I’m so excited about this giveaway, I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting the release of B. A. Paris’ second book, The Breakdown and I’m thrilled I have a copy to give away to one of you lucky people!
If you missed my review, you can find it here. If you want a chance to win one of the most anticipated releases of the summer enter through the Rafflecopter below, and good luck! (US only due to shipping costs)
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I’m beyond excited today to be taking part in the cover reveal for Caroline Mitchell’s latest book!! It’s book two in her Ruby Preston series and I loved the first one, here is my review in case you missed it.
Without further ado….
About Sleep Tight:
Close your eyes … Just pray you don’t wake up.
A killer stalks the streets of East London. All over the area, murdered young women are discovered, their bodies posed into a sickening recreation of fairytale princesses.
Detective Ruby Preston is determined to hunt down a disturbed individual who is using the women to realise their twisted fantasies. But when body parts are found at the home of her lover, Nathan Crosby, Ruby is torn between her job and her heart.
Convinced that he is being framed, Ruby must catch the killer before Nathan becomes the number one suspect. But as more victims are found, it becomes harder to prove his innocence.
Ruby is in too deep, knowing that the cruel individual is getting ever closer, looking for his next beautiful victim. But can she stop a killer hell-bent on fulfilling their horrific desires – before it’s too late? And how well does she really know the man she loves?
A terrifying, addictive serial killer thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, for readers of Angela Marsons, Peter James and Rachel Abbott.
Sounds like another smashing read from Mitchell! You can preorder on Amazon US and Amazon UK.
About the Author:
A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences.
Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family in a pretty village on the coast of Essex. She now writes full time.
Goodreads|Amazon|iTunes|Barnes & Noble
Release date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Blurb:
She’s a work in progress . . .
Bailey Meredith has had it. As an assistant at a prestigious interior design firm, she’s tired of making coffee and filing invoices. She’ll do just about anything to get out from under the paperwork and into the field for real experience. Then she sees an ad for a job that seems too good to be true.
He’s a fixer upper . . .
Wilder Aldrich knew she would be perfect for the crew the moment he saw her. His hit home improvement show only hired the best, and Bailey had potential written all over her. It isn’t just her imaginative creativity and unmatched work ethic that grabs his attention. There’s just something about her.
With chemistry on screen, it’s only a matter of time before sparks fly behind the scenes as well. But with Bailey’s jaded views on romance and a big secret that could destroy Wilder and everyone he cares about, are either of them willing to risk it all for love?
I’m so happy to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Playing House! This was such a cute, fun read, perfect for fans of those fixer upper type reality TV shows, I loved it. I’m sharing an excerpt today to whet your appetite then my review will follow. There’s also a giveaway linked at the very end you can enter!
Excerpt:
Keeping a close distance, she followed Waverly up the cracked path to the house. Bailey took quick mental notes of her surroundings. The exterior needed a lot of work. The sagging roof missing gutters made her think they’d find the inside in similar disarray. They stepped through the front door, nearly tripping over Wilder Aldrich, who was measuring the entryway.
“Hey!” He sprang to his feet and out of their way. “What did I tell you about waiting until I gave you the all clear?”
“You were taking for-frickin’-ever, and some of us were freezing our tits off.” She pursed her lips and took on a warrior stance, seemingly daring him to say something else.
Conceding victory to her, Wilder turned and flashed an apologetic grin at Bailey. “Hey.” He offered a hand. Warmth permeated through the thin material of her glove. “Welcome to Casa de Waverly.”
Giving him a smug grin, Waverly sipped her coffee and faced Bailey. “Do you have a smart phone?”
Bailey stared blankly for a second, still dazzled by seeing Wilder up close. But she quickly snapped to attention and dug her phone out of her coat pocket.
“Good,” Waverly said after inspecting it. “While you’re on the job, I’d like you to snap some photos for our social media accounts. I’ll want to vet everything before we post it, but we need to start building the buzz for the next season while we’re filming. In exchange, we’ll cover your phone payments to take care of your data usage. Understood?”
“I can do that.”
“Good. Now . . .” She pulled out her own phone. It was the latest model that had come out on the market a month ago. With all of its reported bells and whistles, it put Bailey’s poor phone to shame. “I’m going to make a quick call. I’ll be back in a few minutes, and we can get started on,” she gestured around her, “this mess.”
She spun on her heel and waltzed out of the room, cooing into the phone.
Wilder cleared his throat, and Bailey turned to give him her full attention. She estimated he was only a couple of years older than herself—maybe in his late twenties or early thirties. He looked younger in real life than he did on TV. He was leaner and a little shorter—though she still had to crane her neck a little to meet his gaze.
He was also more handsome. Not the GQ model, your tongue-sticks-to-the-top-of-your-mouth kind of sexy. But he was hot in the same way the guy you sat next to in Chemistry was. It was enough to distract you from formulas and Bunsen burners every so often, but not enough that you’d ever set the lab on fire or forget to finish your final exam.
So far, he seemed much more serious. Where was the guy who scared Waverly with a stuffed dummy in a closet in the last episode she’d watched before calling an end to the marathon?
He was, she realized, studying her every bit as closely, with those hazel eyes speckled with green. Noting that, she didn’t feel quite as rude taking mental notes on the man in front of him.
At least she looked good. She’d laid out three outfits that morning in the hotel room. The first was a long, silky turquoise tunic that she’d paired with a pair of black leggings and knee-high boots. It was similar to the clothes Waverly favored on screen—only hers weren’t name-brand knockoffs. Then she had the casual jeans, a gray T-shirt that she could dress-up with a navy blue blazer. And there was option three: dark-wash, fit jeans, a chambray shirt, and a scarf. It was an ensemble that fell somewhere in the middle. It was the one that looked the most like her when she inspected herself in the mirror.
It was the one that felt most like her now in the middle of the foyer.
She wondered what he saw when he looked at her. Did he see a confident young woman ready to tackle major projects adeptly? Or did he see someone who was desperate to create, no matter what happened? Both were correct, but which one shone through right now?
Like a light switch, that triggered something in her. She offered her hand again. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Bailey Meredith.”
Review:
My husband and I are in the process of building a house right now and to say he’s obsessed with HGTV is putting it mildly. He always has it on when we’re home and though I didn’t see the appeal of these types of shows at first, they’ve admittedly grown on me. There’s something so satisfying about seeing a whole remodel or renovation being completed in thirty minutes, even if I know it’s unrealistic. Getting to see behind the scenes of a home improvement show AND adding in funny romance was like a match made in heaven for me.
Bailey was just a doll, the perfect lead character for a rom com, and I would totally watch the movie version of Playing House. She’s passionate about interior design and when the opportunity to work as an assistant designer on one of the top rated shows for the Design Network arises, she’s pretty excited. Waverly and Wilder are the couple behind an uber successful TV series, they have an adorable four year old daughter, Virginia and seem to be living a dream life. But not is all as it seems, and Bailey soon finds out that besides clever editing and sneaky reshoots, Waverly and Wilder are keeping some pretty big personal secrets as well.
This one was just a ball of fun and had such a great energy. Wilder and Bailey had indisputable chemistry despite some complications and reservations on both ends. Wilder oozed sex appeal, as a Texas native he had the whole gentlemanly, southern charm routine nailed. Besides those two, there was a great supporting cast of likable characters. Paige is Bailey’s older sister, Felix is one of the crew, Renée is the shows producer, and then Waverly and little Virginia round it all out. They all brought something unique to the table and I would love to see more of any of them and am hoping the author has plans to turn this into a series? If you’re looking for a sexy, flirty read with a few surprises thrown in along the way, look no further.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the author for my review copy.
About the Author:
Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, The Marrying Type, and Playing House. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. She loves talking to readers. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also get the latest news from her website, blog, and monthly newsletter.
***Giveaway***
This month, during the Playing House blog tour, you can enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of 1 free Audible copy each of The Marrying Type, First & Goal, Going for Two or 1 $20 Amazon gift card. Enter here.
Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 23, 2017
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Blurb:
A brilliantly twisty psychological thriller for fans of I Let You Go and Behind Closed Doors.
How far would you go to create the perfect life?
Gracie Dwyer has it all: the handsome husband, the adorable child, the beautiful home and the glittering career. The perfect life.
Her new friend Juliet doesn’t exactly fit in. She’s a down-on-her-luck single parent with no money and not much hope.
So just what is it that draws Gracie and Juliet together? And when the cracks start to appear in Gracie’s perfect life, can both of them survive?
Review:
Her Perfect Life had many of the ingredients I look for in a good, solid psychological thriller but there was something missing for me, maybe some tension, or that feeling of confusion and disbelief was lacking, I’m not exactly sure. Sometimes I think it’s just really difficult for authors to capture that special something that makes a psychological thriller a real star.
Let’s start with what worked for me. I liked the alternating point of views used, we hear from both Gracie and Juliet as they start an awkward friendship. There are also random diary entries from a young woman named Pauline and I enjoyed trying to figure out who she was and how she fit into the story. The big twist in the end was decent but not totally shocking and that’s always a disappointment.
Several things bothered me about this one, but one of my biggest issues was that there were far too many loose ends left hanging and things that just didn’t fully make sense. There was something missing in the writing style as well, there was no easy flow, no sense of being addicted to the read that kept me flipping the pages at a fast pace. Speaking of pacing, things just felt disjointed, at times things moved very fast and at others it felt super slow moving, I would’ve liked the author to pick one or the other.
Overall it was an ok read, nothing special and I think as soon as I finish writing this review I’ll forget most of the characters names. I’m not upset that I powered through and finished so I suppose I’m satisfied on some level, but I was definitely left wanting more.
Overall rating: 2.5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: June 8, 2016
Genre: Short Stories
Blurb:
Five stories – Five Lives.
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.
In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Next, there is Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself and finally Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
Review:
Back in November I had Leuschel here for a Q & A, you can find that here, it gives a little insight into what inspired her to write Manipulated Lives and also her writing process.
I’ve always been fascinated by psychology and the idea behind this collection of short stories was really intriguing to me. It consists of five short stories that all center around the theme of manipulation. This form of abuse is frightening as it is so easy for people to fall under the spell of someone who wants to use them and take advantage of their vulnerabilities.
All of the stories were interesting in their own way and I enjoyed reading each one of them, but of the five stories two were standouts for me, The Runaway Girl and The Perfect Child. TRG focuses on Holly, a fifteen year old desperate for freedom. She’s a typical teenager, full of hopes and dreams and when she meets a new boy at her school, Luke, she is swept off of her feet. She can’t believe the cutest boy in school is actually interested in her. Unfortunately for her, Luke is a classic manipulator and quickly begins playing games with her. TPC is the story of Lisa, a woman who became a mother later in life to her son, Lucas. She’s the victim and he’s the abuser in this story and she spent most of her life making excuses for his abhorrent behavior. As a mother I can understand how it would be hard to admit your own child was this type of person, I think we’ve all met people who excuse their children’s behavior.
This was a quick read and a fairly engrossing one, it’s heavy on the psychology behind manipulation and what drives people to behave this way. The saddest part for me was that people have no idea they’re being manipulated and abused until it’s far too late.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to the author for my review copy.
Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Blurb:
I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.
Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.
Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.
What happens next will change them forever.
In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.
Review:
I have to start by wishing Amy the happiest of publication days today! This is such a poignant, timely, relevant read and one that is vitally important. This book is powerful, and it tackles uncomfortable and difficult subject matter, but one that society has ignored for far too long and I’m giving Amy a standing ovation today for being brave and strong enough to tackle the ugly truth behind rape.
Rape. Such an awful word, isn’t it? It conjures up pictures of masked assailants, strange perverts who get off on grabbing women from a dark alley or parking lot. I know this happens, and I’m not trying to trivialize it whatsoever, but did you know that seven out of ten rapes are committed by someone known to the victim? The danger isn’t necessarily lurking in the shadows, oftentimes it’s been invited into your home or it’s a loose acquaintance. Seven out of ten.
Amber and Tyler have been best friends for years, they have a fantastic relationship and are as close as siblings. Amber is the only child of over protective but extremely loving parents, and Tyler’s parents are divorced. His mom, Liz is best friends with Amber’s mom, Helen and they’ve even taken family vacations together. Tyler has always been there for Amber, she trusts him implicitly, until one night when everything goes to hell in a hand basket. Tyler rapes her and the impact shatters both of them as well as their families.
Hatvany tells the story from the perspective of both Amber and Tyler so you’re able to see what each of them are thinking and feeling which I found especially powerful. Amber struggles with self loathing, victim blaming, and constantly questions herself. When she said no was it too late? It’s never too late, and the concept of consent was handle so beautifully here. Does consent only need to be given once then it’s a free for all? No, most definitely not, if a woman (or a man) changes their mind at any point and says no or stop, things should end immediately. Hatvany expands on this and more in this thought provoking essay she wrote on The Conversations We’re Not Having With Our Sons. I highly recommend reading this, one of the things that stood out to me was that most parents have many discussions with their daughters about the importance of safety; don’t walk alone in the dark, don’t leave your drink unattended, etc. but are enough people having the so very important conversation with their sons about consent? How do young men know about this if it’s never talked about? That has to change, it really does.
I could go on for days about this book and it’s impact on me, but I’ll wrap things up. This was messy, real, raw, unflinchingly honest and heartbreaking, but in the end there was hope and a sense of healing. It was also beautiful, thought provoking, and utterly crucial, this book needs to be read, by anyone and everyone. I smell a giveaway coming, this is one where I’ll be pushing it on everyone I know, unapologetically.
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to BookSparks for my review copy.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week. It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate.
What I Read Last Week:
Deadly Game was a solid thriller.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead was the third book in a series and my favorite thus far.
Mystery at Maplemead Castle was book two in a series I adore!
A Dangerous Crossing was a fascinating historical fiction novel.
The Lost Children was a good start to a new crime series.
The Last Chance Matinee had a really interesting premise.
Six Stories was a stunning debut, wholly unique, I highly recommend it.
Don’t Stop Me Now was a totally uplifting read.
Forever a Hero was a typical, straightforward romance.
Currently Reading:
Up Next:
I actually have some wiggle room in my TBR this week so some of these may not make it, in still figuring out my final schedule, I may even mood read for the first time in awhile!
I also posted my first discussion post of the year about blogging guilt and it seemed many people could relate, so I’m working on part two and I’m hoping to have it up later this week.
What are you currently reading?
Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Suspense
Blurb:
Violet and Finn were “meant to be,” said everyone, always. They ended up together by the hands of fate aligning things just so. Three years into their marriage, they have a wonderful little boy, and as the three of them embark on their first vacation as a family, Violet can’t help thinking that she can’t believe her luck. Life is good.
So no one is more surprised than she when Finn leaves her at the beach—just packs up the hotel room and disappears. And takes their son with him. Violet is suddenly in her own worst nightmare, and faced with the knowledge that the man she’s shared her life with, she never really knew at all.
Caitlin and Finn have been best friends since way back when, but when Finn shows up on Caitlin’s doorstep with the son he’s wanted for kidnapping, demands that she hide them from the authorities, and threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy her own family if she doesn’t, Caitlin faces an impossible choice.
Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, Almost Missed You is a powerful story of a mother’s love, a husband’s betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn’t have been kept, and spaces between what’s meant to be and what might have been.
Review:
I love the idea of fate playing a huge role in someone’s life, remember the movie Serendipity? When I read the blurb for this that’s the first thing that popped into my head, but this isn’t as light and cutesy, it’s much darker and way more emotional. I’m also a huge fan of domestic suspense books like Behind Closed Doors, The Marriage Lie and Say Nothing, so when an author can take the concept of not really knowing who you’re married to and put a unique spin on it, I’m all in!
This is told from three perspectives and also in flashbacks from Violet, Finn and Caitlin. Violet and Finn are married and the way they meet and end up together is fascinating. This is where the whole concept of kismet comes into play, but I don’t want to say more because half of the fun of reading this one was watching it unfold myself. Caitlin is Finn’s best friend from college and her and Violet also become close, especially after they’re pregnant at the same time. When Finn and their son, Bear vanish while on vacation, both women are utterly blindsided and struggle to fathom what drove Finn to such extreme measures.
This was a highly addictive, page turning read. It starts off really strong and sucks you right into Violet and Finn’s marriage and their friendship with Caitlin. It’s pretty clear right away that Finn has some huge secrets, but it was twisty in many other surprising ways as well. In the middle of the book the pace slows down quite a bit and there is a lot of soul searching amongst all of the characters. Then in the last quarter of the book things really get cranked up again and the tension mounts as it all comes to a head.
Strawser is an extremely talented writer and she wrote an engaging story that kept me engrossed for the vast majority of the book. This would be a really good pick for a book club, there is plenty to discuss about the choices the characters made and the secrets that were kept and if the reasoning behind said secrets was justified or not. My only slight complaint was that the ending was a bit too neat and tidy for me, but I always do appreciate a good epilogue and I definitely had that here. I can wholeheartedly say that I would pick up another one of the authors books anytime.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my review copy.
Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: March 10, 2017
Publisher: Sahno Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Blurb:
Miles of Files is a literary novel that combines humor with a good old fashioned crime story. When Paul Panepinto finds out that his boss is stealing from their Tampa company’s 401(k) plan, he has to make a decision: try to stop the criminal at the risk of losing his own job, or keep his mouth shut and try to live with himself.
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Miles of Files. I have a Q & A with the author to share with you today.
Q & A
Q: What got you into writing?
A: I was always a writer, even as a youngster. People who knew me in high school or college will remember me as Class Poet, or editor of the literary magazine.
When I got into my late teens, I started writing more fiction, some short stories. Then I started my first novel when I was about twenty-five. Once I finished the first one, I launched into writing the second novel before I ever thought about looking for an agent or publisher. That led to the three books I have available today.
Q: Why did you publish your first three novels simultaneously?
A: I thought it would make a great news story: Author Releases First Three Novels On The Same Day. I had no idea how much work I was in for…the amount of editing and proofreading was intense. But I think the result is well worth it, and people are really enjoying them – some great reviews and some humbling compliments!
Q: Why did you decide to self-publish?
A: I was well aware that publishers typically base the decision to accept or reject submissions on financial considerations. Even worse, most novelists are introverts, so we’re shy about marketing ourselves. And no one really helps us market our work, which is crucial in an age where so much is getting published. I do it all, including marketing myself.
Q: Your latest novel is called Miles of Files. How did you choose that title?
A: I like to have a little “Easter egg” in each novel for readers who have read my other books. My first novel, Brothers’ Hand, is set in a fictional town in upstate New York called Carverville. So the Easter egg in my second novel, Jana, is where the woman telling the story says her mother is from Carverville, NY. At one point in that book, Jana uses the phrase “miles of files.” That was a play on the name of a Joni Mitchell album, Miles of Aisles. It stuck in my head, and I ended up choosing it for the title of my third novel.
Q: Tell us about Miles of Files.
A: The main character finds out his boss is stealing from the company retirement plan. But it’s not a traditional embezzlement: he’s actually created these fake employee files, complete with nonexistent social security numbers, to make it look like he’s paying out benefits to former employees.
People want to know if it’s based on a real-life experience, and the answer is no. However, I once worked for a company that “froze” the company retirement plan for a year, so no one could take funds out or even put funds in. That was an unnerving experience, and it informed this novel to some degree.
Q: What advice would you give writers who are just starting out?
A: “Bash on regardless.”
Thanks to Mike for joining me today!
About the Author:
Michael J. Sahno was born in Bristol, CT. He earned his Bachelor’s from Lynchburg College and his Master’s in English from Binghamton University. Sahno has been a professional writer since 2001. His novels cater to an imaginative audience, particularly those who enjoy literary fiction with a twist of drama and plenty of humor. Sahno is a member of the Florida Writers Association and American Library Association, and the founder of Tampa Literary Authors.
Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: March 21, 2017
Publisher: HQN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blurb:
For the youngest Carson brother, finding—and fixing—trouble seems to be all in a day’s work
Mace Carson is no hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened—but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she’s in Wyoming on business…a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only, he’s not selling.
Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue, has never forgotten him. The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she’s secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance…against both of them.
Review:
So back when I was in middle/high school I used to read a lot of romance novels, the cheesier the better. I know, so clichéd, right? As I got older my tastes matured and mysteries and thrillers took over and I tend to mostly grab a romantic comedy if I’m looking for something on the lighter side. When the lovely Claire at Little Bird Publicity asked if I wanted to review Forever a Hero I was immediately nostalgic and figured that reading a straightforward romance novel may be fun for a change.
This is definitely a good old fashioned romance complete with a cowboy. Admittedly I’m a sucker for a good looking man in a cowboy hat (has anyone else been watching the new season of DWTS? Bonner is swoon worthy) and though parts of this were pretty cheesy, Lael Miller is a talented writer even if the plot was pretty typical.
This is the third book in a series, each one follows one of the Carson brothers who live in the picturesque town of Mustang Creek, Wyoming. Mace Carson runs a winery, which is another point in the authors favor for me because I’m an even bigger sucker for a great bottle of wine. Kelly is a successful business woman and the company she works for sends her to visit Mace’s winery because they want to purchase it. He saved her from an attacker ten years ago and I’m sure you can guess what I’m about to say next, but he’s out of prison and out for revenge.
The plot itself was pretty predictable but the characters made up for it, plus everyone once and awhile it’s nice to know what to expect. The Carson family is large, rowdy and friendly and the town they live in is the same. Kelly and Mace had an easy banter and this was a quick and fun read for me. I doubt I’ll ever go back to reading straight up romance novels all the time anytime soon, but this was a nice change of pace and an enjoyable read.
Overall rating: 3/5
Thanks to Claire at Little Bird Publicity for my review copy.
About the Author:
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Hallmark Movie Channel is developing a series based on Linda’s Big Sky Country novels. Her latest book, Forever a Hero, a March 21, 2017 HQN Books release, is the third in her Carsons of Mustang Creek series. Her first mainstream Civil War novel will be published in May 2018.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
Novelgossip 