

Jean: Everywhere!

Bea: Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

Jean: Just to thank them for dropping by and to give them the few details about the book below:

You can purchase a paperback or ebook copy of Call Nurse Millie most easily from Amazon.

Book description: An absorbing and richly detailed novel following the life and work of a young
nurse in post-war East London - perfect for anyone who loved CALL THE MIDWIFE

Blurb

It's 1945 and, as the troops begin to return home, the inhabitants of London attempt to put their lives back together. For 25-year-old Millie, a qualified nurse and midwife, the jubilation at the end of the war is short-lived as she tends to the needs of the East End community around her. But while Millie witnesses tragedy and brutality in her job, she also finds strength and kindness. And when misfortune befalls her own family, it is the enduring spirit of the community that shows Millie that even the toughest of circumstances can be overcome.

Through Millie's eyes, we see the harsh realities and unexpected joys in the lives of the patients she treats, as well as the camaraderie that is forged with the fellow nurses that she lives with. Filled with unforgettable characters and moving personal stories, this vividly brings to life the colourful world of a post-war East London.

************************************************************

Excerpt

Chapter One

Millie Sullivan pushed an escaped curl of auburn hair from her eyes with the back of her hand. She wished she’d put on her cotton petticoat under her navy blue uniform instead of the rayon one.

Although the milk float was only just rolling along the street, it was already sweltering hot.

With a practised hand Millie wrapped the newborn infant in a warm towel. ‘There we go, young lady, say hello to your ma.’

    She handed the child to the woman propped up in the bed. Mo Driscoll, already mother to four lively boys, took the baby.

   ‘Thank you, Sister,’ she said, tucking her daughter into the crook of her arm and gazing down at the baby. ‘Isn’t she beautiful?’

   ‘She’s an angel,’ Mo’s mother, standing on the other side of the bed, replied. ‘And a welcome change.’ She looked at Millie. ‘I’ll clear up, Sister. You look done in.’

   ‘I am, but thankfully it’s my last night on call.’ Millie handed a parcel of newspaper containing soiled gauze to the older woman. ‘Could you pop these on the fire?’

   ‘To be sure.’ She took the packet and threw it in the zinc bucket alongside the dirty linen. ‘That superintendent works you nurses too hard. You should try and put your feet up when you get back.’

   Millie smiled.

   Chance would be a fine thing. She plopped her instruments into the small gallipot half-filled with Dettol, took off her gloves and glanced at her watch.

   Eight-thirty a.m.!

   Thank goodness.

   She’d be back by the time Miss Summers gave out the day’s work. Also, as Annie Fletcher, the trainee Queen’s Nurse student assigned to Millie, was laid up with tonsillitis, Millie had given a couple of Annie’s morning insulin injection visits to Gladys to do, and she wanted to make sure she’d done them.

   ‘Do you know what you’re going to call her?’ Millie asked Mo, washing her hands in the bowl balanced on the rickety bedside table.

   ‘Colleen, after me mum,’ she replied.

    Mother and daughter exchanged an affectionate look and Mille glanced at her watch again.

    She ought to get on, as she’d promised her own mum that she’d pop home in time for Churchill’s announcement at three p.m.

  Her parents, Doris and Arthur, only lived a short bus ride away in Bow but, as Millie had two newborns to check plus a handful of pregnant women to see before she swapped her midwifery bag for her district one for her afternoon visits, it would be a close-run thing.

    Millie packed the four small enamel dressing-bowls inside each other, then stowed them in her case between her scissors and the bottle of Dettol. She snapped the clasp shut.

    ‘I’ll call back tomorrow, but if there’s any problem just ring Munroe House to get the on-call nurse,’   Millie said, squeezing down the side of the bed towards the door.

    Like so many others in East London, the Driscolls’ home was just the two downstairs rooms in an old terraced house that Hitler’s bombs had somehow missed.

    Colleen took the manila envelope tucked into side of the dressing-table mirror and passed it to Millie.

     She opened it and taking out two crumpled ten-shilling notes, popped them into the side pocket of her bag. ‘I’ll write it in when I get back to the clinic.’

Cat Thursday - Editor Cat is NOT Amused

2013-06-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Review of South of Surrender by Laura Kaye

2013-06-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Series: Anemoi #3
Format Read: ARC PDF
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* Barnes & Noble The Book Depository*
* affiliate link; I get a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Blurb from goodreads:

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious summer storms that threaten the mortal realm, dangerously drain Chrys, and earn the ire of the Olympic gods who ordered Eurus dead.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather’s horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can’t resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who’s ever loved the real him.

Bea's Thoughts:

This was the first book in this series that I've read but I had no trouble reading it. The events of the first two books are essential to the story so there are plenty of references throughout and I had no trouble keeping up.

There are two central stories: Chrys's fight to bring down his brother Eurus, who's been on a rampage, and Chrys and Laney's romance. There are side stories involving his brother Boreas, their father Aeolus and a nephew Owen. All are well-developed and feel real despite being gods. In fact, they didn't feel all that godly but more like humans with super-powers. The Olympians, the major gods in the Greek pantheon, are referenced but not seen; the references imply that they are less human, and godlier. I hope that we'll get to see them and events in this book imply that they'll make an appearance.

I enjoy Greek mythology and the wind gods, to my knowledge, haven't gotten much attention over the years so I enjoyed reading about them and seeing how Kaye updated things. I really liked her portrayal of Hephaestus, who's another under-utilized god. He has a bigger role than appears at first and plays an important role in Chrys and Laney's HEA. The relationship between Chrysander and his brothers was touching and realistic though I questioned the back story we got about them and their father. It just didn't ring true nor did the explanation for why Chrys didn't like being touched or how that led to his need to be so dominant and in control during sex. I was also skeptical about the revelations we get about both Laney and her friend Seth, they were too convenient, but I am curious to see where Kaye goes with them.

The romance itself occurred quickly. The story takes place in about two weeks so while not quite insta-love, it was very quick. Both are cautious at first then rapidly give way to their urges, and sex brings them even closer. The HEA felt rushed; I'd have liked to see their romance developed more. Kaye could have ended the story on an HFN and continued their romance as a subplot in the next book.

I liked Chrys and Laney and would have loved to see more of Laney' horses and of Chrys's animal form. I'm horse lover so a story can never have too many horses in it. I did wonder how the farm made money. Laney supplemented her income by writing articles but it's unclear how the farm makes money. It's a minor detail but one I kept wondering about. Also, there were many typos but it was an ARC so presumably they were fixed and are not in the final book.

Despite my questions and nitpicks, I did enjoy the story and it was a fast, easy read. The love scenes were hot, the relationships were believable, the world building was good, and the story is an enjoyable read. Kaye gives us action, romance, steamy sex, humor, gods and other deities all mixed into a yummy confection.

New Cover! Hunted by D.B. Reynolds

2013-06-03T13:47:00.000-04:00

Yes, another cover. Apparently today is the day for them. :) This is for a novella by D.B. Reynolds, an author whose PNR books I enjoy. "Hunted" is part of her Vampires in America series and focuses on Cyn and Raphael. If you haven't read their stories yet, save this one until you do.

I'm not generally fond of reds or oranges but this cover is eerie and evocative, which seems just right to me.

New Cover! The Shining from Stephen King and Subterranean Press

2013-06-03T09:12:00.001-04:00

Back in the fall, I shared an announcement from Subterranean Press concerning an illustrated limited edition version of The Shining by Stephen King. Today, they revealed the cover. The artwork is by Vincent Chong.

You have to be a hardcore King lover as the book is not cheap and it is a limited Gift edition: 1500 Deluxe Hardcover copies, housed in a custom slipcase, with bonus chapbook: $95. If you order The Shining before the end of business on June 7, 2013 will also receive a bonus chapbook of Vincent Chong's sketches available nowhere else.

Quote-Tastic #5

2013-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup has created a new weekly meme. Want to join along?

Click on the link above. Anna is posting hers on Mondays, as am I, but you can choose any day of the week that works for you. Leave me a link in your comment and I will check out your quotes!

A few years ago I was glomming books by Moira Rogers left and right. Recently I was perusing my collection of those books and started looking at my notes and highlights. This one is from "Cry Sanctuary", a paranormal romance with my favorite critters, werewolves!

"So what are we having for dinner?"

"I'm grilling steaks," she told him impishly. "Which means you're grilling steaks."

"Oh, Jesus. So that's why I'm getting an invite." He rolled his eyes and tossed an arm over her shoulder. "I see how it is."

"Yep. I'm using you for your ability to sear dead animals over an open flame and make them taste damn good."

"How manly of me." And the fact that he was hoping Abby would agree just proved how far gone he was. Offering food to impress a mate. How original.

If Cindy suspected his thoughts, she didn't show it. Instead, she counted off the side dishes on one hand. "And I'm making salad, baked potatoes and steamed vegetables. But I'll handle those. All you have to do is drink beer and cook a cow."

"Drink beer and cook a cow," he echoed. And try not to hump Abby's leg.

It shouldn't have sounded so hard to manage.

The Silliness That Is Blogloving or Claiming My Blog.

2013-06-02T21:10:00.001-04:00

Hmm, apparently to take advantage of all of Bloglovin's features, I have to "claim" it. Which is pretty darn silly since I've been using them for weeks now but here goes.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Get Yourself Some Animal Attraction and Help Some Animals! New Romance Anthology

2013-06-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

As you know I'm an animal lover. While I'm partial to cats, I love all animals and believe they all deserve to be treated decently and domestic animals given a good home. Several of romance's hot authors have come together to write a book to help animals.

"Animal Attraction" brings you four sizzling tales of finding love unexpectedly—with a little help from man’s best friend. All Author and Agent proceeds from sales of this book will benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation, a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio.

Blurb from goodreads:

All Author and Agent proceeds from sales of the book will benefit the AAF - Animal Adoption Foundation - a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio.

Buckhorn Ever After by Lori Foster
Shohn Hudson & Nadine Moest.
Shohn is Casey’s younger brother, son to Sawyer and Honey....Includes appearances from other relatives (Link to family tree on Lori's website: http://lorifoster.com/buckhorn-brothe... ).

Gimme Shelter by Heidi Betts
When animal lover Erica Castillo’s sexy neighbor shows up on her doorstep at midnight, in the pouring rain, with three tiny kittens cradled in his strong arms, she can’t turn him away. But will Dean Maxwell’s rescue efforts make him a temporary hero…or the forever kind?

Imagine Me and You by Maisey Yates
Partner In Crime by Jules Bennett

Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: June 1, 2013
Formats: ebook
Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin

So go indulge in some animal attraction and help some animals while you're at it!

Sunday Book Share #39

2013-06-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Last week was an exhausting week. I had a lot going on at work, with the blog and in my home life. I lay down for a little while yesterday afternoon and woke up three and a half hours later. Oops. Oh well, I obviously needed it. The next few weeks are also busy ones so I'll have to grab my sleep where I can. Summer heat finally arrived. We went from low 70's and rain to mid 90's and sunny. I suspect the heat was a factor in yesterday's exhaustion as I was out in it for about seven hours. Still, I'm glad it's warmed up. It feels like summer now. :D

The Week In Review

Reviews: First (Wrong) Impressions by K. Ball (contemporary romance)

The Intercept by Dick Wolf (action thriller)

Interview: James Ramsey, Urban Fantasy

Guest Post: When Only the Best Will Do by Romance author Robyn Grady

Excerpts: South of Surrender by Laura Kaye (PNR)

Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf by Victoria Danann (PNR)

News: Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Wrap Up

New Book by Krista Ball! Lung Update

Memes: Cat Thursday - Dear Diary, A Cat's Lament Quote-Tastic #4 Sunday Book Share #38

Giveaways:

1 ebook copy of The Tree of Jesse by J.R. Mattison, ends June 7th.

1 ebook copy of The Goddess by Robyn Grady, ends June 8th.

1 of 3 autographed paperbacks of Andromeda Rising by James Ramsey, ends June 8th.

2 Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtles, ends June 12th.

15 copies, 1 per winner, of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book, ends June 12th.

Odd and Unusual Phrases Leading to the Blog: "it's almost friday graphics"; that was the most interesting one but "how to catch a cat" remains popular. :)

The Upcoming Week

Reviews - South of Surrender by Laura Kaye (PNR)

Different Dragons, ed. by Dana Bell (speculative fiction)

The Diabolist by Layton Green (paranormal mystery)

Blog Tours - Excerpt from Sugar on Top by Virginia Nelson

Excerpt & Giveaway - A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson

Interview with Jean Fullerton

BOOKS

Gifted

The lovely Vicky Dreiling sent me her newest book, and some swag, as a gift. I enjoy chatting with her on Twitter, you should give her a follow.

Review - Kindle

Books by two of my favorite authors in one week. :)

I have several books by this author but have yet to read any, this will be the first.

Kindle Freebies

How was your week? Don't forget to leave to your post in the comments so I can come visit you.

Cleen Sweep ARC Challenge May 2013 Wrap Up!

2013-06-01T19:00:00.000-04:00

I read 23 books during the Month of May, 11 of which counted towards the Clean Sweep Challenge. I had hoped for more but I still made a good dent in my TBR ARC pile so I'm content. Many thanks to The Windy Pages and Caffeinated Book Reviews for hosting this challenge; I hope they do it again.

The books I read:

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book: fotos, facts, and fun!

Stuck in the Doldrums by Carole P Roman

Summer in Napa by Marina Adair

Playing Hooky by Rita Webb

Targets of Revenge by Jeffery S. Stephens

The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs & Other Stories from the Tipi by Paul Goble

Eliza's Forever Trees by Stephanie Lisa Tara

The Farm by Emily McKay

Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready

The Intercept by Dick Wolf

First (Wrong) Impressions by K. Ball

Review of First (Wrong) Impressions by K. Ball

2013-06-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: K. Ball
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: From the author in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: June 2, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* link goes to my associate link and sales will provide me with a commission. If you don't have a kindle, email the author to receive a different format.

Blurb from the author:

Lizzy Bennet’s fundraising mission is to keep her homeless centre’s clients well-fed through a cold prairie winter. She meets the snobby and pompous William Darcy of Fitz & William Enterprises. While she'd never dare ask him for help, she can't stop bumping into him -- sometimes, quite literally.

But when Lizzy's campaign is cut short by the disappearance of her sixteen year old sister, William and his younger sister step in to help the woman they want to make part of their family.

Inspired by Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice, First (Wrong) Impressions is Lizzy's quest for happiness, security, and love in the 21st century.

Quote:

Lizzy whispered to Darcy, "Did you think I spoke well?"

"I was moved to tears," he said, again with a flat tone but with the same sparkle in his eyes.

"I didn't know machines could cry," she shot back.

"I had the tear ducts installed just for this event." He took a sip of his coffee, then turned away to listen to the next person.

Lizzy couldn't quite decide if she should slap him or laugh.

Bea's Thoughts:

So, here is where I confess I have never read "Pride and Prejudice". I've never read anything by Jane Austen. How I made it through high school and college without reading something by her, I don't know. After reading this, I want to read the original. Part of the fun for me while reading was trying to figure what was taken from or inspired by "Pride and Prejudice" and what was all Ball. The humor was definitely her; of that I have no doubt.

I can't compare the book to its inspiration. For that info, see this review on goodreads. Does it work as a romance? as a social commentary? Yep and yep. It is NOT love at first sight; in fact, Lizzy hates Darcy and is convinced that he hates her. Lizzy is funny, snarky, judgmental, proud, loyal, passionate, and has a temper. Darcy is shy, proud, loyal, compassionate, and an excellent businessman. Their paths keep crossing as do the paths of Lizzy's sister Jane and Darcy's friend Charles. A side note here re Charles. I read a lot of urban fantasy and one of my favorite authors is Patricia Briggs. She has a character, Charles, who has certain similarities to Ball's (Austen's?) Charles and I kept picturing Briggs' Charles as I read. Both are Native American, tall, handsome, and rich. The similarities end there but it was enough to mess with my mind. :D

We follow Darcy and Lizzy's relationship and many misunderstandings along with Charles and Jane's romance and to a lesser extent the romance of Luke, Lizzy's friend, and Pastor Liam. Occasionally I wanted to smack Lizzy for being so obnoxious. As Darcy and Lizzy spend more time together, Lizzy begins to see Darcy in a new light and realizes that she may have unfairly judged him. I loved that she became aware of her tendency to judge others harshly and that she made herself reevaluate her opinion of him. The relationship between Lizzy and her sisters was delightful; real, loving, but not saccharine sweet. Lizzy is intensely loyal to her family as Darcy is to his and that loyalty and their respective families help move their relationship along.

In updating the book, Ball has made it very modern with topics such as the treatment of Native Americans, homelessness and access to food. and the presence and influence of Twitter in people's lives. In fact, I loved how Ball incorporated Twitter and used it to help move the story along at times."First (Wrong) Impressions" is funny, intelligent, thoughtful, and a pleasure to read. You can enjoy it just as a romance, as a treatise on current social issues in Canada, as an update on "Pride and Prejudice" or some combination of the three.

Interview with author James Ramsey & A Giveaway!

2013-05-31T00:01:00.000-04:00

Pour yourself a drink and get comfy, today I'm interviewing urban fantasy author James Ramsey. Often accused of being lost in her own world, James spends most of her time at home with her husband and a menagerie of animals.

She blames her love of the written word entirely on her Grandfather who owned a bookstore, feeding her addiction regularly. Cutting her teeth on illustrated fairy tales she quickly moved on to Farley Mowatt and Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Proudly standing in line till after midnight for five of the seven Harry Potter books she was the only one there without a child.

Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Anne Rice, Keri Arthur, Jean M. Auel, Dan Brown, Stephanie Laurens, Christopher Paolini, Stephenie Meyer, and Jane Austen represent just a fraction of the titles found in her personal library.

She is rarely found without a bag full of notebooks, iPods, and her Kindle.

Find James online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Her new book, "Andromeda Rising" released yesterday. The first in a series, it's available at Smashwords in a variety of formats.

Bea: Why Seattle? Do you think the story would work in another city or town?

James: When I first picked Seattle, it was largely due to it being the nearest US city. I'm from Canada , but I know most of my potential readers are going to be from the US. Picking an American city was probably the only concession to marketability I have made where the story is concerned.

Seattle is only about two and a half hours from my house, so I have been there several times. Plus I love the feel of it. Some people are put off by the immense use of concrete and vertical architecture, but I love all the nooks and crannies. Driving through the city, it’s easy to get lost, and the coastal views are second to none, well except maybe Vancouver.

Once I started writing the story, so many of the elements I needed/wanted were all there. And there were tons more that inspired me, from a real bridge troll to an underground city; tree caves and scattered islands; the birthplace of grunge and the coffee culture Starbucks created. Every time I turned around, I found out just how perfect the setting was.

Would the story work in another city? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Bea: What draws you to the urban fantasy genre? Do you think you might ever try a different genre?

James: I have been reading fairy tales since before I could read. My grandfather owned a book store for the first twenty years of my life. Instead of toys, he gave me books. The most beautifully illustrated children’s books quickly turned into popular series. By the time I was in middle school, I was reading at a university level.

And then there are cartoons. When my husband and I first moved in together, he was shocked when I got up early to watch Saturday morning cartoons. I loved the Smurfs, any of the Marvel or DC universe cartoons, Hasbro – you name it. Our first trip together was to Disneyland. I found it a crime that at twenty-eight he had never been to Disney.

Being drawn to the Urban Fantasy genre is a very short leap from all of these influences. When you grow up an only child, you learn to make up your own adventures. Wishing that the myths of the world were actually true, just sets fire to my imagination.

I have written contemporary stories as well and do have a couple of them I am working on. Eventually they might see publication. I love them too, but the myths and legends of our world just make for a fun sandbox to play in.

Bea: Who are some of your influences? Some of your favorite writers?

James: I love the depth and imagery of Anne Rice, the complex histories of Tolkien, and the character development of Rowling. All of these writers captured my imagination. For sheer creativity and originality in the Urban Paranormal genre, I have a hard time thinking of anyone better than Kim Harrison. I mean really, a mutated strain of genetically altered tomatoes wipes out a third of the human population and forces the supernaturals to step in and save them? The fun she’s had with that plot point is endless.

Bea: What prompted you to start writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

James: I have been writing stories since I was a child. After high school it kind of tapered off and was forgotten. College, marriage, work – it all got in the way, and there was so much great reading material out there that I didn’t feel the need to turn inward for entertainment. Then True Blood came out. The TV series led me to the books, and my imagination came alive. But I was hungry for more. Fan sites led to fanfiction, which led to Twilight fanfiction. The idea of twisting my favorite books, movies, and TV shows the way I wanted was seductive, but my writing skills were beyond rusty. It took me over a year of haunting the sites before I got up the nerve to post my own stuff. My posted material was well received and the readers were really supportive. I’ve learned so much and met so many amazing people through fanfiction that I could never have dreamed it would be possible. Many of them encouraged me to write my own story and my successes in that world gave me the confidence to do it.

So yeah, I would still write if I wasn’t published. Writing is a creative, and at times therapeutic outlet, for my personality that has always been there. It will still be there even if no one wants to pay for it.

Bea: Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book? What was the inspiration for it?

James: I have already mentioned my successes in fanfiction. My very patient husband would sit there night after night and listen to me pound away on a keyboard and get excited over reviews and small interviews. He kept saying I needed to write my own story. It was encouragement that was echoed by several of my fanfiction readers.

The inspiration for Andromeda Rising wasn’t an epiphany. It didn’t come to me fully formed out of a dream. Three years ago, I came up with the idea of a witch on the run from a group of misogynistic and fanatical zealots. Many of the themes that are in this book and the ones that are in progress came from political and philosophical discussions with my husband. Jocelyn has a couple of my characteristics and many of the morals I wish I did.

After two years of picking away at it, I still wasn’t happy. Then I realized that it was because the themes I was interweaving were too big for one book. There was no way I would be able to fit it all in without having to sacrifice all of the best parts. Once I broke it down into three different plot lines with the possibility of a fourth, everything came together. Getting the courage to present what I had to a freelance editor friend was daunting. She was more than receptive and asked insightful questions that gave me the courage to consider publication.

Bea: What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

James: Kim Harrison’s books would probably be the closest. Her heroine and mine have similar jobs and live in similar cities. But that’s where the parallels end. In her series as in Charlaine Harris’ the human world is completely aware of the supernaturals among them. The conflicts in their plot lines revolve around the interactions between the two. There are very few humans in my book. Much of the plot is comprised of the ‘what if’ and ‘how is it possible’ of the concepts of supernaturals living alongside us in secret. The similarities of myths and legends from around the world, the similar architectures and beliefs of people separated by oceans – there has to be a common denominator.

Bea: Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

James: Honestly, the only thing I am reading these days revolves around research for upcoming books. Some of them are very dry like, The Dictionary of Mythology and the Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Some are more interesting like Through the Faerie Glass which is Gaelic and Irish myths surrounding fairy lore, and One Percent: the Legend of the Outlaw Biker. I know that one doesn’t seem to fit, but that’s for me to know and my readers to find out about in the future. It’s actually a pretty interesting read.

Late at night when I’m tired and need to relax I do manage to sneak in some current and classic books. My Kindle is filled with the complete works of Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, Anne Rice, and Charlaine Harris. Tara Sivec’s Chocolate Lovers series is a fun read and always makes me laugh out loud. Lewis Carroll and Suzanne Collins. Laurell K Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry series is also there along with some excellently written fanfiction as well.

Bea: You have an iPod and Kindle. Do you still read print books? What do you like about digital reading?

James: I will forever love print books. There is something about the smell of the paper, the feeling of the pages in your fingertips that cannot be replaced. Most of my favorites are on my shelf in hardcover, only to be duplicated on my Kindle. Some of them even occupy space on my iPod as an audiobook.

But my Kindle enables me to carry a library with me in my purse. No matter what I’m in the mood for, I have it at the click of a button and don’t need an internet connection. That is a dream come true for a voracious reader. Plus it means I don’t have to cart three or four huge novels through an airport when I go on vacation only to finish them before the week is out.

Bea: Why did you decide to have Jocelyn work for an investigative service instead having her own her own business?

James: The answer to this question comes up fairly quickly in Andromeda Rising. Jocelyn’s on the run. She needs to stay as far under the radar as she can because of the men that are chasing her. Because she doesn’t know what resources they have access to, it’s important not to leave a noticeable paper trail. As she says, she likes to blend in. If she owned her own business, it puts her at the forefront; she’s the face of the business. Her name is on the tax reports. Her face is on the advertising. Choosing to have her work for someone was a necessity.

Bea: If you could be a character in a book, which one would it be, and what part would you play? (Romantic lead, sidekick, etc)

James: I would LOVE to be in Hogwarts! J.K. Rowling is a genius and her world is one I would literally kill to be in. I would definitely be a wisecracking sidekick. The sarcastic ‘I told you so’ friend that will do anything possible to help and support the lead, but who always has something to say along the way. I’m not as smart as Hermione, but I would definitely have had Harry’s back on all his adventures.

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GIVEAWAY!

James is giving away three autographed paperback copies of "Andromeda Rising". Click below to go to the rafflecopter widget and enter.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

GIVEAWAY of The Goddess & A Guest Post by Robyn Grady

2013-05-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Please welcome author Robyn Grady to the Nook today as she talks about what what makes a great romance novel and a fabulous hero. After her post is some info about the book and a giveaway, so read on!

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When Only The Best Will Do.

I was asked recently what makes up a great romance novel.

Well, a gripping start. A premise that is new and yet familiar. Buckets of sexual tension. Don’t forget a sympathetic heroine—someone we can identify with and cheer on.

But, perhaps, the most important ingredient is a fabulous hero. A man who can laugh at himself, who has wit and sex appeal and intelligence. He doesn’t need to be wealthy. But he does need to feel “unattainable” in some way.

If you count yourself as an average girl from an everyday kind of reality, how much more unattainable is a hero of royal blood? How much bigger the fairytale surrounding the joy of falling in love?

There was Prince Charming, the brave knight Tristan (James Franco, anyone?) and in The Goddess, the first book in the IDOL series, I give you Darius Vasily.

Darius is a modern-day guy with extraordinary responsibilities. Yes, he is privileged, a little out of touch with the masses, but he is determined to do the best job possible by keeping an open mind, by perseverance and following the rules. Which includes spending a week before his coronation in isolation on his kingdom’s uninhabited Aegean island…

Uninhabited, that is, except for a young woman who seems to cause no end of trouble but also intrigues him like no other.

Bending the rules, he keeps Helene Masters on as a housekeeper for the week. Naturally, things heat up and the domestic position turns into a whole lot more. And if there wasn’t an ancient fertility statue involved, as well as the thread of another ill-fated affair from a hundred years ago, maybe the story would end there. That is only the beginning!

Described as “a modern day fairy tale,” (Amazon reviews), look out for the twist at the end which ties threads together readers hadn’t known existed.

Are you a fan of romances with uber powerful heroes who also have a heart?

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Robyn Grady was first published with Harlequin (Silhouette, New York in 2007 and Mills and Boon, London in 2008). Her books feature regularly on bestsellers lists and at award ceremonies, including The National Readers Choice, The Booksellers Best, Cataromance Reviewers Choice and Australia’s prestigious Romantic Book of the Year.

Recently, she signed a three book deal with Entangled Publishing for her IDOL contemporary romance series.

Robyn lives on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast with her real life hero husband and three daughters. When she can be dragged away from tapping out her next story, Robyn visits the beach or the theatre. These days she’d rather keep fit reliving her youth and shaking it to Just Dance than pretending to jog

Robyn believes writing romance is the best job on the planet and she loves to hear from her readers.

Find her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robyngrady), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynGrady), or on her website (http://robyngrady.com/).

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Follow the blog tour here - http://www.entangledinromance.com/2013/05/19/the-goddess-blog-tour/
Read an excerpt here - http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-goddess/

The Goddess by Robyn Grady

Release Date: May 13, 2013

Format: ebook

Length: 464 KB
Buying Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Blurb from the publisher:

After college graduation, Helene Masters is excited to land a job in a picturesque Aegean kingdom. Tasked with sprucing up the Prince's villa, she inadvertently finds herself trapped on the island with the sexiest man alive. Of course she has to fall for a man who is destined to only marry royalty.

Darius Vasily, Prince of Teirenias, can't figure out what pretty, but accident-prone, Helene is doing at his private estate. After dousing him in paint, she disappears inside the secret cave holding the royal family treasure—a fertility statue, but a cave-in traps them both. Now Darius has to figure out how to save them before he kills her for getting them into this mess in the first place—or gives into their amazing chemistry.

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Entangled Publishing I have one ebook copy of "The Goddess" to give away to one commenter. The giveaway runs through Saturday June 8th, 11:59PM EST. Please read my Giveaway Policy. The giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway