Review: Aftermath by Sandy Goldsworthy

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Aftermath
Series: The Afterworld Saga #1
Author: Sandy Goldsworthy
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: December 2, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

After losing her father, Emma Bennett moves to her aunt’s small town of Westport to finish out her senior year of high school. Emma wants to forget the pain and loss of the past few weeks, finding relief in the company of Ben Parker—a local boy who she has an instant attraction and uncanny connection with. When Ben seems a little too preoccupied with other responsibilities and has no time for her, Emma turns to the town’s hottest flirt—Lucas Crandon—for affection. Unfortunately, she realizes a little too late that, sometimes, bad boys really can be bad for you.

Life as an undercover agent for the Afterworld’s Bureau of Investigation isn’t an easy job. When Ben Parker finds his soul mate, Emma, in a small town, he finds himself forced to choose between doing his job or rekindling a relationship with the love of his existence. After Ben is notified that a notorious immortal is loose somewhere near Westport, he realizes that his love life will just have to wait. There is a criminal to apprehend before he can have his girl.

When lives are at stake and immortals are on the loose, can two soul mates find their happy ever after?

Read on for my thoughts on Aftermath. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Aftershock by Sandy Goldsworthy

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Aftershock
Series: The Afterworld Saga
Author: Sandy Goldsworthy
Genre: Paranormal
Published: April 11, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle edition
Cover Description:

An agent for the Afterworld’s Bureau of Investigation, Ben Parker spent decades undercover on earth, searching for the wife he left behind when he died.

Just when he decides to give up hope, and move on with his existence, he learns his soul mate was found. Now, reviewing her case file, he understands what she endured those years without him.

More importantly, he knows what the future has in store for her… but there’s nothing he can do to change it.

Read on for my thoughts on Aftershock. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Secondhand Bride by Nancy Warren

Posted June 17, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Secondhand Bride
Series: The Almost Wives Club #2
Author: Nancy Warren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 15, 2015
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Five brides and one (possibly cursed) wedding gown. Will any of them get to wear the designer wedding dress down the aisle?

As the poor relation in the rich and powerful Carnarvon family, Ashley Carnarvon is used to hand-me-downs. But getting handed down a wedding dress that’s cursed? Okay, the curse is bad enough, but even worse, the dress doesn’t suit her. The fabulous gown was designed for a taller, slimmer bride who ran away before the wedding and never wore the dress – which gets back to the curse…

At twenty-five, Ashley’s not sure what she wants to do with her life. She’s still living on the Carnarvon compound in Malibu, sharing a cottage on the property with her mother. She goes to school part time, works part time and parties more than she should. Mostly, she parties with Eric Van Hoffendam, who’s the slacker in his rich, powerful family. A lot of their friends are starting to get married and when Eric asks her to marry him, she likes the idea. Eric doesn’t look down on her or demand anything of her. Life with him would be easy, and Ashley likes things to be easy.

Bennett Saegar has a bad habit of making his life harder than it needs to be. Trying to make it as a Hollywood screenwriter is hard enough, but when a movie star stages a very public suicide attempt over unrequited love for him, the media frenzy is so bad he needs a place to hide out. Luckily, the pool house is free on the property of his family friends, the Carnarvons. He’ll be out of sight and able to concentrate on his next screenplay. Best of all, he’ll be far away from women.

When he moves into the pool house, the first person he sees is Ashley Carnarvon. Ashley who had a world class crush on him ten years earlier. Now, she’s all grown up and something about her pulls at him.

Good thing she’s engaged, or she could be a serious distraction. Then, Ben meets her fiancé and realizes this guy is all wrong for Ashley. She’s got so much more potential than she realizes. He wishes he knew how to show her how special she is without anyone getting the wrong idea about his intentions. Especially him.

Secondhand Bride is the second in a series of five romantic comedies about the designer wedding gown that plays havoc with weddings!

Read on for my thoughts on Secondhand Bride. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Bride on the Run by Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock

Posted June 16, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Bride on the Run
Series: Runaway Brides #4
Author: Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 16, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing, Southern Born
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Valerie Dimitri is on the run from her former fiancé who’d only wanted to marry her for her family’s questionable criminal ties. She also has the perfect cover with an assumed name and a thriving call-in advice show, “Sex Talk with Serena”, until one messy call blows up in her face. When she counselled “Anna J” to break up her with her boyfriend, she had no idea that she was telling a local celebrity to dump the hometown hero ballplayer, Boone Sullivan.

Boone has discovered Valerie’s real identity and he’s determined to expose her secrets… and maybe more. What he didn’t expect was to be blindsided by a crazy attraction to the buttoned-up lady with the sultry voice and a hidden past. He had carefully plotted his revenge, but soon all he can think about is how much he’d like to take Valerie as very own his stand-in bride.

Read on for my thoughts on Bride on the Run. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Magical Weddings: 15 Enchanting Romances

Posted June 16, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Magical Weddings 15 Enchanting Romances
Series:
Author: Various
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Regency, Paranormal Romance
Published: June 16, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Magical Weddings includes 14 NEW RELEASES, written expressly for this set.

Whether real or only in the hearts of the bride and groom, the magic of weddings is undeniable. And irresistible! As these 15 enchanting happily-ever-afters by bestselling and award-winning authors prove.

From sweet to spicy, the romances bundled into this set cross time and unite hearts, cast spells of laughter, battle wedding jitters and fight back tears, while weaving love’s hopeful magic throughout 1400 pages.

Her Wedding Wager by Leigh Michaels, National bestselling and Award-winning author of over 100 novels. Celia’s doomed to an arranged marriage–unless she can win the most important bet of her life!

The Last Wedding at Drayhome (Breens Mist Witches) by Aileen Harkwood. Never underestimate the power of a witch and warlock in love who have nothing left to lose.

The Dress by Eve Devon. Two couples, 400 years apart. From a masquerade ball in Venice 1615 to a wedding in England 2015, can a dress laced with magic weave its spell through the fabric of time?

Second Chance Bride by Raine English, USA Today bestselling and Award-winning author. She thinks she’s marrying the man of her dreams, until a telepathic rescue dog leads her to someone else… Will this bride-to-be say “I do” to the wrong man?

Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson, Bestselling and Award-winning author. Will two warring hearts be strong enough to survive the ultimate battle?

Something Borrowed, Something Blue by Lynda Haviland. She has a wedding to crash–until love gets in the way!

Heart of the Secret (Witches of Lane County) by Jody A. Kessler, Bestselling and Award-winning author. A 500 year-old curse, a witch who will do anything to marry her one true love, and the heart of a secret that will either divide them or bring them together…forever.

The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel by Jane Lark, National bestselling author. How do you fight a calling that comes from your soul?

A Wedding Across the Winds of Time by Bess McBride, National bestselling author. Darius and Molly found each other Across the Winds of Time. Now, it’s time for their wedding!

Kiss This by L.L. Muir, National bestselling and Award-winning author. You never expect the florist to catch the bouquet…

Caution is a Virtue by Jennifer Gilby Roberts. How much is too much to risk for love?

Loving Lindy by Jan Romes. In order to become the bank’s new Vice President, Gunther Justin has to be “settled.” With Lindy McPherson posing as his fiancé everything is set to go off without a hitch–until real feelings get in the way.

With this Kiss by Heather Thurmeier. Does a simple kiss have enough magic to reunite lovers?

Real Magic by Elsa Winckler. She’s the bridesmaid, he’s a best man. Will the magical evening stay just that or will it turn out to be real after all?

The Wedding Guests (A Tassamara Short Story) by Sarah Wynde. When unexpected guests attend Akira and Zane’s wedding, lives will change forever. But for better or for worse?

Read on for my thoughts on Magical Weddings. No true spoilers, promise.

Crave: The 2015 Atria Indie Author Sampler

Posted June 16, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Crave Atria sampler Title: Crave
Series:
Author: Various
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Atria
My Rating: 3
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Turn up the heat with this free e-sampler featuring seven irresistibly sexy and utterly enticing selections by some of the biggest names in contemporary romance and new adult fiction. Lose yourself in these stories and spread the love by sharing with your friends.

Here’s a taste of:

After the Rain by Renée Carlino
When You’re Back by Abbi Glines
Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle
Confess by Colleen Hoover
Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh
Black Iris Leah Raeder
Chasing River by K.A. Tucker

Read on for my thoughts on Crave. No spoilers, promise.

Review: Girls Can’t Be Knights by Lee French

Posted June 15, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Girls Can’t Be Knights
Series:
Author: Lee French
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Published: June 12, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Portland has a ghost problem.

Sixteen-year-old Claire wants her father back. His death left her only memories and an empty locket. After six difficult years in foster care, her vocabulary no longer includes “hope” and “trust.”

Everything changes when Justin rides his magical horse into her path and takes her under his wing. Like the rest of the elite men who serve as Spirit Knights, he hunts restless ghosts that devour the living.

When an evil spirit threatens Claire’s life, she’ll need Justin’s help to survive. And how could she bear the Knights’ mark on her soul? Everybody knows Girls Can’t Be Knights.

Read on for my thoughts on Girls Can’t Be Knights. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Animal Prints by May Williams

Posted June 15, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Animal Prints
Series: Michigan Moonlight #1
Author: May Williams
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 15, 2015
Publisher: Penner Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Photographer Ian Kroft’s dream is to finish his book on fellow veterans. When his father offers him the funds he needs in exchange for persuading a family to sell their farm, it sounds simple. Then Ian meets Colette and in a flash everything changes.

Cherry Ridge Farm is home to Colette’s family—and to her animal rescue center. The slim, gorgeous veterinarian has no intention of selling. Soon Ian’s chasing after her runaway dog and laughing at her jokes, and he knows that if he lets slip his real purpose, she’ll never forgive him. Ian’s torn between his book and his new romance…all while his father is clamoring for him to seal the deal.

Colette can trust a dog to come back when she calls, but a man? Colette’s been burned more than once. Then a sweet, athletic photographer pops into her life and makes her wonder if it’s time to picture a new future.

Read on for my thoughts on Animal Prints. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Deadly Strain by Julie Rowe

Posted June 15, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Deadly Strain
Series: Biological Response Team #1
Author: Julie Rowe
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military Romance
Published: June 15, 2015
Publisher: Carina Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Major Grace Samuels, a trauma surgeon deployed to Afghanistan, spends her life helping her fellow soldiers overcome disease and combat injuries. But her own wounds are harder to heal. Wracked with guilt over the death of a fellow soldier, she finds comfort in her only friend and appointed bodyguard, weapons sergeant Jacob “Sharp” Foster.

Sharp feels more for Grace than a soldier should, more than he wants to admit. When the team discovers a new, quick-to-kill strain of Anthrax, he tries to focus on the mission to find its source. He knows he can help Grace defeat her demons, but first they must defeat the deadly outbreak.

Sharp is Grace’s most loyal ally, but in close quarters, he starts to feel like more. She can’t watch someone else she cares about die—but she might not have a choice. The closer they get to finding the source of the strain, the closer it gets to finding them.

Read on for my thoughts on Deadly Strain. No true spoilers, promise.

Happy National Bourbon Day!

Posted June 14, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

June 14th is National Bourbon Day. Yeah, it’s true… this amazing booze has it’s own personal day of celebration.

I don’t know why – but for me when I think of bourbon I think of steamy Southern nights – a mystery – or simply sitting on the deck enjoying the sunset.

There’s no bad reason to love bourbon – after all there’s a very famous street named after it. *wink*

Remember, enjoy National Bourbon Day – and always drink responsibly.

Cheers!

Review: Filtered Through Blue by Jennifer Bramseth

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

Title: Filtered Through Blue
Series: Bourbon Springs #2
Author: Jennifer Bramseth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 14, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 star
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Hannah Davenport, the blonde bombshell belle of Bourbon Springs, Kentucky, and part owner of Old Garnet Distillery, catches her husband cheating in the marital bed and promptly dumps him. But new hope flows into her life in the form of an old flame, Craig County Sheriff Kyle Sammons. Their last relationship, a college summertime romance, ended in disaster. Kyle has never revealed the reason for the breakup, nor has Hannah, although Bourbon Springs has always been filled with rumors–rumors which both Hannah and Kyle know are wrong.

Hannah and Kyle strive to move beyond a painful past, but it will be difficult if she goes to work for the distillery, as her brother and co-owner, Bo Davenport, begs her to do after two key employees leave. Hannah takes up her brother’s challenge and the mantle of the Davenport name as she becomes a working owner of the legendary distillery, and crucial to growing the brand her late father had worked himself into an early grave to build.

But as her romance with Kyle deepens, so do her conflicts with her brother at work. And caught between her brother and her lover, she fears that the truth will come out about what happened years ago—a secret she’s buried and carried for years, unable to think about it because of the pain it still causes to this day…

FILTERED THROUGH BLUE is the second book the Bourbon Springs Series, a nine-book series of smooth, sensual, sexy, slow-burn contemporary romances set amidst the lush and rolling Land of Bourbon and Bluegrass of central Kentucky.

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