MERRY CHRISTMAS!!


Merry Christmas My Friends!!
I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Christmas with your family and friends. 

We are spending our time with my family and celebrating my first Christmas in 15 years with my sister and her children. She made a surprise visit that only mu husband and I knew about, so it is going to be a very exciting time to share it with the rest of the family.
I'm also going to take a couple of weeks off, so I'll see you January 9th, 2017!! 

Here's a pic of my kids!
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Silverwitch by Tamara Grantham ~ Excerpt & Giveaway (@TamaraGrantham, @XpressoTours)

Dreamthief, the first book in the series is currently free! And after reading the excerpt, I know I would enjoy this series! 
Title: Silverwitch
Author: Tamara Grantham
Series: The Olive Kennedy, M.D. Series #4
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Published: December 19th 2016
Buy Now - Amazon | B&N iTunes | Kobo

It’s Faythander’s legend of King Arthur. And it’s not for the faint of heart.

Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD, isn’t ready to go back to work. But when her dragon stepfather shows up on her doorstep with bad news of the world-ending variety, that’s exactly what she’ll have to do. He wants her to stop the elven queen from obtaining seven weapons of King Arthur fame, and he wants her to break into a dragon’s vault to do it.

One problem. Silvestra, the silverwitch of Dragon Spine Mountain, guards the weapons. And she’s not willing to give them up. With the help of Kull, her newly reunited, half-crazed Viking boyfriend, she’s hopeful they’ll stand up against the dragon. Plus, she’ll have the help from Kull’s warrior princess sister and a professional thief.

But Olive has never had great luck. What starts as a routine quest quickly turns into a life or death fight. And one of her companions won’t make it out alive…



As the sun dipped lower toward the horizon, Maveryck still had yet to procure money or shelter of any kind. We neared the city’s center, where a square-shaped tower that tapered to a point rose above the other buildings.
That’s an odd building,” I said. “What do you think is its purpose?”
I’m not sure of its purpose, but I do know the Earthlanders call it the Eiffel Tower.”
I shot him a questioning glance. “Eiffel tower? How do you know that?”
I’ve read about it.”
Have you read about everything?”
Of course not, but I have an interest in Earth Kingdom, and so naturally, I’ve read about it.”
If you know so much, then tell me, how are we to obtain money?”
I’m working on it.”
Are you?” I asked.
Yes, I am.”
How do I know you aren’t saying that just to appease me?”
He stopped walking and gave me his hard stare. “Enough,” he said. “How am I to get anything done with you constantly questioning me?”
So far, you’ve accomplished nothing. I would be better off alone.”
Is that so?”
Yes, it is.”

Tamara Grantham is the award-winning author of more than half a dozen books and novellas, including the Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD series and the Shine novellas. Dreamthief, the first book of her Fairy World MD series, won first place for fantasy in INDIEFAB’S Book of the Year Awards, a RONE award for best New Adult Romance of 2016, and is a #1 bestseller on Amazon in both the Mythology and Fairy Tales categories with over 100 reviews.

Tamara holds a Bachelor’s degree in English. She has been a featured speaker at the Rose State Writing Conference and has been a panelist at Comic Con Wizard World speaking on the topic of female leads. For her first published project, she collaborated with New York-Times bestselling author, William Bernhardt, in writing the Shine series.

Born and raised in Texas, Tamara now lives with her husband and five children in Wichita, Kansas. She rarely has any free time, but when the stars align and she gets a moment to relax, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, taking nature walks, which fuel her inspiration for creating fantastical worlds, and watching every Star Wars or Star Trek movie ever made. You can find her online at www.TamaraGranthamBooks.com.




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Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow ~ Review & Swoon Thursday (@MelanieHarlow2)

This was such a heartfelt and beautiful read. Melanie Harlow did a fantastic job of tackling some difficult issues. This book will stay with me for a while to come!
Some Sort of Happy (Happy Crazy Love, #1)
Title: Some Sort of Happy
Author: Melanie Harlow
Series: Happy Crazy Love #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: September 22nd 2015

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N Kobo

Skylar Nixon is a twenty-seven year old failed actress with no Plan B. After a humiliating stint on a reality TV show crushes what’s left of her childhood dream, she finds herself back in her hometown with no money saved, no college degree, and no confidence she’s anything but a joke—a small town starlet who couldn’t hack it in the big city.

When she runs into former classmate Sebastian Pryce, she can’t believe the hot body and chiseled jaw belong to the shy, troubled loner she knew ten years before. He’s not exactly friendly at first, and she’s heard the rumors about his tragic past, but something in his sad eyes intrigues her. She only wants to get to know him better.

Until the night she wants more—and takes it. (Hard and deep. Twice.)

Are they just two lonely people seeking solace? Or can a disgraced beauty queen and flawed, frustrated man find some sort of happy ever after?

It's been a while since I've read a book by Melanie Harlow, and I picked up Some Sort of Happy on sale and decided to give the Happy Crazy Love series a try. I'll tell you now, this book had the feels, as I watched Skylar and Sebastian struggle. Skylar was on a to show which painted her as a bad person, which in turn made her personal life difficult. Sebastian went through a tough time as a child which he carried with him growing up and still affected him today.

Skylar was a beautiful, beauty queen type of girl who wanted to be an actress, but she had brains as well. It was good to see her have a passion for decorating and even an interest in the wine industry. She was a sweet and genuine girl who was lost for a while. Sebastian was sure he would never fall for another girl after what he went through, but Skylar touched him like no one else did. I liked that they had crossed paths in school, and that even though they were from different worlds, Skylar remembered him.

I loved what the author did with this story, tackling the difficult issue of OCD. I could not imagine how difficult it would be to live with it day to day. The way that Skylar and Sebastian slowly fell for one another, revealing their darkest secrets and tried to help each other through, was just beautiful. Even while each of them struggled they did their best to help each other through.

Usually editing issues don't bother me, but there were so many in this one, that should've been easy to pick up. Sometimes I had to read a sentence a few times because a word was wrong and it didn't make sense. But regardless, it was still a beautiful and heartfelt read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

*** Swoon Thursday was first bought to us by YA Bound. Since they are no longer with us, and with permission from Trisha Wolfe, I have decided that those of us that love to swoon need a central meet up point.  So here it is ladies! I have a link up for everyone at the bottom of the post you can add your swoons to, and I’ll set it up every week! So tell all other swooners out there to come on over, link up so we can visit each other! ***


This was such a big moment for Sebastian... I loved it! To go out of his comfortzone for Skylar was beautiful and it made my heart swell for him!

Then I felt it—his forehead dropping gently onto the back of my head, and resting there. Something squeezed my heart, but I refused to give in. Then I felt the hand on my hip, heard him whisper my name, and I knew I was lost.

Kindle Page 198
Originally inspired by YA Bound
Melanie HarlowMelanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. Her stories are inspired by a sense of place, an appreciation for the past, and unexpected pleasures in life—especially the romantic kind. She lifts her glass to readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.






Other reviews featuring Melanie Harlow
Frenched
Frenched #1





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Waiting On Wednesday #224 – Lucian Divine / Full Package (@renayz, @LaurenBlakely3)

Renee Carlino has become a must read author of mine, and I love how this book has a drunken guardian angel in it!
It's been a while since I've read 
Lauren Blakely, and I love the sound of Full Package!! 
Lucian Divine
Title: Lucian Divine
Author: Renee Carlino
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Expected Publication: January 9th 2017

“My guardian angel is a drunk.”

Evelyn Casey's life is at a standstill. She's in her mid-twenties, struggling with the dating scene in San Francisco. Nothing seems to be working out, and she’s starting to think that she’ll live out her days in her crummy apartment with her overbearing roommate, Brooklyn. It's absurd, but sometimes Evey longs for a guardian angel to show up and save the day.

And then he does. Seriously. His name is Lucian and he's a guardian angel, been on the job for two thousand years. His sudden presence in her life is both good—he's brilliant, witty, and warm—and bad—he's brilliant, witty, warm, and hot as ----. But as perfect as Lucian seems, he’s got problems of his own. He’s taken up drinking and he’s brazenly inserted himself into Evey’s life, going against the greatest cosmic law ever created.

For Evey, the rules are simple: You are not allowed to hook up with your guardian angel. But sometimes fulfilling your destiny requires a leap of faith, a confrontation with God.

Yes, God as in God.

Full Package
Title: Full Package
Author: Lauren Blakely
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Expected Publication: January 9th 2017

I’ve been told I have quite a gift. 

Hey, I don’t just mean in my pants. I’ve got a big brain too, and a huge heart of gold. And I like to use all my gifts to the fullest, the package included. Life is smooth sailing....

Until I find myself stuck between a rock and a sexy roommate, which makes for one very hard…place.

Because scoring an apartment in this city is harder than finding true love. So even if I have to shack up with my buddy’s smoking hot and incredibly amazing little sister, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.

I can resist Josie. I’m disciplined, I’m focused, and I keep my hands to myself, even in the mere five-hundred square feet we share. Until the one night she insists on sliding under the covers with me. It’ll help her sleep after what happened that day, she says.

Spoiler—neither one of us sleeps. 


Did I mention she’s also one of my best friends? That she’s brilliant, beautiful and a total firecracker? Guess that makes her the full package too.

What’s a man stuck in a hard place to do?


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where I have the chance to spotlight upcoming releases that I’m eagerly anticipating.
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Part-time Princess by Pamela DuMond ~ Audiobook Review & Teaser Tuesday (@Pamela_DuMond)

I was looking for something like and fun so I thought I'd pick up something new. It was a good read and I enjoyed my first Pamela DuMond read.
Title: Part-time Princess
Author: Pamela DuMond
Series: Ladies in Waiting #1
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published: July 28th 2014
Buy Now - Amazon | B&N Kobo

Two Princes are in love with her. Too bad she’s an imposter…

Lucy Trabbicio's a down-on-her-luck, young, cocktail waitress desperate to find a job to keep her uncle at Assisted Living. Lady Elizabeth Billingsley hires Lucy to impersonate her to keep the attention of Crown Prince Cristoph of Fredonia while she completes her pressing personal business in the States.

In the mother of all makeovers, Elizabeth's people transform Lucy into a reluctant 'Lady’ and she travels to Fredonia for ten days 'tops.' What could possibly go wrong?

Sexy, bad-boy Nick—Fredonia’s other Prince—that’s what goes wrong!

Nick has romantic history with Elizabeth and he wants to pick up the between-the-sheets action with her impersonator—Lucy. Even though Lucy’s wildly attracted to him, she has to resist—she can't lose this job! Dreamy Nick's courting Lucy hot and heavy when Prince Cristoph proposes marriage. What's an imposter girl to do?

Elizabeth insists that she'll make it back home in time for the wedding. Lucy accepts Cristoph's proposal and is on the fast track to becoming a Princess when another glitch arises—someone's trying to kill her! Besides Nick, the only folks helping Lucy are her wild, party hard, take-no-prisoners Ladies-in-Waiting.

A modern day, sexy tale with romance, twists and turns, LOL moments, a few tears and a Happily-Ever-After Ending (Just not the way you expected it!)

Pamela DuMond is a new to me author, and I grabbed Part-time Princess because I was looking for something fun and entertaining to listen to. It turned out to be a light and quirky read, where Lucy Trabbicio takes on a part time job impersonating Lady Elizabeth Billingsley, and travels back to her home country of Fredonia and is set to marry a prince.

Lucy was quite entertaining as she stumbled her way through this job. She managed to talk her way out of almost any situation, and managed to catch the attention of more than one guy. Nick was confident and charming and took a keen interest in the new Elizabeth, liking how fun and sassy she was. Crown Prince Cristoph Timmel seemed interested in Elizabeth, but she was uncertain of his intentions.

There were a lot of other characters introduced that fleshed out the story; the Ladies in Waiting, Mr. Philip Philips and even the parental figures in the story. All the Ladies in Waiting were entertaining, trying to guide Lucy through this difficult part of the job, and they formed close relationships because of everything they faced.

The narration by Lesley Ann Fogle didn't win me over, it sounded a little tinny, like she were sitting in a bathroom or something. And some of the voices were a bit odd, maybe a bit too dramatic, but it was still bearable to listen to. There was a couple of suspense moments, that have you trying to figure out who the threat is, but overall it was a light fun read. Some of the story seems unbelievable, but for the sake of a peasant girl, falling for a prince it was really sweet. If you don't mind a read that is amusing but a little silly, you will enjoy this one!  
Here was a sweet moment between Lucy and one of the Princes...

“I fear you have a snowflake on your forehead that is threatening to melt.”
“Then you must do something about that immediately,” I said.
“Close your eyes.”
I did.
He kissed my forehead. He kissed both of my eyelids. He kissed my face. His hands moved down my neck, skimmed my breasts and landed at my waist. I shivered.

Kindle Loc 271


Hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm
Pamela DuMondUSA TODAY Bestselling author Pamela DuMond discovered Erin Brockovich’s life story, thought it would make a great movie, and pitched it to ‘Hollywood’.

Pam writes Romance, especially Rom-Com, YA, Mysteries, and Self-Help.

She’s addicted to The Voice, The Blacklist and Game of Thrones. She likes dogs and cats equally, prefers her coffee strong, her cabernet hearty, her chocolate dark, and her foods non-GMO. She lives for a good giggle in Venice, California with her fur-babies.




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Wild Ride by Chantal Fernando ~ Review & Quote-tastic (@ChantalFernando)

I've always liked Talon, so I was happy to see that he got his own story. It was the perfect in between book, to set up Wolf's Mate.
Wild Ride (Wind Dragons MC, #4.5)
Title: Wild Ride
Author: Chantal Fernando
Series: Wind Dragons MC #4.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 11th 2016

Buy Now - Amazon | B&N Kobo

Internationally bestselling author Chantal Fernando brings fans another sexy motorcycle novella in the Wind Dragons MC series, as rival club president Talon has to decide what's more dangerous: facing down the WDMC, or losing his heart to a woman under their protection.

Talon has a complicated relationship with the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club. He’s the president of their rival club, the Wild Men, but he’s also related to one of their members—who hates him. He could handle that, but he’s also got problems in his own club; someone is leaking information and disrupting their business, but Talon can’t find the mole. So the last thing he needs is even more complication in the form of a beautiful single mother who’s bolder than half the bikers on his squad. But he can't take his eyes—or his hands—off her...

Tia’s always been a little reckless, up for a good time wherever she found it, but she’s also a great mom to her young son. So even though she thinks Talon is basically sex on a stick, when she realizes she wants to be more to him than just a club groupie, she has to take things a bit slow. Plus, a momentary attraction, no matter how smoking hot, isn’t worth risking her son’s happiness in any way. Is there any chance that Talon might be up for a more permanent arrangement? Or has Tia leapt before looking once 
again?

Ahhh, Talon! I have really liked seeing more and more of this character along the Wind Dragon MC journey. He may be from the rival MC club, but I could always see that he was a good person. If you read the previous book, Rake's Redemption, you could see the chemistry between Talon and Tia, and I was so glad I was able to get their story!

Tia was a character that I loved from the first time I met her. She's a strong, protective mother who will do anything to protect her child. She's very independent because she went through a difficult relationship previously, but is a better person because of it. And she knows what she wants, and that's Talon. The Wild Men MC was going through some tough times, and Talon needed to figure out what was going on before even contemplating his connection with Tia. It was amusing to see him fight his attraction, but I could see it was only a matter of time. I like how he wanted to do anything for Tia and was quite protective of her early on.

Chantal Fernando has delivered once again with this quick little bridge book in the series. I could see that Talon was struggling with his MC and understood why he made the decisions he did before the events of the next book, Wolf's Mate. I liked how Talon and Tia took their time, not rushing into a relationship that would effect Tia's son. Talon and Tia were a steamy couple, and I enjoyed their interaction and to see a lot of the characters that I've already met in the series.


Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have two snippets today, the first Tia helped Talon to face his attraction, so he could act. The second was sweet... for tough Talon!

“Maybe you’re pushing me to take what I want.”
“I shouldn’t have to push you to take anything,” she fires back, licking her lips.
“I know,” I whisper. “But it’s complicated.”
“It always is.”
I lean down and slam my mouth against hers.

Kindle Arc Loc 560


“This is going to be the most cringeworthy shit I’ve ever said, but you look beautiful in the moonlight.”
I kiss him in response, and feel him smile against my lips.
“Okay, maybe I should say shit like that all the time,” he says, returning the kiss.

Kindle Arc Loc 783

Hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup

chante
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Chantal Fernando is twenty six years old and lives in Western Australia.

Her published novels include four books in the Resisting Love series – Chase, Kade, Ryder and James; the New York Times Bestselling novel Maybe This Time and its follow up, This Time Around. Her latest releases include Toxic Girl, Saxon, and a USA bestselling biker romance novel Dragon’s Lair.

When not reading, writing or daydreaming she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family.



Other reviews featuring Chantal Fernando
Wind Dragons MC series 
Dragon's Lair #1
Arrow's Hell #2
Rake's Redemption #4
Wolf's Mate #5
Last Ride #5.5
Maybe series
Maybe This Time #1
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This Piece of My Soul by Robyn M. Ryan ~ Excerpt & Giveaway (@RobynMRyan, @XpressoTours)

Check out the excerpt and giveaway for This Piece of My Soul by Robyn M. Ryan. I really like the cover for this one, and you know I'm a sucker for Sports Romance!
Title: This Piece of My Soul
Author: Robyn M. Ryan
Series: Clearing the Ice #2
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Sports
Published: January 24th 2017
Buy Now - Amazon iTunes
Pre-order This Piece of My Soul for only $1.99 – sale price ends Jan 31st!
Get This Piece of My Heart, the first book in the series for just 99¢ (regularly $2.99) through January 31, 2017.

They believe love conquers all.

One of pro-hockey’s golden couples, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick live in the limelight reserved for elite professional athletes. On their second anniversary, Andrew receives an unexpected contract offer to join the Tampa Suns. As they look forward to a new adventure, neither foresees an event that challenges their love and threatens their marriage.

Until it doesn’t.

A sudden and senseless accident threatens Andrew’s life and inexplicably drives a wedge between the couple. Shattered by the incident, paralyzed by fear that it could happen again, Caryn finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to provide the support he needs—at the time he is most vulnerable.

As their perfect world crumbles, each makes choices that take Andrew and Caryn further apart. Distrust, fears, and secrets construct walls. This Piece of My Soul follows the joint and separate paths the couple navigate as each hopes to rediscover the love that can conquer all.

**Although This Piece of My Soul is the second book in the Clearing the Ice Series, it can be read as a standalone novel.**


Caryn shut her eyes tightly, and then sighed as she picked his cell phone off the floor and set it on the table. Her first reaction when his phone vibrated had centered on the fear that something had happened to his parents—or his brother, Tom. From the few words he spoke, Caryn knew Andrew had received some news from his agent. Don was the only other person she could imagine calling this early…and it sounded like this was not their first conversation today. Drew obviously hadn’t expected whatever Don told him. Take it or leave? Contract issues? This early in the morning? Don knows we’re leaving today, but this early? Another trade? After his best season ever? Of course, that didn’t stop the Leafs from trading him to the Blues. I hate the uncertainty that hockey brings to our lives. But it’s part of the package I signed on for when he asked me to marry him. We’ll get through whatever it is… together.
Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the kitchen to begin preparing the “surprise” breakfast. Maybe this would help to restore the anticipation and excitement the day had promised.
She grabbed a bottle of water and set the table after placing his favorite blueberry muffins—his mom’s recipe—in the oven. Checking the time, Caryn decided to take a quick shower and dress. She had no clue what Andrew had planned for their trip. She’d packed for warm weather as he’d suggested, adding some “just-in-case” clothes for cooler evenings. Ten days somewhere just the two of them, totally off the grid—no iPads, laptops, texting, and phones turned off. Only Tom knew how to reach them in case of an emergency. Drew called those ten days a selfish gift to themselves, giving them time to just be together before training camp and the season to come, bringing with it the many days they’d spend apart... But what if this… whatever it is… gets in the middle of our trip? Forces him to cancel? I know he has another year on this contract, but what if…?
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, she focused instead on the day, the excitement that had rippled through her the moment she woke up. She couldn’t wait to learn his plans for this year… even if it did involve another incredibly long flight over water.
By the time she was an eight-year-old tomboy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Robyn M. Ryan definitely knew what she wanted to do when she grew up—play major league baseball or write. This goal grew throughout elementary and high school, first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities, then venturing into sports writing.

Attending UGA’s journalism school launched her career in public relations, which included an internship with the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team. At that time Robyn wrote books she and her friends wanted to read. With the encouragement of a writers group on twitter—WritersThatChat—This Piece of My Heart, a hockey romance, and the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the Ice was published May 2016. The second book in the series, This Piece of My Soul, introduces the Tampa Suns professional hockey team. This Piece of My Soul is set for release January 24, 2017.

Besides writing, Robyn’s passions include following NASCAR and the New York Rangers, reading all the great books in the sports romance genre, and splitting time between homes in Atlanta and Palm Coast, with two brilliant Westies who definitely rule both homes.

As do many writers, Robyn chooses to write using a pseudonym—hers is a combination of her sons’ names, a contribution from her youngest nephew.


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