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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

March Mini Musings



His to Defend:  While I didn't like this one as much a the second book, I did enjoy it.  I liked the main couple.  I loved how Sergei was all in from the start.  What I didn't love was Evie's son.  He is seven, but talks and acts a lot older  Every time he was on the page, I said, he is seven.  Second graders don't have complicated math or US history tests.  No mother would let a 7YO go trick or treating until 10 with a bunch of teenages.  Le'ts keep it realistic.  Despite that, I would recommend.

Luke's Gift:  This was a very sweet follow-up to Tanner's Promise in the Harlow Brothers series.  I enjoyed Luke and Mary's story.  The "secret" that Luke had was very heartwarming and one of hope.  I loved how he included his little sister in it. I definitely recommend this one.

Judd's Vow: This is the final book in the Harlow brothers series.  I loved this final book.  Judd and Savannah's story was so sweet.  I loved watching them tear down their walls and find safety and love with each other.  Little Wyatt made the book though.  I highly recommend this series.

The Twisted Ones: I can honestly say that I have no idea what happened in this book.  I am baffled by the glowing reviews for this book.  Maybe it was just over my head, but I didn't get it.  I really wouldn't recommend this one.  It was boring and made no sense.

Eight Perfect Murders:  This was a great thriller with many twists and turns.  I loved all of the characters, especially the main one.  The ending was a complete surprise.  There should be a content warning though.  This book will spoil you for several mystery novels.  So be forewarned if any of them are on your TBR.

Fallen:  This is the sequel to Hidden in the Hidden Ops series.  I am becoming a huge fan of this series.  The characters are fun and entertaining.  There is a lot of suspense and plenty of romance.  This one is Brigid and Raider's story.  I highly recommend it and the series.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of The Road to Delano by John DeSimone

Author:  John DeSimone
Publisher: Rare Bird Books
Publication Date: March 2020

Jack Duncan is a high school senior whose dream is to play baseball in college and beyond?as far away from Delano as possible. He longs to escape the political turmoil surrounding the labor struggles of the striking fieldworkers that infests his small ag town. Ever since his father, a grape grower, died under suspicious circumstances ten years earlier, he’s had to be the sole emotional support of his mother, who has kept secrets from him about his father’s involvement in the ongoing labor strife.
With their property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it so he and his mother don’t become homeless. On the road, an old friend of his father’s shows up and hands him the police report indicating Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is compelled to dig deep to discover the entire truth, which throws him into the heart of the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. Everything he has dreamed of is at stake if he can’t control his impulse for revenge.
While Jack’s girlfriend, the intelligent and articulate Ella, warns him not to so anything to jeopardize their plans of moving to L.A., after graduation, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, a star player on the team, to help to save his mother’s land. When Jack’s efforts to rescue a stolen piece of farm equipment leaves Adrian?the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez?in a catastrophic situation, Jack must bail his friend out of his dilemma before it ruins his future prospects. Jack uses his wits, his acumen at card playing, and his boldness to raise the money to spring his friend, who has been transformed by his jail experience.

The Road to Delano is the path Jack, Ella, and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
The Road to Delano is a historical fiction that takes place during the time of the Delano Grape Strike in the late 60s.  Jack's mother is about to lose her house due to unpaid back taxes.  As Jack heads into town to sell their remaining piece of farm equipment to raise the money, he is stopped by an old friend of his father's.  He discovers that there was more to his father's death than his mother and others have told him. Along with is best friend and girlfriend, he embarks on a journey to discover the truth.  For me, the book was a fairly enjoyable read.

One of the things I have always struggled with when reading historical fiction is not knowing much about the "background" conflict that is taking place. I can honestly say, I knew nothing about Cesar Chavez and the strike going into the book.  I did end up doing my own research to familiarize myself with the subject before continuing with the book.  It did help with my enjoyment of the book.  What also stood out was the injustice and conditions in which the workers were treated and subjected to.  It's not a pretty part of our history. Jack finds himself right in the middle of it.   Jack had a big heart and was a character you find yourself rooting for from the beginning.  There are some twists and turns to the mystery.   The ending though, can't say that I loved it. Not a fan of endings like that one.  Despite that, I think lovers of this time period will enjoy the book.  Give it a try.  




About John DeSimone

John DeSimone is a published writer, novelist, and teacher. He’s been an adjunct professor and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. His recent co-authored books include Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan (Little A Publishers), and Courage to Say No by Dr. Raana Mahmood, about her struggles against sexual exploitation as a female physician in Karachi. His published novel Leonardo’s Chair published in 2005.
In 2012, he won a prestigious Norman Mailer Fellowship to complete his most recent historical novel, Road to Delano. His novels Leonardo’s Chair and No Ordinary Man have received critical recognition.
He works with select clients to write stories of inspiration and determination and with those who have a vital message to bring to the marketplace of ideas in well-written books.
Find out more about John at his website, and connect with him on Instagram.
Tour schedule:


Tuesday, March 10th: Instagram: @jenabrownwrites
Wednesday, March 11th: Run Wright
Thursday, March 12th: 5 Minutes For Books
Thursday, March 12th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Friday, March 13th: Orange County Readers
Monday, March 16th: BookNAround
Tuesday, March 17th: Bibliotica
Thursday, March 19th: Girl Who Reads
Friday, March 20th: Broken Teepee
Monday, March 23rd: Audio Killed the Bookmark
Tuesday, March 24th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, March 25th: Jathan & Heather
Thursday, March 26th: Wellreadtraveler
Friday, March 27th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Monday, March 30th: Life By Kristen

Cover Reveal: Let Me Stay by MK Moore



We are happy to share the cover for LET ME STAY by MK Moore, the final book in the second season of 425 Madison Avenue. Check out the lovely cover for this must-read a virgin romance!

Author: MK Moore
Release Date: 4/20/20
Series: 425 Madison Ave, #17
Genres: Contemporary Romance

Brendan
The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I needed her. Her beauty and grace took me by surprise and beckoned to my soul.

Now that I finally have her, I will do anything to keep her.

Letting her stay will be the easiest decision I’ve ever made.

Brynn
He was just another customer until he wasn’t. His presence called to me like nothing else ever has.

He wants to keep me and I want to let him, but there are things he doesn’t know about me.

Will he let me stay when he finds out the truth? There’s only one way to find out...

After all, 425 Madison Ave is the perfect place to fall in love!
.

Add to Goodreads!



Don’t Miss Let Me Love You by MK Moore from the first season of 425 Madison Ave.


"Refreshing and Close to Heart Love Story"—Amazon Reviewer on Let Me Love You
Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited


About MK
MK is married to the love of her life. She lives in Tennessee with her husband. She is an avid reader and loves telling steamy stories she deems filthy contemporary.  She loves meeting readers, so come hang out with her!

Sunday, March 29, 2020

March DNFs



Own the Wind:  I could only take a few chapters of this book.  The main characters were just the worst. I felt icky listening to the book.  I decided I wasn't interested in reading about an alpha male who treated his "woman" like a doormat and a female who let him.  No thanks.

The Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 11:  I listened to about 15 out of the 26 stories in this collection.  I decided to abandon the rest of the book because I can honestly say I didn't like a single story from the ones that I read.  I found several of them boring, a few of them just confusing and the rest just OK.  I wouldn't recommend this one.

The Henna Artist:  I really tried hard to finish this book.  I was interested in the setting and time period.  However, all of the characters in the story were horrible people.  Even the main character.  She makes decisions in the book that I just couldn't get behind especially with her"side" business helping the rich white woman in the city.  It just wasn't for me.

Meet Cute:  I haven't gone to law school and I'm sure it's really competitive at times.  But is it really productive to hold a grudge for years against someone because they took your top spot years before in law school?  I didn't find anything "cute" about this book.  I found the main character annoying.  I tried to read it a couple of times, but ended p giving up at the same place each time.  Not for me.

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Review: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Author: Kate Clayborn
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Crop.
Publication Date: December 2019

Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing beautiful custom journals for New York City’s elite. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Like the time she sat across from Reid Sutherland and his gorgeous fiancée, and knew their upcoming marriage was doomed to fail. Weaving a secret word into their wedding program was a little unprofessional, but she was sure no one else would spot it. She hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid.

A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out—before he leaves New York for good—how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline, a fractured friendship, and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other about their lives, work, and regrets, both try to ignore the fact that their unlikely connection is growing deeper. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late.


I'll let the synopsis above give you an idea of what this book is about.  I loved the concept of  Love Lettering.  In fact, I loved the letter game that Meg and Reid came up with through texts.  It was really fun and sweet at times.  I did end up liking the ending as well.  I was overall satisfied with how everything played out.  

Despite all of that, this book ended up being just kind of "meh" over all.  The main reason was the main characters.  They were so boring.  It's hard to love a romance when you have two of the most dull and boring people involved.  I never felt really excited about the prospect of these two together.  I was never really convinced they wanted to be together.   I also thought the "fight" between Meg and her roommate was pretty lame when the truth came out.   I guess I'm in the minority here.  I see that this got really good reviews.  I guess you'll have to give it a try and see for yourself.


Friday, March 27, 2020

Series Launch Spotlight: Tactical Crime Division (TCD) Series from Harlequin


Perfect for fans of Criminal Minds and Blacklist...

Uncover the lives and loves of the FBI elite as they take on the toughest assignments. This is a new four-book miniseries featuring an ensemble cast of characters spread across 4 books, featuring 4 urgent cases, with one stellar team of crime solving experts. 

The Tactical Crime Division—TCD—is a specialized unit of the FBI. Because of the growing concerns and need for ever increasing response time to criminal events, the FBI created a specialized tech and tactical team combing specialists from several active divisions that include: weapons, crime scene investigation, protection, negotiation and IT. 

Each title can be read as a standalone novel, featuring a unique hard to solve crime case.




Book #1: 48 Hour Lockdown by Carla Cassidy (on-sale March 17, 2020)

The Tactical Crime Division—TCD—is a specialized unit of the FBI.They handle the toughest cases in the most remote locations. When TCD learns of a school invasion turned lockdown, every agent is ready to engage. With children in jeopardy, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But it becomes personal for hostage negotiator agent Evan Duran when he learns Annalise Taylor is one of the captives holed up with the students in a school for the gifted. He’ll need every resource available at TCD and every ounce of his expertise to turn this disastrous situation into a rescue mission—and if he succeeds, maybe reunite with the woman he never stopped loving.

About Carla Cassidy: Carla Cassidy is a New York Times bestselling author who has written more than 125 novels for Harlequin Books. She is listed on the Romance Writer's of America Honor Roll and has won numerous awards. Carla believes the only thing better than curling up with a good book to read is sitting down at the computer with a good story to write.

Purchase links:


Book #2: Secret Investigation by Elizabeth Heiter (on-sale April 21, 2020)

In the wake of a tragedy, the Tactical Crime Division is the first call. When ironclad body armor inexplicably fails and soldiers perish, the Tactical Crime Division jumps into action. Agent and former ranger Davis Rogers asks to go undercover to find the traitor responsible for the death of one of his friends, and Petrov Armor CEO Leila Petrov is happy to provide access to her company…especially once she discovers she’s being framed. But will their joint efforts be enough to uncover the truth?

About Elizabeth Heiter: Publishers Weekly bestselling
and award-winning author ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong  heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists and a little romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range. Her novels have been published in more than a dozen countries and translated into eight languages.
Visit her at www.elizabethheiter.com

Purchase links:


Book #3: Midnight Abduction by Nichole Severn (on-sale May 19, 2020)

For the Tactical Crime Division, no case is left cold. When Benning Reeves’s twins are kidnapped, the frantic father knows who can help: the Tactical Crime Division and Ana Ramirez. Even though Ana once shattered Benning’s heart, the special agent is the only one he can trust. But Ana is still tormented by the unresolved case that brought them together years before—a case somehow entangled with Benning’s children. It’s up to the TCD and Ana to discover why…before it’s too late.

About Nichole Severn: Nichole Severn writes romantic suspense with strong heroines, heroes who dare challenge them, and a hell of a lot of guns. When she’s not writing, she’s injuring herself running and practicing yoga.

Purchase links:

Book #4: Running Out of Time by Cindi Myers (on-sale June 16, 2020)

When a terrorist is on the loose, the Tactical Crime Division is on the case. To find out who poisoned medications, two of TCD’s agents are tapped to go undercover posing as a married couple and infiltrate the company. But as soon as Jace Cantrell and Laura Smith arrive at Stroud Pharmaceuticals, someone ups the ante by planting explosives in their midst. Turns out that the small-town family business is hiding a million secrets. Could they unknowingly be protecting a vengeful killer?

About Cindi Myers: Cindy Myers became one of the most popular people in eighth grade when she and her best friend wrote a torrid historical romance and passed the manuscript around among friends. Fame was short-lived, alas; the English teacher confiscated the manuscript. Since then, Cindy has written more than 50 published novels. Her historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction have garnered praise from reviewers and readers alike.

Purchase links:

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Spotlight: Audio Excerpt of Donn's Shadow by Caryn Larrinaga



Audiobook Series Blog Tour: The Soul Searchers Mysteries by Caryn Larrinaga

Author: Caryn Larrinaga

Narrator: Jessica McEvoy

Length: 9 hours 51 minutes

Series: The Soul Searchers Mysteries, Book 2

Released: March 2020

Publisher: Twisted Tree Press

Genre: Supernatural Cozy Mystery


Mackenzie Clair finally has this whole ghost-hunting psychic thing figured out. The Soul Searchers are a hit, she’s got pet-parenting down, and she even has a plan to banish the poltergeist running amok at a lakeside cabin. Best of all, Donn’s Hill feels like home. But not everyone loves the town as much as Mac. A world-famous paranormal debunker thinks the psychics in Donn’s Hill are lying about their abilities. His determination to destroy the Soul Searchers threatens Mac’s livelihood, and when a killer strikes, the sheriff’s suspicions threaten her freedom. Mac needs all the help she can get to find the real murderer and clear her name… even if that help comes from beyond the grave.
Buy on Audible
Caryn Larrinaga is a self-described horror evangelist and paranormal junkie. Her debut supernatural mystery novel, DONN’S HILL, won the League of Utah Writers 2017 Silver Quill Award in the adult novel category and was a 2017 Dragon Award finalist. Her short fiction has won multiple honors and been featured in local and international anthologies. Watching scary movies through split fingers terrified Caryn as a child, and those nightmares inspire her to write now. She lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their clowder of cats. Visit www.carynlarrinaga.com for free short stories and audiobooks.
WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramGoodreads
Narrator Bio Between peddling video games and teaching yoga in her home state of Arizona, Jessica McEvoy attempts to conduct a career as a professional voice actress. This, however, is moderately undermined by the fact that she records in a dimly lit closet with her microphone balanced on a stack of old board games (Junior Scrabble and Powerpuff Girls Monopoly form a strong foundation), but she hopes that no one holds that against her. Though her main work consists of narrating audiobooks, her first dive into the voice world was through the NoSleep podcast after answering a post from the LibriVox forums. Having been raised on horror movies and scary stories, she was beyond excited to be able to work on the show. Many stories, tortured screams, deranged villains, and creepy little girl giggles later, Jessica hopes to work on the podcast for seasons and seasons to come.
View the full 14-day tour schedule here!
Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.
Sign up as a tour host here.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Hers to Tame by Rhenna Morgan



Author: Rhenna Morgan
Series: NOLA Knights, #2
Length: approx. 85,000 words
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Imprint: Carina Press
eBook On-Sale: March 16, 2020
eBook ISBN & Price: 9781488054167, $3.99 USD
MMP On-Sale: March 31, 2020
MMP ISBN & Price: 9781335962645, $8.99 USD
Book two of NOLA Knights, the heart-stoppingly sexy spin-off series by Men of Haven author Rhenna Morgan

As an avtoritet for the most powerful crime syndicate in New Orleans, Kir Vasilek doesn’t act without purpose, doesn’t speak without thought and never, ever loses his cool. The lives of his brothers, his family, depend on it. But then Cassie McClintock strolls back into his life, and staying cool is next to impossible. Cassie was the one who got away—and Kir is willing to break all his own rules to keep it from happening ever again.

It’s one thing to report on the Russian mafia; it’s quite another to sleep with one of them, especially one as dangerous, and as sinfully sexy, as Kir Vasilek. Even though the information he once provided helped make her career—and the memory of his touch still keeps her up at night—Cassie knows too much about his world to go down that path.

But when Kir reaches out for help after a rival family comes for one of his own, Cassie doesn’t want to say no, either to investigating a gruesome murder or to the heat that pulls her right back into his arms…and his heart. Taming Kir—and helping to save the family she’s come to call her own—is not the story she thought she’d write, but it’s the one she’s determined will get a happy ending.

Hers to Tame is the highly anticipated follow-up to His to Defend. And don’t miss Roman’s story in Mine to Keep, coming soon from Rhenna Morgan and Carina Press.


Buy Links


My thoughts:

Hers to Tame is the follow up to His to Defend. I have read both and this works fairly well as a stand alone. I believe this is also an off-shoot of another series by this author because several side characters are mentioned in it, but I never felt lost. If you are a fan of mafia romances, then I think you will like this series. They are in the Russian mafia, but more of a "mafia light".

I liked Kir and Cassie together. It's always fun to watch an alpha male fall really hard for a strong female. Cassie was his perfect match. Their chemistry was off the charts. Another favorite thing in romance is when two people who have not grown up with love or family closeness, find it in each other. The mystery in this one was one that kept me reading. I didn't figure it out. I highly recommend this one as well as the first book. I look forward to reading the next book when it comes out.

Enjoy this excerpt:

“Please take this in the spirit it’s intended, but you work for a man who’s suspected of leading a growing crime family. I don’t think me telling you where I live is a good idea.”
“1023 South Franklin Avenue.”
Cassie stopped so hard she wobbled slightly in her heels. “How did you… I mean, I only just moved in there.”
His smile softened and his words were offered with gentle deliberateness. “I’m a very thorough man, Cassie. You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t learn everything I could about a person before I shared important information with them.”
Very thorough.
Frighteningly so.
She shook the foreboding off and resumed her trek to the station, albeit on slightly less stable legs. “All the more reason for us to meet someplace public.”
“All right. Then I’ll pick you up and take you somewhere.”
“Not necessary.” She checked both ways on the street and hurried across. “Just tell me where you want to talk, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m afraid my retrieving you and escorting you is nonnegotiable.”
She frowned at him, but kept going. “You’ve got a lot of points you won’t negotiate. Tell me why this one’s one of them.”
“Because while I’m very much interested in hearing what you have to share, I’m not interested in anyone else hearing. The best way to ensure our privacy is to make sure no one else knows where we’re going—including you.”
She stopped just six feet from the station’s front door. “You don’t trust me?”
“Should I?”
Hmm. He did kind of have a point. And given how she’d stiffed him after their second date, he still might be wondering if she’d simply used him. “Fine. Pick me up at my place tomorrow at eight. But don’t pick any place fancy. A coffee shop, or someplace simple. And not Starbucks either. It’s criminal what they charge for coffee.”
His mouth twitched as if it were all he could do to keep a wisecrack trapped behind his lips. “You seem determined to expose me to establishments with limited standards.” He nodded, the picture of gentility and confidence. “I’ll endeavor to pick a location that suits your expectations.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Until tomorrow, then.”
He had great hands. Not too smooth like someone trapped in an office, but a man’s hands. Slightly calloused, with long fingers and blunt fingertips. Of all the things she’d replayed from their time together, his touch had been the most frequent. Which was exactly why she’d be smart to avoid any and all physical contact with him going forward.
Glutton for punishment and well-mannered Texas girl that she was, she slipped her palm against his.
Oh, yeah.
Still amazing.
Electric and warm. Supercharged and bristling with promise.
And that was just her hand.
“Thank you again for the dinner. It wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it all the same.” Hating the breathiness in her voice, she tried to release her hand.
Kir held it tight, the pad of his thumb subtly moving over the tender spot between her thumb and her forefinger. As if he were remembering other, more intimate places he’d touched her. “I assure you. The pleasure was all mine.”
He gently released her, turned without the least amount of hesitation, and strolled toward the parking lot like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Watching him was something to relish. An indulgence she didn’t even realize she’d taken until he 
stepped off the sidewalk and turned to open the door to his car.
Great. And now he’s busted you ogling him.
She swung one of the double glass doors open and strode into the arctic reception area.
“Girl, that dude was hot,” Bonnie said before Cassie’s eyes could adjust from the blinding sunshine outside. “He your boyfriend?”
“Oh, no.” She set the paper bag on the counter and shook her head. “Just a contact that helped me out on a few stories a while back.”
And ruined me for other men, but why quibble over details?
Bonnie took the bag and opened it, but the look on her face and her answering chuckle said she didn’t buy a word Cassie’d said. “Uh-huh. Looked to me like he was plotting how to peel you out of your professional getup.”
Yeah, it’d felt like that, too. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. Or ever, if she could help it. “Nope. Just talking business.” She waved toward the bag and headed back toward the newsroom.
“Good business, or bad business?”
Cassie swung the door to the hallway open and cast Bonnie one last look. “I haven’t decided yet. Could have been the lottery, or the biggest wrong turn of my life.”

Copyright © 2020 by Rhenna Morgan

Author Bio

A native Oklahoman, Rhenna Morgan is a certified romance junkie. Whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy you’re after, Rhenna’s stories pack romantic escape full of new, exciting worlds, and strong, intuitive men who fight to keep the women they want. For advance release news and exclusive content, sign up for her newsletter at http://RhennaMorgan.com. You'll also find all of her social links there, along with her smoking hot inspiration boards.

Social Media Links