Unsolicited Advice by Melinda Di Lorenzo

Posted January 16, 2018 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Heidi Bluthe is Miss Anonymous—queen of a confident, snark-laced advice column. Too bad she can’t take her own advice to fix the hot mess reality of her life. When one of her readers shows up claiming her advice ruined his life and demands she fix it, Heidi agrees to try. She is, after all, a professional and helping him will help further her career. But what happens next, falling hard for sexy British charmer, William, really knocks them both for a loop.

A year ago, William Rutherford was living the dream. Beautiful fiancée. Perfect home in the suburbs. All that changed in an instant. And the advice Miss Anonymous—aka, Heidi Bluthe–gave might not have been the root cause, but it was certainly the shove that sent things over the edge. William’s determined to have her set things right, even if that means unexpectedly risking his heart in the process…Heidi Bluthe is Miss Anonymous—queen of a confident, snark-laced advice column. Too bad she can’t take her own advice to fix the hot mess reality of her life. When one of her readers shows up claiming her advice ruined his life and demands she fix it, Heidi agrees to try. She is, after all, a professional and helping him will help further her career. But what happens next, falling hard for sexy British charmer, William, really knocks them both for a loop.

Titles in the Between The Sheets series include: Training The Temp – Lie To Me – Unsolicited Advice

Ruled by Keira Blackwood

Posted January 12, 2018 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Thirty years have passed since vampire king Tyr Ulfhednar was torn from his throne and banished to the bottom of the sea. Freed from his prison, Tyr doesn’t know what to expect when he returns home to Scarlet Harbor. But even a thousand years of existence can’t prepare him for her.

Newly-turned vampire queen Ashley King does her best to rise to the never-ending challenges of ruling over Scarlet Harbor. When a sexy, powerful stranger shows up on her doorstep with a claim to her throne, she’s as tempted to kill him as she is to kiss him. But this perceived enemy might just be the only chance she has at conquering the trials that lie ahead…if he doesn’t conquer her first.

Titles in the Vampires of Scarlet Harbor series include: Pierced – Hunted – Ruled

Inconsistencies In A Story or Genre – Do They Change The Story For You?

Posted January 11, 2018 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Over the last few months, and particularly today as I just finished a story that prompted this post, I’ve been noticing a change in my reading reactions to stories. There are small things that I’ll overlook (for the most part) in any story. I don’t nitpick in reviews about grammar or typos. I’m reviewing the story so I stick with that… unless it’s so blatant that it cannot be ignored.

But what drives me insane is when an author slips outside of the genre they’re writing that story in. And when the cover they’ve picked is totally at odds with the story. I’m sad to say that I’m finding this a lot in Kindle Worlds stories.

So today I finished a story where the main male character is albino. Yet on the cover, his lovely female love interest is a white-blonde, and he (the albino character) has light brown hair.

That seems like such a small thing, doesn’t it? And to many readers, perhaps it is. My first reaction to any book is visual, it’s the cover that will make me want to read the cover blurb about the story. I’ve always reacted that way – the cover will attract my attention then the description will either nail it for me or have me putting the book back on the shelf. So, for me, that cover matters, it tells me a lot about the story within those covers. And when the two don’t match — I’m left with the ugly taste of feeling cheated by a story.

If you are a Contemporary Romance author who has just published their first Cozy Mystery — please research what Cozy Mystery writing sounds like, what the rules are, what the lore is — because I will know. Believe me, I will know the differences and it will affect how I react to, review your story and whether I ever buy another book by you. It does matter to keep to the genre for those readers who know and love and expect certain things from a story set in their favorite genre.

Do I sound too harsh? Perhaps. Yet I’ll not apologize for my opinion on this. To me covers matter, genre lines matter, knowing the genre you’re writing in matters.

Sheltered by Jen Colly

Posted January 9, 2018 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

When Bette Dautry comes to him, seeking his protection, Guardian Rollin Casteel suspects the mysterious beauty has an ulterior motive. Unable to resist her seductive charms, he soon hungers to mark her as his. Only Bette disappears before he can sink his teeth into her tender flesh, leaving Rollin with one mission: to find her—and to claim her. . . .

Bette seduces Rollin intent on conceiving his child, believing the mother-child bond to be the only kind of love she can sustain—the only kind of love that can keep her alive. But she never expects to feel so much for her strong and silent lover. Then she discovers Rollin is none other than the heir to the Balinese throne—a man too noble—too dear—to play a role in her dark scheme. A man she would willingly die for, if only he would set her free. . . .

Titles in The Cities Below series include: In The Dark – Bound – Beneath the Night – Sheltered –

Diaper Duty Vampire by R E Mullins

Posted January 9, 2018 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

During the Civil War, Union soldier, John Alden took a musket ball to the gut. As he gasped his final breath, he was turned into a vampire and started life anew in Amber Heights, Missouri. For over one hundred and fifty years, he’s lived a rather solitary life as a vampire Enforcer.

Young single mother, Joann Clarkson, needs a job and fast. Hoping to be rehired, she returns to Dr. Michaela Blautsauger’s lab prepared to eat a hefty helping of humble pie. She comes to regret that decision when she’s taken hostage. Things look grim but she’ll never stop fighting to escape. Her son needs his mama.

As an Enforcer, John must hunt down the vampire who kidnapped Joann. In his search, John winds up babysitting her toddler Cody. Changing diapers might be worse than getting staked, but nothing compares to how he feels when both mother and child fall into danger again.

Titles in the Vampires of Amber Heights series include: Diaper Duty Vampire –

Animal Instincts by Patricia Rosemoor

Posted January 9, 2018 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Half-human, half-Kindred, Luc Lazare doesn’t want more complications in his life. He’s focused on protecting his shape shifting family and love is the last distraction he needs.

Skye Cross has the ability to talk to animals. Her most recent animal rescue mission–stopping an alleged dog fight–actually involved shifters in a primal battle. Her investigation leads her to Luc, a man whose powers both unsettle and intrigue her. Skye quickly finds herself caught in a dangerous world she never knew existed, while relying on a man she couldn’t possibly trust.

Coming from two different worlds, can Luc and Sky overcome the obstacles fated to keep them apart?

Titles in the Kindred Souls series include: Animal Instincts –

Collision Course by Marie Harte

Posted January 7, 2018 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Ace mechanic Lou Cortez has always had a way with the ladies, so he can’t understand why lovely florist Josephine -Joey- Reeves won’t give him the time of day.

Joey knows all about mistakes. After getting pregnant at fifteen, she’s spent the past nine years building a life for her and her son. This sexy mechanic is one misstep she’s not going to make. But the more time she spends with Lou, the hotter things get. Soon Joey’s left with a choice: keep things casual, or reveal all to Lou and hope he accepts her-and her son-for who they are.

Titles in the Body Shop Bad Boys series include: Test Drive – Roadside Assistance – Zero to Sixty – Collision Course –

Body Shop Bad Boys is a series spin-off from The McCauley Brothers series

COYER Winter Switch

Posted January 4, 2018 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

I made a decision back in December ’17 that I was going to get unread titles off of my Kindle in 2018 come hell or high water or words to that effect. One way that I can help myself and have a bit of fun with that declaration is by joining in the COYER Winter Switch Challenge which runs from November to March – yes, I know, I’m late in joining up but better late than never, right?

This time around there are two ways to take part – either the Switch or the regular COYER. For me, because I’m joining in late I’m going to go for the regular COYER because that will do what I want to do which is get those free books, those 99 cent books that I picked up but are still sitting unread on my Kindle finally read and moved to the cloud. I’m always annoyed with myself when I spend good book money on a title and then I don’t get around to reading it because of other review commitments. That’s just silly and it needs to stop.

If you have unread titles on your e-reader then maybe this is a challenge that you’d be interested, too. Sign up is easy just follow the link in the graphic above or this link: COYER Winter Switch Challenge

Now joining is easy, staying committed is a whole different story, and we all know that. So later today I’m going to be making a list post for myself that I can cross off the titles from 2017 and before that still need to be read on my Kindle. It’s an accountability thing for me, but I believe that it will help keep me on track with this clean up that I’m determined to do this year. It’s not a requirement, but a choice of my own.

Check out the COYER Winter Switch Challenge for yourself, and have some fun with lots of company as you clean out your e-readers this year..

Something to Howl About by Christine Warren

Posted January 3, 2018 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Dr. Annie Cryer has been called many things: Genius. Child prodigy. Scientific wonder.

Wolf Shifter.

Banished from her pack years ago, Annie’s lone wolf wandering has brought her to Alpha, Washington, home to all shifters who don’t quite fit in in the “normal” shifter word. Now Annie has the chance to go back home…if only she can make good on a favor her alpha owes the mayor of “Alphaville.” But it’s not much of a favor when you’re helping the hottest shifter in town…

Grizzly shifter Jonas Browning has a clan in trouble. They haven’t had a child born in over a hundred years…and their clan faces going completely extinct. Genetic scientist Anne Cryer has been sent to help save them. But what Jonas doesn’t count on is being irresistibly drawn to the small wolf shifter, and his bear isn’t about to let her go…

Titles in the Alphaville series include: Something to Howl About – Baby, I’m Howling For You –

Cowboy SEAL Homecoming by Nicole Helm

Posted January 3, 2018 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Alex Maguire never thought he’d go home again. The perfect soldier, the perfect leader, he’s spent his whole life running away from Blue Valley, Montana―but when a tragic accident bounces him and two of his men out of the SEALs, there’s nowhere left to turn but the ranch he used to call his own…and the confusing, innocently beguiling woman who now lives there.

Becca Denton’s like nothing he could have imagined. She’s far too tempting for her own good, but when she offers to help turn the ranch into a haven for injured veterans, he can’t exactly say no. He’ll just need to keep his distance. But something in her big green eyes makes Alex want to set aside the mantle of the perfect soldier and discover the man he could have been…safe and whole within the shelter of her arms.

The Prodigal SEAL has come home

Titles in the Navy SEAL Cowboys series includes: Cowboy SEAL Homecoming – Cowboy SEAL Redemption – Cowboy SEAL Christmas

Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear

Posted January 2, 2018 by Marsha in Series / 0 Comments

Their forbidden love may get them both killed.

Bella is a red werewolf, sole survivor of the fire that killed her entire pack.

Devlyn is a beta male werewolf in a pack of grays.

Forced to flee her adopted gray pack when the alpha male becomes a vicious threat, she struggles to live as a lone wolf, until Devlyn, the gray male who rescued her as a pup, comes to bring her home.

When a local red werewolf goes on a killing spree, Bella and Devlyn must flee the murderer, the police and their vengeful pack leader. With the full moon rising, and her heat upon her, Bella can’t resist the pull to her destined mate, even if means Devlyn will have to face the wicked alpha male in a fight to the death…

The first story in the Heart of the Wolf series, now nearly twenty stories strong.

A Time To Be Tender by Sheila Seabrook

Posted January 1, 2018 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

It started out as an escape…
Help one sad and lonely widower get his life—and his family—back together again while she hid from her past. But Jane Watts didn’t expect to fall for the cowboy next door. Nor did she anticipate he’d fall for her in return.

It was supposed to be an easy out…
The booze, the brawls, the bull riding. But Mike Toryn didn’t ask to be saved by his secretive neighbor. Nor did he expect that he would want to save her in return.

What should have been uncomplicated and temporary had suddenly become profound and heartbreaking. And neither Mike nor Jane did heartbreak, not ever again.

Titles in A Rocky Mountain Contemporary Romance series include: Always Remember – Terms of Surrender – A Time to b e Tender

Tackling My TBR Pile with Beat The Backlist 2018 Challenge

Posted December 26, 2017 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

After all the fun and pure chaos of a family Christmas celebration around here I took a few minutes to scroll through my Kindle. I wasn’t liking that number of books that was on my device so I thought I’d just move those books around because I know I’m famous for not removing a book from the Kindle when I’ve finished it. A habit I need to break! Anyway, by the time (several hours later) that I had moved titles to the cloud, gotten the ARCs that I read long, long ago off of the Kindle I had made a shocking discovery. I buy books. I buy a lot of books that I haven’t read. What’s wrong with me??

Well, I don’t think I’m alone because when visiting other blogs I see a lot of talk about TBR piles, but really we talk about those piles of books but we get caught up in new releases, review request deadlines and such … and that pile becomes a hill of books, then soon enough a total mountain of doom pile of books. So yeah. Time to do something about that.

So I decided to join in on a fun challenge. It’s the 2018 Beat The Backlist Challenge hosted by NovelKnight. That link will take you to the sign-up, information page. It’s a simple Challenge, no hoops to jump through, you make your own goals and you decide how involved with the activities you have the time for. It runs from January 1, 2018 until the end of the year, and only books (even re-reads) that were published before 2018 count. Super easy, I can do that.

I’d like to knock off 20 books from my TBR pile this year. I think that’s reasonable considering how quickly I can read, and my annoyance at buying books and not reading them immediately. So, over the next twelve months I can get that pile of lonely books whittled down a bit and if I do more, that’s awesome – not all are very long books – if not then at least it’s a start.

How about you? How’s your pile of unread books growing? Go ahead, click that link and check out the 2018 Beat The Backlist Challenge. If nothing else – you’ll have a bit of fun, and who doesn’t enjoy that?

Marsha @keeperbookshelf

And I am now officially a Dewey Dragons team member. Whooo Hoooo. I happen to adore dragons 🙂

A SEAL for Christmas by Leslie North

Posted December 24, 2017 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Navy SEAL Murphy Coen should be celebrating the upcoming holidays with friends and family, but with his sister Aileen missing, there’s not much for Murph to feel thankful for. To find Aileen, he’s fully prepared to use force, until an unexpected encounter has him rethinking his tactics. Shayma, his friend Daveed’s former fiancée, is sexy as hell, and something about her soothes his wayward soul. The brunette bombshell claims she can help, but Murph’s never been known for his patience. The clock is ticking, and he isn’t sure Shayma won’t get in the way of doing what he needs to do.

After ending her engagement to the man chosen by her father, Shayma bint Amr Kahlan has been enjoying the sights of New York City…and her ex’s best friend Murphy. The menacing military man has the dark, brooding thing down, but Shayma is certain his temper will lead to trouble—trouble his friends don’t want him in. When Daveed offers to promote her father if she can keep Murph in check while he and Heath secretly search for Aileen, Shayma sees a chance to help…and get back in her father’s good graces. She’s happy to prevent Murphy from getting out of hand. Besides, sometimes it takes a softer touch to get what you want.

Shayma and Murphy’s chemistry may be undeniable, but as the stakes get higher, can Murphy open himself up to love? Or will he be forced to choose between Shayma and finding his sister?

Titles in the All I Want For Christmas Is... series include: A Sheikh For Christmas – A SEAL For Christmas – A Billionaire For Christmas

A Mistletoe Kiss by Jennifer Faye

Posted December 19, 2017 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

Jaded by love, Suzanna Simms has resigned herself to focusing on her art business. But with Christmas quickly approaching, she receives word that her family is returning to Marietta. And Suzanna failed to mention that her latest relationship had ended abruptly. Now she’ll have to admit to her family that she failed at love—again.

Enter Sergeant Jake Hamilton, a new resident to Marietta and Suzanna’s next door neighbor. He’s not looking for anything permanent, he’s just passing through Marietta for the Christmas season, hoping to keep to himself. But when Suzanna’s family mistakenly assumes that Jake’s her boyfriend, he agrees to continue the charade.

Suzanna is certain she’s immune to his rugged good looks and sexy smile until they find themselves standing under the mistletoe. When Jake finds her kiss sweeter than her sugar cookies, he knows he’s in trouble. But it’s too late by then… the Christmas charade is on.

Titles in the Tangled Charms series include: Sprinkled With Love – A Mistletoe Kiss –