Hiding in the Pages

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

When Love Matters Most by Kate James {Review and Giveaway}

Now More Readily Available in Print

This is an exciting time for Harlequin Heartwarming. Thanks to the loyalty of our readers, for the first time, our January releases, including When Love Matters Most, are available as mass-market paperbacks through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Harlequin.com. Also, When Love Matters Most will be available in select Walmart stores in the United States in February! Please check the Harlequin website for the location nearest you. Thank you to all our readers who made these advancements possible for us!

— Kate

When Love Matters Most

(K-9 Trilogy #2)
by Kate James
Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
January 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Keeping her safe at all costs

Could their backgrounds be any more different? Rick Vasquez, a K-9 unit sergeant with the San Diego Police Department, fled drug-related violence in Mexico as a boy. Madison Long, who recently became primary veterinarian to the SDPD's canines, is the privileged daughter of a judge. Rick has dedicated his life to curtailing cross-border drug trafficking and preventing other young boys from being drawn into the dark world of the cartels.

But everything Rick and Madison value, and the growing love between them, is threatened by the dangers of Rick's job, and the risks he's determined to take…

My Review
4 Stars
*I received a copy from Prism Book Tours in exchange for an honest review*

I missed out on reading the first book of this series, but this book stands alone. I love San Diego and could easily picture the locations of the events of this story. The setting is great and I especially loved the characters and the way they have such strong connections to the setting.

Rick grew up in a drug house in Mexico and fled as a young teen. Due to a wonderful foster-turned-adoptive family, his life is very dedicated to fighting drugs, drug cartels, drug runners, etc. He has an amazing impact on students and others as he strives to rid the world of some of these issues. He's very handsome and likable and I love how he's more of a "spirit of the law" kind of person, not always following things to a T, but to do what's best in each individual situation.

Madison is a new vet in town and is assigned to work with the K-9 division. I love the first meeting between Madison and Rick, as well as the second. She comes from a very different upbringing and struggles with doing what's legally right versus what's ethically right. I love the tender way she has with animals, especially dogs, and her determination to find ways to better help and treat them.

Growing up, dogs scared me a little, but I sure do love them now! I loved all of the interactions both characters had with their dogs and the matter-of-fact way they had in training and handling them.

I especially enjoyed the various elements to this story. There's a mystery/suspense angle that plays well into the romantic angle, which is complicated. I enjoyed the family relationships, the new friendships, and the loyalty to each. This is definitely a series I plan on continuing to read!

Content: mild language; mild violence (drugs, drug runners, dog attacks, fights, but all is non-graphic); mild romance (kissing). I would considered it clean, especially for an adult.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Kate James spent much of her childhood abroad before attending university in Canada. She built a successful business career, but her passion has always been literature. As a result, Kate turned her energy to her love of the written word. Her writing has been recognized with a number of awards, including first place honors for Silver Linings in both the First Coast Romance Writers’ Published Beacon Contest and Ancient City Romance Authors’ Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award. Her November 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release, A Child’s Christmas, received first-place honors from Southern Magic, the Birmingham Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, for the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, placed second in the Ancient City Romance Authors’ Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, and was a finalist in RWA’s Desert Rose Chapter’s Golden Quill Award and the Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. Finally, her October 2015 release, When the Right One Comes Along, the first book in her K-9 trilogy, has received a Best Book of 2015 award in the contemporary category.

She and her husband, Ken, enjoy traveling and the outdoors with their beloved Labrador Retrievers, Harley and Logan.

Kate would love to hear from you! You can connect with her by e-mail, through her website, her Facebook page, Twitter, or mail at PO Box 446, Schomberg, ON, L0G 1T0, Canada.

Tour Schedule

January 4th: Launch
January 5th: Katie's Clean Book Collection

January 6th: Becky on Books & Sunrise Avenue

January 7th: Reading Is My SuperPower & Singing Librarian Books

January 8th: Getting Your Read On & deal sharing aunt

January 10th: Colorimetry & I Am A Reader

January 11th: Mel's Shelves & Slice of Life

January 12th: Thoughts of a Blonde & Falling Leaves

January 13th: underneath the covers & Teatime and Books

January 14th: Rockin' Book Reviews

January 15th: Enthralling Dimple & Love, Laughter, Friendship

January 17th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

- $40 Amazon eGift Card & signed copies of The Truth About Hope and When the Right One Comes Along
- 3 winners of signed copies of When the Right One Comes Along
Open US/CAN only
Ends January 23rd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Wolfsbane's Daughter by Jennifer Silverwood with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Wolfsbane's Daughter

By Jennifer Silverwood

(A Wylder Tale Novella)
YA Dark Fantasy
ebook, 52 Pages

Wolfsbane and his daughter Resha are on a never ending quest in the Wylder Mountains, to wipe out the wolves who destroyed their village. Before their enemies stole everything she loved, Resha cared for little beyond learning how to be a hunter. After, she learned a hunter must be prepared to fight as well as flee. Now she cares for nothing but revenge.

Until she discovers two majikal humans half frozen in the forest. Resha has a choice, to follow her instincts and leave the strangers to the wolves, or save them. Yet the enemy is on the prowl and there is little time for Wolfsbane's daughter to find safe haven before they are discovered.

Goodreads

The First Book in the Series

Craving Beauty

(A Wylder Tale, #1)

Paperback & ebook, 239 pages
October 31st 2015

Vynasha has spent the last four years tending her mother's roses and looking after her nephew. The fire that killed their family has left her scarred and put Wyll on the brink of death. Soon the first frost will come down from the mountains and she knows this winter will be his last.

Until a strange beggar appears on the road, telling her of the majikal Source that can heal her Wyll. With nothing left to lose, Vynasha braves the forbidden Wylder Mountains to seek out a cure and her fate.

A lost kingdom is uncovered by an equally lost girl, but the castle is not abandoned as she believes. Shadows cloaking unseen eyes watch. Tapestries whisper from the hidden corners, wondering if the one to break their curse has come. And a hungry beast waits, ready to devour her soul.

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of the Heaven’s Edge series, Stay and Silver Hollow.

Website - Blog - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Tumblr

Other Books by the Author

Cover Reveal Giveaway

$20 Amazon eGift Card
Ends January 9th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, January 4, 2016

Release Celebration for Dark Deeds by Michelle Diener with Giveaway {Day 1}

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to the Release Celebration for

Dark Deeds

By Michelle Diener

Dark Deeds is book two in the Class 5 Series. Michelle has a message below and you can come back on Wednesday, January 6th, HERE to learn more about the characters and on Friday, January 8th, HERE to read an excerpt. There's a fabulous Amazon eGift Card giveaway as well. Enjoy!

Journey in a New Direction

In June 2015, I released my first science fiction romance novel, Dark Horse. The story had gripped me for nearly a year and I spent well over eight months working on it. And yet, I really didn't know if it would be a success or not. I'm published in historical fiction and fantasy, and while it wasn't a big leap for my fantasy fans, my historical fans were surely unlikely to be interested in Dark Horse, and yet, I couldn't let the story go.

As it happens, Dark Horse found its own fan base. One I've delighted in interacting with. It has been my most successful book to date, and I get emails daily from readers wanting to know when the next book in the series will be out.

I'm thrilled to be able to say that day is today! Dark Deeds, book two in the Class 5 series. has been released.

To celebrate, I've priced Dark Horse for 99c (down from $4.99) for a week, from 3 January to 9 January, so those who haven't heard about it yet can quickly jump in and get the first book for a bargain before they move on to Dark Deeds.

I've had some wonderful reviews for Dark Horse since it was released. The All About Romance reviewer called it “one of my top reads of 2015”, and Smart Girls Love Science Fiction Romance called it “awesome new Sci Fi from a very talented writer”.

I'm proud of Dark Horse and so happy to have the sequel finished and ready to share with everyone who loved Dark Horse.

— Michelle Diener

Dark Deeds

(Class 5 #2)

by Michelle Diener

Adult Sci-Fi

Paperback & ebook, 340 Pages

June 4th 2016

Far from home . . .

Fiona Russell has been snatched from Earth, imprisoned and used as slave labor, but nothing about her abduction makes sense. When she's rescued by the Grih, she realizes there's a much bigger game in play than she could ever have imagined, and she's right in the middle of it.

Far from safe . . .

Battleship captain Hal Vakeri is chasing down pirates when he stumbles across a woman abducted from Earth. She's the second one the Grih have found in two months, and her presence is potentially explosive in the Grih's ongoing negotiations with their enemies, the Tecran. The Tecran and the Grih are on the cusp of war, and Fiona might just tip the balance.

Far from done . . .

Fiona has had to bide her time while she's been a prisoner, pretending to be less than she is, but when the chance comes for her to forge her own destiny in this new world she grabs it with both hands. After all, actions speak louder than words.

Amazon

Dark Horse

(Class 5 #1)
by Michelle Diener
Adult Sci-Fi

Paperback & ebook, 381 Pages
June 15th 2015

Some secrets carry the weight of the world.

Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she's made a powerful ally--a fellow prisoner with whom she's formed a strong bond. Sazo's an artificial intelligence. He's saved her from captivity and torture, but he's also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.

Captain Dav Jallan doesn't know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he's not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.

She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5's owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn't the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.

In this race for the truth, he's going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.

Amazon

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings. or online at Twitter, at Google+ and Facebook.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Release Celebration Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally
Ends January 10th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cinderella Treasure Trove Spotlight with Giveaway

Reading Challenge for 2016

I'm excited to be participating in a reading

challenge for 2016 with my good friend

over at KJ's Book Nook!

I don't usually do things like this, but

thought it would be a fun way to

branch out from my normal reads.

Here's my list:

a book published this year -- The Express Rider's Lady by Stacy Henrie
a book you can finish in a day -- Oh, Come On--Be Faithful by Cami Checketts
a book you've been meaning to read -- The Girl in Seat 24B by Jennifer Peel
a book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller -- A Midwinter Ball
a book you should have read in school -- The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde
a book chosen for you by your BBF (best book friend) -- Making Faces by Amy Harmon
a book published before you were born -- An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
a book that was banned at some point -- James and the Giant Peach by Ronald Dahl
a book you previously abandoned -- Cress by Marissa Meyer (I started, but had to move on to something else and haven't finished)
a book you own but have never read -- Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan
a book that intimidates you -- Anna and the French Kiss
a book you've already read at least once -- A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

I'm so excited to do this! If anyone else decides to take the challenge, let me know and we can cheer each other on. Happy New Year and Happy Reading!