I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
Today's Freebie Friday is an awesome new mystery by Liz Adair, called The McCarran Collection! Ms. Adair is one of my favorite writers and this is her brand new release, so you definitely want to grab it while it's free!
Here's the back copy:
Bridget Olasfson, a beautiful archivist with a painful secret, comes to Utah's brilliant red rock country to catalog the McCarran Collection. She finds herself caught up in a dangerous intrigue involving a lost boy, a drug cartel, and possibly murder. What will she do when the only way to save the boy is to give up the man she loves?
There is an amazing benefit auction going on right now that you don't want to miss! So many generous people have donated incredible items to bid on---once in a lifetime type items like getting a character named after you, or a skype visit, a hike with an author, a critique by amazing agents, you name it!---and every penny will go to Lifting Hands International, the charity that gets life-saving supplies directly into the refugee camps.
Go here to get some great prizes and help out the refugees who so desperately need us. At least go and see all the items to bid on. There are some very unique ones!
My novel, THE CAPTIVE, is up for a RONE Award for Best Suspense! It's made it to the fan round where fans can vote (you don't have to have read it) and if I get enough votes, it will go to the final judges' round.
So, this is me, asking you to take a moment to vote for THE CAPTIVE! (You have to be registered to vote, but it's easy and free.) Could you click here to cast your vote for me? Thank you so much!
The second thing is:
I will be signing books at the
Saratoga Springs Library (in Utah)
tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.
and I'd love to see you!
There will be a drawing for a Book Lover's Basket and all my bestsellers will be on sale for $10 so you can get your Mother's Day shopping done for all the women in your life that love suspense. Don't miss it!
I got a great review of The Captive from Kindle and Me! Here's part of what they said:
"I feel like I just got off the longest rollercoaster ever! There were so many turns and twists and my stomach rolled a few times. It was exhilarating! I want to go on it again! I’m glad this is a start to a series!"
They are offering a chance to win your own ecopy of The Captive and you can enter the contest as well as see what else they said about my novel here
I watched Castle last night, but after finding out that Stana Katic and Tamala Jones won't be coming back next season, it just took the shine off for me. I hate that the show is ending on a very sad note when it didn't have to be that way.
It started off with a guy named Alan on hold waiting for his cable company to pick up. While he's waiting he takes some pills and gets poisoned by the water. Cut to the loft where Castle is creepily watching Beckett sleep and tells her he takes pictures of her while she's sleeping. Um. Not cute at all. They talk about leaving it all behind, but Beckett's phone rings and she reminds him they have responsibilities.
They head to the crime scene where Lanie is giving them the run down on the victim, when suddenly he's behind them asking why everyone is in his apartment. They take him to the hospital and Lanie is flabbergasted that she declared someone dead and was going to stick a thermometer in his liver when he was still alive. Castle is in the guy's room telling him he has super powers and should take advantage of his second lease on life.The team starts digging into who hates Alan because he's a safety inspector. They investigate his partner who was taking bribes, but he had an alibi.
Alan is accompanied back to his apartment by Castle and an officer. Castle is hounding the man about living life to the fullest and the guy just wants Castle to stop. As soon as he closes the door, though, Alan lays down on his bed and is electrocuted. Lanie says he's really dead this time, but Alan pops back up again! Castle really thinks he's a superhero and they are thinking of names for him, (Captain Cool?) but nothing good comes to mind. They think of a company that could have a grudge against Alan because they had a spill and begged Alan not to fine them, but he did anyway. The president of that company also has an alibi, but Alan is infatuated with Gwen from marketing and Castle finds out she thinks he's funny. The president guy says that he saw someone waiting for Alan in the parking lot and security footage help them track him down. It's the guy who played Bud in JAG! I miss that show. He tells them about a mob front who probably wanted to get rid of Alan.
Castle takes Alan back to his loft and is still beating the dead horse that Alan is a superhero. He convinces him to call Gwen and he gets a date with her in thirty minutes. The date goes awkwardly with Alan yammering on to Gwen that he's a superhero. The boys call Castle to tell him not to leave the loft because of the mob guy after Alan. They send a picture and lo and behold the mob guy comes to sit down next to Alan. Castle rushes over to the table. (He does get called Alan's sidekick and looked so affronted it was funny.) The mob guy doesn't want to kill him, he wants to offer Alan protection in exchange for looking the other way on inspections. Alan says no and Gwen has had enough and leaves.
Castle remembers the little case that the mob guy had at the table full of ginkgo tablets and Castle and Alan go in undercover as safety inspectors to the little Chinese herb store (also a Triad front) that sells them. The team confiscates a couple of suitcases full of synthetic heroin and realize that the company with the lab spill is the one trying to kill Alan. (One of the ingredients of synthetic heroin were being produced at that lab.) Alan goes there alone to save Gwen, but she's the mastermind and shoots him in the head. The team rushes in and they think he's really dead this time, but he pops up again. Like daisies! (Name that movie) Lanie and Alan actually bond over his not so near-death experiences. Maybe Alan really is a superhero. It certainly takes a lot to kill the guy!
They also had some forward movement in the LokSat storyline. Vikram finally gets evidence that Caleb Brown is involved with LokSat. They start investigating his alias and he comes to the precinct to tell Beckett to back off and threatens her. She tells him she knows he used to fight for what was right and was a good guy. She gives him a deadline to come to her by tomorrow night with all his LokSat info. He ends up doing that and giving her a phone with his LokSat instructions. Beckett is that much closer to figuring out the LokSat mess. She also mentions to Castle that maybe they should just get away. Too bad we all know that won't happen now.
It just makes me a little sad to watch it now. I don't want them to kill Beckett off, or give her some other ridiculous excuse for leaving Castle. Sigh. It's not looking good, though.
I have been reading the new Timeless Romance Anthology Spring in Hyde Park. There were only three in this one and they were longer, which I really liked. The stories were fleshed out and fun to read!
The first one was by one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Moore, called A Happy Accident. Jonathan is trying to be a gentleman of honor and help a lady in a rainstorm, but ends up being forced to marry her! There might be a chance for them to find true happiness together, but misunderstandings keep getting in the way. A sweet and heartfelt romance.
The second one was by another favorite author, GG Vandagriff called The Disdainful Duke. GG's style of writing takes you right into the Regency period and the characters were cleverly written. I enjoyed seeing the Duke's eyes opened to Sophronia's true beauty within even though she challenged him at every turn. There were sparks flying everywhere! It was a fun journey to love.
The third one is by an author that I hadn't read before, Nichole Van, called An Invisible Heiress. I liked how she kept me on my toes with the way she wrote this love story. Miss Heartstone is a woman who has everything, except a husband. In her attempts to find one, she gets something much deeper. The blossoming love between these two was so engaging and kept me turning pages long after bedtime.
Here's the back copy:
From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance.
Join three bestselling Regency Romance authors, Jennifer Moore, G.G. Vandagriff, and Nichole Van, for three new novellas in SPRING IN HYDE PARK:
A HAPPY ACCIDENT by Jennifer Moore. Jonathan Burles father has just died, making him the new Marquess of Spencer and the most sought after bachelor in London. An unfortunate accident leads to a forced marriage to Maryann Croft, a young woman who possesses no title, and an unexpected secret. With the unstable beginning to their marriage, finding love together seems impossible.
THE DISDAINFUL DUKE by G. G. Vandagriff. Lady Saphronia Huffington has always thought of herself as plain next to the beauty of her sister, Lady Lavinia. So when her sister becomes engaged to Lord Gilbert Caldwell and Saphronia is paired for wedding events with his brother, the granite-faced Duke of Mayfield, who is known to prefer beauties, she sharpens her wit. Thus begins a lengthy sparring contest during which the Duke realizes Saphronia is anything but plain.
AN INVISIBLE HEIRESS by Nichole Van. Miss Belle Heartstone has everything money can buy—houses, servants, carriages, clothing, jewels. A husband, however, is proving much harder to, ehr . . . purchase. Colin Radcliffe, the newly minted Marquess of Blake, is in desperate need of funds—preferably of the wife-free variety. When circumstances draw the two together, Blake might be the only man able to see beyond the Belle’s outer façade, and fall in love with the woman inside.
Today's Freebie Friday is a heartfelt romance called A Portrait for Toni by Annette Lyon. I think it's the perfect weekend read!
Here's the back copy:
Toni has no idea what she’d do without her best friend, Carter. Who else would she be able to vent to about her parents, her job at the dance studio, or her latest relationship woes? When Toni’s father lands in the hospital, Carter, as always, is there for her.
That is, until he starts questioning Toni, saying he thinks she has an eating disorder. Then she starts dating Clint, the hot new guy at the studio, and somehow that puts a deeper wedge between her and Carter. When she’s hospitalized after an on-stage collapse, and Carter stupidly starts in with advice about food and weight, she sends him away—then instantly regrets it.
Toni tries to mend the hurt between them, but instead of finding Carter, she stumbles onto proof that he has feelings for her that go way beyond those of a friend. Toni is left with the very real prospect of losing Carter forever, unless somehow she can return his feelings—but that’s impossible.
After a marathon editing session, I was ready for some reading and relaxing today. The book I've been reading is Royal Brides by Traci Hunter Abramson and I was happy to be part of her book tour!
This is the continuation of the Royals series, Royal Target and Royal Secret. Each book involves the royalty of the fictional country of Meridia and their ties to the CIA. In this one, someone is out to destroy the royal family, but Noelle Saldera is pulled in to help keep them safe when she alerts the security team to a bomb at the royal wedding. Everyone is determined to tighten security around the family for the next royal wedding, but the clues are hard to find. Jeremy, a newbie CIA officer and brother to the bride, is called in to help in an undercover way, but soon finds himself as enmeshed in the events as Noelle is---not that he minds. She's caught his eye, but can they stop the bomber before any of their loved ones get hurt?
I was reading this book while waiting for my daughter's dance class to get out and the lady next to me was so excited to see that Traci Abramson had a new book out. She'd listened to the other two on audiobook with her husband and really enjoyed them. As we talked a bit about the new one, she was disappointed to find out during our discussion that Meridia is not a real country. I felt so bad that I burst her bubble! From Traci Abramson's descriptions, it does feel real. I did tell her that it was fun to see Prince Stefano and Prince Garrett put the final touches on their love stories from the previous books. My only problem was, it's been five years since the first one came out and I honestly couldn't really remember the storyline or that of the second one. Both Alora and Janessa's stories are referenced quite a bit in Royal Brides and I was lost in some parts because I hadn't re-read the first two books before I read this one. So, if you want the full effect, start at the beginning again! (And they are all books worth re-reading anyway, so win/win for everyone.)
Other than that, I thought the plot line was well-done, the villain surprising, and the buildup to the love story was touching. (I did notice a major grammatical error in the back copy, though. They have the phrase "diffusing the bomb" instead of "defusing the bomb." Oops.) But I think readers will definitely enjoy this clean romantic suspense.
Be sure to scroll all the way down and enter the giveaway!
In this eagerly anticipated companion novel to Royal Target and Royal Secrets,
readers are invited back to the shimmering Mediterranean paradise of
Meridia, where two royal weddings in a year are more than
stressful—they’re deadly . . .
Lovely Meridian native Noelle
Saldera yearns for adventure, but as the daughter of palace servants,
working at Prince Stefano’s royal wedding may be as exciting as her life
will get. But her options change drastically when she finds herself in
the unlikely position of diffusing a bomb at the ceremony and being
enlisted as the newest member of Meridian Intelligence. And with another
wedding in the works, there can be no more close calls when Prince
Stefano’s brother, Garrett, walks down the aisle.
The bombing
attempt at the first royal wedding leaves few clues as to the
assailant’s identity. Desperate for answers, Meridian officials enlist
CIA agent Jeremy Rogers to prevent a repeat occurrence at the upcoming
nuptials. The beauty of the plan: the bride is Jeremy’s sister, so his
cover is foolproof. What no one could anticipate is the instant
connection between Jeremy and Noelle. Now, with their hearts on the
line, the pair must work together to stop a seemingly unstoppable enemy
before time runs out.
I have been knee deep in final edits today. I was up at 6:30 a.m. and was still in my pajamas when it was time to take my little boy to storytime. At 11:00 a.m. (Okay, we took a few play breaks so he didn't go crazy while I worked. Blocking out scenes with Legos and painting stick figures of my characters is actually really helpful and it doubles as playtime!) I did manage to feed him before we went and he was suitably dressed to go out in public, so there's that little success.
After storytime and carpool, I was back at my edits. My older children stepped up to help with picking up at a track meet and dropping off at a playdate so I could just squeeze in a few more pages. They even went to the pizza place and got dinner for us so I didn't have to cook and they didn't have to starve. (There was leftovers, of course, but who would pick that over pizza?)
I also bribed my older son to take my little ones out for slurpees so I could finish the very last chapter edits. (I'm looking at it as encouraging a strong sibling bond as well as giving me a bit more time for edits.)
My husband put my babies to bed and made sure I didn't have any other distractions so I could stay up and finish because he's just that awesome. Truly. He is amazing in every way.
And all of it worked! I am a mess, no makeup, hair in a ponytail, I've been sitting in this chair for forever, there are pizza boxes on my counter and a fairly messy house, but IT'S DONE!!
*collapses*
And this is exactly why in every single acknowledgment on my books I thank my family. When I'm on a deadline they are always the first to step up and help. They're so supportive and loving and I could never be a writer without the team effort. They are my biggest cheerleaders and I can't even describe how much that means to me.
So, here's to another finished book. And to a family who loves me.
Yesterday's news that Stana Katic (Beckett) and Tamala Jones (Laney) won't be asked back for Castle's Season 9 was puzzling. What could the network be thinking to let two amazing actresses that have been there from the beginning (not to mention one of the leads) go for budget cuts? Was this a joke?
Sadly, it was confirmed. No more Beckett. No more Caskett. Unbelievable.
The reason I started watching Castle was because I'm a writer. I loved the idea of a writer shadowing a cop, but it became so much more than that. The chemistry between this sassy, kick-butt detective and a writer looking for a muse was undeniable. The witty dialogue, the twisty cases, made for appointment television for me. There were so many funny quotes between them. "Do I look like a murderer to you? Yes, you kill my patience," is still probably my favorite. I loved that Espo and Ryan, along with Laney made up the little precinct family with all their spats and laughter. It was riveting to watch. Of course, watching Castle and Beckett fall in love was the highlight of every episode.
If you've followed my Castle reviews, you could see that this season has been awful for the most part. A silly storyline of LokSat to keep them apart fell flat, the focus on Castle's PI business just didn't have the team feel of the precinct, and the new characters of Hayley and Vikram weren't compelling at all. I've hung on for old time's sake, but yesterday made me question my loyalty. Do the powers that be not value the female lead? The show may be named Castle, but Beckett and Castle together are the heart of the show. How can they believe the show can go on without her? It doesn't make any sense at all.
Looking back, last season should have been it's last. The finale with all of them around that table, after Castle's speech, fit perfectly. I think I'll make that my own personal series finale, actually. This season has been painful to watch and without Beckett, there really is no Castle. She is the muse, the inspiration. Without that, we have a writer trying to be a PI and not doing a very good job of it. They need each other to make it work and the network can't seem to see it.
I'm sad that it's ending this way. I'm sad for the actresses who put their heart and souls into something and were let go due to "budget cuts." From the things I'm seeing on twitter, cast members Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever found out from social media which only underscores how badly this has been handled. As for me, I'm not sure I can even finish out watching the show this season. The joy is sucked out of it, that's for sure. Maybe the best thing to do is watch my favorite reruns and remember how much I loved the show in past seasons and how fun it used to be.
I am SO TIRED this morning and it's all Jennifer Moore's fault. I just HAD to stay up until 1:30 a.m. to see how this book ended. I had thought I could put it down at a reasonable hour and just pick it up this morning to finish, but I needed to see if it ended happily! And I sacrificed my precious sleep to do it, which tells you the awesomeness level of this book. (And moms of little kids will understand because sleep is the one thing we have to have!)
We start out with Nathaniel Cavanaugh on the phone with work, watching his two little kids playing not far away from him. He's wondering how he can juggle work and helping them heal from their mother's death. He's brought them to Maine to recover with a summer in Lobster Cove, but work is taking more time than he expected. While he's sort of letting his mind wander away from the conference call, he sees a young woman teetering on stilettos, dressed up in a miniskirt and big hair with a furry pink purse. She's picking her way down the street when suddenly Nathaniel's little boy is in the path of the trolley and she's the only one close enough to save him. Which she does. That little incident starts out the summer adventure for this little family. Val, the rescuer, is from West Virginia and has an adorable accent. She's got dreams of her own, but can't resist the pull she feels to these two sweet kids---and their father. Nathaniel's got demons to conquer from his estranged wife and her death, but there's something about Val that he can't resist. Can these two find the path to true love? Will they compromise what they thought they wanted for what's most important and be a family? Yep, that's what I stayed up so late for, trying to find out!
This one is another Jennifer Moore book that I can recommend to anyone who loves romance. The characters were relatable and easy to imagine, the dialogue was witty and spot on, and the setting was amazing. I hope we go back to Lobster Cove so some of the secondary characters (like Dr. Seth) can get their own stories! The story itself had just enough twists and turns that I was kept on my toes and turning pages as I experienced falling in love with the characters and their story. One for my keeper shelf!
Be sure to scroll all the way down and enter the giveaway!
Here's the back copy:
This summer, Nathaniel Cavanaugh vacations in Lobster Cove to spend quality time with his kids after his estranged wife’s tragic death. Successful and well-connected, he is on the fast-track to the highest legal positions in the country, but his family life suffers. After an accident throws Val nearly into his lap and costs her a job opportunity, Nathaniel surprises himself by overlooking her outlandish appearance and lack of qualifications to offer her a job as his nanny for the summer.
Valdosta McKinley wishes for an internship at a Paris Art Institute to use her newly acquired art-history skills. She knows Nathaniel could never develop feelings for a girl from a trailer in a rural West Virginia holler—a lesson she learned the hard way years earlier.
Will pursuit of their professional goals require Nathaniel and Val to give up the dream of being a family?
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.
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/1/16
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.
I love today's Friday Freebie deal! (I might be a little prejudiced, though, so be warned!)
The Sale Book
First of all, my award-winning novel, All Fall Down is on sale for only .99 cents AND did you know if you sign up for my author newsletter you can get the companion novella Falling Slowly for free!
Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .
That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage
situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get
everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s
dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another
bin Laden---with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own
personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away
as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in
order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S.
national security?
Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he
suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be
fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and
his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in
order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always
one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from
desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country
without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?
Get your Kindle copy of All Fall Down for only .99 cents here
And Now For The Free Book . . .
If you've already read All Fall Down, you won't want to miss Falling Slowly, a continuation of Claire and Rafe's story. Click here to sign up and get your free 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)
I've been reading the next installment in the Power of the Matchmaker series. (You might remember last Friday, I mention that the novella that started off the series is free. You can get the details here)
This one is called Love is Come and is a turn of the century story that will tug at your emotions. Nelle Thompson has had an idyllic life until her parents are killed in an accident, leaving her alone in the world. She goes to live with her aunt, but finds a chilly reception in her household. Trying to find a solution to her problems, she decides to walk to town to speak to her attorney, but gets lost. Thankfully Mathew Janson comes to her rescue and she finds a true friend in him just when she needs it most. But even with Mathew's friendship, her world gets more and more complicated until Nelle just wants to hide away forever. Can true love really conquer all? Or will Nelle choose to live alone with her challenges and memories?
This book was full of so much emotion. There were some memorable light-hearted moments and the romantic tension was tight throughout the entire book, (*le sigh) but there was trials and sadness as well. Nelle has so much tragedy in her young life, I wondered if she truly could get over it. Pearl, the matchmaker, has a bigger role in this book than in any of the others I've read, and I enjoyed getting to know her better. I was glad to see the sunshine she brought to Nelle's life and the hope that she offered. It really added another dimension to the story.
Nelle is a character with a lot of depth and my heart went out to her as she worked through her parents' death and the upheaval in her life. I was glad we had a hero who was up to the task of showing Nelle that love was possible, she just had to trust her heart and reach for the prize. I was turning pages far past midnight to see if they got their happy ending. Love is Come was a great addition to the series and it will make you believe in the magic of love all over again.
Here's the back copy:
“I have to remind myself to breathe—almost to remind my heart to beat.” —Wuthering Heights
From the Power of the Matchmaker series: LOVE IS COME
Nelle Thompson lives a life of privilege during the turn of the century New York City. When her parents are killed in a terrible accident, she’s forced to live with her aunt’s family in a small town in Connecticut, and treated as a poor relation with no financial independence. Broken hearted and riddled with insomnia, Nelle’s health begins a downward spiral. When a locked part of her heart blossoms around her cousin’s fiancé Mathew Janson, Nelle doesn’t know if she can endure one more heartbreak. Miss Pearl, owner of the local apothecary shop, becomes a mother figure to Nelle, but a fateful summer day has Nelle questioning everything she's ever believed and wondering if she’ll ever love again.
After last night's Castle, I can't stop thinking of this theme song. Last night's episode was a bit like that old TV show--campy and fun, although not the beginning. We start off with a man duct-taped to a chair, writing a letter while he sobs. He gives a piece of paper to a person dressed in black behind him, who promptly decapitates the guy. Ew.
Castle is at home preparing breakfast when Beckett comes in and invites him back to the bedroom. Before he can accept, his mother barges in and asks Castle to help her get Oprah's celebrity endorsement of her new book. He agrees to try and she leaves, but Beckett gets a call about the murder and Castle heads out.
Castle is grossed out by the headless body, gagging and telling the boys they should have given him a heads up. (Get it? Heads up?) Lainey brings it in and says the murder weapon was a scimitar. There's a lot of Middle Eastern books and pictures in the apartment and Castle gives the team some Cliff's Notes on the story of 1001 Arabian Nights. No one looks impressed. He gets a call from Oprah's assistant and steps in the hall to take it when a blonde woman appears and tells him about the victim, Lars, and the fact that he had an argument with his boyfriend the night before. Then she disappears. And Oprah's assistant hangs up on him. Poor Castle.
The team tracks down Lars' boyfriend and he tells them how he gave Lars $20,000 for school, but then the guy up and left him and went to Turkey. When he got back into the country, Lars was driving around an expensive car and the boyfriend called him on it. Apparently Lars promised to get him the money he was owed. The boyfriend alibi's out and they're back to square one. Oh, except for the fact that the boyfriend kept Lars' laptop as collateral. Once the team gets a look at it they realize that Lars was smuggling artifacts into the country. (He had $400,000 cash in a safe deposit box to prove it.)
The guy was at Solomon's tomb and took a picture of himself with a lamp. Castle saw the exact same insignia in the pictures as there was on a book at the victim's apartment, written by a professor at Hudson, so he goes to talk to her. She fills him in on some of her research, but seems surprised that Castle believes in genies. (As are the rest of us. I don't mind Castle being kid-like, but I hate it when they make him childish and bumbling. Sigh. I tried really hard to overlook it this episode but they hammered it home, especially when Alexis had to ask if he needed ice cream and treated him like a toddler. Oy. But I digress.)
The blonde shows up at Castle's PI office and he can tell she rifled through his desk. She claims she's a reporter and is only trying to help. She says that Lars had a partner who went by the alias Al Adin. Like Aladdin. Get it? The team track Al Adin to a sketchy looking motel and bring him in after he tried to run. He says that the genie is a demon who's out to get him. He gives them the story of how he met Lars in Turkey and they teamed up to find Solomon's tomb. They were supposed to ship the antiquities back, but there was a double-cross by the shipper people who were supposed to smuggle them into the country and Lars had to come up with $400,000 for them which he did somehow. Of course he died before that exchange could be made. But now the team wants to talk to this shipper.
Castle and Beckett are home talking about the case, when Castle shows Beckett that the blonde lied to him again and she's not really a reporter. He is starting to believe she's the genie and wants him to be her new master. Beckett wants him to stop talking about a skeezy blonde he thinks is a genie and kiss her, so he does. Cut to the precinct the next day and the boys have tracked down the shipper. His name is Yurick and Beckett makes them promise to include Castle and let him have the first rub on any lamps. They agree.
At Yurick's rug shop they find him rolled up in a rug already dead. Castle is flipping rugs up in the air, trying to find a magic one. (I have no comment on that. Oy.) He goes outside to update Beckett and call for backup when he sees a warehouse with Yurick's store emblem on it. Of course he goes over alone to investigate and falls in a window. There's a crate with a genie lamp on top of it and he goes over to look at it and gets caught. Before the female gunman can shoot him, the "genie" blonde woman whacks her over the head with a 2x4 and a puff of "smoke" and her and Castle run away. They don't get beyond the gate, however, before the blonde has disappeared again.
Castle and Ryan are discussing Castle's statement about what happened because by the time the police got there the warehouse was cleaned out. Luckily, Alexis who is so much smarter than her dad and the police has figured out who the blonde is. Her name is Genevieve Sutton and she's a securities contractor. The team tracks her down and brings her in where she explains that Mr. X hired Lars to find Solomon's Tomb and protect it so terrorists couldn't loot it and use the money for their activities.
So, she's not a genie, she just targeted Castle as her "in" with the cops to see how much they knew.
She gives the police the license plate of the truck at the warehouse and they track it to a rest stop. Castle and Beckett listen in as the contents of the truck are recovered. (That was kind of a let-down. Why have the team investigating only to listen to someone else make the arrest? Oh well.) All the crates are recovered except one--the one with the lamp. But Castle figured out who the murderer is and they bring her in. Yep, it's the professor. Lars had taken her class, used her research and notes to find the tomb and she was jealous so she killed him. (But it doesn't really explain why she tortured Yurick and killed him, too, or how she got the drop on that guy. Or what she made Lars write before she killed him. Hmmm... a few plot holes.)
Oh well. Some Jordanian prince comes to collect Genevieve and while he doesn't admit to being the mysterious benefactor called Mr. X, he does say he's glad the artifacts will be tied up in the American justice system, stored in the basement of the Smithsonian for years to come. Everyone smiles knowingly and the prince tells "Genie" meaning Genevieve, to come along. Castle has a funny look on his face and she turns around to give him a "genie-like" smile.
Anyway, the case is wrapped up just as Ryan's wife goes into labor. Things aren't smooth, however, and the team rushes down there. Jenny has an amniotic embolism, and Beckett asks Castle to use his last two wishes for Jenny and the baby. About thirty seconds later all is well and Ryan comes out to announce the birth of Nicholas Javier. Hugs all around! (I really wish that would have been a bigger storyline instead of some of the campy genie stuff, but that's just me. I like seeing the team come together for one of their own. At least we got a few minutes of it.)
So, we got it all in this episode with some cute stuff, some fun scenes, some emotional moments, and some eye-rolling at the way Castle is being written, all rolled up into a genie episode. What did you think? Did you watch?
I'm excited to be part of the blog tour for Jennifer Moore's new novel, Lady Helen Finds Her Song. (It had such a great cover, I couldn't resist!)
This book will transport you back to India during 1813 when Lady Helen Poulter has come with her mother and General Stackhouse, her stepfather, as he claims his new military post. Lady Helen is fascinated with the country, its colorful animals and people, its strange customs and food, despite her friend Fanny's disgust with it all. It all seems like an adventure, a dream come true, as she goes to balls, meets an Indian prince, and finds love with a military man. Just as everything seems to be coming together as Helen always imagined, some political intrigue threatens everything and everyone she loves. Will she follow her heart to the man and country she's come to love? Or go back to the familiar shores of England?
I really enjoyed all the details and research that went into this book because it made the setting feel very real. I could imagine the gardens, the ball, the animals, the shops, and the people. I thought the description of the Indian palace was particularly well done and showcased the author's talent in letting her readers experience the exotic locales with her characters.
Lady Helen was a sympathetic character with so many good qualities and yet some insecurities that linger as well. It made her relatable and had me rooting for her to get her happily ever after. The character that surprised me the most, however, was General Stackhouse. His reactions to having a family were so sweet. The little family he'd gained softened him to such a degree that he became so dear in every scene he was in. I love it when characters just feel so real.
As for the romance, well, I definitely had a preference for the love triangle, and so as to not give any spoilers, I will just tell you that I closed the book with a smile because the ending was just that good.
If you love historical romance, you definitely have to read this one!
(Don't forget to scroll all the way down for the giveaway!)
Here's the back copy:
Spring 1813 --The exotic splendors of India are legendary, and the colorful sights of her new home in Calcutta immediately captivate eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Poulter. Whereas many of her fellow British expatriates despise the culture they see as barbaric, Helen sees excitement in the unusual locale. It is in this vibrant, bustling city that she finds a kindred soul in Captain Michael Rhodes, an Englishman whose lifelong love of India runs deep. Their friendship quickly grows, yet despite their undeniable connection, she could never think of Captain Rhodes as more than a dear friend. Her love, in truth, has been captured by dashing British Lieutenant Arthur Bancroft. This handsome soldier represents the embodiment of all she’s dreamed of in a husband. Preoccupied by her growing affections, Helen never dreams that beneath the glamor of the city, hostilities are reaching a boiling point. When battle ultimately threatens both of the men in her life, she must make a choice: pursue the man who symbolizes her British past, or let herself love a man who promises an unknown future in the land she loves. But amid the casualties of war, will her declaration of love come too late?
As you all know, I've been reviewing each book in the Power of the Matchmaker series as they come out each month and there hasn't been one that I haven't liked. This is such a fun idea, and the prequel novella that introduces the one character that is in each of the novels is free today! Definitely worth your time, especially if you love romance.
Here's the back copy:
A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .
Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.
Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.
Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.
**Join us for the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER SERIES**
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
Released once a month in 2016:
Broken Things to Mend by Karey White (Jan 2016)
Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderson (Feb 2016)
If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram (March 2016)
Love is Come by Heather B. Moore (April 2016)
Four Chambers by Julie Wright (May 2016)
O'er the River Liffey by Heidi Ashworth (June 2016)
Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean (July 2016)
Between Earth and Heaven by Michele Paige Holmes (Aug 2016)
How I Met Your Brother by Janette Rallison (Sept 2016)
To Move the World by Regina Sirois (Oct 2016)
King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt (Nov 2016)
The Reformer by Jaima Fixsen (Dec 2016)
I started reading a book and I really want to stop and I've been thinking about why.
I don't know the author, but I thought the premise looked interesting so I picked it up. The problem was apparent in the first chapter, though. Everything--and I mean everything--was overdescribed. The road, the sun, the clothing, the buildings, the inner thoughts, every single detail of anything in the scene was on the page. It was sort of like that show Hoarders where the person living in the chaos can totally point out to you that tiny gnome in the corner and the newspaper they bought on their 16th birthday amidst piles and piles of hoarded items. That's sort of how this book was. The awesome bits of dialogue and characterization were in there, but they were overwhelmed and difficult to find because they were surrounded by a word hoard.
Too many words.
I love words. And I love descriptions. It's been interesting to me to watch my preschooler discovering words. "Mommy, what does resign mean?" "What does d-a-y spell?" "I know what a "T" says." He's putting together sounds and words and an entirely new world is opening up to him. I love it. I love watching it. Being part of that, the person to help him navigate that new world is a privilege and reminds me of the wonder of words. (Although he did recently learn how to spell BUMS and goes around chanting it. A lot. In public. But it's cute from a little kid, right?)
He can't get enough of the world of words.
But I've been around words for a long time. I know they are powerful. They can be used in ways that can change lives, change minds, and change hearts. I still remember hurtful words said to me when I was a young girl. But I also remember words that made me laugh and words that made me think. The longer I live, however, the more I realize that words need to be used in a sparing manner, sometimes a more loving manner, especially when we're speaking to others or writing things with impact.
And they definitely need to be used after a lot of thought.
As a writer, I can ask myself, what does this word contribute to the scene? Is it too wordy already? Can I give it more impact with less words? As a person I can ask myself will these words uplift and help someone? Will I regret these words someday? Is this needful?
Looking at this book, I think that author might have had a unique story to tell, but it was lost in the words. Don't let the word hoard overwhelm your best words. Showcase your story with only the brightest and most needed words. Remind yourself of the wonder of words.
I've been reading Jennifer Griffith's new book Legally Wedded. Today was the sort of day where I needed a fluffy romance and this fit the bill perfectly.
Morgan Clark can't get any scholarships or financial aid for her senior year at Clarendon College. Everything seems to be working against her when all she wants to do is finish her accounting degree so she can put her little sister through school. With time running out, Morgan is getting more desperate to find something, anything, that can help her situation.
Enter that something in the form of Josh Hyatt. Josh is the disinherited son of Bronco Hyatt, wanting to stand on his own two feet and have the career that he wants, not the one his father would force him into. But, without his father's money to back him up, he can't start that dream. And to top it all off, his girlfriend has finished her degree and is starting her career overseas, without him. He's really got to get things going if he wants to join her and begin their life together.
Things get complicated when Morgan and Josh realize that they may be the solution to each other's problems. But could a marriage of convenience truly be the answer?
There's something fun about marriage of convenience stories in historical fiction, but this was a well-written, believable contemporary one. There were laugh out loud moments, sigh-worthy kisses, and all the angst you could really ask for in this sort of story. I really enjoyed how the author made it so easy to really get to know the characters and experience all the ups and downs of the complicated situation they're in. I kept turning pages long after I should have just so I could see how they would work this all out! It's a sweet and touching romance that really gets you in all the feels, not to mention it made me want to visit the Oregon coast. As the author says, her books are cotton candy for the soul and she definitely delivers an entertaining read that romance fans will enjoy.
Here's the back copy:
Morgan Clark is desperate. With just her senior year to go at Clarendon College and her scholarship up in smoke, she suddenly finds she can’t qualify for financial aid. Until Morgan finishes and can work full time to pay their rent, her sister can’t even start school.
Josh Hyatt is desperate. Without his degree from Clarendon he won’t be able to join his girlfriend in their dream career which she’s already begun, and he can’t qualify for government grants thanks to his wealthy estranged father’s interference.
Morgan, meet Josh. Josh, meet Morgan. Are they desperate enough to get legally wedded?
Get wrapped up in the knots that new adults Morgan and Josh create for themselves in this marriage of convenience story with legal, ethical, and emotional consequences. You won’t be able to put down this inspirational, clean and wholesome read set on the beach of the beautiful Oregon Coast.
Wow. This episode of Castle was definitely an on-the-edge of your seat kind of thing. So many Esposito revelations!
We start out with two security guards talking while they work. Just as they turn around to get another load out of the truck, they see a masked guy on a wire, headed for the ceiling! Before they can really react, the masked gunman kills one of the guards.
Cut to the loft where Caskett is celebrating the fact that Kate has moved back in. Kate wants to get Castle a cup of coffee, but Lucy the household AI robot already makes it for him. The little triangular robot is acting jealous of Kate and was the running joke throughout the episode. *shrugs* It was weird.
They get called down to the crime scene and Castle finds a strange gel on the ground that smells like Chanel No. 5. Esposito recognizes the M.O. from a case back in the day where the crew used a combination of gel and perfume to disable certain security systems. Only one member of the crew that boosted a boatload of gold coins was caught. Her name was Sonia and she's already served nine years of her sentence. Beckett goes out to the prison to talk with her and doesn't really get anywhere until she says that if Sonia doesn't cooperate, Beckett will go to her parole hearing in three months and mention that she could have helped find the security guard's killer, but didn't. Sonia starts talking and says she can help because she still has some connections and can find the partner in her old crew nicknamed Hammerhead. Of course they'd have to give her a furlough to do that and Beckett agrees.
Esposito is acting weird about the case and Sonia, so he finally confesses to the team that he used to be engaged to Sonia. When he found out she was a criminal, though, he was the one to arrest her. But, you know, he's over her, it's all in the past. Yeah, Uh huh. She walks in and Espo's mouth is hanging open (until Castle closes it for him.) She has on the same clothes from her arrest and it takes Espo back to that day. He watches while they fit her with a new ankle bracelet that has all kinds of features on it. Of course, Ryan is going to go undercover with her, but she says no, he wouldn't fit in and suggests Esposito.
Esposito thinks he can handle it, but from the moment they get in the car together, sparks are flying. They're rehashing history and how his family felt about what happened, why he turned her in. It's intense. Castle and Ryan are following behind them in a car, unashamedly listening in. They head to a bar in Spanish Harlem, and try to chat up the bartender. He's not having any of it and Espo ends up playing five-fingered fillet (that knifing game where he goes back and forth between the fingers with a knife and gets faster and faster. It's scary! I saw it on Alias once, too.) Anyway, the bartender tells them Hammerhead's real name was Joey and his grandma has an apartment nearby. Sonia and Espo head there, and the door is open. Of course Sonia goes in first, (weird!) and they separate, looking through the rooms. A guy with a shotgun comes at them and Sonia runs away, leaving Espo to his own devices.
Are Castle and Ryan any help? Nope. They lost the signal, but finally do see Sonia running away. Espo takes care of the gunman and cuffs him to a radiator. They catch Sonia who says it was just instinct to run away from a gun. Uh huh.
They bring Joey in for questioning, but he's a legitimate chicken businessman now and has an alibi for the night of the murder. Even so, they don't need Sonia anymore and Espo asks if he can take her back to the prison. Beckett agrees. This isn't going to end well. Sonia's talking about how she didn't even get a decent meal or a hot shower for her trouble and so Esposito takes her to his mother's house where they're having a family dinner. Turns out he didn't tell anyone what happened, just that he lost her. His family is big and loud and sweet and his grandma slaps him upside the head and says don't let her get away again. They eat and have a great time. When dinner's over, Sonia talks about her tough childhood and wishing she would have made different choices. She talks about how lucky Espo is to have a great family. (I loved his family, too, and finding out more about him.) She asks if she can have that hot shower and he agrees. Of course, Ryan calls just after she goes in the bathroom and says that the burner phone the inside guy was using leads back to Sonia. She was in on it! When he rushes into the bathroom, she's gone out the window. Called it!
Ryan tries to help Esposito track her down before they have to tell Beckett, but Esposito gets a lead that the mastermind of the whole thing was actually Sonia's dad. He heads over to an address he gets for him, alone. Ryan is not happy and he stops everyone in the bullpen to help him figure out where Espo has gone. Of course Espo goes in, tells everyone that he figured out that Sonia's dad was holding her share of the gold coin heist and when she found out he'd had a stroke, she had to escape so she could get the location of the hidden gold before he died. Once he tells everyone, he gets whacked over the head and dragged away to a warehouse.
Beckett and Castle are up to speed and they go to the address where Espo was. All they see now though, is a bloodstain on the carpet and a gold coin under the bed. Now they're frantically looking for any clue as to where they would take Espo and finally figure out the one place the dad would go once every three months was an out of the way warehouse. They all head over there.
Espo is there with the bartender he did the five-fingered fillet with. That guy has a gun on Espo and as soon as they get the gold coins, he's going to kill him. Espo knocks out the bartender and keeps talking to Sonia about what really happened the day he found out she was a criminal. He was going to give everything up and run away. But he couldn't, because he's a cop. She still has a gun on him, but she's listening. She wants to go away with him now, but he says if he was strong enough to stay true to who he was, she's strong enough to face what's to come. And that's about two more years added on to her sentence. The guys rush in, Espo's okay, Sonia's in cuffs. Sonia and Espo get one more elevator scene, though, where he promises to visit her this time. I don't know. Do we really want Espo with a criminal? I liked him with Lanie. They were smart and sassy and fun together. I guess we'll see.
We end with Kate changing Lucy the AI robot to Linus which takes Castle by surprise. Linus does not like to be touched and zaps Castle for his trouble. Three's a crowd, my friends. Even with AI.
I love Josi Kilpack's books, from her cozy mysteries to her Proper Romance novels, but her newest book, Forever and Forever (The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton) really caught my eye. As an English major, I read a lot of Longfellow's work, but didn't know much about his life beyond his bio. This novel is based on his real-life journey to love with Fanny and it was incredibly well-written.
It opens with the Appleton family on a Grand Tour through Europe. Their cousin has become ill, however, and they are doing what they can taking things slow and making sure he is well enough to continue on to the next destination. Henry is also on a European tour doing research, but isn't exactly joining into the social scene. The Appleton family invites him into their little circle and his first interactions with Fanny were so awkward! I thought the author did a fantastic job in really letting the reader experience the emotions right along with Henry and Fanny from their first meeting to the last page of the book.
The journey is long and twisty, physically as well as romantically, as they take a lot of side detours. There were so many scenes that were heartwrenchingly sad, yet balanced with breathtakingly happy. I could totally see the issues from both sides, and there were times when you just want to shake both Henry and Fanny! The setting transported me back to that era and was easy to imagine. I loved the glimpses of Europe during that time period and wish I could have seen some of these locations as Fanny and Henry saw them. I think this is one of Ms. Kilpack's best works, well-researched and beautifully presented in a story that will satisfy every reader who loves historical fiction.
Here's the back copy:
It’s 1836, and nineteen-year-old Fanny Appleton, a privileged daughter
of a wealthy, upper-class Boston industrialist, is touring Europe with
her family. Like many girls of her day, she enjoys the fine clothes,
food, and company of the elite social circles. But unlike her peers,
Fanny is also drawn to education, literature, and more intellectual
pursuits.
Published author and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is also
touring Europe, but under much different circumstances. Recently
widowed, he is gathering research for a new publication that he hope
will secure his professorship at Harvard College. Befriended by the
Appleton family while visiting Switzerland, Henry is introduced to Fanny
and sees in her a kindred spirit, a lover of language and literature
and high ideals. He is in love. Fanny, however, is uncertain. He is from
a much lower social class and is older than she is. How could such a
relationship ever thrive? Could a book of Henry’s poetry, personally
delivered, persuade Fanny to believe in a love that lasts forever and
forever?
There aren't usually a lot of chances to really enjoy a remake of a movie you loved as a kid. I was cautiously excited to hear that Saturday's Warrior was being remade, but I wondered if they could really capture the magic of the original, with its quirky music and heartwarming story line. When I was offered the opportunity to go to the premiere, I jumped at the chance, partly because I heard some of the original cast was going to be there and I wanted to meet them and partly because I had to see if the film was as good as I hoped.
(Here's the original "Todd" posing with the new Todd. They were both very sweet and personable!)
As we sat down in the theater, we realized my husband was sitting next to Shawn King, Larry King's wife. I hadn't realized she was part of the original movie! (She did makeup, I believe.) We were also sitting next to several members of the new cast and it was fun to hear their reactions to seeing the film and their part in it.
The movie started and from the get-go, it was different. There was a distinct feel to the beginning with a snappy Alex Boyé leading a choir as we're introduced to some main characters. Loved it! Alex is an incredible singer and his energy adds a little extra something to everything he touches. The new song also set a tone for the film that I thought was perfect.
Here's me with Alex. (He was so friendly and kind. He acted like I was the only person in the room to talk to.)
When the movie ended, there were so many thoughts going through my head. I loved how the remake incorporated so much of the original storyline and characters, and yet added backstory and songs that fleshed it out.
The character of Jimmy was particularly well done. It was played by Kenny Holland and he completely sold his performance. He was Jimmy. His reactions and facial expressions hit the mark every time and I was really impressed with Kenny. It was wonderful to see his success because our family has a small connection to him. Kenny wrote a song for my nephew Tyler when he was fighting brain cancer called Whatever It Takes. It still makes me a little weepy when I hear it because Kenny captured so much of the emotion we were all feeling as we hoped and prayed that Tyler could beat the cancer. He passed away, but that song helps keep Tyler's legacy alive.
You can listen to it here
I didn't get a chance to talk to Kenny after the show because he was mobbed with people, but if I had, I would have told him what a fantastic job he did.
Here's me in front of the movie poster with him on it, though.
Anyway, I did get to interview the "band" from the show and they told me that the craziest thing that happened during filming was when someone broke into their van and actually stole their identities! It was quite an adventure from the sounds of things, but despite all that, they loved being a part of this movie.
Here's the band signing my poster.
For me, the new Saturday's Warrior really resonated. There were tears and trials, songs and silliness, but the film was true to the promise of entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were so many memories from my youth as I watched the familiar story play out, but at the same time, the new movie has songs and scenes that will become just as memorable with this generation. The casting in particular for the part of Julie and Todd was really well done. Julie stole the audience's heart from the beginning and Todd was definitely her match.
Here's me and nuTodd.
Here's the nuFlinders family. A good looking group!
It was such a great night, and I walked away thinking I want to take my family to this. And my friends! Take some time this weekend and go see it, especially if you loved the original Saturday's Warrior. This one hits all the right notes and you shouldn't miss it!
Click here for a list of theaters that it is currently showing in.
This book will transport you back to India during 1813 when Lady Helen Poulter has come with her mother and General Stackhouse, her stepfather, as he claims his new military post. Lady Helen is fascinated with the country, its colorful animals and people, its strange customs and food, despite her friend Fanny's disgust with it all. It all seems like an adventure, a dream come true, as she goes to balls, meets an Indian prince, and finds love with a military man. Just as everything seems to be coming together as Helen always imagined, some political intrigue threatens everything and everyone she loves. Will she follow her heart to the man and country she's come to love? Or go back to the familiar shores of England?
