Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway with Jana Richards

WELCOME TO THE BOOK TOUR:

Have you been invited to your high school reunion? Did you go? How did you plan for it? Author Jana Richards gives a few tips on how to survive your high school reunion. Today on the blog, let's give a big Texas "Howdy" to Jana Richards, author of THE GIRL MOST LIKELY. 

HOWDY JANA! 

Meet Jana:

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, along with two university aged daughters and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou.


Where To Find Jana: Author Site | Blog | Facebook

Guest Post:

How to Survive Your High School Reunion 

When I first received the invitation to my 25th year High School Reunion, my first emotion was disbelief. How could it possibly be 25 years? Wasn’t it only yesterday I was a cheerleader? My second emotion was panic. I’d gained about twenty-five pounds over the last ten years, much of it in the three years since my ex-husband dumped me for a younger woman. Did I mention that Peter was my high school sweetheart and that he was planning to attend the reunion with his latest hot, young girlfriend? How was I supposed to compete with firm thighs and perky breasts?

If left to my own devices I would have chickened out and avoided the reunion entirely, but my best friend Nancy and my teenage daughters Beth and Jenna convinced me to go. And they were right. Just because I was no longer my exact high school weight didn’t mean I couldn’t attend. But going to this reunion was going to be difficult. You see, back in high school I was one of the popular girls, and sometimes I wasn’t always the nicest person. I was sure some of my former classmates would be pleased that I’d received my comeuppance in life. They’d be thrilled that my perfect figure had gone south along with my perfect marriage and perfect life. And really, I wouldn’t blame them. Back in high school I’d do anything to be part of the ‘in’ crowd, including dumping a good friend because the popular kids didn’t like her.

But I still had a little pride left. If I was going to go to this reunion I was going to go a few pounds lighter and a few inches smaller. That’s where Finn came in. He was my personal trainer during the six weeks leading up the reunion and he took me from couch potato to jogging fiend. In the end I didn’t lose all the weight I wanted to, but I gained self-confidence, self-acceptance and a fantastic new love.

So, without further ado, here are Cara’s tips for surviving the high school reunion:

1. Chill out! Don’t be like me and freak out when faced with attending your high school reunion. Remember that everyone will have aged twenty-five years, not just you. And you will definitely not be the only one with a little ring of pudge around her middle.
2. Be prepared. Okay, just because you accept yourself the way you are doesn’t mean you can’t stand a little self-improvement. To feel your best, get a new haircut, or buy a new outfit. But don’t stress yourself out like I did by thinking you have to look perfect.
3. Keep your sense of humor. There are likely going to be people at the reunion who will test your patience and your good humor. Don’t lose your sense of fun, or your sense of the absurd. Case in point, Nadine Archer. She took great delight in telling me and others that my ex was there with his girlfriend and she was almost young enough to be his daughter. So I decided to give Nadine something to talk about. Let’s just say she was very surprised!
4. Be a good listener. Ask others about their lives. Some of your classmates will have done fascinating things over the years.
5. Get over yourself. I was so focused on my appearance and on what people would say about me that I almost forgot to connect with the people who really mattered to me back in high school. I almost missed reconnecting with my old friend Mitzi and learning the lessons about love that she taught me.

So there you have it. High school reunions can be stressful, but in my case it was a blessing in disguise. My whole life changed for the better because of my reunion!

Thanks for letting me share my hard-earned expertise today. It was great fun!
Thanks Jana for guest posting. Those are some great tips I'll keep in mind for when I get invited to my first one. :)


The Girl Most Likely:

Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, “fat, frumpy, and over forty.” The thought of facing former classmates—and the ex-husband who dumped her—at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help—but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?

Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She’s everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing—she can’t get past the fact that he's eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him—love?

Excerpt:

Cara floated into the ladies’ locker room on a wave of happiness.

She finished her shower and was drying off in her stall when she heard two women talking. Cara scarcely paid attention, until she heard, “Did you see the cow eyes she made at Finn?”

She stopped drying and listened intently.

“As if he’d be interested in a woman who’s got to be ten years older.”

“Have you seen the outfits she wears? Where does she shop? The Salvation Army?”

They laughed uproariously. Shame and embarrassment welled up from the pit of stomach. They were right. What could a gorgeous younger man like Finn possibly see in a frumpy, overweight, middle-aged woman like her? What a stupid, middle-aged fool she’d been.

She waited until she heard the showers running before she dressed and made her escape. Finn waved at her as she left the locker room.

“Cara, wait. Do you have a minute?”

“Sorry, no. I’ve got to get home to my daughters. Bye.”

She ran to her car and drove to a park near her home, then into a parking lot used only by maintenance staff. She pulled her car to a stop between two city trucks, finally feeling alone.

Slumped over the steering wheel, tears of shame crashed down her cheeks as waves of humiliation engulfed her. Had she been so starved for affection she’d latched on to the fantasy that Finn felt something for her?

Finally, she started her car, adjusted the rear view mirror, and wiped her eyes one last time before heading home.

It was a nice fantasy while it had lasted.

Book Extras: Read another Excerpt

Thanks Jana for guest posting!

Giveaway: One lucky commenter during the book tour will win a $20 gift card to The Wild Rose Press and another lucky commenter during the book tour will win a $20 Amazon gift card.

*Leave a comment for Jana.

*Leave your email ninja style: yourname at gmail dot com

*Comment at all the stops on Jana's blog tour to increase your chances. Keep updated with the tour schedule below.

EASY PEASY!

Giveaway ends 12/9. Winners will be announced here.

OTHER TOUR STOPS:

November 28: Wendi Zwaduk - Romance to Make Your Heart Race
November 28: REVIEW ONLY: Reviews by Molly
November 29: Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
November 30: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
December 1: Romancing Rakes
December 2: Realmantic Moments
December 5: Lisa Sanchez Romance Author
December 6: Book of Secrets
December 7: Sherry Gloag The Heart of Romance
December 8: Books Read 'N' Makeup Done
December 9: Romance in the Backseat

A HUGE thank you to Jana for guest posting and offering a $20 gift card to The Wild Rose Press to one lucky winner and a $20 Amazon giftcard to another lucky winner. Also, thank you to Marianne at Goddess Fish Promotions for forwarding all correspondence between Jana and I.

Under Construction: Please Excuse the Dust

Hello my lovelies. Please excuse the dust. I am figuring out a new layout and background and all that good stuff for the month of December. Please enjoy this half naked sweaty man. Do not be afraid if the look of the blog keeps changing every time you visit. I promise I'll settle on one layout when I'm satisfied. Until then, enjoy this other guy.

They're helping me...

Interview with Nancy Gideon, author of HUNTER OF SHADOWS

When I read Nancy Gideon's blurb for her latest book, HUNTER OF SHADOWS, I knew I had to host her on the blog. Hellooo! The Moonlight series is set in NOLA (New Orleans) and I think it's a sign for me to visit soon since I've been seeing NOLA in book blurbs and shows I watch. Nancy is not only an author but she's listed on IMDB (my complete movie info bible) as an extra and a writer. Let's give Nancy a warm welcome to the blog today:

HOWDY NANCY!

MEET NANCY:

With over 50 sales to her credit since her first publication in 1987, Portage, Michigan author Nancy Gideon’s writing career is as versatile as the romance market, itself. Her books encompass genres from historicals and regencies to contemporary suspense and the paranormal. Her works have been published overseas in Romanian, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Danish, German, Icelandic and Chinese, among other languages.

Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on the indie horror films In the Woods and Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played the character “Bar Extra.”

A national speaker on writing in general and romance in particular, Gideon is a Western Michigan University honors grad with a major in journalism and minors in history and communications. She’s a member of Novelist, Inc. and the Mid-Michigan, Greater Detroit, PASIC and FF&P chapters of Romance Writers of America®, and is former vice-president, published author co-liaison and award-winning newsletter editor for MMRWA.

While the pace is often hectic, Gideon, a Gemini, enjoys tackling diverse projects. One month it’s researching the gritty existence of 1880’s Texas Rangers only to jump to modern themes of intrigue and possibly a legal thriller or two. Then, it’s back to the shadowy netherworld of shape shifters, vampires and movie serial killers. When not working on her latest plot twist before sunrise or arranging medical depositions, she enjoys indulging in Netflix, hosting her critique group, and feeding a variety of wildlife on her fourth-floor balcony including a yearly family of raccoons. And, of course, reading.

WHERE TO FIND NANCY:  Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Q&A: 
Kati: Who is Nancy Gideon? (author, mother, reader, Netflix junkie...)

Nancy: I’m a Type-A going in every direction at once Gemini, ADD with OCD rising author of 50+ novels from historicals and contemporary suspense to dark paranormals and a new venture into non- fiction writing how-tos, with several horror screenplays thrown into the mix. I’m the mother of two grown sons (one of whom is still clinging to the nest), obnoxiously proud of my first grandson, and enabler of all things feather and fur. I’ve been right-hand woman in a law office full time for the last eleven years and when I’m not setting depositions, sending out subpoenas, and calming the fears of the injured, I’m at my keyboard or tucked up with my cat either feeding that Netflix addiction or getting lost in my Kindle app on my iPad. Lately, I’ve been boldly edging out of my comfort zone to embrace (and surprisingly enjoy!) Social Media with blogging, FB and Tweets (Oh my!) The secret to my non-stop pace? My Keurig coffeemaker.

K: Tell us about your book. [no copy and pasting blurb :)]

N: HUNTER OF SHADOWS is the fifth book in my dark, edgy BY MOONLIGHT shape-shifter series for Pocket Books. It’s set in New Orleans so I’ve added a little lagniappe, a little something extra for the paranormal reader—a dash of suspense, a dab of the underworld criminal element, a liberal dose of spice, blended into the unfolding mythology of a preternatural clan of Shifters living, unseen, within the human world.

Though many of the underlying plots and previous characters are woven through it, HUNTER OF SHADOWS breaks from the first four books, which all featured the same hero and heroine. Although Max and Cee Cee are in this installment, the main focus is on a new couple. Here’s how Publishers Weekly summed it up:

“Gideon introduces complex new characters. Sparks fly immediately. Vivid writing, intriguing plot twists, and a satisfying ending will keep readers coming back to Gideon’s magical NOLA.”

K: Tell us about your hero and heroine.
N: I LOVE Silas and Nica! They’re both such strong, passionate characters, made enemies by circumstance yet ensnared by emotions they can’t control. He’s an undercover cop for the NOPD with a flair for cards and a hidden agenda—to restore his family’s position within the Shifter hierarchy no matter what the personal cost. But the same sense of honor that drives him also
becomes his greatest obstacle. She’s a cool assassin who can’t resist the intense detective determined to get in her way, any more than she can fight the unknown hand that directs her deadly purpose. Their struggle against that dangerous attraction to one another was so much fun to write. Expect plenty of surprises, edge-of-your-seat action, some heartbreak tempered with humor, and lots of heat.

K: Do you have any writing rituals? (blasting music, eating chocolate, drinking wine...)
N: The aforementioned Keurig is a must. Can’t wake up that creative muse at 5:00 a.m. without it. I started writing over 25 years ago, so I’ve had to learn to be VERY flexible with my writing routine. Do what works, is my motto. I’ve jotted dialog long hand in a spiral notebook while watching my boys in the sandbox, and have had love scenes interrupted by diaper changes. I’ve finished chapters during naptime and around school activities. After typing my first six books up on a manual Smith Corolla, I was dragged kicking and screaming into the computer age, and now I can’t image not having one. I’ve composed plotlines on a plane, in a hotel room, cleaning the bathtub, waiting for the light to change, and have written them down on the backs of receipts, on restaurant napkins, while watching my guys fly RC planes or over the roar of the 360 game system. After 15-years as a stay-at-home writer, I re-entered the work force and had to restructure my productive keyboard time round a 9-to-5. I’ve met deadlines while going through divorce, selling a house, and moving into the loft apartment I love. Through it all, it’s always been “Butt in Chair, Hands on Keys” as Nora Roberts so aptly put it. Surroundings and rituals don’t matter. When the keyboard lights up, I’m at work. Nothing distracts me except the clock. Or an empty coffee cup.

K: What can readers expect next from you?
N: SEEKER OF SHADOWS is the next book in the BY MOONLIGHT series. Jacques LaRoche’s story will be on the shelves June 26, 2012. In the meantime, I’ve got a huge backlist of books I’m going to be reintroducing to readers, as well as putting out installments in my “GETTING IT OUT THERE: PR and Social Media for Writers” digital series through Tell-Tale/Wise Words Publishing. Check up on my progress at http://nancygideon.com or http://nancygideon.blogspot.com And then, of course, there’s Netflix . . .

Thanks Nancy for taking the time out of your day to talk about your latest book!

HUNTER OF SHADOWS:

GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 416 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (November 29,2011)
ISBN: 9781439199507

Transferring to the New Orleans Police Department, Detective Silas MacCreedy has a hidden agenda: to secure his clan’s place once again in the Shifter hierarchy.What he didn’t count on was stumbling upon a sexy assassin who could shred his best intentions and lead him into a dangerous dance that threatens to engage his heart.

Monica Fraser knows just how to make a man beg—for his life. But she has no clue how to fight her attraction to the fiercely intense detective who seems determined to get in her way, both professionally and intimately.

When emotional attachments to the past and an unexpected glimpse of a different future have her questioning her deadly purpose, Nica must discover the truth about her secret abilities in order to free herself from the forces that control her. But that freedom comes with a price—trusting those she’s been ordered to eliminate. (source)

Where to Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N/Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt 

OTHER BOOKS IN SERIES (click on covers for excerpts):



So dear reader, have YOU ever been to NOLA? What's sexier than a Shifter cop?

A huge thank you to Nancy for stopping by the blog and Pocket Star for providing the review copy.

Review: Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon

HUNTER OF SHADOWS by Nancy Gideon
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 416 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (November 29, 2011)
ISBN: 9781439199507

The secrets he knows about her could get him killed.
Transferring to the New Orleans Police Department, Detective Silas MacCreedy has a hidden agenda: to secure his clan's place on again in the Shifter hierarchy. What he didn't count on was stumbling upon a sexy assassin who could shred his best intentions and lead him into a dangerous dance that threatens to engage his heart.

But the ones he doesn't know...
Monica Fraser knows just how to make a man beg--for his life. But she has no clue how to fight her attraction to the fiercely intense detective who seems determined to get in her way, both professionally and intimately.

...could kill them both.
When emotional attachments to the past and an unexpected glimpse of a different future have her questioning her deadly purpose, Nica must discover the truth about her secret abilities in order to free herself from the forces that control her. But that freedom comes with a price--trusting those she's been ordered to eliminate. (source:back cover)

Where To Find Nancy:Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
Where to Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N/Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it.

OTHER BOOKS IN SERIES (click on covers for excerpts)


REVIEW:

Hello! What a heart pounding read. This was my first Nancy Gideon book and I got plopped into the thick of things. First off, the heroine in this book has no qualms about having sex or lusting after the hero even though she's only known him for a short time. She's very comfortable with her sexuality and I find that refreshing.

Silas MacCreedy is all sorts of yummy. He's been transferred to the New Orleans PD and on the hunt for something that could restore his family from lowly nothings to honored members of their clan. If everything goes according to plan, he won't have to stay too long in New Orleans.

Dun dun dunnn. Monica (Nica) Fraser puts a giant kink and a bit of kinkiness into his plan. She's been hired by an unknown person to kill someone, tie up loose ends so to speak. She's ready to get in, do her thing and leave, no one the wiser. Well, acting the helpless woman by luring four unsavory characters who attacked a friend of hers, she goes about her business eliminating them until Silas happens upon the alley. He tries to do his whole hero business but soon realizes that this woman is a badass and can take care of herself.

There's more to Nica than meets Silas's eyes. She's keeping a secret that he will do anything to uncover starting with keeping an eye on her. Silas develops an uneasy and suspicious alliance with Max Savoie (Bound by Moonlight) in order to get closer to the person he needs to kidnap to restore his family name. He has a hidden agenda and as he gets to know Nica more, he begins to question whether he's willing to hurt her to fulfill his mission or if he will throw it all away just for the love of this extraordinary woman.

Nica must figure out if she is willing to betray not only Silas but all the other people she's come to know and have treated her kindly just to gain her freedom. She must use all her mental strength to keep the demanding blood thirsty voice from trying to control her and make her succeed in killing the person she was meant to kill. Time is running out and Silas must find a way to keep this unknown being from taking over Nica's mind in order to save her and those around them.

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

"Her handsome protector had just become a major inconvenience."

OVERALL: There's quite a few stories woven in this book and at times I became a little confused (it may have been due to the fact that there were screaming children on the plane while I was reading) but the story flowed well. Nancy Gideon has a way to making the reader want more, need more and when you think you know what's happening, TWIST! From their first meeting until the end of the book, Silas and Nica scorched the pages with their sexual chemistry, induced laughter during their witty and sharp banter and made me sigh during their tender moments. The magic of NOLA shines through the sizzling and sultry kisses, the danger, the intrigue and mystery of the city. I'll be putting the rest of the Moonlight series on The List.


***review copy provided by J.Gruenspecht at Pocket Books***

Review: Infatuation by Melissa Schroeder

INFATUATION by Melissa Schroeder
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Erotic
FILE SIZE: 211KB (about 32,000 words)
PUBLISHER: Melissa Schroeder (November 13, 2011)

Francis McKade is a man in lust. He’s had a crush on his best friend’s little sister for years but he has never acted on it. Besides that fact that she’s Malachi’s sister, he’s a Seal and he learned his lesson with his ex-fiancé. Women do not like being left alone for long months at a time. Still, at a wedding in Hawaii anything can happen—and does. Unfortunately, after the best night of his life, he and Mal are called away to one of their most dangerous missions.

Shannon is blown over by Kade. She’s always had a crush on him and after their night together, it starts to feel a little like love. But, after the mission, Kade never calls or writes and she starts to wonder if it was all a dream. Until one night, her brother Mal drags him into her bar and grill and Shannon gets the shock of her life.

Kade isn’t the man Shannon knew in Hawaii, or even the last few years. Twelve hours of torture changes a man, especially one who had never felt so vulnerable. He still can’t shake the terror that keeps him up at night. Worse, he is realizing that the career he loves just might be over.

Shannon is still mad, but she can’t help but hurt for the man she loves. He is darker, a bit more dangerous, but beneath that, he is the Kade she's known for so many years. When he pushes her to her limits in the bedroom, Shannon refuses to back down. One way or another, this military man is going to learn there is no walking away from love—not while she still has breath in her body.

Warning: This book contains two infatuated lovers, some drunken dancing, a hard-headed military man, a determined woman, some old friends, and a little taste of New Orleans. As always, ice water is suggested while reading. It might be the first military Harmless book, but the only thing that has changed is how hot our hero looks in his uniform—not to mention out of it.

Where To Find Melissa: Author Site | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook | All Romance
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:

Um, hello! It's been a while since I've read a Melissa Schroeder book and well, the hotness has been burned into my brain. My palms were sweaty, my toes tingled and I may have felt the need to drop ice cubes down my shirt but held off since I was sitting on a plane between a woman reading some mainstream fiction and a guy watching Captain America. Uh, yeah.

Francis *giggle*

Rule #1 of Friendship: Never, ever, ever mess around with your friend's sister. Don't touch her, don't lust after her, don't picture her spread out on a bed naked, don't accept her invitation to her hotel room. Just don't.

Well, Kade definitely broke all those rules and then some. He's been moony over Shannon for quite a while now and a wedding in Hawaii gives him the perfect opportunity to explore every single luscious curve of that gorgeous body he's been lusting over. Shannon invites Kade to her room, hoping for something, anything to happen between the two.

Kade accepts Shannon's invite and they spent a night of sultry kisses, sweat soaked sheets and multi-orgasmic sex. Being a Seal, Kade gets called along with Shannon's brother, Mal, on a mission. Shannon fully understands being the sister of a Seal.

Four months pass and no word from Kade. Shannon doesn't want to believe that Kade is over her because she's not over him. He comes back with ghosts he can't seem to shake. The light is gone from his eyes, he's quieter and he feels like he can't be man enough for Shannon. The man who made love to her in Hawaii died along with what went down during the mission.

Seeing Shannon flirt with Deke, one of the guys that was on the mission along with him and Mal, Kade gets jealous and knows he must win Shannon back. No matter what. Starting with dominating her in the bedroom. He loves how she willingly submits to him and Shannon knows that with any other man, she would put up a fight.

Shannon knows that if Kade talked about it, it would help. Instead, she engages in a physical relationship with him and they take it one day at a time. With some pushing from Shannon's mother, her brother Mal and friend Deke, Kade must reassess his feelings for Shannon. She's not like any other woman he's ever known and would he be willing to just throw it all away because he feels like he's not good enough for her?

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

"Sorry," she whispered.
His lips curled up on one side."No problem. Use and abuse me any way you want to." 

OVERALL: Good gorsh! I was waiting for my screen to melt into a puddle of goo and then go up in flames. Sexy, holy hotness doesn't even begin to describe this book. Thigh clenching pretty much sums it up. This story is a balance of fun, flirty and panty melting sexiness with the realities of war. I love how Ms. Schroeder gave Shannon some meat to her bones and it doesn't hurt that Kade is Australian. (Imma sucker for accents and kept picturing Alex O'Loughlin the whole time.) Bring on Deke's story!

**review copy provided by Brandy W***

Gabe Gretna

Meet Gabe Gretna from Bonibleaux Designs, one of the new residents of Dude Time Doodles being released today. I am undecided if Gabe has an anger management problem or if he just likes to show off his tonsils. 


To welcome the new town-folks to the Dude Time Doodles neighborhood, the Dude and the Dudettes are having a blog hop and we are also greeting CG as a full-fledged Dudette! Hopefully, you have arrived from Kevin's blog, our one and only Dude, King of the Fishnet, but if not, continue along and you will see them all since it's a loop. Be sure to leave love at each stop to put you in a position to be the recipient of a Dude Time Doodles image of your choice from this month's mystery host. Your next stop is to visit Ginny our Dudette down under in Australia. Enjoy the trip! 

Julia Quinn 2012 Reading Challenge

Julia Quinn Reading Challenge 2012- Hosted by Aislynn at Stitch-Read-Cook

Several years ago Aislynn was introduced to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. Little did Aislynn know at the time that she would become one of her favorite authors! Since then Aislynn has collected almost every single one of her books. Her books are the type to make you smile, make you laugh and sigh a little.

Aislynn's goal this year is to re-read all her books - all 26 of them (including the novella's)!

The Bevelstoke series: The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever ~ What Happens In London ~ Ten Things I Love About You

The Two Dukes of Wyndham: The Lost Duke of Wyndham ~ Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

The Bridgertons Series: The Duke and I ~ The Viscount Who Loved Me ~ An Offer From A Gentleman ~ Romancing Mister Bridgerton ~ To Sir Philip, With Love ~ When He Was Wicked ~ It's In His Kiss ~ On The Way To The Wedding

Agents of the Crown: To Catch An Heiress ~ How To Marry A Marquis

The Lyndon Sisters: Everything And The Moon ~ Brighter Than The Sun

The Splendid Trilogy: Splendid ~ Dancing At Midnight ~ Minx

The Smythe-Smith Quartet: Just Like Heaven

Novellas: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown ~ Lady Whistledown Strikes Back ~ Scottish Brides ~ Where's My Hero ~ The Lady Most Likely..


Rules & Guidelines:
1. Challenge will run from January 1st 2012 until December 31st 2012
2. Reviews are not mandatory, but encouraged. A linky will be posted monthly for you to link up your reviews.
3. Only books read in 2012 will qualify for this challenge
4. You can sign up at any point through out the year - sign ups will close mid December 2012.
5. Over the course of the challenge Aislynn will have several mini-challenges and giveaways - will be open internationally!
6. To sign up, do an announcement post listing which books you plan to read and link back to the post. Please use this link when you sign up in the linky.

The Books I Plan On Reading:

1. The Duke and I
2. The Viscount Who Loved Me
3. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
4. The Lady Most Likely
5. Just Like Heaven
6. The Lost Duke of Wyndham
7. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

watch this post for more books...

ARC Review: Marshal of Hel Dorado by Heather Long

MARSHAL OF HEL DORADO by Heather Long
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Historical
PAPERBACK: 328 pages
PUBLISHER: Heather Long (November 8,2011)
ISBN: 9781452441726

In the shadows of the old west, the untamed land live bands of outlaws and outsiders. In a time when fevers could fell whole towns, these few survivors are marked. Marked…and forever changed.

Sam Kane is the oldest brother, the steadfast son and the confidant marshal. He’s never met a problem to hot to handle until a gang behind a string of robberies across the territory set their sights on his town. Now with the bank’s gold inexplicably missing from a locked safe, the town hunting the elusive thieves and a passionate redhead with a fiery secret in his jail, Sam has his hands full.

Scarlett Morning Star lived in seclusion in the mountains of West Texas most of her life. She longs for adventure, but with seven very protective older brothers, adventure is hard to come by. When she tags along uninvited on their latest escapade, she is left behind during a bank robbery and finds herself in the custody of the very sexy town marshal.

The town wants to lynch her, the Marshal wants answers and her brothers want her back, can Scarlett keep it together or will her explosive secret burn them all?

Her life. His badge. Their fight.

Where To Find Heather: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | Nook | All Romance
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:

What do you get when you put the X-Men and Captain Tightpants together? Scarlett Morning Star and Marshal Sam Kane, the hero and heroine of Marshal of Hel Dorado. Seriously, this book surprised the heck out of me. I read it on the first leg of my flight back to San Diego. I even tuned out all the screaming children because I wanted to finish this book before touching down in Vegas. That's how awesomely awesome it was.

Scarlett Morning Star wanted an adventure. She was tired of just sitting up high on the mountain while her brothers got to sow their wild oats all over Texas. Well, she got her adventure. Marshal Sam Kane finds Scarlett in the bank and swears there were others with her. Without the others to arrest, he takes Scarlett in their place. And boy howdy! he's in the for the ride of his life.

Sam puts Scarlett in the jail cell but due to angry townspeople, he takes her to his family's ranch to wait on the judge. The town wants to string her up but Sam wants to give her a fair trial. On the way to his family's ranch, the attraction to this redheaded spitfire gets his pants in a very uncomfortably tight bunch.

With Sam's father and brother Micah taking up her cause and believing her a victim of the robberies rather than an accomplice, Sam's hide is chafed. How the heck did this slip of a woman get his family on her side from the moment she climbs off his horse?

Scarlett knows her brothers will come for her. With seven brothers who all have tempers and special abilities, she knows they'll either burn the town down searching for her or hurt the Kanes who have been nothing but kind with the exception of suspicious Sam. When Sam's youngest brother Kid tells her he will take her to her brothers, she agrees. No need for bloodshed.

But Sam isn't done with her. This minx of a woman has gotten under his skin. Since finding out her ability to shoot fire through her fingertips, he's intrigued and is accepting of the fact she is able to. As Sam puts two and two together regarding the string of bank robberies and her brother's abilities, he can let Scarlett hang for what her brothers did. All she wanted was an adventure and she got a whole lot more.

After leaving the Marshal behind, Scarlett can't seem to forget about him. Returning to the mountain only makes her sad and her family begins to notice. Her father, Quanto realizes that his little girl has grown up and may need to come down from the mountain to find her happiness.

Sam and Scarlett must come to terms with their feelings for one another while fighting bad guys, returning the gold her brothers stole, finding something to ground her powers and making their families accept their attraction for each other.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"His heart seized in his chest, his first thought was to rescue her from the flaming water. His second, even more startling, was to wonder how she created such a feat.
The man who walked through walls.
The gold stolen from a sealed vault.
The wolf in town.
Her fever, the rage of this struck, so swift. Her skin had literally burned his fingertips. Rolling his thumb over the fading blister on his right forefinger, Sam found himself at a complete loss." (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: If you love westerns AND the supernatural, you'll want to pick up this book. Take one sexy Marshal who I have dubbed Captain Tightpants 2.0, a fiery redhead who can conjure flames and shoot them out of her fingertips, 7 brothers with supernatural abilities including walking through walls and shifting into a wolf, a Professor X-like father who dream walks and a shootout reminiscent of old westerns and you've got a formula for a must read series. You'll laugh out loud, sigh, squee, ponder, shout obscenities (in a good way) and want to scream at Scarlett and Sam: "do it already!" As with any first book in a series, Heather Long has introduced memorable characters that I want to know more about and did a fantastic job in building a world where the every day and the things that go bump in the night collide. I look forward to learning more about the brothers and finding out the women who will tame them. Well done Ms. Long, well done.


***review copy provided by Brandy W***

Happy Book Birthday!

Ack! It's the end of the month and there's some awesome books coming out today. I can't believe I totally forgot. *think White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland--'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...'* Anywho, you know the drill: click on the book covers for excepts and such. Sandra Hill's WET & WILD is a re-release with a shinier, prettier cover. I finished reading Nancy Gideon's HUNTER OF SHADOWS on the plane ride to Austin and Starr Ambrose's SILVER SPARKS on the way back to San Diego. Both fantastic reads.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO:

So, what books are you looking forward to? Did any of these catch your eye?

Winners of Gratitude Giveaway Hop

We've got winners for the Gratitude Giveaway Hop. Since y'all are all sorts of awesome and I'm at 540 followers, I'm adding another winner. So instead of 2 people getting something off their wishlist from The Book Depository, 3 people get to pick a book off of their wishlist.

CONGRATS:

Holly L (hhollyl)

Megan Kyser

Linda Henderson (seriousreader)

All winners have been contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Don't fret my lovelies. There will be almost a months worth of giveaways in December. The Joyathon is only 2 days away. Keep up with the festivities here. 

Mix and Match

I decided to mix and match some designer paper to create this card. Although I have Christmas paper that would look great, I used my favorite, polkadots. One could reason that I didn't stray outside of the box. On the other hand, I like my box! 

Upside Down Snowman

Another Monday, means another new challenge at Squigglefly. This time, Marlene has challenged her Marvels to create a Winter Scene, snow, ice, sporting event or someone freezing their butt off, something that will make us shiver. I don't know if the Upside Down Snowman by Marlene will make you shiver, but the thought of a dog lifting its leg on the snowman's face does more than make me shiver, it makes me shudder! 

Man Candy Monday: Australian Hotties

Happy Monday morning to all of you lovelies. I know that I've neglected your for the past couple of days. But I'm here to make it up to you in the form of shirtless men. I think you'll love today's theme. Don't forget to join us this evening on Twitter, 8PM CST (6,7 and 9 for the rest of us), look for the #mancandymonday hashtag and ogle to your hearts content. Remember, Sharing IS Caring so bring along some hotties to share with your fellow man candy Monday babes. Also, check out the official Man Candy Monday blog for a guest post from aspiring author, Nicole Flockton.

Today's theme is: Australian Movie Man Candy. And for the love of coccyx, please put a warning (NSFW) when you post pictures on Twitter. Some of us have been known to spew our drinks due to the shock factor of a full frontal peen on our screens. KThx.

Hugh approves of this theme.

My favorite X-Men: Mr. Hugh Jackman. He's been my favorite since playing the Duke of Albany in Kate & Leopold (ignore Meg Ryan cause her character was too bitchy). And it doesn't hurt that he got naked for his art.

The Hemsworth brothers

Completely gratuitous. You're welcome. 2 for the price of 1. Chris can be found in next year's The Avengers alongside other hotties and Liam will be in The Hunger Games next year as Gale Hawthorne. Ignore the fact that Liam dated Miley Cyrus.

Ryan Kwanten

Oh Ryan. I've loved him since Summerland. Shitty show on The WB but good lord almighty, surfer Ryan rocked my world. Now he's taking his clothes off on True Blood as Sookie's brother.

Mick St. John

Okay, it's really Alex O'Loughlin from Hawaii Five-0 but he'll be forever Mick St. John from Moonlight to me. Ignore the shitteous movie he did with J-Lo. What was he thinking????

Oh Jesse!

I've had a thing for Jesse Spence since Winning London. Yes, a Mary Kate and Ashley movie. He played a dashing English lord with a stuffy father who wants his to join the House of Lords instead of pursuing his passion. Anyway, he's currently playing Dr. Robert Chase on House.

Ab licking deliciousness

Seriously, since the cancellation of Legend of the Seeker, I've been waiting for Craig Horner to make a comeback. Someone needs to give that set of abs major screen time. Gah!

Oh Julian!

Julian McMahon played Cole in Charmed. He's soooo good at being the bad guy (both Fantastic Four movies).

I know I missed quite a few Australian man candy (Heath Ledger, Sam Worthington, Eric Bana) but I can't just give you ALL the man candy right here. You've got to join us tonight on Twitter. So, who's YOUR favorite Australian hottie? Remember, Sharing IS Caring.