Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Book of Judas (Alessandra Russo #2) by Linda Stasi

Published September 19th 2017 by Forge
From hard-hitting New York Daily News columnist Linda Stasi comes Book of Judas, a riveting religious thriller featuring beloved protagonist Alessandra Russo.

When her infant son is placed in mortal danger, New York City reporter Alessandra Russo is forced to save him by tracking down the missing pages of the Gospel of Judas, a heretical manuscript that was unearthed in Al-Minya, Egypt in the 1970's. The manuscript declares that Judas was not the betrayer, but the beloved, of Jesus. The Gospel disappeared, only to turn up decades later, rotted beyond repair in a Long Island bank deposit box. Rumors ran rampant that the most important pages had been stolen.

Do the lost pages reveal a secret that will challenge Christianity's very belief about the creation of life, or even the power to unleash Armageddon? What if such explosive documents fell into the hands of modern-day terrorists, dictators, or religious fanatics?

During her investigation, Alessandra is plunged into a dark world of murder, conspiracy, sexual depravity, and most importantly, a race against the clock to save her own child.

My Thoughts…

Linda Stasi did a great job of bringing the reader into the story and making her words come alive.    I felt that the story flowed easily.

The Gospel of Judas is a religious mystery that I know nothing about.    The not knowing for me threw me back a couple times but it was easy to understand the importance of this item.    The feel of getting a history lesson without it being boring non-fiction writing was great.  I ended the book wanting to know more and hoping to be able to find more information on something I knew nothing about until I picked up this book. 

The mystery part of the story was my favorite.   The romance and Alessandra’s personal life was not so fun to me.   Alessandra as a mother left something to be desired, who would leave their child without someone they didn’t entirely trust.    I just couldn’t connect with Alessandra.

Book Links
Goodreads    |    Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble 


Monday, October 30, 2017

Hunters Moon by Lynda Renham


Hunters Moon, set in the little English village of Penlyn, promises to be the dream home for Flora and Adam McIntosh. Adam’s career in politics has taken a turn for the better and the only thing left to complete the couple’s happiness is a baby. Flora believes the new home will help her overcome a recent miscarriage but she soon realises the house is not all it seems. What are the villagers of Penlyn hiding and does Hunters Moon hold a dark secret? Flora soon finds herself entrapped in a web of deceit with no one to turn to. Her dream home becomes her nightmare as Flora fears for her life.

My Thoughts…

I have always been a fan of Lynda Renham’s comedy and romance books and now that she is writing psychological thrillers I am an even bigger fan.    I love getting pulled into a book, hook on the drama, and having to turn page after page to find out what will happen.   That is exactly what I feel when reading Hunters Moon. 

Hunters Moon is a creepy, old house in a creepy small town.     The minute Flora walks into the house she feels the ghosts, smells the roses, and knows something is off but her husband, Adam, pushes to purchase the house.     When left alone at the house there is a feeling that the house comes alive.   There are shadows in the window, noises left unexplained, boats leaving the docks, and smells that shouldn’t be there.      Is she going crazy?  Is the house haunted?    I was never sure; I wanted to believe it wasn’t her losing her mind.    

Lynda Renham is as talented writing her thrillers as she is in her other works.    I recommend picking up your own copy ASAP.





Friday, October 27, 2017

Secrets at Seaside by Addison Cole & GIVEAWAY

NEW RELEASE........ 

Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers features a group of fun, flirty, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They're sassy, flawed, and so easy to relate to, you'll be begging to enter their circle of friends! All books can be read as stand-alone novels.

Secrets at Seaside by Addison Cole is the sweet edition of New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster's steamy romance novel Seaside Secrets. The stories and characters remain the same and convey all of the passion you expect between two people in love, without any explicit scenes or harsh language.

In SECRETS at SEASIDE… 
Tony Black is the hottest surfer on the planet. He travels the world throughout the year and spends his summers on Cape Cod with his friends, at the Seaside cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. He’s got his choice of women, but Amy Maples is the one he wants. Fourteen years ago she was his for an entire summer, until a devastating accident changed everything, and what they had seemed like it had never existed—at least for her.

Amy Maples is as consistent as the day is long. She’s spent summers on Cape Cod forever, she always does the right thing, and she’s spent years trying to reclaim the heart of Tony Black, the only man she’s ever loved. She’s back for a summer of fun with her friends at Seaside, only this year she’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime thousands of miles away, and she’s decided to try one last time to reconnect with Tony. But having a relationship with Tony means dealing with her past—and dealing with her past may knock her to her knees.

Secrets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Secrets by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.


My Thoughts…

For years Amy and Tony have been friends.    Tony watches out for Amy, holds her hand when they are out, puts his arm around her when she is cold, and takes her home when she has too much to drink.    Amy knows Tony’s surfing schedule better than Tony, texts him daily, and watches him whenever he is around.   Yet, they are not a couple.     They are just friends.   

Amy and Tony have history.   It had to be there somewhere but no one but them knew what it was.    It wasn’t a past that they wanted to revisit; it wasn’t something that they wanted to share but to move forward they knew that they had to.    I love when characters have a history and work to move past it.  I feel like that makes them real, relatable, and lovable.    Amy and Tony became characters that I was invested in.   I needed to know what secrets their past held.    

There is so much love, life, and friendship in this book that my heart was bursting.   I could feel the relationship love, the friendship love, and the all around love between the characters of Seaside.    

Addison Cole has such talent.   These books are sweet with some heat.    The attraction and the feelings are all there but she keeps her books clean.    There is no foul language and no explicit scenes.  


Available to buy from ...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback



Also available... 
Read, Write, Love at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 1)
Bestselling author Kurt Remington lives to write. He spends twelve hours a day in front of his computer, rarely leaving the seclusion of his beach-front property, where he’s come to finish his latest thriller — that is, until free-spirited Leanna Bray nearly drowns in the ocean trying to save her dog. Kurt’s best-laid plans are shot to hell when he comes to their rescue. Kurt’s as irritated as he is intrigued by the sexy, hot mess of a woman who lives life on a whim, forgets everything, and doesn’t even know the definition of the word organized.

Leanna’s come to the Cape hoping to find a fulfilling career in the jam-making business, and until she figures out her own life, a man is not on the menu. But Leanna can’t get the six-two, deliciously muscled and tragically neat Kurt out of her mind. She tells herself she’s just stopping by to say thank you, but the heart-warming afternoon sparks an emotional and unexpectedly sweet ride as Kurt and Leanna test the powers of Chemistry 101: Opposites Attract.

Read, Write, Love at Seaside is the sweet edition of steamy romance novel Read, Write, Love by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Get the 1st book FREE!!
Available to buy from ...

Dreaming at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 2)
Bella Abbascia has returned to Seaside Cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as she does every summer. Only this year, Bella has more on her mind than sunbathing and skinny-dipping with her girlfriends. She’s quit her job, put her house on the market, and sworn off relationships while she builds a new life in her favorite place on earth. That is, until good-time Bella’s prank takes a bad turn and a handsome police officer appears on the scene.

Single father and police officer Caden Grant left Boston with his fourteen-year-old son, Evan, after his partner was killed in the line of duty. He hopes to find a safer life in the small resort town of Wellfleet, and when he meets Bella during a night patrol shift, he realizes he’s found the one thing he’d never allowed himself to hope for—or even realized he was missing.

After fourteen years of focusing solely on his son, Caden cannot resist the intense attraction he feels toward beautiful Bella, and Bella’s powerless to fight the heat of their budding romance. But starting over proves more difficult than either of them imagined, and when Evan gets mixed up with the wrong kids, Caden’s loyalty is put to the test. Will he give up everything to protect his son—even Bella?

Dreaming at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Dreams by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from ...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback

Hearts at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 3)

Jenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men. 

As the eldest of five siblings, with an alcoholic father to care for, boat craftsman Pete Lacroux always does the right thing and has no time for a real relationship. He’s looking forward to seeing his friend Jenna, a welcome distraction who’s so sexy and painfully shy that she equally entertains and confuses him. 

When Jenna picks up a hard-bodied construction worker, jealousy ignites Pete’s true feelings, and he’s unable to ignore the desires for Jenna he never realized he had. But Pete’s not the quiet guy he appears to be, and his life is anything but conducive to a relationship. Can Jenna handle the real Pete Lacroux—the most alpha male she’s ever seen—or will she crack under pressure? And can Pete reclaim the life he once had without tearing apart his family? 

Hearts at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Hearts by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from ...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback



Sunsets at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 4)
Jessica Ayers has lived a sheltered life with little more than cello lessons and practices taking up her day. Now a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she escapes the prim and proper symphony to vacation in the Seaside community in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to determine if she is living life to the fullest or missing it altogether.

For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother—and falling in love is not in his plans.

From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sweet, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie’s business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the brown-haired beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie’s life—and his heart—upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away.

Sunsets at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Available to buy from ...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback

Nights at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 6)
Sky Lacroux has finally realized her dream and opened her own tattoo shop in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She’s happy as can be, preparing the shop for its grand opening and renting a cottage in the Seaside community while renovations to her new apartment are being completed. The only thing missing is the one thing she longs for, and has no control over—love.

Sawyer Bass, a professional boxer, plays his guitar at a local bar to escape the painful reality of his father’s deteriorating health and a recent health warning of his own. But when he spots a stunning brunette across the room, escaping reality goes out the window, and the beautiful woman becomes the focus of his next song—and maybe even the rest of his life.

When Sawyer walks into Sky’s tattoo shop and sees the woman from the bar—Sky—the chemistry between them is instant. Sawyer is everything Sky could ever hope for in a man. He’s honest, loving, sensitive, and potently virile—but boxing goes against everything Sky believes in. The closer they become, the more she realizes that her alpha boxer is waging his own emotional battle—only the battle she thinks he’s waging isn’t the one that threatens to tear them apart.

Nights at Seaside is the sweet edition of the steamy romance novel Seaside Nights by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Releasing December 13th
Available to pre-order from ...

Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers 
Secrets at Seaside

Pre-order!
Seized by Love at Seaside 
Embraced at Seaside 
Lovers at Seaside 
Whispers at Seaside


About the author
SIGN UP for ADDISON'S Sweet with Heat newsletter. Fun, flirty romance with a dash of heat. www.AddisonCole.com/Newsletter

DOWNLOAD the first book in Addison's Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers series free: READ, WRITE, LOVE AT SEASIDE

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.

Find Addison on the following sites....
Website   Newsletter   Facebook   Twitter    Google+   Pinterest   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page




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Thursday, October 26, 2017

Foretold by Laura Spinella


  • Genre:
    Romantic Suspense / Thriller
  • Release Date:
    October 24th, 2017
  • Paperback ISBN:9781542046749
  • Kindle ASIN: B06X975T9F
  • Series:
    Ghost Gifts
    Book #2


A mysterious death in a muddy swamp, missing children in different states…psychic Aubrey Ellis and her partner, investigative reporter Levi St John, have their hands full. The added strain of raising their son, who struggles with his own psychic gift, pushes life to the brink of collapse.

Enter Zeke Dublin—Aubrey’s first love from her carnival past. Tensions escalate when it’s clear that the attraction between them is alive and well. But as Levi discovers disturbing clues about the body pulled from the swamp, he begins to suspect Zeke’s sudden presence is more than coincidence.

As Aubrey’s uncanny abilities take an unsettling turn, she fears that this time her own child is in danger. Who can Aubrey trust to help solve the unknowns surrounding her life—the father of her son, or a man who’s always understood the deepest secrets of her psychic gift?

My Thoughts…

Oh wow… this is book two in the Ghost Gifts Series and it is wonderful.     I was excited and could not wait to get my hands on Foretold.     There is now no doubt that I am a HUGE fan of Laura Spinella and will read everything she writes from here on out.

With Foretold there is multiple storylines.   The storyline of Aubrey Ellis and her changing, new gifts is my favorite.   The story of her son, Pete, evolving gifts was heart breaking for me as a mother.   I was anxious for Aubrey as she tries to find out what her life is going to become.   The new gifts are not welcomed and she knows that they are the same gifts that drove her dad crazy.   She is working hard to control them and learn how to live with them.    Pete’s gift scared me.  As a twelve year old boy there is so much he has to learn in the “normal” everyday life then throw in that he has nightmares that are caused by his special gift and my heart broke for him and the world he has to live in.   Luckily he has an amazing dad and a wonderful mom who loves him so much and will do everything in their power to help him maneuver and succeed in life.  

The story has suspense mixed with the paranormal.    Laura Spinella is so talented.   She writes a book that has to be read.  I picked up my copy and couldn’t put it down.    When forced to move on with my life I was thinking about what I was reading, anxious to get back to it.     

Thank you Laura Spinella and Montlake for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Link




 
About the Author: Laura Spinella


Laura Spinella is the author of the #1 Kindle bestseller Ghost Gifts, as well as the highly acclaimed Unstrung and award-winning novel Beautiful Disaster. She also writes the Clairmont Series novels under the pen name L.J. Wilson. She consistently receives reader and industry praise for her multifaceted characters, emotional complexity, and intriguing story lines. Foretold is the second book in her Ghost Gifts trilogy; the third and final installment is slated for release in 2018.

Spinella lives with her family near Boston, where she can always be found writing her next novel. She enjoys hearing from readers and chatting with book clubs. Visit her at www.lauraspinella.net.



Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Swan Song by Charlotte Wilson

Kindle Edition, 224 pages

Published September 12th 2017 by Heaven Afire

Word count: 67,000 (224 pages)
Genre: YA romance
Synopsis:

When iconic ballerina Beatrice Duvall died, a nation mourned – and a legacy was born. Sixteen years later, her daughter Ava comes to London to take part in a high-profile tribute to Beatrice, and to learn about the mother she never knew.

There’s just one snag: the tribute is a ballet, Swan Lake. Which is infinitely painful for Ava, because she can’t dance. Won’t dance. Not since she quit the Royal Ballet School last year and walked away from everything that defined her.

But this is London, colourful and crazy, and with actor Seb at her side, there’s so much to discover. Like Theatreland razzmatazz and rooftop picnics and flamingo parties. And a whole load of truths Ava never knew about her mother – and herself.

When the time comes to take the stage, will Ava step out of the shadow cast by her mother’s pedestal? And who will be waiting for her there, in the bright lights?

My Thoughts…
I was so excited for another Charlotte Wilson book.  I knew before I even picked up the book that this would be a unique story different from her other releases and I couldn’t wait to jump into the story.   

The dancer storyline had my heart crying.     To have something be part of your soul for so long and then to walk away without looking back would be heart breaking.    The Swan Song is the story of Ava, daughter of renowned ballet dancer Beatrice DuVall.   Yet, Ava has chosen to stop dancing… in all forms, at all places.    I felt like there was a deep reason, something only she could choose to find out but it would take some bravery and a lot of heart to look into her heart and come to terms with the truth of choices.    

The romance part of the story between Seb and Ava was interesting.   There were many times I had to remind myself of their ages.   Maybe things are different in London but a 16 year old girl running around the town unaccompanied a lot of the time seems odd.   It made both Seb and Ava seem much older than they really were.   There was also a lot of time without any adult supervision, which in the world I live in could lead to trouble.      But the great part of this romance was how protective Seb was of Ava,  he kept tabs on her, accompanied her whenever he could, and spent a lot of time with her just listening to her vent her feelings.  

Swan Song is not a quick and easy read.  It is a book that will tug at your heart, open up your eyes to a life without a mother, and show how being strong for yourself can open your heart and eyes to a life you deserve to live.  

Thank you Charlotte Wilson for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Links
Goodreads   |   Amazon   


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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Closer to you by Jill Sanders

Paperback, 284 pages
Expected publication: October 10th 2017 by Montlake Romance

New York Times bestselling author Jill Sanders strikes gold with Haven, Montana, a sizzling series featuring oil-rich playboys whose hearts are up for grabs. Ever since the untimely passing of their father—the head of McGowan Enterprises—it’s up to Tyler, Trent, and Trey McGowan to keep their family legacy afloat. With the town counting on them to save their livelihoods and fend off hostile takeover attempts, the brothers have no time for their old pursuits of pleasure. But each will meet an irresistible woman who challenges him in the boardroom…and the bedroom.

About Closer To You

 No one’s more surprised than Tyler McGowan when he discovers he has a knack for running the family’s oil business—a role he took on after his father’s sudden passing. Now, to keep the old man’s legacy afloat, Tyler’s giving up his playboy ways and settling into small-town life. But his newfound resolve is tested when trouble strides into his office in five-inch heels.

Kristen Howell has spent the last several years working her way up the corporate ladder. And somehow it’s landed her smack-dab in the middle of nowhere: Haven, Montana. It’s her job to convince the head of McGowan Enterprises to sell. But the tall and rangy hunk is proving to be exceedingly stubborn—and overwhelmingly hot. When someone attempts to derail her negotiations, Kristen is ready to get down and dirty. But the sparks she and Tyler are throwing near the oil field may be dangerously combustible...

My Thoughts…

I want more… more McGowan brothers… more sexy fun… more of this loving family.    

There is absolutely nothing I would change about sexy, business man Tyler.    He stands by his family and changes his life when it is needed to keep his father’s dreams alive.   He goes after what he wants and God forbid you get in his way, he will plow you over.     Best of all, he loves with his entire heart and soul.   There is no half way, not partial giving, it is an all or nothing deal.  

Enter Kristin… city girl at heart, climbing the corporate ladder.    When she arrives in small town Haven, Montana her heart and head immediately tells her something is different here, there is something in this town that talks to her from the minute she gets off the plane.    Kristin just has to decide if she will listen.    

I loved everything about this book.    The small town, the amazing characters, the wonderful families, and the sexy heat were all perfect.   I am so excited about this series by Jill Sanders. 

Thank you Montlake for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Links




 About the Author

 Jill Sanders is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Pride Series, Secretn Series, West Series, and Grayton Series romance novels. Her sweet and sexy stories, available in print and audio in every English-speaking country, continue to lure new readers and are currently being translated into six different languages.

Born an identical twin to a large family in the Pacific Northwest, she relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career. She then discovered her talent as a writer. Now she makes her home along the Emerald Coast in Florida, where she enjoys the beach, hiking, swimming, wine tasting, and of course, writing. Visit her at www.JillSanders.com.



Praise for Jill Sanders "This is a sweet story about learning that you can make your own luck; you don’t need to sit back and wait for good things to happen to you." —Harlequin Junkie on Unlucky In Love


 “If you’re the type of Romance reader who lives for the “feels” then you have found the just right book for you. Amy and Logan’s road to romance happiness isn’t totally smooth, but the journey to get there is certainly a trip worth taking. I would recommend this one for any Romance lover no matter the genre." —Keeper Bookshelf on Sweet Resolve

Monday, October 23, 2017

Cuffed by K. Bromberg RELEASE BLITZ

 
  “I hate you. I never want to see you again.” Grant Malone is not the reason I moved back to Sunnyville—at least that’s what I tell myself. Yet, those parting words I said to him back in third grade, ring in my ears every time a townsperson brings up one of the Malone boys. I thought time had healed my wounds. I was wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for how I felt when I finally saw him again. Twenty years does a lot to turn a boy into a man. One who hits all my buttons—sexy, funny, attractive, and a police officer. But Grant is off limits because he knows too much about my past. But I’m drawn to him. That damn uniform of his doesn’t hurt either. It’ll be my downfall. I know it. What’s one night of sex going to hurt . . . right? *** I’ve always loved Emmy Reeves. That’s why I’m shocked to see her all these years later. The shy girl I once knew is all grown up.

 Adventurous and full of life, she owns my heart now, just as much as she did back then. Convincing her of that is a whole different story. I’ll give her the one night she asks for—like that’s a hardship—but when it comes to letting her walk away after, she has another thing coming. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her go this time without a fight.

From the New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, comes a new series about three brothers, the job that calls them, and the women who challenge them.

iBooks | B&N

        HeadShot Color

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love. A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow. Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written. She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

Friday, October 20, 2017

Seven Days of Us by Francesa Hornak

 PUBLICATION DATE October 17, 2017

SYNOPSIS

A week is a long time to spend with your family.

Now imagine being quarantined with them over the entire Christmas holiday.

That is the hilarious premise behind Francesca Hornak’s bright, wryly-observed debut novel, SEVEN DAYS OF US (Berkley Hardcover; October 17, 2017). This Is Where I Leave You meets “Love Actually” in a contemporary family drama about a dysfunctional British family, which was snapped up by Berkley’s newest Executive Editor with a substantial pre-empt.  And internally at Penguin Random House, everyone is buzzing about this incredible book and fresh new voice.

Francesca Hornak drew inspiration for this situational dramedy from a friend who, after treating the Ebola virus abroad, was forced into a month-long quarantine upon her return home. In SEVEN DAYS OF US, we meet the Birch family as they re-enter each other’s orbits after years of fractured contact. Eldest daughter Olivia, a doctor, has just returned from treating a life-threatening virus in Africa and must spend Christmas in quarantine. Her family, forced into lockdown with her, decides to spend the week in their crumbling and isolated country manor, Weyfield Hall. Under one roof for the first time in years, each arrives carrying secrets and simmering resentments.

We learn about each member of the Birch family and the secrets they keep through Hornak’s robust writing style and talented storytelling, compelling us to empathize with each character as the novel progresses.  In residence with Olivia are her unabashedly frivolous younger sister Phoebe, fixated on her upcoming wedding; father Andrew, sequestered in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and longing for his glory days as a war correspondent; and sweet bumbling matriarch Emma, who’s hiding a secret that will turn the whole family upside down.

But when a shocking, unexpected visitor arrives, the family’s pressurized state will boil over, spilling problems—and possibly the deadly virus—outside the gates of Weyfield Hall.

Alternating between each family member’s point of view, SEVEN DAYS OF US is both a sharp-edged wink at difficult family holidays, and a character-driven look at the real failures, fumbles, and false starts that define family.

Like in Jade Chang’s The Wangs vs. the WorldCynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s The Nest, and Emma Straub’s The Vacationers, the hilarious, touching, and poignant idiosyncrasies of the Birch family manage to feel universal. Anyone who loves their family—in small doses—will relate to the inner thoughts of each character.  You can’t choose your family, but as the Birch family will discover, that might be the luckiest thing of all.

My Thoughts…

Imagine being quarantined with your family for 7 days, 1 week, over Christmas.  No going to the store, no going out to eat, just being together 24/7.    As much as I love my family I am not sure that would be a great time.   That is exactly what happen to the Birch family.      As the family gets to spend time together they find out that they each have secrets.   Those secrets shape how they react to each other and things happening around them.      As those secrets come to light their relationships start to change and they come to understand and appreciate each other in different ways.   

I found myself becoming more and more invested in this family.   There were times that I wasn’t sure that I was loving what I was reading but I was so invested that I could not stop.   I was hooked on the story.      The characters were not always likeable, the story sometimes seemed to get cluttered up with all the secrets and inability to communicate with each other.   Yet the more I read the more I wanted to find out about the drama.    

If you are looking for a realistic, family story Seven Days of Us is the perfect book for you.   I’d recommend picking up your own copy.


 LINKS
Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   |   Goodreads





AUTHOR BIO


Francesca Hornak is a journalist and writer, whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines including The Sunday TimesThe GuardianElleMarie ClaireCosmopolitan and Red. She is the author of two nonfiction books, History of the World in 100 Modern Objects: Middle Class Stuff (and Nonsense) and Worry with Mother: 101 Neuroses for the Modern Mama. Visit her online @FrancescaHornak.  Follow the author on Twitter

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Thrill of Love by Melissa Foster & GIVEAWAY

NEW RELEASE........
The Bradens are a series of sexy stand-alone romances bursting with rich family ties and everlasting love. These hot contemporary love stories feature alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're flawed, funny, passionate, and relatable to readers who enjoy contemporary and new adult romance, and women's fiction. 

Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing, and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Bradens. 

Fall in love with Ty Braden and Aiyla Bell in this epic love story. Fate brings them together, but will tragedy tear them apart? 

Do you believe in fate? 
World-renowned mountain climber and nature photographer Ty Braden never believed in second dates, much less heart-pounding, steal-his-breath love. But that was before a trip to Saint-Luc, where he met funny, strong, and entrancingly beautiful Aiyla Bell, a ski instructor and fellow photographer whose hopes and dreams, and love of the outdoors, aligned perfectly with his--and whose kisses alone turned him inside out.


After spending five magical days and four sweet, soulful nights falling in love, Aiyla couldn't imagine a day without Ty. But when he asked her to go with him on his next assignment, his reputation for having women at his beck and call stopped her from upending the life she'd worked so hard to create.


Months later fate steps in when a chance encounter brings Ty and Aiyla together for a five-day wilderness event held in the Colorado Mountains. Their deep, passionate connection is stronger than ever, and Ty is bound and determined not to lose her again. But when tragedy strikes and their worlds are turned upside down, their love faces the truest test of all. 

THRILL OF LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**


My Thoughts…

Grab your Kleenex.    I am not sure that I have ever cried in sadness during one of Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom series books.  Yet with Ty and Aiyla’s story I full out had tears rolling down my cheeks.    Do not get me wrong, this is a wonderful book with amazing characters. 

Thrill of Love is a story of second chances and believing in fate.   Ty Braden, sigh… love those Braden men… meets the woman of his dreams but his reputation gets in the way of their relationship.    Promises of not to chase Aiyla down leave it up to fate to bring them back together.  Of course, in true Melissa Foster style fate steps in and brings them back together.    It is obvious from the beginning that something is off with Aiyla and she is fighting to push through her pain.     I love that Ty doesn’t let her just put her pain aside and makes her see his doctor friend, Speed, to find out what is happening.   Then when they find out what they are dealing with there is never a doubt that together they can conquer all things.    Love wins out, as it should. 

The Braden creed of Family knows no boundaries is proven over and over with theses strong, proud, alpha Braden men.   Ty Braden is testament that being a Braden is a way of life, one that must be lived up to, respected, and loved.  


I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

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Also Available
Healed by Love (Love in Bloom, The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor #1)
Nate Braden has loved his best friend’s younger sister Jewel for as long as he can remember, but between their age difference and his respect for Rick, he’s always kept his feelings at bay. Now he’s back in Peaceful Harbor, and Jewel is no longer sixteen years old—but there’s an even bigger obstacle standing in his way. Nate and Rick joined the military together eight years earlier. Nate came home a hero, but Rick didn’t make it out alive.

HEALED BY LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**
Available to buy from ...

Surrender My Love (Love in Bloom, The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor #2)
Annalise "Leesa" Avalon never realized that one sentence could change her life until one of her students revealed his crush--and within twenty-four hours she finds herself under fire. After a grueling investigation that turns her life upside down, she steals away to Peaceful Harbor, Maryland, with a new identity to try to pull herself back together and figure out her next step.

From the outside, Cole Braden lives a charmed life. He's a top orthopedic surgeon with a thriving practice, strong family ties, and friends he adores. But there's a lonely spot inside Cole that no one can see. He has an enormous heart--and a painful past--but the desire to love and be loved is too strong to ignore.

A chance encounter brings Leesa and Cole together, and the attraction is immediate and intense. But a relationship is the last thing Leesa needs--and the only thing Cole wants. Long talks, heated moments, and deep connections are hard to resist, but the harder Cole tries, the more Leesa pulls away. Cole might truly be the right man for Leesa, but is Leesa the right woman for him?

SURRENDER MY LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

River of Love Book (Love in Bloom, The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor #3)
River rafting and adventure company owner Sam Braden works hard and plays harder. He’s fast, focused, and determined—and never at a loss for a willing woman to share his time with. The trouble is, the only woman he wants refuses him at every turn.

Physician assistant Faith Hayes escaped her painful past and built a safe, happy life in Peaceful Harbor. She’s also put what she’s learned to good use helping others by founding Women Against Cheaters, an online support group. When her boss’s sinfully sexy brother sets his sights on sweet Faith, she knows the self-professed player is everything she shouldn’t want, and she’s determined to resist him.

Sam pulls out all the stops, proving to Faith that his past doesn’t have to define his future. As she lets down her guard and begins to trust Sam, intense conversations turn to intimate pleasures. But when real life steps in and their pasts collide, it’s Faith who’s left with something to prove.

RIVER OF LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

Crushing on Love Book (Love in Bloom, The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor #4)
Steve Johnson is living his life’s passion watching over the Colorado Mountains as a ranger and wildlife consultant. But his peaceful life is upended when overzealous and insanely beautiful Shannon Braden flits back into his life after returning from a brief trip home to Maryland. He thought his attraction to her was under control—after all, she’s only in Colorado temporarily, and he doesn’t do casual affairs.

Shannon’s return to Colorado has as much to do with the game of cat and mouse she and Steve have been playing as it does the data she’s been hired to collect. But despite her efforts to explore the undeniable heat simmering between them, Steve’s intent on keeping his distance. 

When a ranch abutting the national park goes up for sale, Steve will do whatever it takes to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. And when all his attempts fail, he’s left with no alternative but to follow Shannon’s guidance into the online world he abhors in order to raise the funds. The more time they spend together, the deeper their attraction becomes, and a game of cat and mouse turns into an unstoppable connection. But when Shannon’s assignment comes to an end, will it mean an end to them, too?

CRUSHING ON LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

Whisper of Love Book (Love in Bloom, The Bradens of Peaceful Harbor #5)
Tempest Braden adores her family and her small hometown, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be confining. At almost thirty, having watched most of her siblings find true love, she’s anxious to experience her own happily ever after, and the move to Pleasant Hill, Maryland, is just the change she needs. When she rents a room from ruggedly handsome, and closed-off, artist Nash Morgan and his adorable son, Phillip, she thinks she’s found a little slice of heaven on the outskirts of town, where she can concentrate on building her business. That is, if she can ignore the undeniable heat between her and the sinfully hot single father.

When Nash bought his farmette, he had one goal in mind—to provide a loving, stable home for his son. He never imagined he’d be raising Phillip alone, or renting out a room to keep their heads above water. Then again, he never imagined losing his brother, or spending two years sailing around the world with parents who seemed to forget one son was still alive.

Sparks fly from the moment Tempest moves in, and her positive energy and inquisitive nature brings new life into Nash and Phillip’s quiet, confined world. For the first time in years, Nash wants to let a woman into his world, but while his loss made him stronger, that strength came at a price, leaving him walled off and wary of opening his heart again.

WHISPER OF LOVE is part of the Love in Bloom series. While this can be read as a stand-alone novel, for even more reading enjoyment you may want to read the entire Love in Bloom series in series order.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...


About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.

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