Billionaire Bachelor's Club Series by Monica Murphy

Crave (Avon, 2013) is the first in this series.  It was a decent start to the series.  Three friends make a deal that the last one to avoid love and marriage will win a million dollars.  All three are determined to win.  That is until Archer gets a stolen kiss from Ivy.  He has always thought of her as 'Just Ivy" but he realizes he wants more. 

I did like this one in the end.  Their HEA was cute and you know I'm a sucker for these types of stories.  I liked Archer and Ivy together.  I was definitely rooting for them. My only issue with the story was I would have liked to see more of them together at the resort.  The ending came a little too quickly for me.


I'd have to say Torn (Avon, 2013) was my favorite out of the three books.  Gage wants to buy the strip of stores that Marina's bakery is located in and decides to get to know her better to try to woo her father into selling.  He doesn't count on the deep attraction between them.

I liked the way the two of them do end up being friends with each other.  Even though their physical relationship was very quick, I felt like they did get to know each other well.  I LOVED what Gage did for Marina in the end.  It was too cute and absolutely perfect!  This one is definitely worth reading!

Savor (Avon, 2014) was my least favorite of the series.  I actually ended up skimming a lot of the book.  I didn't like either of the characters.  Bryn is Matt's Mousy assistant who dressed like a bag lady but he is attracted to her scent.  They both fight the attraction because of their work experience. 

I just had a hard time buying into the idea that Bryn was SO beautiful that she had to hide it to be able to keep a job.  Male bosses just seem to fall at her feet.  Also, how do you work for someone and not know if they are married or not?  I also felt like their were inconsistencies in this one.  For example, at the end of Torn, Gage and Marina get engaged with a ring and everything.  But then in Savor, Marina remarks that they haven't made it official yet.  Huh?  Nitpicky, I know but things like that drive me crazy. I'd say you could skip this one, or at least read to the end to find out how the bet is resolved.

Compulsion by Allison Brennan

Author: Alliocon Brennan
Publisher: Minatour Books
Date of publication: April 2015

Investigative reporter Maxine Revere has a theory: that the five New York City murders for which Adam Bachman is being tried are just part of his killing spree. In probing the disappearance of a retired couple who vanished the prior summer, Max uncovers striking similarities to Bachman's MO and develops a theory that Bachman wasn't working alone.

Max wins a coveted pre-trial interview with the killer, whose disarming composure in the face of her questions is combined with uncomfortable knowledge of Max's own past. She leaves the room convinced, but unable to prove, that Bachman knows exactly what happened to the missing couple. The D.A. wants nothing to jeopardize his case against Bachman and refuses to consider Max's theory. With no physical evidence, Max has to rely on her own wits and investigative prowess to dig deep into Bachman's past. The picture that Max puts together is far darker and more deadly than she ever imagined.

As Max gets closer to the truth, she doesn't realize that she's walking down a road that has been paved just for her. That every step she takes brings her one step closer to a brilliant, methodical sociopath who has been waiting for her to make just one small mistake.

And when she does, he'll be there waiting.


I loved the first Maxine Revere book, so I was eager to dive into Compulsion.  I loved this one just as much. Compulsion was definitely a fast ride and had me biting my nails at times.  This time around, Max is sure there is a more behind spree killer Adam Bachman and she is determined to see how it relates to a cold case.  As she investigates, it's clear someone is setting her up.

The plot is a little convoluted in this one, but that is what makes it so great.  You don't know who or what to trust.  I also liked this one because we learn a lot more about what makes Max tick.  A lot more of her past is revealed and I really felt like I got to know her character a lot better.  She does a lot of soul searching in this one.  

I am in love with this series and can't wait for the next book to come out.  Oh, and in case you are interested, I am totally team Nick!

Blog Tour: Finding the Rainbow by Traci Borum

Author: Traci Borum
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Date of publication: May 2015

Holly Newbury’s life is on hold in the cozy English village of Chilton Crosse. While her friends are marrying, having children, and embarking on successful careers, Holly is raising her three younger sisters and working part time at the village art gallery. Her life feels incomplete, but family is more important to her than anything. Then a film crew’s arrival galvanizes the community, and Holly becomes fast friends with Fletcher Hays, the movie’s love-shy American writer.

The production of an Emma film isn’t the only drama in town, though. Their father makes a choice that threatens everything she gave up her dreams for. Holly’s sisters endure growing pains. And Fletcher plans to return to America as soon as filming is over, ruining any chance of their relationship blossoming further. After years of sacrificing for others, Holly must find the courage to take a risk on a future she never dared to expect.

Are you an Austen fan?  I definitely am and Emma is in my top two Austin favorites.  So, when I started reading Finding the Rainbow, and began to see Emma parallels, I was thrilled.  But, you don't have to be an Austin fan to appreciate the sweetness of this book.   This is the second in the Chilton Crosse series.  I loved Painting the Moon and was happy that this one didn't disappoint!  It takes place a while after the events of the first book and focuses on Holly.  She has been living at home helping to take care of her younger sisters.  I loved Holly's character. I was really rooting for her to be able to realize her dreams.

The relationship between Fletcher and Holly was so fun to watch.  The fact that they find a deep friendship only sweetened their HEA in the end.  Friends to lovers have always been my favorite type of romance.  To me, it makes the relationship that much stronger in the end.

It wouldn't be Chilton Crosee without a great cast of characters.  They add flavor and color to an already wonderful book.  This one can be read as a stand alone, but you won't regret reading both Chilton Chilton adventures.  I look forward to reading the next one!

You can also check out what others on the our have to say on the Tour Page.

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About the author:

Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She’s also an avid reader of women’s fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she’s written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.

Traci also adores all things British. She even owns a British dog (Corgi) and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater–must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it’s the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to “look up, slow down, enjoy your life.”

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UA2C272/tag=redadeppubl-20

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-the-rainbow-traci-borum/1121491846?ean=2940151259705

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/finding-the-rainbow

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id974029010

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Traci_Borum_Finding_the_Rainbow?id=P2UTBwAAQBAJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23339574-finding-the-rainbow

Book Excerpt:: For the Win by Brenna Aubry

Author: Brenna Aubry

Publisher:Silver Griffin Associates

Date of publication: June 2015

Millionaire bad boy Jordan Fawkes has problems. Big problems.

That molten-hot intern he hooked up with at Comic-Con is now his assistant. No one can know they’re the stars of the cosplay sex tape that broke the Internet.

Business school hopeful April Weiss has drama. Big drama.

Working under the CFO of Draco Multimedia should be the opportunity of a lifetime for her, but Jordan Fawkes is the boss from Hell—a sexier-than-sin boss from Hell who holds all the cards for her future career.

And then there’s the small problem of a certain video…

Excerpt:

While she tidied up, I packed up my stuff, ready to finish this godforsaken day. When she came out, she quietly leaned on the edge of the doorway, tilting her head and watching me again. This time, her face was easier to read as her eyes slipped down my body, warming parts of me I’d like her hands touching instead. She licked her lips when her gaze met mine again.

Fuck. I was in trouble with this one. Deep, deep trouble. I knew that and yet I allowed myself to get pulled into dangerous waters again and again, either oblivious or willingly ignorant to the pull she had on me. And any good surfer knew you avoided a riptide whenever you could. They were nothing but danger—a massive expense of energy to escape with your life intact.

“Quitting time,” I said, because I honestly had nothing else to say. And I was trying not to remember the taste of her from last night. Trying to push my way out of that dangerous current that was my attraction to her.

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Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1B2OLg0
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/for-the-win/id935785486?mt=11&uo=6

About Brenna Aubrey: 

I’m a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary romance featuring geek culture. My bestselling romance series, Gaming the System, is available in eBook and print format across all vendors.

When I’m not dreaming up people and worlds and writing them down, I’m also a mom, wife, teacher, avid reader, a proud geek-girl, a self-confessed gaming addict, a French-speaking Francophile, lover of nature and beautiful sunsets.

Website: http://brennaaubrey.net/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5824327.Brenna_Aubrey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrennaAubreyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennaAubrey

Throwback Thursday: Falling Off Air by Catherine Simpson

Author: Catherine Simpson
First published in 2004 by Mysterious Press

Robin Ballantyne's life is finally coming together. After learning she was pregnant with twins and being abandoned by her irresponsible boyfriend, Adam, she's settling into life as a single mother. But one night, after putting the children to bed, she hears what she thinks is an argument outside. Then, suddenly, a body falls past her window. Running outside, she finds Paula Carmichael, a renowned activist, dead on the ground. Although Robin and Paula weren't acquainted, the police find Robin's name mentioned - frequently - in the dead woman's diary. Robin then learns that her ex-boyfriend had been making a documentary about Paula and may know more than he lets on. But before she can ask him, he's killed by a hit-and-run driver - who was driving Robin's car. Now a suspect herself, Robin must figure out who wanted both Robin and Adam dead before she loses her freedom, her children, and her life. 

Falling Off Air was a random pick from my library's site.  I had never heard of the author, so I gave it a shot.  I really enjoyed this one.  I thought it was a solid mystery with an ending that made sense.  I definitely didn't figure it out before the main character did, which is always a good thing.

 I liked the main character, Robin.  She is a single mom of twins and has been on extended maternity leave.  One night, her neighbor falls out of a window next door and plunge to her death.  Did she kill herself or was it murder?  Robin doesn't get involved until her ex-lover and father of her children is murdered.  The problem is the police think she did it. I felt really bad for how she was treated in the media and by others around her. Everyone thought she was guilty and was a bad mother.  

I won't say too much more about the plot because I don't want to give anything away.  I'll just say that I do recommend this one.  It was an enjoyable mystery!

The Intern's Handbook by Shane Kuhn

by:  Shane Kuhn
published by: Simon and Schuster
publish date:  April 8, 2014

At the ripe old age of twenty-five, John Lago is already New York City’s most successful hit man. He’s also an intern at a prestigious Manhattan law firm, clocking eighty hours a week getting coffee, answering phones, and doing all the grunt work no one else wants to do. But he isn't trying to claw his way to the top of the corporate food chain. He was hired to assassinate one of the firm’s heavily guarded partners. His internship is the perfect cover, enabling him to gather intel and gain access in order to pull off a clean, untraceable hit.

The Intern’s Handbook is John Lago's unofficial survival guide for new recruits at HR, Inc. (Rule #4: "Learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee: you make an exec the best coffee he’s ever had, and he will make sure you’re at his desk every morning for a repeat performance. That’s repetitive exposure, which begets access and trust. 44% of my kills came from my superior coffee-making abilities.")

John Lago is hand picked from young age to work for Human Resources, Inc.  He becomes an excellent hitman due to his dismal upbringing.  However, he's at the end of his career and he's worried about what's to become of him when his time is up with HR.  Will they let him retire quietly or will they send in another intern to dispose of him?   His last kill is his most complicated and he's doubly paranoid.

This was a really awesome thriller.  I would highly recommend this book to readers that like this genre.  It was intense with lots of twists and turns.  However, it wasn't super long like these kinds of books tend to be, so that was a plus.  I could definitely see this one being made into a movie!

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

by:  Jasmine Warga
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  February 10, 2015

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner.

Aysel's father committed a murder that has haunted her town.  She feels like the darkness in her father is creeping into her and she can't bear to live a life like that.  So she has decided to kill herself, but she needs a partner to do so.  She found one online.  A partner with a tragedy of his own following him around.  However, as the two plot out their suicides Aysel and Roman begin to open up to each other and fall in love.  

This book was fairly predictable from the beginning, but I wouldn't say that in a bad way.  I kinda knew how it was going to turn out, but I wanted to see how it was going to get there.  I really enjoyed this story.  I thought it was going really depressing.  Yes, it was sad at times.  It was about two really sad people that needed help, but it wasn't a really sad story I don't think.

Blog Tour: All the Single Ladies by Dorothea Benton Frank

Author; Dorothea Benton Frank
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: June 2015

In this fast-paced and evocative novel, belovedNew York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank again takes us deep into the Lowcountry of South Carolina, where three unsuspecting women are brought together by tragedy and mystery.

Lisa St. Clair knows a thing or two about weathering storms. A dedicated nurse with a healthy sense of humor, she single-handedly raised her truculent daughter, Marianne, after her ex walked out on them twenty-four years ago, sending them a lottery ticket once a year as support. One day he reappeared and lured their daughter into a dubious but lucrative venture in Colorado. Now mother and daughter aren’t speaking.

So when Kathy Harper, Lisa’s favorite patient, loses her battle with cancer, Lisa finds herself drawing closer to Carrie and Suzanne, the devoted friends who were always by Kathy’s side. As these three women’s lives inevitably connect, they share their concerns about men, getting older and the horrors of maintaining financial stability. Suzanne’s ninety-nine-year-old grandmother, a former chanteuse, offers unexpected perspectives on the mores of the day. Carrie’s greedy ex-stepchildren are a chorus of cackling crows. And Lisa’s mother just can’t help herself as she henpecks her to distraction.

Somehow their conversations always return to the enigma of Kathy. Who was she? What did her short life mean?

I can honestly say that I really enjoyed All the Single Ladies.  I was sucked right into the magic of the Lowcountry and didn't stop until the story was complete. The story is told from Lisa's point of view.  She is a geriatric nurse who works part time and lives alone with her dog.  When one of her favorite patients, Kathy, dies from cancer, she ends up forming friendships with Kathy's best friends, Carrie and Suzanne.  Together, they try to piece together parts of Kathy's life that they didn't know in an effort to right an injustice.

The thing about this book that makes it so enjoyable are the characters.  They are all vibrant and just people you would love to meet.  Lisa is a great nurse with a big heart.  Middle age finds her alone with her dog.  She isn't even speaking to her daughter whom she raised alone.  Barely making ends meet, she is just looking for home and love.  I loved watching her friendships with Carrie and Suzanne blossom, as well as her relationship with Paul.  I was really rooting for her to get a HEA.

There are a lot of themes running through this story. Finding happiness later in life, learning to accept your adult child's choices, and how we can honor someone after they have passed are just a few to choose from.  Whatever you hope to get out of this book, I can guarantee a feel good story that will leave you with a smile in the end!

About Dorothea Benton Frank

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She divides her time between the New York area and the Lowcountry.

Find her on the web at www.dotfrank.com, or like her on Facebook or Twitter.

Dorothea’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, June 9th: Many Hats

Wednesday, June 10th: A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, June 11th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Friday, June 12th: Kritters Ramblings

Monday, June 15th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, June 16th: bookchickdi

Wednesday, June 17th: Always With a Book

Thursday, June 18th: Dreams, Etc.

Monday, June 22nd: Time 2 Read

Tuesday, June 23rd: Peeking Between the Pages

Wednesday, June 24th: Novel Escapes

Thursday, June 25th: Raven Haired Girl

How to Love by Katie Contugno

by:  Katie Contugno
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  October 1, 2013

Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he's never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind. 

Have I been on a contemporary YA kick or what??  Another YA book I kept putting off and I don't know why.  I thought I wasn't going to care for it, but then once I got into it, I got really caught up in the story.

So Reena has know Sawyer forever.  Her parents and his parents own a restaurant together.  She's been in love with him forever, but he's never given her a second glace.  Then, at the most inopportune and most complicated time in their lives, they get together and tragedy strikes.  Instead of dealing with it, Sawyer runs away and leaves Reena behind, distraught and pregnant.  She picks up the pieces and moves on with her life.  She's thriving as a single mother when Sawyer suddenly shows up.  Can she trust him in her life again?

I thought this was a lovely YA book.  It told a great story and it was well written.  It dealt with some mature themes so it might be better for the older crowd.

Tease by Amanda Macial

by:  Amanda Macial
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  April 29, 2014

Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.

Sara is living a pretty charmed high school life.  She's best friends with the most popular girl in school, Brielle.  Her boyfriend is one of the hottest guys in school.  Then, Emma Putnam transfers to her school.  Word is, Emma is trouble.  Emma will sleep with every guy in sight.  When Sara thinks Emma is moving in on her man, Sara and Brielle do what girls in high school have done since there have been girls in high school.  They start calling her names behind her back and start waging a psychological campaign to tear her down.  The problem is, Emma kills herself.

Throughout the book Tease, Sara doesn't understand what she has done wrong.  In her mind, Emma was the one that started the whole thing and Emma was the one that killed herself and Brielle was the one that committed the most heinous offenses against Emma.  I found her attitude fairly typical of kids and it was rather frustrating to read, but it was good to read her growth from the beginning of the book to the end of the book.  

I thought this was going to be one of those books that I wouldn't like because the characters were so unlikable, but that really wasn't the case.  It was a very well told story with an important message.

Blog Tour: The Rhyme of the Magpie by Marty Wingate

Author: Marty Wingate
Publisher: Alibi
Date of publication: June 2015

For readers of Laura Childs, Ellery Adams, and Jenn McKinlay, the high-flying new Birds of a Feather mystery series from Marty Wingate begins as a British woman gets caught up in a dangerous plot when her celebrity father disappears.

With her personal life in disarray, Julia Lanchester feels she has no option but to quit her job on her father’s hit BBC Two nature show, A Bird in the Hand. Accepting a tourist management position in Smeaton-under-Lyme, a quaint village in the English countryside, Julia throws herself into her new life, delighting sightseers (and a local member of the gentry) with tales of ancient Romans and pillaging Vikings.

But the past is front and center when her father, Rupert, tracks her down in a moment of desperation. Julia refuses to hear him out; his quick remarriage after her mother’s death was one of the reasons Julia flew the coop. But later she gets a distressed call from her new stepmum: Rupert has gone missing. Julia decides to investigate—she owes him that much, at least—and her father’s new assistant, the infuriatingly dapper Michael Sedgwick, offers to help. Little does the unlikely pair realize that awaiting them is a tightly woven nest of lies and murder.

I am a fan of this author's Plotting Shed Mysteries series, so I was looking forward to reading this first in a new series, The Rhyme of the Magpie.  I wasn't disappointed.  It's a good solid cozy mystery with great and quirky characters.  After reading this, I will be paying more attention to the birds around my house!  Who knows what types I might see if I pay close enough attention?

I liked Julia's character.  After her mother died, her father remarried very quickly.  Unable to cope, she has changed careers and moved away.  When her father goes missing, she is sucked back into her old life.  I could understand her sense of betrayal, but was really hoping she would make amends with her dad and step-mother.  I also loved the chemistry between Julia and Michael.  That romance was a pleasant surprise and added something special to the story.

There is a whole host of suspects and I was kept guessing until the end.  If you are a fan of cozy mysteries or are looking to dip your feet into the genre, I definitely recommend this one.  I look forward to Julia's next adventure!

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About the author:

Marty Wingate is the author of The Garden Plot and The Red Book of Primrose House, and a regular contributor to Country Gardens as well as other magazines. She also leads gardening tours throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and North America. More Birds of a Feather mysteries are planned.

Marty Wingate’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Tuesday, June 2nd: 5 Minutes for Books

Tuesday, June 2nd: Mystery Playground

Wednesday, June 3rd: A Bookish Way of Life

Wednesday, June 3rd: Buried Under Books

Thursday, June 4th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Friday, June 5th: Kahakai Kitchen

Friday, June 5th: Back Porchervations

Wednesday, June 10th: Reading Reality

Thursday, June 11th: Joyfully Retired

Friday, June 12th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, June 15th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, June 16th: Bell, Book & Candle

Wednesday, June 17th: Bibliotica

Thursday, June 18th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, June 23rd: FictionZeal

Wednesday, June 24th: 2 Kids and Tired