Review: Deja Date by Susan Hatler

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

Deja DateTitle:  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.

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Review: Getting It Right by Christi Williams

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

Getting It rightTitle:  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.

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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

Fairy Tale CollectionTitle:  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.

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Review: Through Infinity by Libby Austin

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

Through InfinityTitle:  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.

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Review: Stealing Hearts by Erika Marks

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

Stealing HeartsTitle:  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

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Making Certain Photos Show Up In Bloglovin’ Feed

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

scattered papersI 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.

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Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #3

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

unConventionalBookViews_Meme-ThirstyThursdayHungryHeartsThere 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.

Bachelor At Her BiddingYour 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?

 

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Review: The Millionaire by Victoria Purman

Posted March 11, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

The MillionaireTitle:  The Millionaire
Series:  Hot Aussie Heroes (Book 4)
Author:  Victoria Purman
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  January 1, 2015
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Renowned photographer Chris Malone is fed up with fame and disaster. All he wants is anonymity and a chance to recharge. Suburban journalist Ellie Flannery has other ideas. If she can just convince her long-time idol to support her favorite cause, she knows her fund-raiser will be a huge success.

After refusing at first, Chris decides to co-operate. When he’s forced to defend his own reputation as well as his family’s, he decides he wants something from the idealistic and sexy-but-doesn’t-know-it Ms Flannery Ellie in return: her heart.

But Ellie has scars that no one has ever seen, and she doesn’t want to open herself up to anyone, much less a man with such an unflinching eye for the truth. Can Chris convince her to strip herself bare, in more ways than one?

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

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Review: The Playboy by Madeline Ash

Posted March 10, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

The PlayboyTitle:  The Playboy
Series:  Hot Aussie Heroes (Book 3)
Author:  Madeline Ash
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  January 21, 2015
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Wanted: Sexy sun-kissed surfer for hot summer fling.

Innocent Alexia Burton needs to become sexually confident for an upcoming acting role, and that means taking a lover.

Someone she’s attracted to. Someone who’ll teach her what she needs to know, but not ask for more than she’s prepared to give. She needs to learn the intensity of true desire and then have him walk away.

Parker Hargreaves is determined to make amends for treating Alexia badly all those years ago. He’s changed and wants her to think better of him. If that means letting her sharpen her sexual moves on him, so be it. He’ll do it. His playboy reputation certainly won’t suffer.

He just doesn’t count on walking away being so hard.

Read on for my thoughts on The Playboy.  No true spoilers, honest.

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Review: What A Bachelor Needs by Kelly Hunter

Posted March 10, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

What A Bachelor NeedsTitle:  What A Bachelor Needs
Series:  Montana Born Bachelor Auction
Author:  Kelly Hunter
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  March 13, 2015
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Your date with ski champ Jett Casey is an either/or deal. He’ll take you off-piste for the ultimate Montana ski adventure or he’ll put his handyman skills at your disposal for a week.

Single mom Mardie Griffin has a run-down old house in need of fixing and a memory of Jett Casey as her saviour in a time of great need. So when her friends acquire Jett’s services at a bachelor auction and send him to fix up her house, she sets aside her mistrust of men and lets him in.

Elite athlete Jett Casey has the world at his feet and no desire for stability. But there’s one woman he’s never forgotten and if he can help make her safe this time, maybe she’ll stop haunting him.

No strings, no sex, no commitment. Just fix things. Surely it can’t be that difficult…

Read on for my thoughts on What A Bachelor Needs.  No true spoilers, honest.

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Review: The Bachelor’s Baby by Dani Collins

Posted March 10, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

The Bachelor's BabyTitle:  The Bachelor’s Baby
Series:  Montana Born Bachelor Auction
Author:  Dani Collins
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  March 6, 2015
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Your date with Bachelor #3 includes champagne and chocolate in the limo that collects you, a helicopter tour of Marietta and the surrounding mountains and valleys, and dinner at a five star restaurant in Great Falls. While oil baron Linc Brady wines and dines you, a maid service will completely clean your home.

Who could resist this tempting offer, but Meg Canon plans to do just that. She is only home to clean out her childhood bedroom for her brother’s new step-daughter and then she’s outta her childhood small town and back to her life in Chicago, but when she meets the sexy, renegade millionaire while she’s stuck in the snow, sparks fly and Meg is tempted to maybe stay a little longer.

Linc Brady is new in town and happy to help a kid in need, but this? Technically he doesn’t owe Meg a damned thing after she bids on him, after setting him up for the Marietta bachelor auction in the first place, but her high-class city polish is his fatal weakness and makes her impossible to forget. When she agrees to come home with him, he makes it clear he’s a confirmed bachelor. This is a one-night thing. One night that turns into nine months and maybe a lifetime…?

Read on for my thoughts on The Bachelor’s Baby.  No true spoilers, promise.

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