Author: Marsha

Laughing all the Way on the Jingle Bells Express by Berni Stevens

Posted December 1, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Choc Lit/Ruby Fiction, Christmas Romance / 0 Comments

If you received a mysterious invitation for a fun-filled festive train ride the week before Christmas, would you go?

When teacher Dee Nicholls receives her invitation, she isn’t sure what to make of it. Surely it’s some kind of joke to get her out of bed early on a weekend? Perhaps a clever festive marketing ploy?

But as the Christmas countdown begins, it becomes clear that Dee isn’t the only “Jingle Bells Express” invitee. There are other people out there who have received the same invitation: Tom the intern, Rachel the aspiring writer, Dylan the musician, and his dog Muttley – and they’re not the only ones!

Could the unusual festive journey they eventually take together show them all the true meaning of Christmas, and also that happiness is sometimes right in front of you – if you just take the time to look?

Christmas at Serenity Bay by Helen Bridgett

Posted December 1, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Choc Lit / Ruby Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

A peaceful Christmas in Serenity Bay? Think again!

Chloe Walsh’s skills as location manager for the beautiful seaside village she calls home have come up trumps again, and Serenity Bay is now the setting for cozy crime drama “The Montgomery Mysteries”, starring amateur sleuth Dominic Montgomery and his crime-solving dog, Agatha.

But Chloe is in a race against time. Filming has to finish before the village Midwinter Festival but schedules are tight – and a mystery saboteur is intent on slowing things down even further. Not only is Chloe facing problems with the shoot, but she also has some personal conundrums to solve – a diva actor has commandeered her flat, her mum is having a late mid-life crisis, plus she has no idea what to buy for her Christmas-obsessed boyfriend!

Can Chloe sort out her life and save Christmas for an entire village?

Sequel to Summer at Serenity Bay

A Cowboy Christmas Legend by Linda Broday

Posted November 30, 2021 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Historical Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Western Historical Romance / 2 Comments

A cowboy learning how to start over – A fiery young woman with the heart to save him – A past neither can escape, and -A future worthy of any Christmas miracle.

Devastated by the loss of his young wife—and the life he’d always thought would be his—Sam Legend II has done everything he can to make a fresh start. As a bladesmith, all he needs is a bed, a hot fire, and enough distance from his famous family to finally indulge in a little peace and quiet. So what if it’s almost Christmas? This year, he’s happy just keeping to himself.

But then fiery Cheyenne Ronan comes blasting into his home, and any notion of peace goes flying out the door.

Cheyenne’s like no one Sam has ever met—and from the moment he first catches her eye, his quiet life is anything but. Now he’s hunting wanted men with the Texas Rangers, decking every hall, and sharing passionate embraces with the woman who’s set his world alight. For the first time in what feels like forever, Sam’s facing Christmas feeling like his life is full of meaning again—and that with Cheyenne by his side, love can be the stuff of Legend.

Titles in the Lone Star Legends series include — A Cowboy of Legend – A Cowboy Christmas Legend –

An earlier series with a definite connection to the Lone Star Legends is:

Men of Legend which includes — To Love a Texas Ranger – The Heart of a Texas Cowboy – To Marry a Texas Outlaw –

Wreckless by Katie Golding

Posted November 29, 2021 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

On the streets, we’re kerosene and a lit match:
Explosive. Incendiary. Ready to let the world burn.
But in the bedroom, we can be so much more.

I’ll never forget the day she walked into my life. Brash and confident, Lorelai Hargrove was bound to be America’s damned Sweetheart—and the way she looked at me made me feel like dirt beneath her heel.

It shouldn’t have bothered me. I’ve spent years fighting to prove myself to this world, even as I struggled to save my family from ruin, and there’s nothing and no one who can truly match me. But something about the way she looked at me then made me eager to see her try…

And now?

Well now, this is the game we play. She pretends she hates me, and I wind her up into a fury as I pretend she’s not all I can think about at night. The whole world knows just how well we hate each other…and yet the minute she needs me to stop being her favorite enemy, I’ll be there to show her just how good we could really be…

If only this endless battle wasn’t destined to cost us everything.

Titles in the Moto Grand Prix series include — Fearless – Wreckless – Relentless –

The First Christmas by Stephen Mitchell

Posted November 29, 2021 by Marsha in St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

In The First Christmas, Stephen Mitchell brings the Nativity story to vivid life as never before. A narrative that is only sketched out in two Gospels becomes fully realized here with nuanced characters and a setting that reflects the culture of the time. Mitchell has suffused the birth of Jesus with a sense of beauty that will delight and astonish readers.

In this version, we see the world through the eyes of a Whitmanesque ox and a visionary donkey, starry-eyed shepherds, and Zen-like wise men, each of them providing a unique perspective on a scene that is, in Western culture, the central symbol for good tidings of great joy. Rather than superimposing later Christian concepts onto the Annunciation and Nativity scenes, he imagines Mary and Joseph experiencing the angelic message as a young Jewish woman and man living in the year 4 BCE might have experienced it, with terror, dismay, and ultimate acceptance. In this context, their yes becomes an act of great moral courage.

Bad Moon Rising by Zoe Forward

Posted November 29, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Entangled Publishing, NetGalley, Paranormal Romance, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

They are the ultimate weapon. The ultimate secret. They are the Crown’s wolves.

Lycan Roman Lanzo and his brothers are bound—by magic, no less—to serve the Crown of England. All he knows is honor, violence, blood, magic, and death. Which is exactly when he finds her. A rare female Lycan, gorgeous, fierce, powerful, and with no memory of who or what she is. Now everything in Roman’s blood wants to help her, protect her, and—damn it all to hell—want her.

Nova woke knowing only that her leather Goth get-up was riding up in the wrong places, and that she had to find Roman. Since then, every moment is a new and unsettling insight into her gifts, her dangerous skills, who she is, and what she wants…including this daunting, muscled Lycan whose name is tattooed on her skin.

But the Crown knows all about Nova. What she is, what she can do, and just how brutally dangerous a female Lycan can become. Now they want her put down for good. And they have their perfect weapon of choice… Roman.

Titles in The Crown’s Wolves series include — Bad Moon Rising –

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Jingle Bell Wolf by Terry Spear

Posted October 27, 2021 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Connection to another series, NetGalley, Paranormal Romance, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 2 Comments

It’s almost Christmas, and Florida gray wolf shifter and veterinarian Gabrielle Lowe has grudgingly agreed to go with her friends to a ski resort in Silver Town, Colorado. But when her two jaguar shifter girlfriends are held up on a mission, it not only leaves Gabrielle alone for the holidays but also out of her element at the snowy resort. Determined to make the best of it, Gabrielle takes a dip in the lodge’s heated pool after it’s closed, causing all kinds of trouble…

Gray wolf shifter Landon Wolff, co-owner of the ski lodge, has enough on his plate getting ready for the annual influx of Christmas visitors. The last thing he needs is someone indulging in a midnight swim long after the pool is closed. Just as he’s about to throw the rule-breaker out of the pool he realizes that she is also a wolf. Suddenly, all the rules change… Maybe Landon will finally find the she-wolf he’s always wanted to share the holidays with.

Titles in the Wolff Brothers series include – You Had Me At Wolf – Jingle Bell Wolf –

Most of Terry Spear’s stories have a connection in some way to the main series, Heart of the Wolf. The Wolff Brothers series is closely connected to the Silver Town Wolf sub-series.

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Home For a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant

Posted October 27, 2021 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Modern Western Romance, NetGalley, Romantic Suspense, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, St. Martin's Press / 0 Comments

‘Tis the season—for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She’s on the run after witnessing a crime. But when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will think to look–Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she’s stuck with a handsome cowboy as her bodyguard…and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe.

Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it’s still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there’s something about Emmy he can’t resist. She stokes his passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to keep her safe.

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

*stand alone title*

Strictly Christmas Spirit by Helen Buckley

Posted October 26, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Choc Lit/Ruby Fiction, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

From disco balls to Christmas baubles …

Ex-dancer Emily Williams turned her back on the sparkle of the popular dancing show Strictly Dancing with Celebs to help those in need. Now the only dancing she does is teaching lonely pensioners to waltz, and the closest she gets to disco balls is making baubles with the homeless people in her Christmas crafts class.

She’s certainly not star-struck when Hollywood heart-throb Blake Harris is sent to her at short notice for community service and has no desire to babysit the arrogant actor with his bad-boy antics and selfish ways. Christmas might be a time for miracles, but Blake seems to be a lost cause.

But Emily’s reasons for abandoning her dancing passion mean she understands the Hollywood wild child more than she’d like to admit. Could their time together, coupled with a dash of Christmas spirit, lead to a miracle change of heart for them both?

Titles in the Spotlight series includes — Strictly on Ice – Celebrity SOS: Love Survives – Strictly Christmas Spirit –

Christmas in Full Bloom by Denise N. Wheatley

Posted October 26, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments

This Christmas, can they slow down long enough to smell the roses and fall in love?

When savvy, up-and-coming floral designer Lauren Beal returns home to Maple Valley, Michigan, for her sister’s holiday wedding, she’s determined to be the perfect maid of honor. She didn’t expect the best man to be the college crush she’d reluctantly left behind to pursue her Chicago-based dreams.

Family practice doctor Mel Jennings always knew he’d remain rooted in Maple Valley to work for his father’s clinic. He happily juggles his demanding practice with philanthropic endeavors that connect him to his tight-knit community. Sparks fly when he reunites with Lauren, the one who ran away. As they enjoy Maple Valley’s Christmas festivities, Mel remembers how close they once were. But can they ever have a future?

Lauren finds herself falling for Mel and suspects the feelings are mutual. Yet they’re both pulled in different directions by work and family. Will the pair find a moment alone during the hectic holiday season to figure things out, or will they miss their chance at love once again?

This is an adult 18+ story that might contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

Posted October 22, 2021 by Marsha in Author ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 2 Comments

Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he’ll have to win it back again . . .

When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get. Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance.

Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no.

As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday.

Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

Titles in the Somerset Lake series include — The Summer Cottage – The Christmas Village –