BOOKS AND BLOGGING PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is defined as a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought. Well, my theory is if I can add at least 10 new books to my Wishlist and move at least 5 older Wishlist selections to my TBR list every month, then life is a ice cream sundae. And if I can find those 10 books from at least 5 new blogs each month then that's the cherry on top.

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!
Well, I've made it almost 5 years now, so for better or worse, I continue on. I tend to blog in spurts as the urge to be creative erupts. As I don't have an artistic bone in my body, you will see very few changes in the layouts. Hey, I'm a reader not an artist like so many of the awesome bloggers I follow. I know you don't always have the time but if you stopped and looked, take a half a minute and say your piece. Recommend a book that you have enjoyed or hated for that matter. Thank you to all who visit.
Oh, and I moved my Google Friend Connect info and share this buttons to the top, as without our friends, who are we?


Thursday, August 31, 2017

Release Celebration & Giveaway For MY NEXT BREATH By Shannon McKenna



A relentless rebel supersoldier must seduce a mysterious beauty in his quest to rescue his brother, but gets more than he bargained for when their passion rages out of control… and releases a monstrous killer hellbent on their destruction...




Title: My Next Breath
Author: Shannon McKenna
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-0-99779-413-7

Zade Ryan. Rebel supersoldier. Nearly superhuman. On a desperate quest to rescue his missing brother Luke by any means possible. To do it, he must seduce the elusive Simone Brightman, inventor of the ingenious and deadly tech used to capture Luke and hold him prisoner, location unknown. Zade will do whatever it takes to get close to Simone. Her mysterious beauty and highly sexual allure have him at a disadvantage, but time is running out . . .

Simone is fighting battles of her own, on her own. Until Zade—six foot four of sinewy muscle and lethal combat skills—rescues her from street thugs and leaves her breathless. His smoldering black eyes and overpowering sensuality—and his seductive invitation to spend one wild, unforgettable night with him—prove too tempting to resist. Their passionate encounter unleashes scorching desire that neither can control—leaving them vulnerable to their enemies who watch from the shadows and wait. And when they are lured into a trap by a monstrous killer hellbent on their destruction, they must fight with every weapon they have to save Luke, and each other.

Because one night together could never be enough—and they might not live to have another . . .

Add to your TBR pile;  Goodreads
Purchase at:
 Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Kobo 
 | Goodreads



Excerpt 

Release Tour & Giveaway For ADELINE By Christina McKnight

When the beast with a heart of gold tames a beauty with a wicked past.
Follow the tour and enter to #win one of 5 paperback 
copies of Theodora (Lady Archer’s Creed book 1)


Title: Adeline
Series: Lady Archer’s Creed #3
Author: Christina McKnight
Genre: Historical Romance 
Release Date: August 29, 2017

WHEN THE BEAST WITH A HEART OF GOLD

Everything changed for Jasper Benedict, the Earl of Ailesbury, the night his family died in a tragic fire—the same fire that left him disfigured. Now, his scars have given him the name the Beast of Faversham. But when he stumbles upon a damaged carriage during a tempest, the beautiful woman inside reminds him of the man he wishes he could be: free of his past, and able to love.

TAMES A BEAUTY WITH A WICKED PAST

When her carriage breaks down outside Faversham Abbey, this is just the most recent in a long series of misadventures for Miss Adeline Price. Her beauty hides a fatal flaw: she’s quick to judge, and rarely looks beneath the surface. But the longer she’s around Jasper, the more she begins to want to be better—someone deserving of him. 

But when it comes time to reunite Adeline with her family in London, will Jasper believe that she sees not his scars, but the good, honorable man he is?

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Short Excerpt:
“I am the Earl of Ailesbury,” he called, the words fighting the noise of the storm at his back. “My home is only a short distance away. You may seek shelter there.” Her almond-shaped, hazel eyes inspected him from his hidden face and down the length of his body. Jasper hadn’t felt laid bare before another his entire life. Was she leery enough of him to refuse his offer? As if on cue, a wolf howled in the near distance, its call echoing above the whine of the storm. Within moments, several others answered.





Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.

You can visit her online at the following places: Website Facebook | Twitter Goodreads | Amazon

Follow the tour and enter to #win one of 5 paperback 
copies of Theodora (Lady Archer’s Creed book 1)

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Book Blast& Giveaway For THE BABY PROJECT By Miranda Liasson


He agreed to give her his genes. He didn’t expect to lose his heart…Here comes THE BABY PROJECT by Miranda Liasson…


Liz Kingston spends her life delivering babies and longs for one of her own. All she needs is someone with fabulous genetic material. Who better to ask than her sexy ex-fling, who has no interest in ever settling down or being a father.
International correspondent Grant Wilbanks loves danger and travelling the world. But nothing in all this Brit’s experience could have prepared him for the way a torrid affair with Liz makes him feel. When she asks for his assistance, he figures he can help her out with a simple donation. No strings, no emotions, just…test-tube science.
But this simple favor gives them both more than they ever bargained for. Grant agrees to her terms, but stepping away gets harder and harder because the more time they spend together, the more he finds himself falling…and losing the battle to safeguard his heart.

Pre-Order Your Copy Now!
On Sale in Digital: September 4, 2017

 Add THE BABY PROJECT to your TBR pile on Goodreads!
CELEBRATE THE RELEASE WITH A GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize: 1 Winner Will Each Receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card
 Runner-Up: 3 Runner-Up Will Receive any Backlist Miranda Liasson Title (Digital Version Only)

Excerpt:
Liz wanted him for the most unflattering reason: because she knew he’d flee without a doubt. “So you want me to donate my sperm—into a test tube?” Grant could hardly say it. He could hardly believe he was having this discussion. The idea was utterly ludicrous.
“This would be a one-time thing, the perfect arrangement. You’d give your sample and walk away. Easy-peasy.”
“You mean create a child and walk away?” Somehow, his brain felt numb. He was having difficulty wrapping his head around it.
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to think of it like that. You’d donate a sample and I’d do the rest. You’d do it as a favor to me. No strings attached. No responsibilities, no worries, and no claim to fatherhood. There’d be no need to tell anyone that you’re the father. And Dottie will be moving away soon, so there’d be no need to say anything to her, either. You’d just go back across the world to your job and forget about me. Simple, yes?”
He struggled not to physically wince at her words. How little she thought of him. But then, he’d given her no other way to think. He’d been a no-show. He plowed his fingers through his hair. God, he should never have come here. What had he been thinking, getting tangled up with her again? The intensity of his feelings for her had caught him by surprise—all it had taken was one glance at those big, dark, pleading eyes, her lovely full lips, her vivaciousness, her compassion, her sarcasm…
He’d known he was in trouble from the second she’d tossed her tea at him. The same stirring, the same wanting that he’d fought so hard to forget, it had all come avalanching back.
And God help him, he wanted her now, just as he had on all those hot, humid African nights. Yes, he’d admit it—he’d wanted to see her. To know how she’d been. To say he was sorry.
What a fool he was to think that that would be enough.
Yet what could he really offer her? He was at the top of his game as a reporter, recognizable around the world, always ready to go anywhere at a moment’s notice. He had no family, no home. He was as domesticated as a Bengali tiger.
 “So will you consider it?” she asked.
He opened his mouth to say no.
“I desperately want this, Grant. It’s my last chance to become a mother.”
            Damn her for turning to him with those big doe eyes, with that pleading look that gutted him. That had the effect of rendering him utterly helpless. If he had any sense at all, he’d flee into the house and take cover immediately.
This seemingly simple request was surely fraught with a million complications. If he was wise, he’d simply say no immediately and cut this ridiculous discussion off at the pass.
He tried to avoid eye contact but like a wreck on the side of the road, he couldn’t turn away.
The answer was no. It would always be no. But he couldn’t bear seeing the hopeful expression she wore.
One look at her and he understood down to his marrow exactly what he was seeing in her eyes. Longing, yearning, desperation. She was asking him for something so simple and yet so life-changingly complex.
He’d have to disappoint her, of course. He’d be out of his mind to say yes. The word no formed in his throat, one breath away from being expelled through his lips.
“Let me think about it,” he found himself saying instead.  



Miranda Liasson loves to write stories about everyday people who find love despite themselves, because there’s nothing like a great love story. And if there are a few laughs along the way, even better! She’s a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart winner and an Amazon bestselling author whose heartwarming and humorous small–town romances have won accolades such as the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and have been Harlequin Junkie and Night Owl Reviews Top Picks.

CELEBRATE THE RELEASE WITH A GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize: 1 Winner Will Each Receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card

 Runner-Up: 3 Runner-Up Will Receive any Backlist Miranda Liasson Title (Digital Version Only)

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Blog Tour & Giveaway For HARD RUN By Sheryl Nantus

HARD RUN

by Sheryl Nantus
Delta Force Brotherhood, #2
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Select, Contemporary, Suspense, Romance, Standalone

BUY:

When Skye Harris shows up on the Devil’s Playground’s doorstep asking the Brotherhood for help with a gang taking over her hometown, it’s time for Finn Storm to step up. The bikers might be tough but he’s tougher – and armed with Brotherhood tech and a warrior’s heart he’s going to get the job done, no matter what or who stands in his way.

The one weak spot in his plan is in his heart––Skye gets under his skin like no other woman has and she’s not going to let him take all the danger on his shoulders alone. But when she’s caught in the crossfire Finn has to decide whether to follow his heart or his carefully crafted plan to not only clean up the town but heal his soul.
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GR


EXCERPT #1

Her shoulders ached, and her feet were sore, but for the first time in days, she hadn’t been worrying about Robby non-stop. Finn’s suggestion that she go back to work had been spot on, the distraction a welcome change from sitting in the hospital.
April stuck her head in as Skye started on the second half of the over-stuffed sandwich. The senior waitress had been there for years and had taught her the tricks of the trade.
“Got a new customer on the far-right table. Just came in.”
Skye put her hand to her mouth as she swallowed. “I’m on break. Can you cover?”
“I would, but he asked for you by name. Told him you weren’t available, and he said whenever you were ready, he’d be. Good looking man. You been holding out on me?” The older woman laughed and turned away before Skye could say anything.
She finished her sandwich in record time and headed back out to the front.
Finn sat at the corner table, smiling as he scanned the menu.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered as she pulled out her notepad and pen.
“I do need to eat.” He raised one eyebrow. “I guess you already had dinner.”
“What?” She shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around his arrival.
He leaned forward and swiped his thumb over the edge of her mouth. “I said, I guess you’ve already eaten.”
The soft brush on her skin sent a tremor through her body. She gripped the pen so hard she was afraid she’d snap it in half.
Finn sat down again, licking the mayo off his thumb. “Yum. Can I get an order of whatever you just had?”
She forced herself to scowl. “Aren’t you supposed to be out doing some sort of work?”
“I did. And I am.” He placed his cell phone on the table and stroked the screen. “There’s an app for that.” He spun it around for her to see.
Skye looked at the digital display. “What’s that?”
“The gang’s clubhouse. To be precise, the front of it.” Finn let her study it for a moment before tucking the phone away. “It’s a video feed to see if they bring any of their shipments inside their hideout. I doubt it, but we’re watching all the same.”
“How did you do that?” She was half horrified he’d taken such a risk and half thrilled he’d managed to do it.
“Trey has some nice toys, and he lets me use them every once in a while. Me, I’m more of a hands-on man. Not that there’s anything wrong with toys…” He paused, just long enough to set her imagination on fire.
“Now what would you suggest I eat?” He picked up the menu, seemingly oblivious to the tease he’d tossed out. “I’m craving something delicious. Your recommendations?”

She closed her eyes, feeling heat burn her cheeks.

Sheryl Nantus is an award-winning romance writer published by Entangled, St. Martin’s, Samhain, and Harlequin’s Carina Press.
When she’s not writing about hunky heroes, she is sipping tea, playing board games and writing haiku.
A total fangirl at heart, she met her husband through an online fanfiction community and currently lives in Pennsylvania.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY


Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Review For WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS By Anna Harrington-3*

Title: When the Scoundrel Sins
Series: Capturing the Carlislies #2

Author: Anna Harrington

Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: * * * 
Publishers: Forever
(Aug 29, 2017)
Paperback: 352 pages
FTC Disclosure: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

A MOST INDECENT PROPOSAL

Annabelle Green needs a husband-and quickly. To inherit the only home she's ever known, she must be married by her twenty-fifth birthday. But finding a suitor has been next to impossible after a reckless rogue named Quinton Carlisle seduced her into a scandalous midnight tryst. Her reputation in ruins, Belle now needs a rather large favor. And she knows just who to turn to . . . 

Quinn can hardly believe that the shy bookish girl he teased as a child has grown into such a brazen beauty. The very idea of marrying Belle to right the wrongs of his past is downright shocking . . . and deliciously tempting. Too bad marriage, convenient or otherwise, is the last thing Quinn wants. He'll help Belle find a husband and be on his way. But if he can't control his attraction to the bride-to-be, this marriage could go up in flames-of wicked desire.



Capturing the Carlisles

1. If the Duke Demands (2017)
2. When the Scoundrel Sins (2017)
3. As the Devil Dares (2018)

While I really like a friends to lovers book, I just never really got Quinton. I liked him, he was funny, honest and loyal. Everything that you could want in a hero but I never really got him. There was just too much stubbornness and angst. It felt a bit over the top and began to get old. The story failed to pull me in and get me involved. It was very easy to lay aside and I had to struggle a bit to finish it.
That said, I loved Annabelle and the setting for the story. I throughly enjoyed that it didn't take place in London and loved the country setting. I'm not sure if this would have been more enjoyable if I'd read the first book in the series. I do have it and will read it before reading book three.

Cover Reveal For THE PERILS OF GROWING UP WEREWOLF By Andrew Buckley


Hello readers! Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf
(Hair in all the Wrong Places #2)
by Andrew Buckley!
Be on the lookout for this upcoming title from
Tantrum Books / Month9Books!
HERE WE GO!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COVER?


Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin's not the only creature hanging around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various shenanigans have got everyone on edge.
Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to the perils of growing up werewolf?
GR
The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf
(Hair in all the Wrong Places #2)
by Andrew Buckley!
Available for Pre-order:
Amazon


Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.
Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind.
Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.



Release Day Blitz For WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS By Anna Harrington


Title: When the Scoundrel Sins
Author: Anna Harrington
On Sale: August 29, 2017
Series: Capturing the Carlisles: Book 2
Publisher: Forever
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Price: $7.99 USD

Six years ago, a childish prank perpetrated by the reckless Quinton Carlisle ruined Annabelle Greene's reputation and any chance she had at securing a successful marriage.  Incensed, she moved to her beloved estate on the Scottish border and has reveled in the solitude...until now when the contents of a family will are revealed.  Suddenly, Belle's single status may cost her the only home she's ever known.  Now, with her only marital prospect a horribly greedy and completely undesirable man, Belle knows just the person to rescue her-the one person who owes her for his bad behavior...

There's nothing Quinn Carlisle wants more than to get out from his older brother's shadow and make a name for himself abroad. So when a mysterious letter arrives, promising adventure, he rushes to the Scottish border...only to find that Belle laid a trap for him.  The awkward, shy bluestocking whom he so enjoyed tormenting is gone, replaced by a graceful, elegant woman who ignites a desire in him he can't resist.  Can Quinn help her save her home-and win her heart in the process? 

1. If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?
-- Tough question! I think I would use the first library scene (Spoiler!) when Belle is forced to propose to Quinn as the only way out of the marriage mess she’s found herself in. That scene is pivotal to everything that comes after it emotionally in the book, and inside that scene lies a riot of things -- desperation, hope, the first stirrings of old attractions that never truly died, and kissing…lots of kissing. It also firmly establishes the conflict between them and how hesitant they both are to open their hearts to love.

2. If you could live in any fantasy world, which one would it be?
-- Perhaps one from a Disney cartoon, like Beauty and the Beast, where everything is brightly colored and beautiful, where people break out into song to share their emotions, and unlike in real life, where the villains are easily recognized for being evil and dispatched in time for a happy ending.

3. What is your favorite hobby when you're not writing?
-- I love working in my garden, especially with my roses. I have 25 rose bushes so far, with plans for more rose beds next year, and more plans to put in a pollinator garden and an old-fashioned kitchen herb garden. In the summer, I’m out there every day working with the plants or taking pictures to share online; in spring and fall, I do all the things that I don’t want to do in the heat of summer; and in the winter, I read through garden books and catalogues, making lists of all the new plants I want to buy. When my yard is full, I’ll have to move so I can start over!

4. What's a book that you've read recently that you would recommend to your readers?
-- His Ballerina Bride by Teri Wilson. The way she unfolds the characters’ motivations and emotions was so skilled that I devoured the book in one night—then promptly reread it so that I could study how she wove in the emotion and character subtleties. Solid conflict and well-developed characters with their own desires and lives. Marvelous!

5. What would you say is your superpower?
-- The ability to find good parking spots. It’s as if the fates said, “We’re going to give you all kinds of problems in every other aspect of your life, but you’re always going to get good parking.” I know, I know -- as superpowers go, it’s a small one, but isn’t it the little things we should celebrate more in our day-to-day lives?  (And anyone who’s ever lived in New York or Chicago will certainly envy this power.)



My review HERE

BUY THE BOOK

Anna Harrington fell in love with historical romances--and all those dashing Regency heroes--while living in London, where she studied literature and theatre. She loves to travel, fly airplanes, and hike, and when she isn't busy writing her next novel, she loves fussing over her roses in her garden.

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We’re giving away 10 copies of IF THE DUKE DEMANDS!



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Book Blitz & Giveaway For HOT PURSUIT By Jennifer Bernard


Hot Pursuit

A Jupiter Point Novel
by Jennifer Bernard
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Deputy Will Knight and reporter Merry Warren couldn’t be more different—she’s the queen of questions, he’s the king of no comment. The inquisitive beauty drives Will crazy with her feisty attitude and sassy mouth…the one with the full lips just made for kissing. Not that he’s noticed. Much. He’s too busy working an arson case that may be tied to something bigger, helping his brothers prepare for the opening of their new flight-seeing business, and spending what little free time he has flirting with an online mystery woman.

Merry has enough to deal with without the sexy distraction that is Deputy Knight. She’s currently working undercover on what might be the most important story of her career, avoiding an unwelcome half-brother who’s invaded her life in Jupiter Point, and, oh yeah—her new boss wants her to do a story on a local cold case—the unsolved murder of Will’s father. A painful event he and his brothers are reluctant to relive. And then there’s that online flirtation…

A bossy alpha male with a protective streak a mile wide, and a fiercely independent reporter with a talent for trouble. The sexual tension is three years in the making, and before Will knows it, he’s in hot pursuit of Merry…and they’re both headed straight to danger.


Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found huddling with her laptop and a cup of tea. No stranger to book success, she also writes erotic romance under the name Juniper Bell.

Review For Wild Ride Cowboy By Maisey Yates * * * * 1/2

Title: Wild Ride Cowboy
Series: Copper Ridge #9
Author: Maisey Yates
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cowboy Romance
Rating: * * * * 1/2
Publishers: Harlequin
(Aug 29, 2017)
Paperback:384 pages
FTC Disclosure: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

He's come back to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to keep a promise—even if it means losing his heart… 

Putting down roots in Copper Ridge was never Alex Donnelly's intention. But if there's one thing the ex-military man knows, it's that life rarely unfolds as expected. If it did, his best friend and brother-in-arms would still be alive. And Alex wouldn't have inherited a ranch or responsibility for his late comrade's sister—a woman who, despite her inexperience, can bring tough-as-iron Alex to his knees. 

Clara Campbell didn't ask for a hero to ride in and fix her ranch and her life. All she wants is the one thing stubborn, honorable Alex is reluctant to give: a chance to explore their intense chemistry. But Clara has a few lessons to teach him, too…about trusting his heart and his instincts, and letting love take him on the wildest adventure of all.


I've read all the books in this series and absolutely adore the Donnelly brothers and the town of Copper Ridge. Clara was so sweet and funny. She eats like a kid, no vegetables mostly junk food. She loves Spaghetti-Os  and hot chocolate. She's lost her mom, dad and brother and is officially a member of the walking wounded. To top it off, when her brother died he left the family farm and her to his best friend, Alex Donnelly!   Boy were Clara and Alex hot together and constantly had me laughing out loud, that was if I wasn't blowing my nose from crying. One of the best things about this series is getting caught up with the characters you have met from earlier books.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. 

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. 

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.