Review: The Almost Wives Club by Nancy Warren

Posted March 14, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: The Almost Wives Club – Kate book 1
Series: The Almost Wives Club
Author: Nancy Warren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 15, 2015
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Kate Winton-Jones is marrying one of America’s most eligible bachelors. Edward Carnarvon III is rich, handsome and hers. But at the final fitting of her wedding gown, one of the seamstresses pricks her and a tiny blood spot appears on the outrageously expensive gown. Its famous designer fires the clumsy seamstress on the spot, whereupon the girl puts a curse on the dress and storms out. Kate doesn’t believe in curses. She’s modern, American and in love with the perfect guy. What could go wrong?

But that very evening she meets a man who makes her question her future. And then she discovers that Edward has been hiding a secret or two… and before you can say, “This dress is so cursed,” she’s on the run from Edward, his family, her mother, the paparazzi and the person she thought she was.

When the man who discovers her hiding place turns out to be the last man she should trust, it’s time to throw her cautious good sense out with the satin shoes she won’t be wearing. Playing it safe hasn’t done her much good. Maybe it’s time to play by a new set of rules. Her rules.

Sometimes Prince Charming is the one who turns out to be the frog, and true love appears in the most unexpected places.

Follow the cursed dress through five sets of bridal hands as four more women join The Almost Wives Club.

Read on for my thoughts on The Almost Wives Club. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Until You by Jeannie Moon

Posted March 14, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Until You
Series:
Author: Jeannie Moon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

When newly divorced Kate Adams is approached on the sunny deck of a California hotel by hockey star David Burke, and he invites her to dinner, she almost says no. He’s obviously younger than her. And charming. And drop dead gorgeous. But there’s also something sweet about David, so Kate—who hasn’t done anything spontaneous in a very long time—accepts his invitation.

It is, after all, her fortieth birthday.

However, a real romance with thirty-year-old David, whose picture is in the gossip pages as often as it’s in the sports pages, is out of the question. No matter how much she wants him, it’s just too risky.

But meeting Kate has been David’s lightning strike. She’s the one for him, and he has no intention of giving up on her.

So while Kate guards her fragile heart, David sets out to win her over with the same determination that drives him on the ice.

And he’ll break every rule in the book if he has to.

Read on for my thoughts on Until You. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Drawn to Life by Elisabeth Wagner

Posted March 14, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Drawn to Life
Series:
Author: Elisabeth Wagner
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
My Rating: 3 outta 5
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Mia Lang always thought she could brave any storm, until a frightening turn of fate caused her to lose everything she once held dear—her best friend, her boyfriend, her career, and even her desire to live.

Hoping to heal her scars and find the will to face the world again, Mia embarks on an adventure across Europe by train. But when she meets Samuel Winter—on the run from his own troubled past—her whole world is turned upside down again. Perhaps this time, though, the pieces will fall where they’re meant to. Armed with the sort of courage that only comes from having nothing to lose, Mia is about to find out, in this beautiful story of resilience and discovery.

Read on for my thoughts on Drawn to Life. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: His Outback Cowgirl by Alissa Callen

Posted March 14, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: His Outback Cowgirl
Series: The Wildflower Ranch #4
Author: Alissa Callen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 18, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Australian cowgirl, Bridie Willis, travels to Montana to meet her half-brother and to escape the pain of losing her father. Headstrong and determined to live life to the full, she plans to spend the summer photographing wild animals in the back country.

Cowboy, Ethan Morgan, has been shaped by a childhood spent on the run. Cautious, steady and conservative, he must ensure the risk-taking cowgirl he is entrusted to babysit doesn’t come to any harm.

But the biggest challenge Ethan must face is to accept how Bridie makes him feel. And the biggest risk Bridie must take is to trust in her heart.

Read on for my thoughts on His Outback Cowgirl. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Heart of Ice by Sibelle Stone

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Heart of Ice
Series:
Author: Sibelle Stone
Genre: Historical Romance, Gothic, Steampunk,
Published: February 9, 2015
Publisher: Books To Go Now
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Lucinda Stafford is uniquely unqualified to serve as governess for the children of a handsome inventor. But, she’s determined to prove to her family she’s not a fragile, pampered heiress who can’t take care of herself. She didn’t plan to be attracted to the man who makes her furious one moment and whimper with desire the next. When danger threatens, can she save two innocent children from a terrifying nightmare?

Grayson Thorne has only weeks to prove his geothermal plant can generate electricity, or he’ll lose much needed funding. He’s desperate to hire a new governess, but shocked when his housekeeper returns home with a beautiful, educated female who awakens long dormant desires. She’s the perfect choice, if he can manage to keep his hunger for her kisses and fantasies of taking her to his bed under control.

An ancient Icelandic curse hides in the hills, haunting the residents of Thornehús. Grayson and Lucinda may be swept away by passion, but they must face an unspeakable horror that threatens them all.

Read on for my thoughts on Heart of Ice. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Memory Of Your Kiss by Wilma Counts

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: The Memory of Your Kiss
Series:
Author: Wilma Counts
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

When her father falls gravely ill, eighteen-year-old Sydney Isabella Waverly dutifully agrees to marry the earl whose estate borders her family’s modest country home. But on a trip to Bath before she weds, Sydney meets the enigmatic, heroic Captain Zachary Quentin, with whom she feels an unmistakable mutual attraction.

Still, they have no choice but to part ways, regretting what might have been. Sydney cannot know that one day they will meet again under vastly changed circumstances, that Zachary will play an unexpected role in her life—and that the man she never forgot still ignites her heart. All that will remain is to find out if he feels the same way…

Read on for my thoughts on The Memory of Your Kiss. No true spoilers, promise. Read More

Feature & Follow #8

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 14 Comments

FeatureFollowParaAlison Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This week’s Feature Blogs are: Books Over Bros . Be sure to check out their blogs and give them a Follow (if you aren’t already).

Because this blog does not have the ability to put up GFC I would appreciate a follow through Bloglovin’. Thanks so much.

This week’s question: Have you come up with any special memes or features on your blog that you’d like people to visit more?

Not here on Keeper Bookshelf, yet. But I did start doing a Free Monday Pick on one of my newer blogs Haunted Bookshelf (which is purely Paranormal) and am thinking of doing it here as well as on Romance Is Ageless (which is another blog devoted to novels with heroines and heroes over the age of 30..and more)

Basically what Free Monday Pick involves is… go to Amazon (or any other site of your choice) and download one free novella on a Monday…the following Monday I review my pick and choose another one and continue the cycle. Comments and join-in are encouraged and hoped for. It’s a fun way for me to add good content to a new site, involve readers and find a fun new book. I plan to start it on all three of my review book blogs in the coming weeks. Will it take off? Who knows? But in the meantime, it’s just fun for me.

Now… let’s get blog hopping people!

Review: The Caitlain Book of Secrets by Jessica Lourey

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Catalain Book of Secrets
Series:
Author: Jessica Lourey
Genre: Paranormal
Published: January 1, 2015
Publisher: Toadhouse Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Faith Falls is a snug little Minnesota town constructed over a mystery, a place where the most impressive building is a gorgeous Queen Anne with turrets, cantilevered gables, and a wraparound porch. In a concealed room beneath the twisting stairs of the Queen Anne lies the Catalain Book of Secrets, the repository of the wisdom the Catalain women have gathered since the beginning of time.

Ursula Catalain, current keeper of the Book of Secrets, is content to concoct spells in her garden cottage until the ghost of the man she murdered when she was 12 appears at her door in a new form. His return pulls Jasmine, Ursula’s daughter, back into the fold. Once believed to be the most powerful of the Catalains, she foreswore her gift years before to bury a shameful secret. The ghost of the murdered man also calls home Katrine, Jasmine’s sister, who has been banished for fourteen years. Finally able to return to Faith Falls and the beloved Queen Anne, Katrine must claim her true Catalain power to save her mother and sister from the dark family curse.

Told in a majestic mosaic of strong women’s voices, The Catalain Book of Secrets weaves together alchemy, hope, tragedy, and true love to spin a tale in the style of Garden Spells, Eva Luna, and Practical Magic.

Read on for my thoughts on The Catalain Book of Secrets. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Deja Date by Susan Hatler

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Deja Date
Series: Better Date Than Never #9
Author: Susan Hatler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 22, 2015
Publisher: Hatco Publishing
My Rating: 4 star
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Melinda Morgan commits to running her favorite neighborhood bakery when the owner, who’s like a second dad to her, falls ill. Then she finds out his adventurous son, Nate Carter, is back in town. Nate was Melinda’s first kiss and greatest heartbreak all rolled into one, yet he’s still as charming as ever.

When Melinda learns Nate’s dad is selling his bakery, she realizes her dream to own the bakery herself. But in order to access her inheritance funds, she must first complete her father’s Carpe Diem list, which challenges her to take risks she normally wouldn’t—like only dating someone who leaves her breathless.

Nate wants a second chance with her and she finds him nearly impossible to resist. Could he be the key to completing her dad’s list and saving the bakery? And can he help her do both without breaking her heart all over again?

Read on for my thoughts on Deja Date. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Getting It Right by Christi Williams

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Getting It Right
Series:
Author: Christi Williams
Genre: Romance, touch Paranormal
Published: October 24, 2014
Publisher: Independent Book Publishers Association Members’ Title
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Named for the Goddess of Desire, can she dream of lasting happiness with only one man?

Selene Pertunda has no trouble attracting a man. She just can’t seem to find the right one. From abusive husband Robert to tattooed bad boy lover Kevin, Selene draws men to her like bears to her honeypot. The problem is that none of them proves to be a good fit.

Sure she will never find a shared happiness, Selene has no way to suspect she’s drawn the attention of a powerful goddess. So she scoffs at the idea that the handsome man who begins to play a large part in her life could be her destiny. After all, what could worldly, educated Beck McNeal want with a small-town girl like Selene?

Selene and Beck try to their best to resist the inexplicable mutual magnetism flaring between them. But can two ordinary people avoid the decree of the Goddess of Desire?

Read on for my thoughts on Getting It Right. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Once Upon A Fairy Tale: A Collection of 11 Fairy Tale Inspired Romances

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Once Upon A Fairy Tale Collection
Series:
Author: various romance authors
Genre: Fantasy Retelling
Published: March 8, 2015
Publisher: Romantic Greek Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Join NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors as they invite you to explore the world of fairy tales in eleven exciting new ways!

Experience the story of The Nightingale through a steampunk landscape, or follow Rapunzel through sci-fi adventures. There is the modern woman who steps out of her front door and into the fairy tale realm, and there is the modern woman who’s life resembles a fairy tale – one involving a slipper. Maybe you’d like to find out just who that Big Bad Wolf was and why he was so interested in Red, or maybe you’d like to go behind the scenes and see what those fairy godmothers are up to while everyone is getting their Happily Ever After.

Read on for my thoughts on Once Upon A Fairy Tale: A Collection. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Through Infinity by Libby Austin

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: Through Infinity
Series:
Author: Libby Austin
Genre: Romance
Published: November 25, 2014
Publisher: Infinity and Beyond Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Candice and Jason Woodruff had everything going for them: a strong marriage, the family they’d dreamed of, and successful businesses. When they made their wedding vows, they promised to love each other through infinity and beyond…but Candice doesn’t remember making that vow. Candice doesn’t remember the last eighteen years.

After a medical emergency, Candice awakens to find herself a married mother of four. She’s surrounded by a loving family of strangers, but Candice struggles to claim an identity while learning to be a wife and mother.

Candice is no longer the same woman Jason fell in love with all those years ago. Can they learn to love each other in this new reality?

Through Infinity is one woman’s journey as she rediscovers the love of her husband and children. But will that new found love be strong enough to carry them through infinity and beyond…

Read on for my thoughts on Through Infinity. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Stealing Hearts by Erika Marks

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Stealing Hearts
Series: Magnolia Bay #4
Author: Erika Marks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 9, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Bartender Mick Atwell has one more commitment before he leaves Magnolia Bay for Colorado: help his best friend, Tim, get his new wine bar POUR ready in time for its Valentine’s Day grand opening. But when Tim’s little sister Lucy breezes into town unexpectedly from New York for a visit, Mick doesn’t see how they’ll keep to their tight schedule—any more than he sees how this beautiful, spirited woman could possibly be the same irresponsible “kid” Tim has been complaining about for years…

Despite her carefree smile, Lucy Waverly hasn’t come back to Magnolia Bay for a vacation—she’s come home to hide. After discovering her boss at the gallery is selling forgeries, she needs to lay low and figure out a plan to get herself out of this dangerous mess—a plan which can’t include falling for her brother’s sexy best friend, no matter how safe he makes her feel, or how his smoldering eyes turn her inside out.

Mick has one foot out the door, but when Lucy’s troubles follow her to Magnolia Bay, they are thrust together to keep one step ahead of danger and get POUR open in time. Soon the man who lives by his plans is wondering if the woman who lives by chance may not be worth breaking his rules for.

Read on for my thoughts on Stealing Hearts. No true spoilers, promise

Making Certain Photos Show Up In Bloglovin’ Feed

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

I was so frustrated these last weeks. None of the graphics (book covers) that I had used in my posts were showing in ny Bloglovin’ feed. I am such a visual person – and I know that many others are too. I’m drawn by the look of a book’s cover and by what graphic a person uses on their posts.

Mine were visible – then suddenly weren’t. This past week I put my two new specific book review blogs up on Bloglovin’ (they’re recently launched, but might as well get everything in order). Those new blogs were showing their graphics just fine in the Bloglovin’ feed.

More frustration – then action. I finally figured out what was different. And now my graphics are showing up in Bloglovin’ feed once again.

I use WordPress for my blogs. So, I only know that this will work on WordPress websites.

On your Dashboard go to Settings > now click on Reading > then look under Feeds > then be sure that Full Text is ticked off (not Summary) for your RSS Feeds.

Bloglovin’ uses your RSS Feeds to pull information for its own feed. So unless your feed is giving the Full Text – graphics from your post will not show up.

A simple change fixed this problem for me – I hope this helps anyone else in the same situation.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #3

Posted March 12, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 4 Comments

There is a fun new meme going on over at (un)Conventional Book Views. Lexxie is hosting the Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts weekly list of food and drink. More specifically what food or drink from a recent read of yours would you like to try or never in a million years touch. You can find details, sorta rules and the sign up linky by clicking on the graphic or on the bold link above.

I have been trying so hard to be aware of food while reading. It is turning into a more difficult habit to cultivate than I thought it would. But, I’m working on it.

This week’s delectable comes from a novella in the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series – specifically from Bachelor At Her Bidding by Kate Hardy. The main characters, Rachel and Ryan, met when her friends “bought” him for Rachel at a Bachelor Auction to help out a single mom and her recently injured son get their home wheelchair accessible. He was to provide a personally cooked 5 star equivalent meal for her in her home. Needless to say, but they fell in love..and then he did the guy makes a huge mistake thing – now he’s trying to apologize and win her back through what he does best… cakes.

He replied with, “Fraisier: an almond sponge base topped with vanilla chiffon cream and with sliced strawberries around the side.

But this wasn’t like any strawberry tart Rachel had ever seen. The strawberries weren’t stuck on the side, they were perfectly aligned with the filling. And on the top was a garnish of fruits of the forest, with a tiny version of yesterday’s snow flakes sprinkled across it. On the dark chocolate “slate”” written in white chocolate piping was today’s message: ” I’m really, really sorry for hurting you.”

*sigh* I want one just like him.

Your date with Parisian-trained chef Ryan Henderson promises you’ll get the best meal of your life cooked especially for you. His Red Velvet cheesecake is to die for – but we know he has even better desserts up his sleeve…

How to win a girl in ten cakes…

When Dr. Rachel Cassidy comes back to Marietta with a broken heart and a divorce under her belt, going to a Bachelor Auction fundraiser doesn’t sound like her idea of a good time – and when her sister and friends “buy” her a dinner date with sexy Parisian-trained pastry chef Ryan Henderson, that sounds even worse.

Ryan doesn’t have time for dating – he’s put his dreams to one side and come back to Marietta to look after his sick grandmother. But when he agrees to help a charity fundraiser by offering to cook a special meal to one lucky bidder, he gets more than he bargains for and discovers a woman he might just dare to let himself fall in love with.

Then tragedy strikes, just when Rachel and Ryan think they might have a future, opening up old scars and pushing them apart.

And if they’re to stand a chance of getting back together, then Ryan’s going to have to be seriously inventive. Can he win the love of his life with ten cakes?