My New Novella Is Now An Audio Book!

My novella, Falling Slowly, (the follow up to All Fall Down) is now in audio! I'm so excited about this one.  You can listen to a sample here. (It's the same great narrator that did All Fall Down and I love how he brings my characters to life.)  And it's only $6.95 to buy or you can get it free if you start a thirty day trial membership with Audible!

Here's the back copy:

Rafe Kelly never thought he'd fall in love with Claire Michaels, the hostage negotiator sent to get him out of a life or death situation. Though it was easy to see from the beginning that Claire was good at her profession, Rafe quickly realized she was even better for him personally and that they might have a future together.

When they get back from their mission in Afghanistan, however, Claire goes back to the Hostage Negotiation Team and Rafe is left to deal with the huge hole in his life after leaving the SEALs. Trying to balance an uncertain future with a new relationship is made even more complicated when a family crisis strikes. Will Rafe and Claire be able to turn to each other for strength or are they over before they've really begun?

Takes place directly following All Fall Down (Hostage Negotiation Team #1)

Book Review and Giveaway!

Blog Tour Schedule

I am so excited to be part of the blog tour for The Sheik's Ruby. I read it while I was on vacation and funny story, I had just finished another book and was getting ready to read this one, but thought I hadn't read the bonus material at the end of the book I'd just finished. I picked up my Kindle and started reading that and was immediately hooked, thinking, whoa, I am definitely going to buy this book.  I was two chapters in, when I realized I was actually reading The Sheik's Ruby! I know, silly me, but this book was so captivating right from the very beginning.  I loved how easy and confident Shelby was and how the author described the first meeting and attraction between Shelby and Hakim. Hakim is swoon-worthy, of course, and I didn't even try to put the book down when they were together. I loved their scenes!

It was fun seeing Hakim, a prince, doing some mundane American things and the author made it easy to really feel a connection to him and the sheltered life of privilege he'd led to this point. And Shelby was the perfect woman to show him what it means to fall in love, even in her fish out of water status when she's in his country.  The plot was ramped up with a terrorist angle and some suspense which was really well done, using a lot of the supporting cast. I loved Kadir and Nasir and even the Sheik. The middle eastern culture was described well and it really added to the story. Definitely one for my keeper shelf. Five stars from me!

Don't forget to scroll all the way down to enter the giveaway!

Here's the back copy:

 Shelby wants to break away from the mold of her small town and make a name for herself in the big-city journalism world. While skiing, she meets mysterious stranger Hakim who is actually the prince of the Middle Eastern kingdom of Khali-dar. When his enemies learn of Hakim’s connection to an American girl, they target Shelby. Fleeing to the safety of Khali-dar, Shelby falls deeper in love not only with the prince, but with his country. As she struggles to survive terrorist attacks, withstand the Sheik’s prejudice, and find her place in a world she doesn’t understand, she must choose which life she is willing to sacrifice—the comfortable one she has worked so hard to create, or the one with the man she loves.

Amazon * Wild Rose Press * Barnes & Noble

Excerpt “Does your father know you’re asking me?” Hakim gazed over her shoulder and took a deep breath. “He knows.” “But he doesn’t want me to come, right?” “I will bring a companion of my choice tomorrow.” He locked his gaze onto Shelby’s and leaned toward her. “You are my choice. Will you please come?” The Sheik apparently doesn’t buy into the whole “guests are gifts from Allah” idea. “Of course, I would love to come.” She smiled, but knew it didn’t appear convincing. She hated feeling like she was the source of their discord. “You are nervous. Please do not feel uncomfortable.” “I’m worried I’ll say or do something stupid.” She winced. “I’m not exactly a refined debutante who knows how to act in formal situations. I don’t want to embarrass you, Hakim.” “I do not want you to be a refined debutante. I have spent enough time with those people to know they are not what I want.”Hakim maneuvered his horse until he faced Shelby and their legs were nearly touching. He leaned closer, his gaze earnest. “What I want is you, Shelby Jo.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. Shelby felt her heart flutter and her nerve endings tingle as she lost herself in the deep brown pools of his eyes. His thumb stroked her skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. He slid his hand into her hair and drew her closer, his lips covering hers. When she drew away, Shelby inhaled deeply and grinned. “Hearing you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?”

 

 
Praise for Sheik's Ruby “What a fun read! THE SHEIK’S RUBY is a fabulous Cinderella story with both ancient and modern tones you don’t want to miss.” ~Josi Kilpack ~*~ “THE SHEIK’S RUBY is a perfect blend of romance and adventure, set in locales both familiar and exotic. When I finished, I wanted to start over and enjoy it again. ~Nancy Allen  


Author Jennifer Moore Jennifer Moore is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance due to the need to balance the rest of her world that includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that is anything but romantic. She suffers from an unhealthy addiction to 18th and 19th century military history and literature. Jennifer has a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family, but most of the time wishes she was on board a frigate during the Age of Sail.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Also by Jennifer Moore: Becoming Lady Lockwood (2014 Whitney Award Winner), Lady Emma's Campaign & Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince.

 

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/17/15 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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Freebie Friday

Today's Friday Freebie is a YA paranormal romance by Stacy Claflin called Deception.  I recently discovered this author when I read a romance of hers and saw that she had a paranormal series out as well and thought I'd give it a try.  

Here's the back copy:

What if your whole life was a lie?

Alexis Ferguson thinks she has everything figured out, but has no idea how wrong she is. Set up on a blind date, she meets a gorgeous stranger and feels that she’s known him her entire life, but she has never seen him before.

He awakens in her long-forgotten dark memories, and now she must face the one who ordered her death years ago. Will she learn to use her strange new powers in time to save herself? Will she let him help her? Should she trust him?

You can download your free Kindle copy here

Focus On The Joy

As I've been experiencing some ups and downs with getting my words in and accomplishing my goals, I found this old pep talk from Brandon Sanderson.  In it he talks about how he was pretty much in despair, wondering where and if his writing career would ever take off. He had a huge stack of unsold novels and no sales/deals in sight.What he didn't know is that in a few months an editor would read the book he'd submitted a year earlier and his life would change.  But what if he'd given up?

But here's what he said that struck me:

"You could be writing the book that changes your life. You could have already submitted it, or self-published it. The spark could be starting a fire for you as well. You don’t know, and you can’t know. That is the thrill of being an artist, of working for yourself, and of telling the stories you want to tell.

Don’t give up. Keep your eyes on the project you’re working on right now, and make it the best that it can be. More importantly, love that process."

I do love the thrill of being an artist and sharing my stories.  And some days I do love the process, but more often than not, I slog through it.  Reading this little pep talk today reminded me of the joy I've felt when I've finished a story, shared it with a friend, or read a good review.  

And that's what I want to keep in the forefront of my mind.  I think I'm going to write "Love the Process" on a recipe card and tack it up on the wall where I can see it every day.  Somehow, when I read that, I'm reminded of how much I DO love the process.

Focus on the joy. That's what I'm working on.

(You can read the full pep talk by Brandon Sanderson here.)

Writer Goal Wednesday

Well, I met AND EXCEEDED my goal from last week. I had an amazing writing week and I'm not afraid to be happy about it!

The muse was musing all over the place for me and I even got a plot twist worked out! I really love this book and am so excited about the new series and the characters that I hope you'll love as much as I do.

I've been thinking a lot about what made the difference between last week and this week,and I really think dropping my goal to something small like three pages helped me mentally focus less on the goal and more on the joy of writing.  Once I felt like I didn't have ten pages hanging over my head, merely three, it seemed more do-able somehow and then I exceeded the three and got the ten anyway! Go figure.

Whatever it was, I'm so glad.  How did you do on your goals this week?

My New Audio Book!

I'm so excited to finally announce that my novel, Through Love's Trials, is available in audiobook!

You can go here to listen to a sample.

Here's the back copy:

Attorney Kenneth King can't wait to get away on vacation and leave the courtroom behind. He only has one last errand to do for his boss: drop off a flash drive to fellow attorney Emma James. But as soon as the drive is in his hands, his boss is murdered and Kenneth becomes the next target. With nowhere left to turn, he reaches out to Emma for help, but that only puts them both in danger. 

Emma James just wants to settle into her new job and provide a good life for her little girl. That is all threatened when she gets a flash drive with information on it that points to an imminent terrorist attack on US soil. With her choices dwindling and her vulnerabilities made crystal clear, Emma is pushed to the limit by those who want her dead, and the rest of the country to suffer. How far will she be forced to go to save the lives of everyone around her, including those she loves? 

Kenneth and Emma have to find a way to work together to stop the terrorists, but it's the most difficult trial of their lives - and the verdict will be life or death.

  I can't wait to hear what you all think of it!  *throws confetti*

Double Book Review!

I have two awesome books to tell you about today!  The first one is Attractive Nuisance by Jennifer Griffith. This was a light-hearted romance that really stole my heart! I really enjoyed it.

Attorney Camilla Sweeten is determined to win the Deputy County Attorney spot and works super hard to get it. She's an over-preparer and goes over every minute detail in her cases so she can do her best work.  Until the day that she's in the middle of closing arguments and hot attorney Zane Holyoke catches her eye.  She flubs her closing in front of her boss, but thankfully doesn't lose the case. Only, she's now in danger of losing her heart!

Camilla has some relationship issues, however, and doesn't let Zane too close, especially when she finds out they're both competing for the Deputy County Attorney job.  He's a charmer, a "Jury Whisperer" and while Camilla is wildly attracted to him, she's also very careful with keeping her distance. I loved their interactions and seriously laughed out loud at some of them. The author did a great job with their dialogue and how fun Zane and Camilla were together.  The supporting cast was fantastic as well, really adding to the story.

If you are looking for a fun, sweet romance, you have to get this one. Five stars from me! (You can get your Kindle copy herefor only $2.99!)

Here's the back copy:

Camilla Sweeten is serious about her job in the County Attorney’s office. She’s even working up the courage to ask her boss to consider her for promotion to deputy.

Then, into court walks the gorgeous Zane Holyoake, and disaster strikes—in the form of a total brain fog right in the middle of her closing arguments. In front of both her boss and the meanest bear of a judge in the county, Camilla hears herself saying, “Like, I totally made my point,” as though she’d flown in from1980s California in a time machine airplane.

Now her boss will never consider her for deputy—especially since Zane turns out to be a new lawyer, possibly brought in to steal her dream job.

But when a notorious criminal is caught in their county, Camilla must focus on getting the thief convicted and not on Zane, who smells heavenly and is bent on distracting her with lunch offers and wacky Boy Scout stories that may melt her many resolves.

It’s going to take incredible willpower to ignore this attractive nuisance.

The second book I want to tell you about today is Seaside Surprises by Stacy Claflin. I've never read this author before and was pleasantly surprised. She has a nice, easy style, and creates characters that are likable.

This story is about Jake Hunter who has lost his sister to cancer. His family is trying to cope and doing a terrible job of it. He's pulling double duty at the family shop and isn't exactly happy about it, but doesn't know what to do, really.  He meets Tiffany Saunders, a beautiful and mysterious woman who is passing through town. At least, she thinks she is, until she has some car trouble and has to stay a little longer.

Tiffany has a terrible background. She's running from her abusive husband and her grandpa is helping her hide her identity and start over.  Stopping in Kittle Falls and meeting Jake is a twist of fate she wasn't expecting and she ends up staying and getting to know him better.  Her self-esteem is pretty low due to her abusive marriage, but her interactions with Jake show her that she can have a chance at love again, if she'll only take the risk.

This story dealt with some heavy material and definitely wasn't a fluffy beach read. I liked the ocean setting and the fact that this is a start of a series. (Jake's brothers will probably get their own stories.) I thought the author did a great job dealing with the grief of Jake's family and the fear and abuse on Tiffany's side, showing that two people who are broken can heal.

You can get your Kindle copy here for only $2.99!

Here's the back copy:

Tiffany Saunders is on the run. When she winds up stranded in a seaside town, she wants nothing more than to forget her horrific past and kept moving. But a chance meeting with a handsome local changes everything.

Jake Hunter has some deep emotional scars and is trying to cope with running the family business. The last thing he wants is a relationship—until a mysterious brunette walks into his store and complicates it all.

Tiffany prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong—in her rear view mirror. But dark secrets cannot stay hidden forever. Just as the walls around Tiffany’s heart start to come down, the past catches up with her. Will true love be able to conquer all?

Freebie Friday

Today's Friday Freebie is a clean mystery/suspense called Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt. This one might go to the top of my TBR pile. It sounds good! You can download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Buying a gun to kill your wife: $3,000
Hiring Trauma Care to clean afterward: $1,500
Having that same cleaner uncover evidence that frames you: Priceless

On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire drops out of school and starts her own crime scene cleaning business. When a routine cleaning job uncovers a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong person is in jail. But the owner of the weapon is a powerful foe . . . and willing to do anything to keep Gabby quiet.

With the help of her new neighbor, Riley Thomas, a man whose life and faith fascinate her, Gabby plays the detective to make sure the right person is put behind bars. Can Riley help her before another murder occurs?

And just as a heads up, Sariah Wilson's book Royal Date (which I really enjoyed!) is on sale for only $1.99!  You can download your copy here

Here's the back copy:

This Cinderella didn’t plan on a prince . . .

Kat MacTaggart is a girl who has a plan for everything—including her holiday ski trip to Monterra with her best friend. Everything is going according to plan until she finds herself careening out of control down a mountainside and being rescued by a guy who looks like Superman’s hotter Italian cousin.

HRH Prince Nico is intrigued by the woman he saved on the slopes and her refusal to date him. He offers Kat a deal—let him show her his country and he’ll pay her to write articles that will help Monterra’s tourism industry. Kat agrees, but given her past and lingering distrust of men, she has one condition—absolutely no kissing.

Thanks to the claims of a jealous British noblewoman and the schemes of a meddling paparazzo, Kat’s rule doesn’t seem to be a problem at first. But the more Kat gets to know Nico and the people around him, the harder it is to remember her keep-your-distance plan. Should she stick to it or risk everything for a chance at happily ever after?

Maybe The Universe Heard Me

Remember yesterday when I said I was feeling like a failure because I wasn't hitting my ten page goal every week? So I just made a goal of three pages?  The funniest thing happened today.

I sat down at my desk and the words and ideas just started flowing. Like crazy! I wrote five pages this morning.  And now, just when things usually get crazy at my house with after dinner stuff, my husband took the kids so I could have a break.  So I have WRITING TIME! Can you believe it? I'm so excited. Maybe I'll make my ten page goal TODAY!

The best thing about it all is how much I'm loving this story. It's going to launch my new series and I can't wait for you all to read it!  I know you'll love these characters.

Maybe the best thing for my goals is to set them low and exceed them. Especially if the universe is listening!

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Well, once again, I didn't make my goal of writing ten pages on my novella. I only wrote three. It sort of makes me feel that twinge of failure when I don't make these goals, because they should be do-able, but as the last few weeks have taught me, I might be reaching too high.

So here's my solution: I am going to make smaller goals. I can't do ten pages, but I seem to be able to do three. So, my goal for next week is to write three pages on my novella.

What do you do when you don't reach your goals and start to feel like you're failing? How do you get out of that mindset?

The Quilt is FINISHED!

As you all know, ten days ago I started a T-shirt quilt for my son who had just returned home from serving a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was such a good sport about it, and didn't just watch me do the quilt, but jumped in and helped me every step of the way. 

He cut, pinned, ironed, and helped tie it. (And did a great job!) Every T-shirt on the quilt has a memory for him and a story behind it, but for me, the real story I'll remember is the quilt itself. Every time I look at it I will remember how much we laughed and talked while we made it. He shared his mission stories with me, the silly parts and the sacred parts. We found our old song favorites while I sewed and we sang along. We spent the day with his grandparents so we could help Grandma help us tie the quilt and then went home with smiles on our faces and sore fingers!

Some people might have thought it was weird to do a quilting project with my return missionary right after he got home, but the fact is, in a few weeks he will be going back to school, and working, and dating, (okay he's been doing some of that already! LOL) and hanging out with friends. His attention will be on those things, as it should be. But right now, this small block of time before all that happens has been my time with him and when he wraps up in his new quilt, I want him to remember how much fun we had making it together, and how much I loved having this time with him. 

Love you, sweetheart.

The Quilt Continues

I spent today tying the quilt and then working on the binding. I got three sides bound, but put the last one aside until tomorrow since my brain is fried.  And my fingers are numb.  This is seriously my best quilt, though. I like the bind we're doing (putting a bit of the back on the front.)

My first quilt was one that I started in 1997 and never finished. I found it when I was going through boxes in my basement and attempted to finish it.  As a beginning quilter, though, it was hard because I'd done it wrong in the first place and had to pretty much start again.  Thankfully, my mother-in-law is an incredible quilter and could help me fix all the mistakes I made.

My second quilt was a T-shirt quilt and I watched a YouTube tutorial on how to do it. That one went much better than the first, but I still had quite a few things I'd done wrong and needed to fix.

This one, however, I'd learned a lot of things and did so much better! I'm super proud of it and I'll probably post a picture when I finish it tomorrow! Yay!

Freebie Friday

Today's Freebie Friday is a YA Steampunk called Prodigal by Sherry Ficklin.

Here's the back copy:

Stein has been with the Hollows for as long as she can remember. Taken as a child, she has no memories of her past—and that's always been fine by her. Until the day she stumbles across a hidden journal containing the devastating truth about her paternity. Now everything she thought she knew—and everyone she thought she could trust—has changed. The truth about who she is and where she came from is a secret so deep, it will rock the Hollows and the Tesla Institute alike.

During a test to verify her bloodlines, Stein makes a terrible discovery. She is carrying a rare genetic mutation that is slowly killing her. Unsure who to turn to and running out of time, she has no choice but to turn to Tesla—her most hated enemy—for help. But can she trust the man who she's been fighting against her whole life, or will she end up another piece in his deadly game of cat and mouse with the people who betrayed her so long ago?

If this looks interesting to you, click hereto download your free Kindle copy!

A Crazy Thing Happened Today

We had a crazy thing happen today. My son came with me to the fabric store to pick out the backing for his T-shirt quilt. He found one he wanted, but wasn't sure if there was enough fabric on the bolt for what we needed. There were two older ladies working at the cutting counter, so we went to ask them. 

After telling them the measurements of the quilt top, both women started arguing as to how much fabric we would need. Here's how it went:

Lady #1 to her co-worker--"You just measured four, almost five." 

Lady #2--"No, I did not. Let me measure again. Hmmph, okay you were right on that one." 

Lady #1--"Well, they need 2/3 more." 

Lady #2--"No, they don't!" *she measures again then turns to me* "Tell me how much you need again?" 

Seriously, that went on for a good five or ten minutes! It was funny/weird.  When we finally got that all straightened out, we realized they didn't have enough fabric, but wait! Both women had a solution. And here's where it got interesting.

The first lady thought we should choose a solid color to have in the middle with the material we wanted in a border at the edges. The second woman said we should do the material we wanted in the middle with the solid color as the border because that would be better. They both were very forceful in their opinions.  One even drew us a picture of her vision while the other rolled her eyes. SO HARD not to laugh at this point.

And the arguing continued.

Lady #1--"Maybe he doesn't WANT the solid color in the middle." 

Lady #2--"Of course he does, so you can see the fabric he wants at the edges!" 

Lady #1--"Well, you could see MORE of the fabric he WANTS if it was in the middle!"

(Yeah, it was super awkward to listen to, but funny! Fabric wars!) and then after this heated argument, they both turned to my son, hands on hips, and said, "okay, which one do you choose?"

It was a scary moment! One of them looked like they could hurt him if he didn't choose their way (sure, she was older, but feisty). And there were scissors nearby! (It gives a whole new meaning to cutting counter, doesn't it?) 

At this point I stepped in and asked them to call another store to see if they had all of the fabric we needed for the project, and they did! We chose that option and avoided any bloodshed. 

I never knew fabric stores could be so stressful! And hilarious!

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Well, I didn't make my goal of ten pages on my novella. I did five, though! And I finished a T-shirt quilt for my son. So, progress!

I don't know what it is about making T-shirt quilts, but it's so fun! Chatting about all the memories the T-shirt has while I piece it together is one of my very favorite things. This one ended up being a huge king size quilt with 64 T-shirts on it---the biggest I've ever done! So, that was something fun I did this week.

My novella is going at a snail's pace. I like the characters, and I like the story, and I just need to sit in my chair and get those words flowing! Maybe we should do a sprint again one of these days. Anyone up for that?

Oh, and I FINALLY APPROVED the audio book for Through Love's Trials! Woohoo! That should be available really soon now, and I'm so excited!

So, my goal for next week is---*drum roll* write ten more pages on my novella. I know, I know, same as last week. But maybe this week I'll accomplish it!

How did you do on your goals for last week? 

Book Review: California Dreamin' Collection

If you want a perfect start to your summer season, California Dreamin' is the novella collection for you.  Short little romances that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face! I loved this collection.

Every story is set in California, but they all have a little bit different twist on romance.  You've got rich guys, bad boys, and those who need second chances.  The thing I liked best, though, is that every story had really great heroines. And there were some sigh-worthy kisses in there!

This one is a fun beach read that you won't want to put down! You can get your copy here for $4.99

Here's the back copy:

Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors.

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true.

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel.

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again.

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance.

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A.

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.

Remembering A Hero

Today would have been my nephew, Tyler's, 16th birthday, but he died last year.

Tyler was the kid who was good at everything he tried---an accomplished pianist, a talented sports star, and an excellent student. But the thing that distinguished him most of all was his kind and generous spirit that made him sensitive to the feelings of those around him. He loved deeply and fought his brain cancer with an iron will to the very end.  A goodbye that came too soon.

His motto was Whatever It Takes and he lived that. His diagnosis with DIPG didn't beat him down because Tyler used his illness for good to lift others up.  Even on the day when he'd been told his tumor had grown, instead of getting down about it or thinking about himself, he went and visited one of his friends in the hospital, hoping to cheer up his friend.  He was an amazing young man.

Tyler and his family were trying to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research. A very small percentage of funding goes to pediatric research, and that is something that should change.  If you want to help, you can go online to www.thecurestartsnow.org and find Tyler's name under the heroes section and donate $1-$16. We are going to keep fighting this disease in Tyler's memory and every little bit helps.

You can also go here to Admonish Clothing and look over their inspirational clothing lines. Tyler had a hand in creating some of the designs and they are great reminders for us all.

Today as I've remembered Tyler, I thought about how it's nice to know that his legacy lives on in those he loved best and how that keeps him alive in people's hearts.

So, Happy Birthday sweet Tyler! You and your family are loved and thought of often. What an example you are to everyone and what a difference you've made.

Whatever It Takes. Always.

Nearly Freebie Friday

I know I just told you about another anthology yesterday, but the Timeless Romance Summer Wedding Collection is on sale for only .99 cents, too, and I didn't want you to miss it!

(Here was my review of it when it first came out.

"A Timeless Romance Anthology---Summer Wedding Collection

This was an anthology that I loved.  There were some of my favorite authors with sweet, clean romances that I heartily recommend to anyone who loves the first butterflies of love.  Each story had great characters with chemistry and I finished reading with a smile on my face, although there were a couple that I wished went on longer, just because the characters were so great . . . it was an anthology that belongs on my rainy day shelf to read again.  I thought I would put which one was my favorite, but honestly, I can't choose.  There really were some great bite-sized romantic stories that made me sigh like a schoolgirl."

So, what are you waiting for? Download your Kindle copy of six awesome romantic novellas here 

Here's the back copy:

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection. Readers will love this collection of six sweet contemporary romance novellas, centered on a Summer Wedding, all with one thing in common: Romance.

In Melanie Jacobson’s charming novella, Love Bytes, Bree is the maid-of-honor and Dallen is the best-man. While they plan and plot over email and texting, Bree realizes that the best part about the Maui wedding might be meeting Dallen. She just hopes that he’ll feel the same way.

Romeo and Julie-ex is a sweet romance by Julie Wright. “Romeo” turns out to be a two-timing jerk, and when Juliet Moore’s pre-ordered wedding dress arrives from UPS, Juliet curses everything male. In a stubborn streak, she decides to keep the bridal photography appointment—when Juliet shows up for the appointment and meets photographer Jack Montague, she might have to take back some of her curses on men.

In Rachael Anderson’s enchanting novella, The Meltdown Match, Courtney spends each summer in her hometown of Heimel, Alaska, to find inspiration for her next novel. But when she runs into former high school friend, Mitch Winters, and they both win the Meltdown Match—a traditional dating contest—Courtney discovers that leaving her hometown at the end of the summer might not be so easy this time.

In Golden Sunrise, an engaging romance by Annette Lyon, Natalie takes time out of her crazy schedule to fly to Vegas for her best friend’s wedding. Sierra and Jason, high-school sweethearts, are finally getting married. Fortunately for Natalie, her old high-school flame, Adam, has a work commitment and can’t be there as best man. But when she arrives at the wedding rehearsal—late and ragged—Adam is there. When Adam makes a wild suggestion, Natalie just may take him up on it, even though she knows he’s moved on. A single choice may mean Natalie is taking a shot at reclaiming the past—or that she's putting her heart in harm’s way a second time.

Tide Pools is a captivating story by Heather B. Moore. Lexi makes a quick trip to Hawaii to attend her friend’s wedding, and she discovers that the engaged couple, Sydney and Apelu, are still trying to match-make for her. Lexi laughs because not only does their friend David have a serious girlfriend, but he owns a restaurant on the island. But when Lexi meets David, she has a hard time remembering why all of her plans were so important.

In Sarah M. Eden’s delightful novella, A Regular Bloke from Stanmore, Abby is helping her sister, Caroline, plan her British wedding. That’s right, Caroline is obsessed with all things British and insists on an authentic wedding in . . . Oregon. When they arrive at Sainsbury House reception hall, it has everything Caroline loves, and the host, Matthew Carlton, even has a British accent. Yet Abby isn’t buying the whole good-looking-British man with impeccable manners thing; she’s determined to expose him as a fake. But the more Abby gets to know Matthew, the more she realizes how wrong she really is.

A Boxed Set You Won't Want To Miss!

With summer here, I admit, I've been reading in bed until the kids get up.  Today, I stayed in bed longer than normal because I got caught up with the stories in this boxed set! Fun, contemporary romance novellas from the authors that did the Christmas in Snow Valley set that I reviewed here. So far, each one I've read has made me think that's my favorite one, but I'll definitely review it when I'm done.

The best thing about it, though, is that you can get all six novellas for only .99 cents! Get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

#1 Bestselling Amazon Authors of Christmas in Snow Valley, have teamed up again with six wonderful summer novellas that are sure to make your summer sweet and sassy!

Catching Caytie by Amazon Top Seller Cindy Roland Anderson

On the night Caytie Holbrook intends to break up with her cheating boyfriend, he blindsides her by announcing their engagement at a dinner party. When Caytie discovers her father is in on the scheme, she runs away from her home in Beverly Hills to hide out at her uncle's ranch in Snow Valley, Montana. While Snow Valley is a beautiful place, Caytie only plans to stay until her twenty-fifth birthday when she'll inherit a trust fund her grandmother left her, allowing her to pursue her dream to move to Italy. That is until she meets Jace McAllister, an incredibly sexy--although somewhat grumpy--cowboy who threatens to disrupt her plans.

Tin Foil Tiaras by Amazon Top Seller Jeanette Lewis

Cameron Elliott has come to Snow Valley to coach Annalisa Drake in the Miss Snow Valley pageant, and prove to her demanding boss that she deserves a place at the prestigious Westbrooke Agency. But Annalisa's handsome and protective big brother, Kyle, is determined to keep his sister from becoming a reluctant beauty queen. As Cameron tries to win Kyle over, Kyle insists some things are more valuable than a title and as crazy as it sounds, Cameron might just believe him.

A Touch of Love by Amazon Top Seller Cami Checketts

Annie Stirland has endured a lifetime of teasing, embarrassment, and isolation due to her speech impediment. When irresistible cowboy, Luke Wilson, seems to be falling for her, she's certain he's too good to be true. A tragedy involving his ex-girlfriend proves she's right. What man can resist sheltering someone they once loved? Annie knows she should walk away, but Luke isn't ready to give her up.

First Love by Amazon Top Seller Taylor Hart

Janet Snow doesn't expect to get caught in a full-blown make out session at her brother's wedding. Especially not with Michael Hamilton, the boy she'd written off ten years ago. Even though they both agree to no complications, Janet's not sure they can stick to it given their past. After a trip to the hot springs, a helicopter ride, and a proposal, even the most cautious single mother would start to wonder if true love really is just about the timing. Now Janet has to make a choice--play it safe or trust that her first love could also be her last.

Romancing Rebecca by Amazon Top Seller and Award-winning Author Kimberley Montpetit

Rebecca Dash loved spending her teen summers swooning over Jane Austin and helping her aunt at the Starry Skies Bed & Breakfast in Snow Valley. But as a recent college grad, she'd rather write sappy romance novels than go out with guys that make her a nervous wreck. When a team of fire-fighters set up camp on the lawns of the B&B and Captain Wade catches her eye, Becca soon learns that there's more to a happily-ever-after than a flirty firemen with muscles the size of the Montana hills.

Love in Light and Shadow by Amazon Top Seller and Award-winning Author Lucy McConnell

Mercedes O'Shay has sworn off gorgeous men because they have a tendency to break her heart. When she meets her new neighbor, Chet Bauer, she immediately puts him in the Do Not Date category based on his well-defined muscles and stunning blue eyes. But the more Mercedes learns about the cowboy who reads classics and forges iron, the more she realizes the heart doesn't see in black and white; it sees light and shadows.

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Well, school is officially out and summer has begun! I know I'm going to have to revise my writer goals from now on, into something smaller while my kids are home.  My babysteps will definitely be babysteps, but even a little bit gets me closer to my goals, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes!

This week I listened to the final edit of the audio book of Through Love's Trials and the first fifteen minutes of the audio books for Ashes Ashes AND Falling Slowly! I am really happy with how all three of them are coming along. Hopefully Through Love's Trials will be finished this week or early next week. *fingers crossed*

I also have been doing a little more work on my novella. That's probably what my goals will have to do with every week now---things that will help me finish writing and revising that novella by the end of July.  That's my goal, anyway.

So, this week, my goal is to write ten pages on my novella. Every babystep counts, right?

How did you do on your goals this week?

Book Review: The Moses Chronicles

H.B. Moore is a master at blending well-known Biblical characters with a strong fictional storyline and The Moses Chronicles really showcases her talent.

The book follows Miriam and her brother Moses and combines the familiar stories of these two people with a storyline that gives different insight into their lives and how it could have been. The details the author provided and the research she did really brings that whole time period to life and made me curious enough to do a bit more study on my own.  I especially loved the idea of Miriam watching over Moses, even from afar, because every big sister would feel those same sorts of emotions if she had to watch her little brother grow up away from the family.  We also see a glimpse of Moses' adoptive mother, Bithiah, and I enjoyed that as well.  It just made these people so much more real.

The author lays a solid foundation for the characters and really lets the reader get to know them before we're plunged into events that force them (and us) to see things from a different perspective.  I had a lot of empathy for Miriam as she tries to navigate her quite restrictive world while still being true to herself.

Moses was also really well-done and the events happening to him in the kingdom (an arranged marriage, his relationship with Ramses, trying to defend the kingdom) not to mention his pull toward the Hebrew people had me turning pages to see what would happen next.  This is obviously the first book in the series and while it did wrap things up, I will be anxiously waiting for the next one to come out.

Here's the back copy:

Moses has always felt like an outsider in his powerful Egyptian family, even though his close relationship with Ramses, the prince of Egypt, and their cousin Pentu keeps him entwined in the dealings of royalty. But when their youthful antics get them in trouble, the Pharaoh decides it’s time for all three of them to grow up and own their respective responsibilities. Now betrothed to a woman he cares nothing for, Moses wonders where his life is headed.

Miriam, a Hebrew slave, lives with a secret she cannot share with anyone. And though it has been eighteen years since she saved her baby brother, she is constantly getting in trouble for spying on him. In a desperate attempt to control Miriam, her older brother, Aaron, and her father look to find her a husband, something Miriam has never been interested in—until Caleb, a young, handsome man, confesses his feelings for her and asks her father for her hand in marriage.

When Libya advances on Egypt, Moses and Miriam are suddenly thrown together as the Egyptian royals and soldiers flee. Hebrew slaves are forced to defend the kingdom, and Miriam and Caleb are enlisted under Moses’s direction. Moses quickly sees there is more to this downtrodden people than what he’s been taught. When he witnesses the atrocities enacted against the slaves, he realizes he must leave—he must find out who he really is.

A gripping account of the events that lead to Moses’s flight into the wilderness, The Moses Chronicles: Bondage will take you back to a rich period of history replete with scandal, strife, love, and hope as God prepares a prophet to lead His chosen people.

You can get your Kindle copy here for $16.14

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