Review: Never Die Alone by Lisa Jackson

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Never Die Alone
Series: New Orleans #8, A Bentz/Montoya Mystery
Author: Lisa Jackson
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books, Zebra
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Never Drop Your Guard

It should be the best day of their lives. Too bad they never get to see it. On the cusp of their twenty-first birthday, he strikes. His victims are always twins, their ritualistic murders planned in exquisite detail, down to the moment when they breathe their last together. . .

Never Close Your Eyes

An innocent man is in prison, and Brianna Hayward needs to convince the New Orleans police. Not just to free her cousin, but to save others who will suffer until the true culprit is found. Reporter Jason Bridges is intrigued. It’s a story that could make his career–as long as Brianna never guesses the secret in Jason’s past. . .

. . .Or You’ll Never See Him Coming

Detective Rick Bentz had doubts about the “21” conviction when he worked the case in L.A. Now the real murderer may be loose in Bentz’s backyard. Twin sisters from LSU have vanished, days before their birthday. And as Bentz and his partner, Reuben Montoya, desperately follow the trail, a killer prepares to unite his next victims in death forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Never Die Alone. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: A Touch of Chardonnay by Pamela Gibson

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: A Touch of Chardonnay
Series: Love In Wine Country
Author: Pamela Gibson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cultural archeologist Lindsay Reynoso is in a small seaside town in California to evaluate an old mansion. When the home’s owner shows up to “help” the evaluation along, Lindsay is furious. Especially as the owner is former bad-boy tennis star Christopher Brandt…her one-time fling and the father of Lindsay’s son. Only he doesn’t know it.

As far as Chris is concerned, the old mansion is tied to a past he’s better off leaving behind. He’d rather bulldoze the thing and move on. If only his gorgeous consultant would let him. Even while fighting over the demolition, the chemistry that once brought them together is smoldering stronger than ever.

But honesty is very important to Chris, and Lindsay has an eight-year-old secret.

Read on for my thoughts on A Touch of Chardonnay. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Summer of Fire by Kitty Pilgrim

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Summer of Fire
Series: John Sinclair Mystery #3
Author: Kitty Pilgrim
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: May 19, 2015
Publisher: River Grove Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When nature takes charge, sparks fly

On the beautiful island of Capri, a royal princess begins a secret love affair, oblivious to the dangers that surround her.

Internationally renowned novelist Kitty Pilgrim chronicles a modern thriller based in the historic volcanic region of Southern Italy.

Her characters, archaeologist John Sinclair and oceanographer Cordelia Stapleton, team up once again for a tale of glamour and romance that spans every level of society—from the dangerous criminal underworld of Naples to the jet set of Europe.

Read on for my thoughts on Summer of Fire. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: MacKenzie Fire by Elle Casey

Posted July 27, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: MacKenzie Fire
Series: Shine Not Burn #2
Author: Elle Casey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015 (original June 2014)
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Still bitter about his failed engagement and life on the family ranch, Ian MacKenzie has been cranky for nearly three years. His brother Mack’s married bliss hasn’t helped, and now his pregnant sister-in-law’s airhead best friend is coming for a visit.

Candice arrives to help with the new baby, even though it means swapping her Louboutins for snow boots and her flat irons for flannel. She’s far from prepared for the freezing cold and she certainly wasn’t expecting the sizzling heat of her attraction to a certain green-eyed cowboy. Ian may be rude and infuriating, but he looks sinfully good in those jeans of his.

The two clash at every turn, but there’s one thing they can both agree on—if they do give in to their undeniable chemistry, then it’s just a fling…because he’s a country boy and she’s a city girl, and their zip codes are on opposite sides of the map.

Read on for my thoughts on MacKenzie Fire. No true spoilers, promise.

And The Winners of the 2015 RWA Awards Were…

Posted July 27, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

May I wish a warm congratulations to all the winners of the various Romance Writers of America awards. And may I wish an equally warm congratulations to all of the nominees as well – to my mind, as a reader, it seems an amazing thing to be nominated.

I read a lot of books, all different types of genre – so I don’t have any trouble picking up something that I’ve not tried before. I got to thinking while watching the live stream of the awards (well, most aside from a few tech. difficulties *cringe*) ,and following the chatter over on Twitter that it might actually be fun to read and review the 2015 RWA award novels. There’s a variety of length and genre, and best of all romance is at the center. So that is a project to come. But in the meantime, I’m going to list the Categories and the amazing authors who were awarded for their work this year… not only an acknowledgment of the novels and their authors, but a handy list to go by as I read and review those winners.

Here are the 2015 RWA winning authors and their novels:

Best First Book – Run To You by Clara Kensie

Contemporary Romance: Long – Baby, It’s You by Jane Graves

Contemporary Romance Mid-Length – One In A Million by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Romance Short – A Texas Rescue Christmas by Caro Carson

Erotic Romance – The Saint by Tiffany Reisz

Historical Romance: Long Romance – Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran

Historical Romance: Short Romance – Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Inspirational Romance – Deceived by Irene Hannon

Paranormal Romance – Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Romance Novella – His Road Home by Anna Richland

Romantic Suspense – Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

Young Adult Romance – Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

And by now we all know that Carole Mortimer was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award... and so very well deserved. Ms Mortimer is an amazing author and I have spent many years in her stories – and hope to have many more enjoyable hours with the products of her imagination.

Review: Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey

Posted July 26, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Shine Not Burn
Series: Shine Not Burn #1
Author: Elle Casey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015 (original July 2013)
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Andie Marks, known as “Party Girl” in her college days, is now a whip-smart lawyer on the fast track to success. Determined to move on from a bad break-up, she joins her girlfriends for a wild bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas, promising to let her hair down just this once.

Vegas is a blur of cocktails and blackjack, and in the middle of it all she meets Mack, a real-life cowboy with a winning hand and an irresistible body. They get lucky in the casino and luckier back at the hotel, a hot night of passion that was definitely not part of Andie’s life plan.

By dawn Mack is gone and all she has to remember their one-night romance is a hangover and a pile of casino chips. Or so she thinks…

Read on for my thoughts on Shine Not Burn. No true spoilers, promise.

Stacking the Shelves #8

Posted July 26, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 12 Comments

StackingTheShelves Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Hosted at Tynga’s Reviews If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

It was a decent haul this week – not “too” crazy but a couple titles caught my eyes.

So because this post is longish I’m going to shorten it a bit here – and invite you to read more about my Stack the Shelves list for this week on the next page – then I won’t feel so bad filling up your reader with one long-ggg post. 🙂 Read on Booklovers.

Review: Summer Beach Bride: Seaside Duet by H. Y. Hanna

Posted July 25, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Summer Beach Bride: Seaside Duet
Series: Summer Beach Romance #5
Author: H. Y. Hanna
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 25, 2015
Publisher: Wisheart Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When Natalie rescues Ben Falco at the beach, she never expects to fall in love with the sexy American rock star. But how can she find happiness with Ben if she can’t even face the demons from her past?

Meanwhile Sara Monroe is looking forward to a beautiful beach wedding with TV heartthrob, Dr Craig Murray. However, with the paparazzi hounding her and a jealous ex-boyfriend on the scene, things are not looking good for her perfect day…

Life in the seaside town of Summer Beach, Australia is about to get exciting!

* This is the 6th book in the Summer Beach Romance series. EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE, or read them in order for more fun! Characters you loved from past books often return to delight again in this sweet romance series set in Summer Beach, Australia.

Read on for my thoughts on Summer Beach Bride Seaside Duet. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Not Quite Mine by Catherine Bybee

Posted July 25, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Not Quite Mine
Series: Not Quite #2
Author: Catherine Bybee
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Gorgeous hotel heiress Katelyn “Katie” Morrison seems to have it all. But when she crosses paths with Dean Prescott – the only man she’s ever loved – at her brother’s wedding, Katie realizes there’s a gaping hole in her life. After the ceremony she gets an even bigger surprise when someone abandons a baby girl on her doorstep. Determined to keep the newborn until she learns who her mother is, Katie has her hands full and doesn’t need Dean snooping around, especially when his presence stirs feelings she thought were long gone.

Dean Prescott knows Katie is lying to him when he discovers a baby is living with her. He shouldn’t care what the woman who broke his heart is up to…and he most certainly shouldn’t still be aching for her. Yet Dean can’t ignore the need to protect Katie – or the desire to be near her every chance he gets. But when he and Katie solve the mystery surrounding the baby, their second chance for happiness could be shattered forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Not Quite Mine. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee

Posted July 24, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Not Quite Dating
Series: Not Quite #1
Author: Catherine Bybee
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November 13, 2012
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Waitress and single mom Jessica “Jessie” Mann is practical to a fault. Even if she had time to date, which she doesn’t, she’d be determined to provide her son with a more secure upbringing than the one she had—and that would mean a husband with big bucks. When Jack Morrison—a sexy-as-sin, seemingly broke customer with a cowboy hat and a seductive grin—tries to flirt with her, she shoots him down. She doubts a carefree dreamer like Jack can provide the financial stability she needs. Yet with Christmas just weeks away, and Jessie not wanting to spend it alone, the charming Texan is proving hard to resist.

As the heir to the Morrison luxury hotel empire, Jack is used to being fawned over. But Jack needs someone who will fall in love with him—not his wealth. He’s set his sights on Jessie, though her hardened heart just might get in the way…To be sure, he conceals his true identity and offers to help Jessie find the rich husband she seeks. But Jack’s daring charade may rob him of the holiday wish he wants most of all.

Read on for my thoughts on Not Quite Dating. No true spoilers, promise.

Caught Up In The Past – Books That Is

Posted July 24, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

book pile The last week or so I’m finding myself picking up older novels to read. Not even necessarily for review (but I end up reviewing them anyway) – just I seem to be drawn to novels that I missed over the recent past. Some are authors that I’m catching up on their back lists. Others are series that I want to get caught up in so I can continue with the current stories and not be lost.

I have to admit that my Kindle Unlimited subscription is really getting a workout lately – and I suppose the more novels I borrow and read, the better the monthly deal is, cost wise.

I have several newer releases on my Kindle and the physical bookshelf that I should be reading and reviewing — I’m simply drawn backward in time at the moment. I’m sure it will even itself out soon, it always does. And I can’t complain because I’m reading some amazing stories.

Wondering if I’m alone out here in my trip back in novel time. Anyone else get caught up in reading the “should have read this years ago” syndrome too?

Review: The Billionaire Falls by Melody Anne

Posted July 24, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Billionaire Falls
Series: Billionaire Bachelors #3
Author: Melody Anne
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 11, 2011
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Joseph Anderson has been successful in finding brides for his two eldest sons. In this book he finds the perfect bride for his youngest son Mark. Mark has a billion dollar ranch operation that takes many employees to run successfully. He loses his cook and leaves it to his father to find a new one. Little does Mark know that Joseph is far more interested in her marriage potential than her cooking skills. Luckily he finds a woman who can cook and will make the perfect bride for his son.

Emily Jackson is on the run from people who want to take her five year old son from her. She ends up in a small town in Washington and is excited to find an ad in the paper for a live in cook. When she starts work at the beautiful ranch, sparks fly with her new boss who is sexier than any cowboy has the right to be. She does not want to risk having an affair with her boss and losing her job so she will fight the attraction until passion overcomes them both.

Take the journey with Mark and his family as the youngest Anderson finds his bride.

Read on for my thoughts on The Billionaire Falls. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Flirting with Forever by Kim Boykin

Posted July 24, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Flirting with Forever
Series: Island Bliss #1, Lowcountry Lovers #1
Author: Kim Boykin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 19, 2014
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Forty-year-old Tara Jordan’s first book, The Perfect Marriage in 30 Days, is at the top of the bestseller lists, and her publisher wants her on a book tour ASAP. Tara’s about to live her dream only there’s one problem. Her husband of 15 years has just walked out, leaving Tara on the brink of financial ruin with no choice but to promote a self-help book about marriage when hers is secretly in ruins.

Enter publicist Jake Randall, 30, who’s had it with hand holding newbie authors channeling their inner divas on their first book tours, until he meets Tara. Their instant attraction blossoms quickly into love. Tara thinks she has achieved her dreams and earned her license to thrive until her husband, Jim returns determined to win her back.

Read on for my thoughts on Flirting with Forever. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Birthday Deadline by Ella Cari

Posted July 23, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Birthday Deadline
Series: Billionaire Brides
Author: Ella Cari
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 11, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Sebastian Fox was a billionaire before he even hit his twentieth birthday thanks to his ingenuity and intelligence. Now 29, he has to find a bride or his entire business will come crashing down.

Before he walked into my struggling flower shop that day, I’d seen his face a million times already. His gorgeous green eyes lit up billboards, magazine covers, and TV interviews. The multi-billionaire had a proposition for me. He would help save my business, and in turn, I would help save his. All that Sebastian needed was my hand in marriage.

Married for convenience, how will we even begin to bring our lives together? My husband and I knew nothing of each other before our wedding day, and now, we will be together forever. Will he ever be more than just a man who kissed me at the altar?

Read on for my thoughts on The Birthday Deadline. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Vivian ~ The Three Mrs. Monroes by Bernadette Marie

Posted July 23, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Vivian~The Three Mrs. Monroes
Series: The Three Mrs. Monroes #3
Author: Bernadette Marie
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 9, 2014
Publisher: 5 Prince publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

From loss breeds new beginnings…

Vivian Monroe had been jaded. Her husband’s death only compounded the lies she’d only come to learn about.

Clayton North knows a thing or two about loss. He figured it was fate for him to meet Vivian Monroe. He’ll take on the challenge of helping her mend her heart.

Midst new friendships and new romance, Vivian must let go of her pain and face the woman who helped Adam Monroe weave his deceptive web.

Read on for my thoughts on Vivian~The Three Mrs. Monroes. No true spoilers, promise.