His for Christmas by Jennifer Haymore October 1, 2013 by Forever Yours (Grand Central Publishing)
Sweet, shy Lady Esme
has a little-known pastime-penning scandalous stories! But society must
never find out or she'll be ruined! Fortunately, her dear friend, USA
Today bestselling author Jennifer Haymore, is happy to share Esme's
sensual tale of lost love and second chances . . .
HIS FOR CHRISTMAS
Lady
Amelia Witherspoon simply must get home to her beloved family on
Christmas Eve. So when a terrible storm threatens to leave her
snowbound, she refuses to admit defeat-even if that means sharing a
carriage with Evan Cameron, the last man she ever hoped to see . . .
Evan
can't fathom why his oldest friend is as icy to him as the winter wind.
All he does know is that Amelia is still the loveliest, most tempting
woman he's ever laid eyes on. Their only option is to take refuge
together at a nearby inn, sharing the one remaining room. Evan promises
to be a gentleman . . . but it's a promise neither of them wants him to
keep.
About the author: Jennifer Haymore grew up in California and on the Big Island of
Hawaii. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC
Berkeley and a master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became
a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching
inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.
You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her
husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children
with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or
crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.
Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis Published September 24, 2013 by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .
Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor #1)
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A.
to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of
Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a
new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a
tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to
make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she
meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered,
and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and
decide what she really wants.
Kissing Santa Claus (Lucky Harbor #2.5) NASCAR
driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in
his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past
and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another
Christmas alone?
Under the Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor #6.5)
There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky
Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good
cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than
merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made
her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows
her to town bearing gifts - and asking for forgiveness.
My review: I have never been disappointed with a Lucky Harbor novel, and this was no exception. This omnibus, Christmas in Lucky Harbor, includes the first two novels in the Lucky Harbor series, Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing, and also includes two Christmas short stories, Kissing Santa Claus and Under the Mistletoe.
In Simply Irresistible, three sisters have just found out that their recently deceased mother left them a bed and breakfast in Lucky Harbor. Each sister has a different father and each one was mostly raised by their father instead of their irresponsible, free-spirited mother. Maddie, the middle sister, spent the least amount of time with their mother while growing up, but Maddie is at a place in her life where she feels she doesn't belong anywhere and really wants to connect with her sisters and make a success of the bed and breakfast so she will have a place to call home. The other sisters just want to sell it quickly and get on with their lives. While Maddie is trying to convince her sisters that the bed and breakfast can be a great business for all of them, Maddie gets hot and heavy with the contractor hired to fix up the inn, who has a few secrets about the inn and Maddie's mother.
In The Sweetest Thing, the oldest sister, Tara, is trying to get her life back on track after her divorce and is working hard to make a success of the bed and breakfast. Tara used to spend some summers with her mom in Lucky Harbor, and Tara has to face her past with Ford, a long time Lucky Harbor resident who is also best friends with her sister, Maddie's, boyfriend, Jax. Even after all these years, the attraction between Tara and Ford is impossible to deny and hard to resist. Things are further complicated when her ex-husband shows up and wants her back.
In Kissing Santa Claus, we get to see another side of Tara's ex-husband, Logan. In The Sweetest Thing, you are sort of against him and for Ford, so it is nice to get to read about him in another light. Kissing Santa Claus is a sweet short story that gets you in the mood for Christmas.
In Under the Mistletoe, we get to know Tara and Ford's daughter, Mia, a lot more. Mia is coming back to Lucky Harbor for Christmas and for her Aunt Chloe's wedding. This great short story really focuses on the joys of family and makes you believe in true love.
Overall, each story in Christmas in Lucky Harbor, as well as all of the other Lucky Harbor novels I have read, are well-written, excellent romances. They do not have to be read in order for you to enjoy them. Jill Shalvis has the ability to make you laugh and fall in love with the characters, while also heating up the pages. The romance is hot and spicy without being too explicit, and there is still a story that you get drawn into beyond all of the action between the sheets (or in most cases, not between the sheets). I have really enjoyed every book I have read from Jill Shalvis, and she has become one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance.
A copy was received from the publisher. I was not required to write a review.
About the author: New York Times bestselling
author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family
and far too many assorted quirky characters. Any resemblance to the
quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for
Jill's latest, RUMOR HAS IT, on shelves and ereaders now, and get all
her bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold. Also,
visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her
city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.
Praise for Rook: "This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars
"Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars
“Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars
Excerpt
Is that him? Is he back?
My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing.
The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.
Author Stella MacDonald Stella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.
BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/30/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Devious.Conniving.Deceitful.Insidious.David Miller thought he knew his mother.He thought kidnapping three children was the most appalling and
horrendous thing any human being could do and she couldn’t possibly do anything
more monstrous.He thought there was
nothing else she could do or say that would astound him.How wrong he was.
After Beatrice Miller, David’s serial
kidnapping mother, is sentenced to thirty years, David moves to Phoenix, Arizona;
and with the help of a trust fund and an old friend, he starts the Never Give
Up foundation, an organization dedicated to finding and returning exploited and
missing children safely to their families.With all the wicked things his mother had done, David feels it is his
unspoken duty to do something worthwhile.
Hesitant at first but after reading his
mother’s journal, David is determined to mend their dysfunctional
relationship.Every time David visits
Bea in prison, she seems deranged insisting that people are trying to kill
her.She ends each brief encounter with
a chilling statement, “Remember David, things aren’t always what they
seem.”
As word about the foundation spreads,
the services of Never Give Up are requested time-and-time-again to help where
other agencies have failed.That is,
until the police come knocking on David’s door and arrest him, taking him back
to Bunting Valley, North Dakota, for the murder of a newborn baby boy.
Forced to shut down Never Give Up, David
is amazed at how quickly the entire world turns their backs on him.The trial begins and his mother’s testimony
is the only thing that can save him.Telling the truth is as foreign to Beatrice Miller as giving up drugs is
to an addict.As everyone in the
courtroom holds their breath, you will too.Remember, things aren’t always what they seem.
As a recent graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, R. K. Avery has
written numerous, unpublished, children’s picture books, but her true passion
is writing adult fiction.
“Having the ability to make people laugh or cry, just by using the written
language, is a gift so powerful and I hope, one day, my name will be
among those who possess it” ~ R.K. Avery
After Be
Careful What You Wish For achieved near-instant eBook best-seller
success even before its print release, Avery had re-signed with Brighton
Publishing LLC for her second novel, Not My Mother's Son. Sure to send chills down readers’ spines, Avery’s brilliant new
thriller is now available for sale in both e-Book and paperback wherever fine
books are sold.
R. K. Avery
lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, two
kids, and four dogs.She often jokes
instead of sign that says, “Don’t let the dogs out” she has a sign that says
“Don’t let any more dogs in”.
Title: The Next America: Moving Beyond a Fragile Economy Author: Don A. Holbrook Publisher: Don A. Holbrook Pages: 304 Language: English Genre: Nonfiction/Business & Economics Format: Paperback, eBook & Audio Book Purchase at AMAZON
The economic chaos of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis that has created so
much destruction of wealth for regular Americans is far from over. This book
examines problems and possible solutions within national, international, and
local realms that will help us navigate these times and set a course toward
calmer waters. While some clamor for more taxes to cover our government's
programs, The Next America shows how we can restructure our tax code so it
positively affects all aspects of our communities: education, businesses,
innovation, political transparency, environmental issues, investments, and
more. Concerned citizens and economic players alike will be inspired and
motivated to act to reestablish the American Dream during this transitional
time. The Next America believes an informed citizenry can create a solution to
hold our elected officials accountable for real change that will be robust and
beneficial to all American’s not just the elite few at the top, without moving
away from our free market and capitalism based economy.
BOOK EXCERPT:
From
reading the newspaper, watching television, or listening to the radio, it
should be clear that the unsettling situation America finds itself in today has
presented us with several conundrums. We are concerned about where our nation
is headed, how to make a living, how to prepare for retirement, how to create a
better life for our families today, and how to leave our posterity with an
inheritance of economic opportunities.
The global
economy has created more chaos and hardships than most of us have previously
experienced. Not since the Great Depression have folks been so beleaguered by
so many tumultuous problems. Even more devastating is the degradation of our
main pillar of humanity, our core: the family unit. With the massive amount of
unemployment and underemployment that has arisen in this perfect economic
storm, many of us have burned through our benefit claims, extensions, and
options. We face loss of income and also hope and self-dignity. These immense
problems have made many of us rethink our values and dreams. In the worst of
cases, we have given up the ideal of aspiring for a better life—not only for
ourselves, but also for our children. The economic pressures are not the only problems
in this perfect storm. We face burgeoning pressure from religious zealots who
are not tolerant of religious differences. We face environmental calamities,
both
natural and man-made. In addition, the resources that we depend on to fuel our
global economy, such as energy, are peaking in costs and diminishing in
availability.
To further frustrate and annoy our already
overloaded psyches, we have a complete lack of trust in our governmental
systems. People are weary of the either/or partisan politics and government’s
failure to look out for our best interests.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Book:
The economic chaos of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis that has created so
much destruction of wealth for regular Americans is far from over. This book
examines problems and possible solutions within national, international, and
local realms that will help us navigate these times and set a course toward
calmer waters. While some clamor for more taxes to cover our government's
programs, The Next America shows how we can restructure our tax code so it
positively affects all aspects of our communities: education, businesses,
innovation, political transparency, environmental issues, investments, and
more. Concerned citizens and economic players alike will be inspired and
motivated to act to reestablish the American Dream during this transitional
time. The Next America believes an informed citizenry can create a solution to
hold our elected officials accountable for real change that will be robust and
beneficial to all American’s not just the elite few at the top, without moving
away from our free market and capitalism based economy.
WATCH DON DISCUSS MOVING
BEYOND A FRAGILE ECONOMY:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author:
Don
Holbrook is a private economist consultant involved in economic development
public policy, site location decisions for private sector investments of new
facilities, strategic destination tourism development feasibility and
public-private partnership conceptualization, including public sector
incentives to entice business investment into local economies. His non-fiction
books on local economic development efforts to rebuild, renew and sustainably
balance economic development public policy to create world-class communities
have been groundbreaking successes within economic development.His first book, the “Little Black Book of
Economic Development” has spawned a series of follow-up books on how
communities, companies, individuals and families can navigate these treacherous
economic times.
Holbrook
is one of the worlds foremost thought leaders and public speakers on the
subject of how communities can build smart and sustainable local grassroots driven
economic development strategies to achieve maximum success in what he refers to
as “The Art of the Deal Today.”
Holbrook
was formally indoctrinated as a Fellow Member of the International Economic
Development Council, for his lifetime achievements by his peers in 2008.
He lives
with wife and two sons in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 2010,
Holbrook was formally Knighted at West Point USMA as a member of the modern day
Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, a modern day Knights
Templar Order.
When I talk about Cassie Scot I'm usually not talking about the book, Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective.
I'm usually talking about the entire series. This is my third book, but
my first series, so it has been an interesting adjustment for me. In my
mind, Cassie's story is complete, even though for the reader it has
barely begun.
In
fact, Cassie's story is complete. There are four volumes in the series,
all written, all under contract, and all pending release within the
next year or so. Each of the volumes is framed by a self-contained
mystery, which should give the reader some sense of closure at the end.
Personal, romantic, and familial problems remain, however, and these
issues are what I think of as Cassie's story. The first book is about
Cassie solving a murder/missing person mystery. The series is about
Cassie discovering who she is and what she wants. I suppose that part
doesn't play as well in a teaser, but I think it's relevant. To some
extent, we all strive to figure out who we are and how to accept
ourselves. This is never more true than when faced with the disapproval
or disappointment of parents – something Cassie knows all-too well.
Cassie
isn't the only one going through a period of self-discovery. To a
lesser extent Evan Blackwood is trying to figure out who he is and what
he wants. Well, he's sure about one thing – and if you've read the
epilogue to book one you know what that is. He's confused about much of
the rest. In stark contrast to Cassie, Evan has a lot of magical power
and he doesn't want to be like his father –using that power for his own
wealth/comfort and little else. At the same time, Evan is used to
getting his way and he has the power to take most of what he wants. On
the surface this may seem like a good thing, but in Secrets and Lies,
book two in the Cassie Scot series, he will learn differently. It was a
challenge to show him going through this sort of transformation from
Cassie's point of view, but I hope the reader sees it.
When
I look at the series as a whole, one of the choices I have often found
myself questioning is the use of vampires in the first book. This may
seem like an odd thing to say. I mean, it's urban fantasy. Of course it
has vampires! Well...
I
didn't plan to write the first book right away. In those early weeks, I
thought I would write a long short story or novella as a sort of proof
of concept. There were a lot of important details popping around in my
mind – Cassie character, her family, the town, the rules of magic, the
love interest – somewhere in the middle of all that I decided to test
the waters with vampires because it's simple. Everyone knows them. They
don't require a lot of thought. I don't know when they became permanent,
but somewhere along the line I knew I was writing a whole novel instead
of a short story, and by then the plot had stuck. Vampires
are not at all important to the overall story. It's not the last you'll
see of them, but they don't have a huge part to play. If you're a
vampire fan, sorry, but hopefully you love Cassie enough to stick with
her. Those who are sick of vampires in fantasy, bear with me. And know
that these vampires are Stoker-esque (and not even a little bit sparkly
:) ).
“There
isnothing so evilin the worldas what humans cando to oneanother.”
–Edward Scot (Cassie's father). This may have almost seemed like a
throwaway comment in book one, but it wasn't. It definitely becomes
important later on, and it's something I firmly believe. I've never
thought fantasy novels needed literal demons to fight. Give a human
being power, and let's see what he decides to do with it. History has
shown us that it isn't always pretty. The
last time I revised the first book in this series, I had completed the
final volume. This means that I had my plan fully formed and
implemented. There are a couple of little things in the first book that
you probably won't even think about unless you go back and reread it
sometime after you finish the series. Then you'll think, “Oh, she did
have a plan!”
I love it when authors do that. I hope I've pulled it off to your satisfaction as well.
Book Two Teasers: 1.
Cassie is going to learn something very important about her mother that
she never knew.
2. Kaitlin and Madison will take on bigger roles, and
each will develop a problem of her own.
3. Edward Scot (Cassie's dad) and
Victor Blackwood (Evan's dad) will come face to face. Their mutual
enmity will not be in doubt.
4. The reader will learn one more of the
reasons why Edward hates Victor.
5. The mystery will be the search for
two teenage girls who went missing from a summer camp.
6. The life debt
Cassie owes Evan will be a big deal.
Secrets and Liesby Christine Amsden
Cassie
Scot,still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the
magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart
and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can
save them.
To
complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for
her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly
when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but
long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness. Book 2 in the
Cassie Scot Mystery series.
Christine
Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she
can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be
inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun,
magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real
people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine
writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to
make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At
the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a
condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision.
She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in
the way of her dreams. (You can learn more here.)
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.
Christine
currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who
has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two
beautiful children.
His for Christmas
Jennifer Haymore grew up in California and on the Big Island of
Hawaii. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC
Berkeley and a master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became
a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching
inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas. 
