Category: This one’s a Keeper

Goal Met for New Author Challenge 2015

Posted March 25, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

New Authors Reading Challenge 2015 ~~~GOAL MET ON MARCH 25, 2015

The New Authors – Seeking New Escapes 2015 Reading Challenge is hosted by Literary Escapism. The rules, suggestions and signup can be found by following the link, either the written or graphic links above.

I set my goal for 25 New Authors to check out this year. That was before I was approved for NetGalley. A fantastic place to begin with and a bonus of having so many debut authors and authors that I haven’t read yet.

I’m not going to change my goal number — but I will continue adding new authors to the sub-page. Just to find out at the end of the year how many new authors I’ve added.

If you’d like to check out some new authors , here’s the link to the Challenge Post with the listing. New Author Challenge Page ~ Completed

Waiting on Wednesday #9

Posted March 25, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 6 Comments

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating… cannot wait to get our hands on… having hissy fits at having to wait… you know, waiting for the book is exhausting work!

I have made no secret of the fact that Nora Roberts is my favorite author. Many come in at second place (it seems to rotate through all of my favorites) but I will be waiting in line, in the pouring rain to get my hands on a new release by Nora Roberts. So my pick for this week should be no surprise. Since I didn’t get my greedy hands on an ARC – The Liar will be available in a few weeks and I cannot wait.

Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions …

The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn’t just dead. He never really existed.

Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows—and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning …

My wait will be over on April 14, 2015.

What are you waiting for?

How Have Book Tours or Cover Reveals Helped Your Blog?

Posted March 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

book pile No, seriously, I’d really like to know.

While I’ve been blogging for several years, I’ve really only concentrated on reviews. I’d like to take the next step and get involved in a Release Blitz or Book Tours or even just a Cover Reveal to start.

And I’m not ashamed to say that I’m still learning about these parts of book blogging. But, I am starting to get offers and I really don’t want to fall flat on my face. So, I’m asking anyone who wanders by my blog this simple question. How have these things helped your book blogging? And should you feel like giving some tips or additional information… I’m all ears. 🙂

Cover Characteristic #2

Posted March 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 4 Comments

Cover Characteristic meme The ladies at Sugar and Snark are hosting a Cover Characteristic meme. Weekly a subject will be chosen and we search for book covers related to that week’s pick. Why not? I certainly have tons of book covers in my files (and I know how to find more *wink*) so this will be my first week joining in.

This week’s choice is Gardens. Show off your favorite book covers with Hair…hmmm. Follow the links above to join in too.

There are so many possibilities – and I toyed with the idea of searching out Fabio’s old book covers *whistles innocently with a wink* – but I was kind.

But I did indeed find some very beautiful covers featuring beautiful, flowing hair. Check these out.

There are 2 covers here that are due out in April. But I find it intriguing to see the beauty and artistry of how hair strands can be woven to create something quite beautiful… even fire hair.

hair 2 firehair 3 purple hair 4 hair 5 hair 6 hair 7

Review: Devil’s Moon by Amanda Scott

Posted March 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: Devil’s Moon
Series: Border Nights (Book 2)
Author: Amanda Scott
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Forever
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

A Warrior’s Promise

The last place Sir David “Devil” Ormiston expected his moonlight chase of a horse thief to end was in a lady’s bedchamber. He is shocked to find that the raider he has pursued is no man, but a defiant beauty in disguise—and the woman he’s vowed to protect at all costs. Face to face with a girl Dev thought he knew, the ever confident, marriage-resistant knight may learn that he is defenseless against the desirable woman she has become.

A Lady’s Secret

Lady Robina Gledstanes will do anything to keep her family’s land out of the hands of her greedy kinsmen—except willingly submit to the handsome, cocksure Devil Ormiston. Dev’s help may be just as dangerous as the threats lurking outside her castle. But when enemies scheme to steal the castle’s treasure, Robina must risk losing something even more precious—her heart.

Read on for my thoughts on Devil’s Moon. No true spoilers, promise.

Happy National Puppy Day!

Posted March 23, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

puppies

“Everything I know I learned from dogs.” — Nora Roberts

Free Monday Pick ~ Doing Down by Elise Sax

Posted March 23, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Going Down WUAStud 1 “Free Monday Pick” is a feature here at Keeper Bookshelf that showcases a novel I picked up for free. This week’s pick was found at Amazon’s Free Kindle Books offerings.

Look for a “Free” novel to be picked each Monday and the review to appear on the following Monday. There are some really good “free” novels available (and some not so great too). Let’s weed them out. If this sounds like something you’d like to take part in — awesome, just leave a link with your Free Monday Pick in the comment section and let us go check it out.

This week’s pick is: Going Down by Elise Sax.

Synopsis:

Marion MacAlister wants to nail her audition, not get nailed. Truly. Honestly. All right…maybe she does want to get nailed, but that’s just because her hottie landlord and local diner owner Mack Ryan is confusing her with his mouth.

Can friends become lovers? Especially friends who might not even be friends in the first place?

Going Down is the sexy and hilarious first novella in the five-part Wish Upon A Stud series. Each novella is roughly 100 pages with no cliffhanger.

Wish Upon A Stud…A happy ending is just a coin toss away.

Wish Upon A Stud Series

Going Down is the first introductory novella in a series of 5 novellas in the Wish Upon A Stud series. Today, March 23, 2015 begins the promotion blitz for this series.

I am NOT part of this blitz. I might have been, but I discovered it a bit too late, oh well… next one.

But since this is a Blitz, and the first novel is free to download at Amazon (and I’m sure other retailers) — why not go with this one for the Free Monday Pick Feature?

This is the complete series… believe me, I have checked it out already. Once I read Going Down I’ll decide if I’m going for the rest of the series (which is discounted until April 1, 2015 – I’ve read, so there is still a bit of time )

Wish Upon A Stud series all books

I’ll let you know what I think next Monday 😉

Musing Monday #1

Posted March 23, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 10 Comments

I’ve taken part in Musing Monday hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm with another blog of mine. I’ve decided to move some of these meme’s that I take part in around a bit and do a bit of a random blog of mine that takes part each week. I don’t know that I could do it with each of the 3 book blogs I have. But never say never, right?

Random Prompt:

I blogged about ____ this past week…

various book reviews
Bloggiesta
meme’s that I love
new meme’s to try out
general thoughts and my own musings

One of the reasons I love book blogging is the amazing people and their blogs that I discover along the way. Not one of us blogs exactly the same way – and isn’t that fantastic? Each person sees the world and books differently, and I enjoy reading how others view this unique world of ours.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is your favorite lesson learned, or quote, from a recent book you’ve read?

I get caught up in dealing with daily life. I am mother to a young man who is a paraplegic due to spinal muscular atrophy. He uses a ventilator to help his breathing and we have around the clock nursing. To say that I am a 24/7/12/365 caregiver would be accurate. I’m his mother, so in my mind, I am always going to be his main helper in life (please let a wife come into the picture one day 🙂 ). It’s not a “feel bad for us” comment it is… our reality. So at times I am very uptight. Extremely might be a better word. So while reading Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley I came upon this quote from Tack – it changed how I looked at each day.

”Life’s a roller coaster. Best damn ride in the park. You don’t close your eyes, hold on and wait for it to be over, babe. You keep your eyes open, lift your hands straight up in the air and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.”

I work hard each and every day to find something I can enjoy like a roller coaster. So far, it’s been a life changing experience.

Bloggiesta Starts Now!

Posted March 23, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Okay, I’m ready to start the spring clean up of my life. *wink* Or maybe just three blogs to start off with, but hey it’s a beginning!

Bloggiesta began today. You can follow the conversations (and there are tons) at @Bloggiesta and using the hashtag #bloggiesta – I am so excited to take part in this. Alright, maybe just the learning and reading part, but hopefully I’ll get brave and try out chatting on Twitter (one of my to do list items).

Here is a link to the Mini-Challenges this year and man, there are some great ones for learning in this list. MINI-CHALLENGES BLOGGIESTA 2015

Now I’m off to get one of my To Do List items taken care of… ~~installing and understanding how to use TweetDeck~~. Wish me luck.

Want to join in the fun? Click on either graphic to be taken to the signup page and so much information.

UPDATE: Whoot! I am now TWEETDECKed. So cross off one item from my To-Do’s. Understanding it, may take more than this week – but damn, I got one thing accomplished. Go Me! 🙂

Review: A Gentleman Never Tells by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Posted March 23, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: A Gentleman Never Tells
Series: The Wetherby Brides (Book 1)
Author: Jerrica Knight-Catania
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: January 11, 2012 (original 2009)
Publisher: Smashwords
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: Amazon Free, owned
Synopsis:

Benjamin Wetherby, Earl of Glastonbury and heir to the Marquisate of Eastleigh, has just received an urgent letter from home. His father is dying and he must return to England at once. Benjamin is a man bound by honor and duty, to both his country and his family. So, despite his reservations, he leaves his life in New York City behind so he may find a wife and assume his role as the Marquess of Eastleigh.

Miss Phoebe Blake is finally out of mourning for her father, and just in time. She and her mother could be days away from being carted off to debtors prison, so Phoebe returns to society with the intent and determination to secure a rich husband.
Sparks fly when Benjamin and Phoebe meet, and it appears they have both found just what they are looking for. But will a dark secret keep them from finding their happily ever after?

This was last week’s Monday Free Pick Feature. Read on for my thoughts. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Poppy’s Dilemma by Nancy Carson

Posted March 21, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Poppy's Dilemma Title: Poppy’s Dilemma
Series:
Author: Nancy Carson
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: March 30, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins, Maze
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

From the newest name in saga writing comes a tale of one girl’s brave escape from a world of poverty in her search for true love.

Poppy Silk is the daughter of a railroad worker in the Midlands. The world around her is violent, immoral and poverty stricken. But despite being penniless and unschooled, Poppy is determined to escape the squalor, and a future cleaning up after a husband she doesn’t love.

Robert Crawford, a handsome engineer she encounters one day, is like no one she’s ever met. As he teaches her to read, feelings blossom. But life is not kind to Poppy. Robert is promised to another and Poppy can’t afford the luxury of hope. At a heartbreaking cross-roads, she must decide…is true love worth risking everything for?

Read on for my thoughts on Poppy’s Dilemma. No true spoilers, promise. Read More