Thursday, April 30, 2015

Review: Her Lost Love (Amelia Moore #5) by Linda Weaver Clarke

Her Lost Love (Amelia Moore Detective Series Book 5) by Linda Weaver Clarke
ebook, 212 pages
Published: May 1st 2015 by Smashwords Edition 
Genre: Cozy mystery
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Description: Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of her partner, Rick Bonito, the business is flourishing.

Julie Anderson feels a need to find the man she fell deeply in love with during her youth. When Julie went off to college to become a lawyer, she lost contact with her high school sweetheart. She now wants to know what became of Joey and why he stopped writing to her? This is an assignment that intrigues Amelia. The thought of finding a long-lost love seems quite romantic.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25079414-her-lost-love?from_search=true&search_version=service 

My Review:  I've read this series from the beginning and I come to know and love Amelia and Rick more with each book. These are some of my favorite cozy mysteries and I know exactly what I'm getting with them--a fun, unique mystery that isn't too intense, mingled with a sweet, clean romance.

Amelia is approached by Julie, a high profile lawyer, to find her high school sweetheart. This case sticks fairly close to home and takes place in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. I love how each book has a different setting. It's a lot of fun to get to know some facts and sites about a place through the eyes of these characters. 

Rick's personality comes through more and more with each book and I love getting to know him. He's a sweet and fun guy, but really buckles down to work when he needs to. His perspective on things is different enough from Amelia's that he can shed a new light on things. Amelia is a go-getter and is really good at what she does. I think Amelia and Rick compliment each other perfectly, both professionally and personally. I also love the way Rick names each case.

Of course, since I'm a romantic at heart, I love the romantic moments in the story and there were many. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Content: mild romance (kissing); mystery elements that weren't too graphic or intense. Clean! 

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Love-Amelia-Moore-Detective-ebook/dp/B00UA9ZBUU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1430335143&sr=8-4&keywords=her+lost+love
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-lost-love-linda-weaver-clarke/1121403849?ean=9781508468608

About the Author:
Linda Weaver Clarke 
Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop,” encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of the historical romance series, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho,” which includes: Melinda and the Wild West - a semi-finalist for the “Reviewers Choice Award 2007,” and a new mystery series, “The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.” 

Twitter  *  Amazon  *  Goodreads  *  Website  *  Facebook 
 
Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , ,

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Review: Katia's Promise by Catherine Lanigan with Giveaway


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Katia's Promise
(Shores of Indian Lake #4)
by Catherine Lanigan
Adult Contemporary Romance
May 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Katia Stanislaus is a top insurance agent in Chicago, but her company is about to fold if she can't pull off a miracle. She convinces her boss to relocate to Indian Lake where she lived as a child and broke the heart of the one man whose account would be enough to save her job and her company. The only problem is that Austin McCreary has been a near recluse since the day Katia left him. Austin won't take her calls and appears set on revenge for the pain Katia has caused him. Just seeing Austin, catapaults Katia back to the time when she was 16 and so very much in love. But it was just a teenage crush, wasn't it?

My Review: The Heartwarming line is just that--it's comforting and warms my heart and this story is no exception. Katia is a career woman, but when her company is about to go out of business, she grasps at straws and convinces her boss to move the business to her small hometown in Indiana.

What I found surprising is that although she's been back there several times, she never thinks about her childhood/teenage crush, Austin, until he's mentioned and then she remembers him. I would think that if he was that dear to her heart, she'd be thinking of him often. However, Austin seems very bitter and reclusive since she left without a word and he has a hard time accepting that she's back and that she had valid reasons for leaving.

The side characters were great in this story! They each have such unique personalities and are the glue that bind this town together, as well as the force that helps Katia and Austin resolve past issues. These many characters are very endearing and are what makes up a small town, since they really look out for one another and have a finger in each others business.

When a startling discover about the past is made, Austin has a hard time dealing with it, but Katia wants to be there for him...if he'll let her. This is an emotionally tender story with powerful characters in an interesting setting and it stands alone, even though it is the fourth book in the series.

Content: Nothing of note. Clean!

My Rating:  3.5/5 stars 
 

Other Books in the Series

Love Shadow (The Shores of Indian Lakes)  A Fine Year for Love (Shores of Indian Lake #3)

Links for Love Shadows
(Shores of Indian Lake #1)

Links for Heart's Desire
(Shores of Indian Lake #2)
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

 Links for A Fine Year for Love
(Shores of Indian Lake #3)

Catherine Lanigan is the bestselling author of over thirty published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, as well as over half a dozen anthologies, including ?Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living your Dream?, ?Chicken Soup for the Writer?s Soul?, ?Chocolate for a Woman?s Heart?, Chocolate for a Woman?s Spirit?. Ms. Lanigan?s novels have been translated into over a dozen languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Ms. Lanigan?s novels are also available on audio-cassette, CD and on electronic format. A prolific writer, she is always writing wonderful stories. She has several titles only available in ebook format on Amazon.com Several of her titles have been chosen for The Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Her novel, The Christmas Star, won the Gold Medal Award Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine for December, 2002, and has also won Book of the Year Romance Gold Award from ForeWord Magazine as well as Book of the Year Romance from Reader?s Preference. In March, 2006 Divine Nudges: Tales of Angelic Intervention and the second in Lanigan?s Angel Watch series of books, was published by HCI, the Chicken Soup for the Soul publisher.


Tour Schedule:
April 19th - Launch
April 20th - Coffee Books & Art
April 21st - Deal Sharing Aunt
April 22nd - The Written Adventure
April 28th - Mel's Shelves
May 1st - Grand Finale

Cover Reveal & Tour Giveaway

 $100 Amazon Gift Card
3 ebooks of Katia's Promise by Catherine Lanigan
Open internationally.
Ends May 8th

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Guilt-Free Guide Book for Moms by Amy Price Book Blitz with Giveaway



Ready to learn how to  "Eliminate guilt and perfectionism, Identify the “Superwoman Burnout” cycle that keeps you trapped in monotony, Escape the “Compare Snare” to shine in your own light, and Finally and fully embrace the Joy cradled in your arms and in your heart."

Then let's get to know this book!!!



Synopsis
Written by a veteran mother of nine still up to her eyeballs in mud pies and mayhem, The
Guilt-Free Guidebook for Moms is sure to keep you tickled, tearing up and turning pages as you
learn how to break free of the chokehold of an endless To-Do list, so you can finally enjoy the
beauty that is all around you.

Pre-Order Links:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guilt-free-guidebook-for-moms-amy-price/1121754466?ean=9780981761992

http://topshelfpub.com/index.php/mystery/product/115-the-guilt-free-guidebook-for-moms
 



Author Bio
Amy Price loves to create, write, and dream in and around managing the chaos generated by
her amazing husband, their nine children and their lively homeschooling lifestyle. Amy
considers herself a “recovering addict” where babies are concerned. She just can’t get
enough. Her hobbies include preserving memories, quantum physics, designing wild and
delicious cakes, and death by pasta. Her kids and their friends consider her everything from
hilarious to crazy, and she just gets better with age.
From only child to “CEO” of a bustling household, one constant in Amy’s life has been her love
of writing. Team that with her natural draw to children and studying at the Institute for
Children’s Literature became a given. Amy and her family currently terrorize the Rocky
Mountains of Idaho, but she looks forward to sharing her message of Joy around the world.
With a wealth of ideas from self-helps to coaching programs, mysteries to fantasy novels, you
never know what Amy will come out with next, but it is sure to revolve around her continuous
message of love, family and joy.

 www.facebook.com/GuiltFreeMoms
www.pinterest.com/for1715

Snippet

"Fortunately, I seldom got sick while pregnant, and I commend & empathize with all those woman who suffer so much physically to bring children into the world!  My heart goes out to you for your sacrifice.  For me, the ‘suffering’ was more emotional.  Instead of being those lovely young mothers who have a ‘certain kind of glow’ about them, I was more like the bi-polar meth addict on steroids."
  a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow along with this great event on facebook and on all these fabulous blogs.
https://www.facebook.com/even ts/1105710219450507/



semishort.blogspot.com
http://lynnromanceenthusiast.blogspot.com
http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com
http://aone- clickaddictsbookblog.blogspot.com/
bookheathens.blogspot.com
http://authorsandralove.blogspot.com/
http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk
http://thenaughtlibrarianplayground.blogspot.com/
www.readinginsarahscorner.blogspot.com
www.julkbearreads.wordpress.com
http://authorcandyodonnell.blogspot.com/
http://kathyree.wordpress.com/
http://www.bound2escape.com
http://www.melsshelves.blogspot.com
http://www.aclosetfullofbooks.com
http://thewritersrevolution13.blogspot.com
http://littleshopofreaders.com/
http://nataliecarrollthewrittenadventure.blogspot.com/
http://nerdgirlofficial.com/
Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels:

FREE for a limited time: Rewind to You by Laura Johnston

Links to FREE eBook:

Rewind to You FREE on Amazon Kindle

FREE on Barnes and Noble

FREE on eBooks
FREE on Kobo


   “Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.”
– RT Book Reviews



Wish You Were Here

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.

When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…



Contemporary YA romance

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.


"I love a good YA summer romance and for me, this one totally hit the spot!...I loved the journey; I loved the story; I loved the romance; I loved the little surprises and twists; and I loved the ending! Content: no language; mild violence; lots of kissing. Clean!" - Katie's Clean Book Collection

"I loved this book!...It caught my attention from the beginning and didn't let up the entire time." - Mel's Shelves

"This is a really remarkable love for me, to be honest. Definitely worth my 5 stars." - Book Inspections/Silly Readers

"Rewind to You is a fantastic young adult book. It has it all and it does it all so very well. Romance, heartbreak, loss, growth. You really can’t ask for more with a book. Laura Johnston created a little master piece in this otherwise unassuming young adult contemporary. "- Book Briefs

"This is why I LOVE reading YA! Rewind to You is a sweet romance with such awesome lyrical writing that I couldn't help but be swept up in the feelings of the characters." - A Writer's Dream

"I've read a lot of contemporary books the past two years, and I can safely say that Rewind To You is easily one of the best that I have ever read." - Justin's Book Blog

"...This was so much more than a sweet love story, it was a wonderfully done tale of learning how to deal with pain, loss, and moving on while still keeping your heart open to new experiences, new people, an new challenges." - My Guilty Obsession

"The writing is excellent and the story only deepens as the summer draws to a close, leaving the characters with resolution and the reader with a satisfying ending." - Heidi Reads

 "5 out of 5...but I think it deserves another star!!! It's AWESOME!...This story was such a sad, and beautiful story all at the same time." - My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

"Laura Johnston has written a beautiful story with wonderful characters that have so much depth to them, I could have sworn they were real." - The Written Adventure

 "Laura Johnston's debut novel Rewind to You is a perfect summer read ! A stunning soul touching story about finding love and forgiveness." - Lady A, Literature Junkie Extraordinaire 

 "Rewind To You is a beautiful, heart touching romance. Laura Johnston deals with a subject we don't want to think about, the loss of a loved one, but she did it with heartfelt tenderness and a beautiful romance. I recommend Sienna and Austin's love story as a must read." - I Heart YA Books 

"I really enjoyed this book from Laura Johnston. The characters were solid and the story was fast paced and sweet." - Min Reads and Reviews

 "This book was soooo good!" - Mylissa's Reviews and Books Thoughts

 "I went through every emotion more than once. I can't find enough words to convey just how much I LOVED this book" - Crazy Four Books

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Grand Finale: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're blitzing the GRAND FINALE for:
A Love Like Ours
By Becky Wade

Did you miss any of the excerpts or reviews for this tour? There's still time to check them out and to order your copy of A Love Like Ours by May 17th to have part of your proceeds go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (more details on the Launch).



Launch - Letter from Author Becky Wade
"I'll be giving a percentage of my earnings on A Love Like Ours from whenever the book starts selling through May 17th to IFHF."

Babs Book Bistro - Review
"...this is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last."

     Turning, he squinted beneath the brim of his black Stetson and tried to make out who was coming toward him. A small woman with long, wavy blond hair. She wasn’t on the barn staff; that he knew. He angled toward her more fully.
     And then, very slowly, recognition began to slide over him. The hair on his arms rose.
     It couldn’t be her. Not after all this time. And yet the rational part of his brain understood that it could be. He knew she’d moved back to Holley. His mom had been nagging him to see her ever since, but he’d wanted no part of that, no part of her.
     Yet here she was.

Bookworm Lisa - Review
"Jake was a marine. The wounds he carries from his time in Iraq are not all visible to the eye. He has a scar on his face, but his real battle is in the PTSD that is a part of his everyday life. I really liked that the book looked into a topic that is the battle that extends long after a soldier leaves the military. The book looks at how everyday situations can impact a person struggling with PTSD."

Wishful Endings - Excerpt
     Jake’s poor face. His poor, ravaged face, both undeniably handsome and unbearably exhausted. As big and strong as he was physically, he was also wounded. He needed someone to care about him.
     Following pure instinct, she stepped forward and reached up to place her hands on either side of his face.
     “No,” he rasped, trying to pull back.
     “Shh,” she replied, firm. She’d purposely placed her hands in the same position on both sides of his face, favoring neither the perfect side nor the scarred.

"Tackling a serious issue that many in our military face is no easy feat, but Ms. Wade does it well. The story isn't too heavy, as it's balanced with romance, fun, family, horses, and religion. I love reading about this Porter Family and can't wait for more!"

Pieces of Whimsy - Excerpt
     He had only two goals where Lyndie was concerned: to interact with her as little as possible and to keep her safe.
     Whispering Creek Horses took every precaution with their exercise riders. In the past, a few had sustained minor injuries but none had been seriously hurt. There was no reason to worry about Lyndie.
     He should be more concerned about himself. He couldn’t afford to let a pretty blonde mess with his head.
"The slow progression for Jake is so satisfying to read. I loved the flow of the book and I loved learning in bits about both Jake and Lyndie. This is one of those "feel good" books leave you so content in the end. It's a great addition to this Porter Family series. I loved it!"

I Am A Reader - Excerpt
     How long had it been since she’d experienced a stirring of desire for anyone? Ages. A couple of years at least. It was fun and harmless to . . . tingle . . . over someone again. It wasn’t as if Jake was in danger of returning her feelings. Or as if this altered her intentions toward him.
     She was determined to help him and his horse. The kind of help she had in mind for Jake had nothing to do with Valentine’s Day emotions and everything to do with God’s power to redeem.
     Jake stopped at Silver Leaf’s stall. The horse had his head down, chewing hay. It took Jake a moment to spot Lyndie’s small form in the dim space. She sat to one side, her back against the wall, her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them. She must have heard him coming because she was already gazing up at him. Her lips tipped into a gentle smile.
     For a long moment Jake stared at her. Foolish woman, sitting in a horse stall for hours every day. Even more frustrating, looking at him as if she liked him and trusted him. Looking at him as if she believed he was worthy of her friendship and trust. Raw pain gathered in his chest.
"A Love Like Ours was another special read from Becky Wade. I loved the characters and finally reading Jake's story...which was such a sad, yet beautiful story."

Worthy2Read - Review
"Character-driven, A Love Like Ours was a joy to read — and re-read. As Lyndie and Jake get to know one another again, Lyndie breaks through the walls Jake has built (and those surrounding Silver Leaf) to be an instrument of hope and healing. Wades characters are flawed individuals, ones the reader can relate to and cheer for. Her novel captivates the reader from the prologue."


A Love Like Ours (Porter Family #3)A Love Like Ours
(Porter Family #3)
by Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 368 Pages
May 5th 2015 by Bethany House Publishers


Deeply scarred from a day he wishes he could forget during his military service, Thoroughbred trainer Jake Porter has given up on love. He struggles against symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake's childhood best friend, returns to their hometown of Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake trusts her with his prized racehorse, Silver Leaf, then battles his hopes for his horse against his increasing fear for Lyndie's safety.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake's will, Lyndie's sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he's built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he'd thought he'd lost returns. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?


During her childhood in California, Becky Wade frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. She’s delighted to be penning warm, wry, and heartwarming contemporary romances for the Christian market. She's the Carol Award and Inspirational Reader's Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours, and Meant to Be Mine.

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.


Other Books by the Author
 
Tour Giveaway

 $50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Signed copy of A Love Like Ours (US Only)
1 Kindle ebook (gifted through Amazon) of A Love Like Ours (INT - if available in your area)
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)