Posted in Giveaway, Magic, Spotlight, Young Adult on October 13, 2015

I wishI Wish by Elizabeth Langston

What Lacey needs is a miracle. What she gets is a genie with rules.

Lacey Linden is hiding the truth of her life—a depressed mom, a crumbling house, and bills too big to pay. While her high school classmates see a girl with a ready smile and good grades, Lacey spends her evenings seeking ways to save her family. On a get-cash-quick trip to the flea market, Lacey stumbles over a music box that seemingly begs her to take it home. She does, only to find it is inhabited by a gorgeous “genie.” He offers her a month of wishes, one per day, but there’s a catch. Each wish must be humanly possible.

Grant belongs to a league of supernatural beings, dedicated to serving humans in need. After two years of fulfilling the boring wishes of conventional teens, he is one assignment away from promotion to a challenging new role with more daring cases. Yet his month with Lacey is everything that he expects and nothing like he imagines. Lacey and Grant soon discover that the most difficult task of all might be saying goodbye.

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Praise for I Wish

From School Library Journal (I Wish #1)

Langston wisely limits the power of wishes, so there can be no easy fixes to complex problems. [The story] is all the better for it, putting the focus on the compelling and sympathetic characters.

… the denouement offers enough twists and unresolved questions to have readers wishing the next book was already available.

From K-books blog:

I Wish is a fantastic storyline, with a dash of romance that is perfect for any YA fan. I can’t recommend it enough.

From Reese’s Reviews blog:

This is definitely one of the most beautiful and amazingly written books I’ve ever read. Elizabeth Langston has written a fantastic story that drew me in from the first page.

 

Wishing for You New

 

Wishing for You by Elizabeth Langston

She’s a girl who can’t remember. He’s the guy she can’t forget…

It’s her final semester of high school, and Kimberley Rey is curious to discover what will come next. She needs to pick a college, but her memory disability complicates the choice. Will her struggles to remember make it impossible to leave home?

Help arrives through an unexpected and supernatural gift. Grant is a “genie” with rules. He can give her thirty wishes (one per day for a month) as long as the tasks are humanly possible. Kimberley knows just what to ask for–lessons in how to live on her own.

But her wishes change when a friend receives a devastating diagnosis. As she joins forces with Grant to help her friend, Kimberley learns that the ability to live in the moment–to forget–may be more valuable than she ever knew.

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Excerpt from Wishing For You

There was a pounding on the bedroom door. My eyes fluttered open to find sunlight streaming into the attic.

Lacey groaned. “What is it, Henry?”

The door creaked and then banged against the wall. “Did Kimberley sleep over?”

“Does it look like she’s in this room?”

“Yes.”

“Then she did sleep over.”

“Cool.” Lacey’s younger brother ran over to my side of the bed and plopped cross-legged on the floor. “Do you want breakfast?”

I turned my head toward him, trying to focus. “Yes, I do.”

“Mom is making pancakes. Do you like them?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Bacon?”

“One of my favorites.” I could smell it in the air.

“Good. It’s one of mine too. Will you be ready to eat soon?”

I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep from snorting. Lacey had the most adorable little brother ever. “Is your mom making you wait until we come down?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Give us ten minutes to get dressed.”

“Ten? That sounds like a lot.”

“Seven, then,” I said in a firm voice.

He rose and ran from the room.

Beside me, Lacey laughed. “You handled that very well.”

“How do you keep from laughing every time you talk to him?”

“Practice.”

We were ready in six minutes and were about to head down the stairs when Lacey caught my arm. “Do you know where Sean went for Christmas?”

“I don’t think so.” I grabbed my phone and opened my notes. “What made you think of that?”

“It’s been puzzling me. Mrs. Tucker and Sara kept their consignment shop open until Christmas Eve. Did his father go with him?”

“Yes.” Lacey was right. It had felt strange when Sean mentioned it. But if I’d asked other questions, he hadn’t answered because my notes only had the one detail. “Maybe he was visiting colleges.”

“Someone like Sean would already have that decision made. Has he said where he’s applying?”

I shook my head helplessly. It seemed like the kind of information a friend should know, but nothing was emerging from the recesses of my brain.

“Hey, guys,” Henry called up the stairs. “It’s been seven minutes.”

Lacey called back, “On our way, little man.”

We smiled at each other. There were pancakes waiting. We’d have to solve the Sean puzzle later.

 

ElizabethAbout the Author

Elizabeth Langston lives in North Carolina, halfway between the beaches and the mountains. She has two college-age daughters and one old husband. When she’s not writing software or stories, Elizabeth loves to travel with her family, watch shows on dance or Sherlock Holmes, and dream about which restaurant ought to get her business that night.

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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/1/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Posted in Giveaway, Historical, romance, Spotlight on October 12, 2015

Lord Fenton's Folly (1)Blog Tour Schedule

Lord Fenton's FollyLord Fenton’s Folly by Josi Kilpack

Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt-and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him. However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well. Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton’s life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice.
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Excerpt

Fenton groaned and put his saucer back on the tray, making an instantaneous decision that eased his mind quite a lot. To look at every woman he met as a potential wife was irritating, and after only two weeks he was quite tired of it. Perhaps the solution was to orchestrate a match that would not lay all aspects of matrimony at his feet all at once. Perhaps treating it as a business arrangement would help it to be exactly that, thereby freeing him from all the discomfiting realities he was not yet prepared to face. “I leave for Fentonview on Tuesday and shan’t be back for a week. Courting is such a boring prospect, and you yourself said that to become infatuated with anyone might become a complication.” He paused, considered one last time what he was going to say next, and decided he felt as good about it as could be expected. “You like Alice Stanbridge and feel she would make a good wife for me?”

Lady Chariton looked confused and perhaps a bit concerned. “I do, but-”

“Then that is good enough for me,” Fenton said, rising to his feet and smiling broadly at his mother, who stared back at him in surprise. “I do find her appealing and what’s more she is not a silly little thing without a practical thought in her head.”

His mother’s eyes widened and her eyebrows rose upon her forehead. Fenton struck a pose of consternation, with his thumb and forefinger on his chin as he looked toward the window a moment, then nodded crisply and turned back to his mother who still looked shocked by his pronouncement.

“Yes, I think that Alice Stanbridge is exactly what I should like in a wife, and so I shall see to it before I leave for Hampshire-I see no reason to wait until Michaelmas and might as well get it over with.” He leaned in and kissed his mother’s hand. “Thank you for your help, Mama. I shall let you know how she responds to my proposal.”

About the Author

Kilpack, Josi-1Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney award for Mystery/Suspense in 207 and Wedding Cake, book twelve in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series won in 2014. Josi was also the Best of State winner in Fiction for 2012. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband, children and super-cute – but not very friendly – cat.

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$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/29/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, Spotlight on October 11, 2015

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Death on the Prairie (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
6th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (October 8, 2015)

Synopsis

Chloe Ellefson and her sister, Kari, have long dreamed of visiting each historic site dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder. When Chloe takes custody of a quilt once owned by the beloved author, the sisters set out on the trip of a lifetime, hoping to prove that Wilder stitched it herself.

But death strikes as the journey begins, and trouble stalks their fellow travelers. Among the “Little House” devotees are academic critics, greedy collectors, and obsessive fans. Kari is distracted by family problems, and unexpected news from Chloe’s boyfriend jeopardizes her own future. As the sisters travel deeper into Wilder territory, Chloe races to discover the truth about a precious artifact—and her own heart—before a killer can strike again.

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Guest Post

How appropriate that Kathleen write about Laura Ingalls Wilder as her guest post for me?!  I LOVED LIW growing up and still have the set of her books on my bookshelf.

Laura Ingalls Wilder For Grownups

It’s always a gamble to return to beloved books from my childhood. More than once I’ve come across a favorite, and settled down to relive the fun…only to discover one-dimensional characters, ponderous prose, or a plot so unlikely that I can no longer enjoy the read.

Happily, when I decided to set one of my Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mysteries in “Laura Land,” it was a delight to revisit Wilder’s tales. My protagonist is a curator and, like me, was greatly influenced as a child by the Little House books.

In Death on the Prairie Chloe is charged with documenting a quilt believed to have been made by Laura. Chloe decides to visit each of Laura’s homesites, and to rediscover each book along the way.

If you’re familiar with the series, you know that the books are a fictionalized recounting of Laura’s childhood and adolescence on the frontier of Euro/Yankee settlement. In the first, Little House in the Big Woods, Laura is five. The books mature in tone and theme as Laura grows to be a young bride in the sixth and final volume, These Happy Golden Years. (A seventh, The First Four Years, was published posthumously.)

There are, I think, several reasons why the books appeal to adults. First and foremost, Laura’s parents, Caroline and Charles, are strong supporting characters. Each is presented as a complex individual, and I understand better now the challenges each faced.

As a child I focused my attention on young Laura. Now, I find nuanced layers within the prose that reveal much about the adults. Scenes that I originally read as exciting adventures make me ache with sympathy for the fear Caroline and Charles must have endured.

Remember when the Ingalls family crossed frozen Lake Pepin in their covered wagon, only to hear that the ice broke up the next day? A passage in Little House on the Prairie describes the long moments out on the ice: “All around the wagon there was nothing but empty and silent space. Laura didn’t like it. But Pa was on the wagon seat and Jack was under the wagon; she knew that nothing could hurt her while Pa and Jack were there.” Laura—and young readers—aren’t confronted with the horrific possibility of the wagon plunging through until the family was safe on the far shore. Only then does Ma acknowledge that she thought about that possibility as they crossed.

There are many such moments within the series. Can you imagine how they felt when, as recounted in On the Banks of Plum Creek, plagues of grasshoppers devoured all of their crops, and left the Ingalls family deep in debt? Or the terror stalking them during the Long Winter, when the specter of watching their children starve or freeze to death was very real for Ma and Pa?

I also pause now to savor the lovely language. I write for children and adults myself, and I marvel at Laura’s ability to craft sentences that describe scenes and activities in language that is accessible and clear. In the early books, she perfectly captures the perspective of a small child. Consider this passage: “Mary could dress herself, all but the middle button. Laura buttoned that one for her, then Mary buttoned Laura all the way up the back.” (Little House On The Prairie)

Laura’s language is often poetic. After Mary went blind, Laura served as her sister’s eyes, constantly describing the landscape and activities. That descriptive practice served her well as an author.

Here’s just one example: “The wind, which all day long had blown strongly, dropped low with the sun and went whispering among the tall grasses. The earth seemed to lie breathing softly under the summer night.” (By The Shores Of Silver Lake)

As I re-read Wilder’s series, I was reminded that one of the reasons the books have endured is that they are as delightful and insightful for adult readers as they are for children.

Did you enjoy Wilder’s books as a young reader? Have you discovered (or rediscovered) them as an adult? What was your experience?

About the Author

kathleen ernstKathleen Ernst is a former museum curator who remains passionate about history!  In addition to the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites series, she has written many books for American Girl, including nine about the historical character she created, Caroline Abbott. Over 1.5 million copies of Kathleen’s 33 titles have been sold. The Chloe series has earned a LOVEY Award for Best Traditional Mystery, and several of her mysteries for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards.

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Print copy of Death on the Prairie, US residents only please.

 

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, Historical, romance, Spotlight on October 10, 2015

ThunderOnThePlains

Title: Thunder on the Plains
Author: Rosanne Bittner
ISBN: 978-1492631200
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Synopsis

With more than 7 million books in print, RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award–winning and USA Today Bestselling author Rosanne Bittner pens a historical Western romance filled with dangerous cowboys, capable heroines, and an epic love story that sweeps across the Old West.

IN A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Sunny Landers wants a big life—as big and free as the untamed land that stretches before her. Land she will help her father conquer to achieve his dream of a transcontinental railroad. She won’t let a cold, creaky wagon, murderous bandits or stampeding buffalo stand in her way. She wants it all—including Colt Travis.

ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST THEM

Like the land of his birth, half–Cherokee Colt Travis is wild, hard, and dangerous. He is a drifter, a wilderness scout with no land and no prospects hired by the Landers family to guide their wagon train. He knows Sunny is out of his league and her father would never approve, but beneath the endless starlit sky, anything seems possible…

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Excerpt

Sunny held her chin higher and faced him. “I’ll race you,” she told him.

“What?”

She gave him a daring look, a new boldness in her eyes. “I said I’ll race you. If you catch me and manage to pull me off my horse, you’ve won!” She charged away, and Colt sat there a minute, wondering what she was up to. What was this sudden change in conversation? She was like a crazy woman today, and she had turned his feelings a thousand different ways.

Colt watched her, the way her bottom fit her saddle, the way her hair blew in the wind. Her daring look stirred his pride, and the race was on. He kicked Dancer into a hard run, manly desires stirring in him at the challenge of catching her. He held the reins with one hand and smashed out his cigarette against his saddle horn with the other, tossing the stub aside and leaning into the ride. “Get up there, Dancer,” he shouted to the horse.

Dancer’s mane flew up into Colt’s face as he galloped up and down more sandhills. He noticed Sunny veer to the west rather than north, and he turned Dancer, taking a cut between two more sandhills and emerging near Sunny as she came around the end of one hill. She screamed and laughed when she saw him, and now he knew he could catch her.

He came closer, the determination to reach her now a burning need. It went against all reason, was totally foreign to all sense of maturity. They were like children for the moment, and yet not children at all. The emotions it stirred in him to think of catching her were dangerous, yet he could not stop himself. He came ever closer, and now he was on her!

Sunny screamed when she felt his strong arm come around her. Suddenly, she was free of her horse and sitting sideways on Dancer, a powerful arm holding her. She covered her face and laughed as Colt slowed his horse. “Now you are my captive,” he teased.

She threw her head back and faced him, and both of them sobered. For a moment they sat there breathing heavily from the ride, watching each other.

“We had better go catch your horse,” he finally told her.

“We’ll find it later,” she answered. She moved her hands to touch his powerful arms, ran her fingers over his bare shoulders. “Tell me, Colt. What does an Indian do with his captive?”

For a moment everything went silent for him. Nothing existed but the utterly beautiful woman in his arms, her tempting mouth, her open blouse, her blue eyes, her golden hair. He moved a hand to rest against the flat of her belly. “He takes her to his tipi and makes her his slave,” he answered, his voice gruff with passion.

She touched his face. “That’s what I want you to do with me, Colt. Make me your slave—today, tonight, tomorrow.”

He shook his head. “Sunny—”

She touched his lips. “Don’t say it, Colt.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “I don’t know what’s right and wrong anymore, and today I don’t care. I just want you. I’ve always wanted you.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “It can’t be anybody else, Colt, not the first time. I—”

His kiss cut off her words, a deep, hot kiss that removed any remaining inhibitions. She could barely get her breath for the thrill of it, the ecstasy of his hand moving to her breast, the ache of womanly desires that surged in her when his tongue moved between her lips. Dancer moved slightly, and she clung to Colt. He left her lips for a moment, keeping one arm around her as he slid off the horse and pulled her after him.

About the Author

RosanneBittner

 

USA Today bestseller and award-winning novelist Rosanne Bittner is known as the “Queen of Western Historical Romance” for her thrilling love stories and historical authenticity. Her epic romances span the West—and are often based on Rosanne’s personal visits to each setting. She lives in Coloma, Michigan, with her husband and two sons.

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Posted in 3 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, Review on October 9, 2015

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knock on wood

Knock on Wood (A Superstition Mystery)
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (October 8, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0738745527

Synopsis

Rory Chasen, now the manager of the Lucky Dog Boutique in Destiny, California, is delighted when her closest friend Gemma Grayfield, a librarian, comes for a visit. But Gemma arrives early and seems upset. It turns out she has broken up with her boyfriend, Frank Shorester. Gemma is soon hired to manage the Broken Mirror Bookstore. Frank follows her to Destiny, where Gemma is also wooed by two local men. Rory may be a little jealous—until one of those men, Deputy Mayor Bevin Dermot, turns up dead. Bevin is known for knocking on wood for everything, but despite Destiny being all about superstitions that did not save his life.

Rory tries to help Gemma clear herself of being a murder suspect, even counting on her lucky black and white dog Pluckie to help. But is Gemma guilty of murder—or of just having a run of bad luck?

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Review

This is the second in this series.  The book was good but didn’t grab me like some of her other books.  Plus I felt like several superstitions were repeated several times throughout the book when I don’t think it was necessary to repeat it each time.  Plus it seemed like every time she put Pluckie’s leash on a hook by the counter of the store it was mentioned that it was so Pluckie didn’t leave.  I don’t think it needed to be said more than once.

Despite those few things, I didn’t have a clue as to who the murderer was and it was quite a surprise when he/she was revealed.  I never saw that one coming!

The story was good and I like that Rory and Justin’s relationship continues to grow and hopefully they will also learn to trust each other more – seems like there were times that they were almost at odds with each other.

We give it 3 paws up.

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About the Author

LOJPublicityPhotoLinda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year.   Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 38 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.  She additionally writes the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink.

Her latest cozy mystery series, the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries also from Midnight Ink, started off in May with BITE THE BISCUIT and KNOCK ON WOOD comes out October 8.

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Posted in Dystopian, Giveaway, Spotlight on October 8, 2015

 

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The End of All Things Series by Lissa Bryan

Giveaway

For your chance to win one of….

$10 Amazon Giftcard

An e-Copy of The End of All Things Series

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The End of All Things by Lissa Bryan

(Book 1)

Category: Dystopian

Publication Date: January 24, 2013

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Summary

TheEnd_Low-Res_CoverAfter a terrible virus ravages the planet, Carly Daniels, one of the few survivors, hides in her apartment in Juneau trying to survive the best she can with only occasional forays to gather food. With her is Sam, a wolf puppy she found starving on the streets. He becomes her companion and a reason to continue when giving up sometimes seems like the more attractive option. Still dazed with shock and grief, she hopes for the world to go back to normal soon.

She is discovered by Justin, an ex-soldier who is intent on making his way to Florida before the winter sets in. Justin coaxes her out of her hiding place and convinces her to join him on his journey, because a warmer climate will be their best chance against the extremes of Mother Nature.

Together, they begin a perilous journey through a nation laid to waste by the disaster. Challenges abound along the way. The weather, injury, and shortage of supplies all help to slow them down. In time, they discover that they aren’t the only survivors. Some are friendly but some have had their minds destroyed by the high fever. Then there are those who simply take what they want, leaving Carly and Justin with no choice but to defend what is theirs.

But their journey is not without joy and love. Together, they face every struggle, including an unplanned pregnancy. Despite the perils of bringing a child into a world of chaos, their baby is a new beginning for themselves and a symbol of hope for the other survivors they find along the way.

This is the story of their journey to find a place to begin a new life, and a home in each other.

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Tales from the End by Lissa Bryan

(4 Short Stories / Companion Pieces)

Category: Dystopian

Publication Date: February 4, 2014

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Summary

Tales-From-The-End-Low-Res-CoverFrom the author of The End of All Things comes a collection of short stories about the Infection that swept around the globe, decimating the population, and leaving behind a small number of survivors, unprepared to deal with the brutal new world which had replaced the one they’d known.

The Horsemen

L.A.’s mayor has declared quarantine to try to halt the spread of the Infection. Pearl sets off across the city to buy supplies, but already the world is changing. Something strange is in the air. The Horsemen are coming …

Veronica

When Veronica’s mother doesn’t come home from work and no one answers the phone when she calls for help, a nine-year-old girl is thrown into the chaos of a world coming to an end. Veronica decides it’s up to her to find her family. “Veronica” is the story of a little girl’s courage in the face of the end of all things.

“I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud”

They called her Shadowfax– the mare Carly and Justin found on their travels. But before she was found by Carly, the retired dressage horse was known as Cloud. An unusual tale of the end, told through the eyes of a confused and lonely horse, left in her pasture.

Birthday

A previously-published bonus story. Carly knows Justin has never celebrated his birthday, and after society crumbled, no one knows what date it is, anyway. But she wants to do something special for him. Celebrating the little things helps them keep hope alive, and as a blizzard rages outside, a small gesture of love warms their home.

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The Land of the Shadow by Lissa Bryan

(Book 2)

Category: Dystopian

Publication Date: August 21, 2014

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Summary

The_Land_of_the_Shadow_Low-Res_CoverAfter surviving the Infection and a perilous journey through the wasteland that was once the United States, Carly and Justin have found a safe home in the isolated town of Colby.

Even so, balancing the duties of survival and a growing family isn’t easy. As they emerge as leaders, they face difficult questions about justice in a lawless land, basic human rights, and freedom in a world where strength defines worth. More than ever, they have to rely on one another for strength and support during the darkest of times.

The Crisis is far from over. Their fences won’t keep the world out forever, and a new threat is emerging—a gang of predators who see the town as easy pickings. When danger looms over Colby, Carly must decide how far she’ll go to protect those she loves.

It’s a journey down the long and broken road through The Land of the Shadow.

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Shadows Have Gone by Lissa Bryan

(Book 3)

Category: Dystopian

Publication Date: March 26, 2015

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Summary

Shadows-Have-Gone-Low-Res-CoverCarly Daniels knows what it is to suffer loss. She knows what it is to sacrifice. In the two years since a pandemic virus—known only as the Infection—decimated humanity, she’s made choices she never could have imagined. She’s condoned violence in the name of peace and done the unthinkable in the name of mercy. But with Justin at her side, she’s also learned there’s nothing she can’t face and nothing she wouldn’t do to protect those she loves.

But now another threat has arrived in the form of a uniformed man driving an army truck, claiming to represent the remnant of the United States military. Someone has set their sights on their community . . . and on Justin. The struggle to defend their little homeland is far from over, and the visitors may have brought more danger with them than just their weapons.

The shadows are closing in. Carly has to find out whether she has the strength to stand on her own when all of her support has fallen away. What remains when the shadows have gone?

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Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan

Category: Supernatural

Publication Date: October 11, 2012

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Summary

Ghost_Writer_Low-Res_CoverUnemployed, with her savings dwindling, Sara Howell thinks things are looking up when she lands a ghostwriting job and rents the affordable island home of her favorite author, Seth Fortner, who mysteriously disappeared in 1925.

Strange things happen, making Sara wonder if Seth ever left. When she finds an old trunk of Seth’s letters, she delves into a world she never imagined, filled with love and a family curse it seems only she can break.

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………………..

About the Author

lbryanLissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete’s foot…. though only in her head.

Real life isn’t so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.

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Posted in Dystopian, Guest Post on October 8, 2015

Top Ten Most Useful Things in An Apocalypse

By Lissa Bryan

So, the world has ended, or you’ve been given the doleful news it’s about to end. Lucky for you, I’ve composed a shopping list to take along on your looting trips so you can be sure to grab the most useful stuff you can have during an apocalypse. These items are not only useful, they’ll be the most valuable trade goods out there.

  • Guns— even if you never need them for defense against zombies or home protection, you’re going to need them for hunting once the supply of cans of Spaghetti-Os is depleted. If you can’t get a gun, a crossbow or a powerful slingshot is another good choice. Don’t laugh at the slingshot: some of the modern models are as powerful as a .22 caliber handgun. And the best thing about crossbows and slingshots is you can make more ammo for them.
  • Liquor— As Justin says, “It’s a pain-killer, a disinfectant, and a good time, all rolled into one.” It’s going to be one of the most valuable trade goods. I once told a paranoid acquaintance that if they were really worried about a societal collapse, they shouldn’t invest in gold. They should buy cases of Jack Daniels, Marlboros, and ammo.
  • Medicines—Anti-diarrheal medication will be a life-saver, especially once people start getting exposed to non-purified water. Fever reducers such as aspirin will also be vital (become a wasteland doctor by learning to make it from willow bark!) Stronger pain killers would be great to have, but pharmacies tend to be the first places looted, so you’re probably not going to have much luck with that.
  • Condoms—STDs and accidental pregnancy are still issues in the post-apocalypse world. Come prepared, as they say. Condoms can also keep your matches/kindling dry, keep dirt out of your weapons, and in a pinch, the unlubricated types can even be used to transport water. You can even put ‘em over your feet to keep them dry temporarily while crossing a stream. (Wet feet are very dangerous in a world where the smallest cut can lead to deadly infection.)
  • Tampons— Women will need these, obviously, but you can also use them for bandaging wounds, filtering water, and starting fires.
  • Weight loss powder/protein shakes— Your diet probably isn’t going to be consisting of recommended daily servings from all the food groups, so if you can supplement with diet shakes or muscle-building powders, it will probably help keep your body replenished with vitamins and nutrients you’re missing. And some Flinstones Chewables probably wouldn’t go amiss.
  • Duct tape— An all-purpose repair kit in handy roll form. Or make a prom dress. Whatever the situation may call for.
  • Bleach/iodine/water purifier— Once society crumbles, there goes our safe, clean water, too. We’re so used to being able to get potable water at the touch of a tap, we don’t even think about it, but clean water is going to be one of the most precious resources you can have, and you’re going to need a lot of it. You’ll have to get used to chemically purifying, filtering, distilling, or boiling every drop you drink.
  • Sunscreen— Zombieland wasn’t joking. Who’s going to treat you for skin cancer? Wear sunscreen, cover up, and stay safe. Take care of yourself as best you can and prevent ailments before they start.
  • Salt— Another thing that so ubiquitous we don’t think about it. Modern food has tons of salt in it, but once the manufactured stuff goes, we’re going to need to find new sources of salt, not only for our dietary needs, but for preserving food.

Is there anything else that you think we would need?!

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on October 7, 2015

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plantation shudders

Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015)

Synopsis

Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durant, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

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Review

I loved this book and why? several reasons – set in a small town in Cajun Country (aka South Louisiana) which is where my mom is from and I have many relatives still living there. This reminds of the small town where she lived. Most people know each other and have a long history together.

The characters were diverse and showed promise for greater development in future books. I even liked the fact that even though there is going to be at least a 2nd book that the author wrote this book and tied up many things, but not quite everything!

That Bo (the new police detective) had a son that was most likely on the Autism Spectrum and how he dealt with it (just a peek but perhaps more in future books?) and how Maggie and her family treated him and understanding that he had special needs.

There is a dog – April and Gracie liked that the most.

Of course there are annoying characters like the town sheriff – Rufus. He is Bo’s cousin but they couldn’t more opposite if you tried. And Vanessa who is Rufus’ girlfriend.

The mystery is a mystery, I don’t think there are enough clues to figure it out ahead of time, but you might have your suspicions of who the killer is…or will you?! I had no idea but the author wraps it nicely and it all makes sense.

A series to watch and we give it 5 paws up!

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About the Author

ellen byronByron is a native New Yorker who loves the rain, lives in bone-dry Los Angeles, and spends lots of time writing about Louisiana. She attributes this obsession to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University. Her debut novel, Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery, launches on August 11th.  Her TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and many network pilots.  She’s written over 200 magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning, Graceland.  She is also the recipient of a William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant. She’s the proud mom of a fifteen year-old daughter and two very spoiled rescue dogs.

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, Historical, romance, Spotlight on October 6, 2015

FirstSeasonBrideToBe

Title: First Season/Bride to Be
Author: Jane Ashford
ISBN: 978-1492630944
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Synopsis

Two classic Regency romances by beloved bestselling author Jane Ashford celebrate the adventures of a London Season

FIRST SEASON

Widowed Lady Anabel Wyndham was married right out of the schoolroom and has never before experienced the delights of a London Season. She’s dazzled by the attention of the fascinating Sir Charles Norbury, a man whose touch seems to melt her very soul, but a notorious rake. She’s drawn to handsome friend-of-the-family Christopher Hanford and the comfort and serenity he offers. But how does one choose between two such charming suitors? Anabel is finding that love is so much more dangerous the second time around.

BRIDE TO BE

Emily Crane is the toast of the ton—and she couldn’t find it more tedious. Until she encounters the darkly sensual stranger whose life she once saved and the London Season becomes infinitely more exciting. Recently returned from the wilds of South America, Lord Richard Sheldon has only contempt for tiresome London chits, but he finds himself stunningly intrigued by the dauntless Emily Crane. When the two become embroiled in a budding scandal and are forced into an engagement, they discover a passion more dangerous than any killer…

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Excerpt

From First Season

“There you are,” said someone from the hall below. “They said you had gone upstairs.”

Anabel looked down to find Sir Charles Norbury gazing up at her. A tingling shock ran through her body, and the candle trembled a little, dripping wax.

“You have missed the first waltz,” he added, meeting her at the bottom of the staircase and taking the candlestick from her hand. He snuffed the flame between forefinger and thumb and set it aside. “And I came early especially to engage you for it.”

“I wanted to look in on the children.” As always, his presence overwhelmed her. He seemed to tower over her, yet his pale green eyes felt close and compelling. She found it hard to breathe.

“It is a country dance now, unfortunately. Mayn’t we wait outside here for the next and hope?” He smiled and reached for her hand to lead her across to a small empty anteroom.

Anabel knew she should say no, but her voice seemed to have died, and she went with him silently and allowed him to escort her to a sofa and sit beside her, his arm thrown along its back.

“You look exquisite tonight,” he said softly. “The loveliest woman at the ball.”

This outrageous compliment revived her. “What a plumper. There are dozens of prettier ones.”

“No.”

“Flatterer.” She smiled, but when she met his eyes, they were very serious.

“No,” he said again. “To me you are the most beautiful.” He held her gaze for a moment, then slowly bent forward and took possession of her lips, his arm tightening around her shoulders.

Anabel’s slight trembling increased, and her mind dissolved in confusion. She should pull away, part of it cried; this was terribly fast, and someone might come in at any moment. But another part urged her on, fascinated by Sir Charles’ attractions and filled with curiosity.

His kiss was very expert, and nothing at all like her deceased husband’s, Anabel’s only standard of comparison. His lips seemed to draw all strength out of her, leaving her limp and pliant, yet she felt disconnected from the expected sensual pleasure. He knew how to draw response from her body, clearly, but her heart and mind remained in turmoil.

Norbury, on the contrary, was in the grip of feelings stronger than any he had ever experienced, and for him the kiss confirmed a decision. This was the woman he wanted. Never had his passions been suffused with such emotion. Beyond thinking, he moved his free hand to Anabel’s knee and slid it upward caressingly, savoring the curve of her waist under the thin satin dress and cupping his fingers around her breast. She drew her breath in sharply.

A scuff of footsteps in the hall, followed by a scrap of conversation and a laugh, jerked Anabel upright. She pulled away from him only just in time to avoid being caught by two couples coming into the room. But it was obvious in the way that the newcomers stopped, smiled, and apologized that their appearance gave them away. Anabel rose and hurried from the room, Norbury behind her. Her cheeks were flaming, and she felt that she could not possibly face the crowd in the ballroom.

About the Author

JaneAshfordJane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Her historical and contemporary romances have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Twenty-six of her new and backlist Regency romances are being published by Sourcebooks. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. She is currently rather nomadic.

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Posted in 4 paws, Review, romance on October 5, 2015

Awhile back I reviewed the first book in this series, Good Girl Overboard, and Denise asked if I would read the remaining books in this series including a prequel to Good Girl Overboard.  I said yes and the books are being released this month.  The one thing that I found interesting is that she featured her sorority – not a made up one, but her actual sorority.  I am glad to see a sorority painted in such a great light!  I’m part of Alpha Xi Delta and how she described the friendship of her characters was exactly what I experienced!  (well maybe not exactly but very similar)  We give all of the books 4 paws up!

So here are the remaining books in the Change of Heart series.

Prequel – Sweet Girl Undone

Synopsis

Special education teacher Lucy Wheeler is sick of being taken for granted. Sick of people thinking that they know what’s best for her. And sick of being the sweet one. It’s time to break free from that role. It’s time for a do-over. But no matter what her best friend says, dating her ex-boyfriend, Reverend Curtis Campbell, is not the kind of do-over she has in mind.

Although Lucy and Curt grew up together, they didn’t start dating until the end of their senior year of high school. Then once they went off to different colleges, Curt changed. He withdrew to the point that he almost seemed embarrassed to be with her. Curt was so preoccupied with being the perfect minister, Lucy never felt like she had his full attention, and when he stopped returning her calls, she convinced herself it was for the best.

Lucy Wheeler has haunted Curt Campbell’s dreams. When he ended their relationship in college, he told himself that she deserved so much more than he could ever give her—a comfortable life and a husband who would never have to make her take a backseat to his parishioners’ needs.

When Lucy corners Curt in the supply closet and informs him that she is forgiving him for dumping her and is giving him a second chance, he knows he shouldn’t take it. But when she orders him to pick her up that night, he can’t resist.

Will things be different this time? Or will Curt’s ministerial duties come between them again?

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Review

This is a novella and is about Lucy, one of the Four Seasons (4 women that are sorority sisters and their continued friendship, we met Darcy in Good Girl Overboard). She has moved back to her hometown and is a teacher and her first love, Curt, is also back as a minister at one of the local churches. He broke her heart but is she willing to give her true love a second chance?

This was short so the story seemed rushed, but to be expected with a novella. There are sparks between Lucy and Curt and while they are battling with some internal conflicts and some external ones, they do try and make the relationship work. It isn’t all roses for the two, which is good because it shows that they are human and run into the same sort of issues we would in our normal lives.

There are a few sex scenes but they are tastefully written.

Lucky Girl Hits the Jackpot – #2

Synopsis

The last place Delaney Smallwood ever expects to find herself is at the Illinois State Lottery office, holding a check with more zeros than she’s ever seen before. The last person cynical attorney Spencer DeWitt ever expects to be attracted to is a quixotic millionaire schoolteacher. The last thing either wants is a relationship. Can kisses hotter than a Midwest July thrust two such opposite people into a forever kind of love?

Delaney believes life is an adventure, but when she receives a lottery ticket for a birthday she’s not having from a father she hasn’t heard from in eighteen years, not even her horoscope can predict the astonishing outcome.

While Delaney’s lively intelligence makes her a great teacher, she uses her sarcastic wit to avoid intimacy, suppressing her deeply passionate nature.

Spencer is responsible, decisive, and in control, but his world was destroyed when he couldn’t stop his wife’s downward spiral into alcohol, drugs, and depravity. When she died in the arms of her lover during a high-speed automobile accident, Spencer lost all faith in his ability to right the wrongs evident all around him. Renouncing his affluent lifestyle, he moves to a small town in Illinois, determined to save his daughter from a life of too many dollars and not enough sense.

How can a man whose guilt makes him believe he doesn’t deserve love and a woman who doesn’t trust men ever find each other? Before they have a chance to try, Delaney wins the lottery and becomes everything Spencer has rejected. With her newfound wealth, Delaney and Spencer can’t agree on anything…except the chemistry between them.

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Review

Delaney is a one of the Four Season (4 sorority sisters that have remained good friends) and this is her story. She is a teacher in her hometown and living paycheck to paycheck, or pretty close. She loves teaching and has close friends and some family. Enter Spencer, the new attorney in town and his teen daughter, Kaitlyn. Delaney agrees to tutor his daughter to get her ready for the next grade level. Then the unexpected happens, Delaney wins the lottery with a ticket sent to her by her father that she hasn’t seen in about 15 years. Spencer doesn’t know Delaney but has his own issues when it comes to wealth and believes that she will be taken advantage of and perhaps become a different person. Can Delaney prove him wrong?

While reading this book, once Delaney received the lottery ticket i had a feeling she would win. Her character is kind and compassionate and always wanting to lend a hand wherever possible. It is easy to see how she might be taken advantage of in light of this new found wealth.

The story is not one that is easy for Delaney and Spencer. There are other characters that interfere in their relationship and they do have misunderstandings. I think that Spencer is a true man and I had to chuckle when there were times all he could think about is being in bed with Delaney. Typical man!

All in all very enjoyable. there are sex scenes and are not over the top and are tasteful.

Smart Girl Swept Away – #3

Synopsis

When feminist author Sheridan Davis is forced to return to Sutton Falls, Illinois, to care for her estranged father, the last person she wants to run into is Ridge Sutton. Meeting Ridge, who has matured from handsome to gorgeous, while she looks as if she’s spent the night in a cardboard box is so not how Sheridan pictured seeing her high school crush again. Especially not after what he and his friends did to her the night of their senior prom.

Ridge is stunned that he didn’t recognize Sheridan. As often as he’s thought about her, her image should be permanently imprinted on his brain. Then again, she doesn’t look like the eighteen-year-old girl he daydreamed about in high school. Or even the woman in the photo on the dust cover of her books. Has she really changed that much, or is it him?

Ridge is tired of being dependable. Tired of trying to live up to his mother’s expectations. And most of all, tired of the life in which he’s allowed himself to become trapped. Tricked into a disastrous marriage that ended in a divorce and stuck in the role of Sutton Falls’ mayor, Ridge is ready for a change.

However, now is not a good time to abandon his responsibilities. With the town under the threat of a flood, and the levee that could save it owned by the Davis family, Ridge must balance his personal desires against his duty to the citizens of Sutton Falls.

Although neither Sheridan nor Ridge trust each other, sparks fly whenever they’re together. The sex may be terrific, but Sheridan questions whether Ridge’s interest is genuine or due to his desire to buy the levee, while Ridge wonders if Sheridan’s sudden sentimental attachment to the land is sincere or just a way to drive up the price.

While floodwaters creep higher and higher, can Sheridan and Ridge make peace with their past? Or will their growing love be swept away in a sea of doubt?

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Review

This is the last book about 4 sorority sisters, their friendship and their love lives!

Sheridan has become an accomplished author and ends up in her hometown to take care of her father because of a fall he took which broke his wrist and leg. Coming back is hard because of what happened to her in high school and especially at prom. She had a thing for Ridge Sutton and apparently this attraction did not go away after all these years. But will she let the past hold her back from love and happiness?

Sheridan has built a wall around her heart like most of us might do after being hurt by someone we love. This wall has her doubting Ridge at many turns, which you can’t blame her because as humans we can’t just forget everything with the snap of our fingers. However, that wall almost causes her to lose what she deserves in Ridge and his daughter Sally.

I chuckled at Ridge’s mother, Evelyn, because she had the matriarch attitude that no one was good enough for her son, yet her allying her self with the wrong person almost causes her to lose her family.

This was a great conclusion to this series and I may not have mentioned it in other reviews in this series, I thought it was interesting to see an author use an actual sorority and not make one up. I have the same feelings about my sorority that the author has about hers, and having those ties of friendship is very important in life.

(there are sex scenes which I will admit I skimmed over, but they are tasteful!)

About the Author

Denise-SwansonNew York Times Bestseller author Denise Swanson was a practicing school psychologist for twenty-two years. Good Girl Overboard was her first romance and began the Change of Heart contemporary romance series. She also writes the Scumble River and Devereaux’s Dime Store mysteries. Her books all feature small-town heroines with lots of heart.

Denise’s books have been finalists for the Agatha, Mary Higgins Clark, RT Magazine’s Career Achievement, and Daphne du Maurier Awards. She has won the Reviewers Choice Award and was a BookSense 76 Top Pick.

Denise Swanson lives in Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr, and their cool black cat Boomerang.

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