Friday, May 31, 2019

Freebie Friday for Romance Fans!


FREEBIE FRIDAY! Yesterday was the last day of school for my little ones and I am SO HAPPY to have the summer stretching before us. I am going to crack open a book this weekend and just RELAX! We made it. Woohoo!

And to start off my summer reads, Joanna Barker's romance, The Beauty and the Baron is FREE today.

If you love fairytale retellings, you can get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

A penniless maid determined to save her father, a broken baron bent on isolation, and the undeniable draw between them that could lead to happiness—or disaster.

Rose Sinclair has run out of options. With her father in prison and their bookshop sold to pay his debts, she has no choice but to turn to Henry Covington, the Baron Norcliffe. But the baron has more than earned his harsh reputation, and Rose must face his wrath in order to save her father—and herself.

Since the deaths of his parents, Henry Covington has isolated himself from society, ensuring the solitude of his estate with his deliberate callousness. However, when the beautiful Miss Sinclair appears on his doorstep, begging for a chance to repay her father's debt to him, a moment of weakness finds him offering her a position—as a maid in his own house.

They both soon learn that first impressions are not to be believed. Henry is surprised—and intrigued—by Rose's optimistic charm, while Rose slowly uncovers Henry's true self, his compassion concealed behind the pain of loss and betrayal. But when a shadow from Henry's past returns, their newfound hope is tested. They must decide for themselves who to trust and what they will risk for their happily ever after.


Thursday, May 30, 2019

YOU Matter!


I came across this quote on the internet today and it really struck me. How many times have we wondered if anyone would miss us if we didn't show up for school/church/mothers' group or whatever the activity is? How many times have you ever felt lonely and unloved?

If that is you, whether it's just today or an ongoing feeling, I want you to know that you matter.

YOU matter.

For all the little kindnesses you leave behind and don't think twice about, it matters to someone. You just never know when even just opening a door for someone or sending a quick message of encouragement will be the only good thing that happened to that person that day, and they will remember it. The tiniest actions can make a difference. I can't even tell you what it means to me to get a little message of encouragement from people who have enjoyed my books. It makes me feel like all the time and effort I put into my stories are worth it. When I'm at the grocery store with one item and the person in front of me with a full cart lets me go ahead of them or I get told someone likes my outfit, well, the whole day is brighter for me! Or even as a mother, when one of my kids will give me a random hug, my spirits are lifted because of that brief connection---whether it's with strangers or family. Those little moments are my bursts of happiness in a busy world and I remember them and the people who made them happen.

Don't underestimate your worth. Or what you mean to the people around you.

And give yourself a hug today. From me.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

In the Non-Fiction Corner---Living the Parables (And a Giveaway!)

In the Non-Fiction Corner With Lauren

And Hank Smith does it again! What a marvelous book. Christ is the master teacher and I loved learning more about his parables through this book. In the beginning, Smith answers questions like where the Bible came from, what a parable actually is, and why the Savior would choose to teach with them. My favorite part, however, is when Smith goes through each of the authors of the four gospels and talks about how they know the Savior, what audience they were writing to, and their approach in telling stories about the Savior's life. Each share parables, some more than others, and we can see a different view of Him in each book, just like viewing a play from a different angle in four different showings. The background to the parables is almost as valuable as the parables themselves!

The rest of the book, Hank Smith goes through about twenty-four parables and gives his insights in each of them. He talks about things I would have never realized before and does a great job. He even uses quotes from apostles and prophets who have spoken on these parables. Now, I don’t know about you, but here is a comprehensive list on people who I would love to learn about the parables from:

1. Prophets and Apostles

2. Hank Smith

You’re in luck, this book has both! My favorite was the Prodigal Son. He looks at each part of the story in detail and gives ideas or interpretations that are not obvious to regular people like me, even though we have read the story a thousand times. Hank Smith has something valuable to offer in each parable in this book, and it is a valuable resource to anyone studying the New Testament or who wants to know the Savior better.

Get your copy here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Here's the back copy:

As the world’s greatest teacher, Jesus Christ used His skills as a storyteller to teach and inspire His followers. The parables of Christ contain a wealth of guidance, but the deeper meaning of His words can sometimes be difficult to decipher. Now, best-selling authors Hank Smith and Kathryn Jenkins—known and loved for their ability to approach gospel topics in a clear, light, and understandable way—take a careful look at the finer points of the Savior’s stories. They uncover the profound spiritual lessons hidden within and illustrate practical and accessible application for our day. In Living the Parables: Applying Christ’s Teachings to Our Lives, readers are presented with commentary from generations of Church leaders and religious scholars, as well as modern-day interpretations of the underlying significance of each account. This volume will inspire followers of Christ to draw on the power of His Atonement by embracing a deeper understanding of His parables.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

A Fun Book To Start Off Summer---and a Giveaway!


Drawing Your Way Through the Book of Mormon is the cutest book! My family has loved attempting to draw our way through the book. It has little tutorials on how to draw people, hands, faces, etc., and then you are prompted with all sorts of fun prompts on a Book of Mormon story and what to draw from it. It is so fun! There are even spots to make your own comic strip. We loved it, from adult to our smallest child. Also a different way to start a conversation about scriptures! I highly recommend this one.

Get your copy here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!


Here's the back copy:

Everyone can be an illustrator with well-known artist Annie Poon in Draw Your Way through the Book of Mormon, an innovative art adventure for people of all ages who want to delve into the Book of Mormon as they never have before. Featuring engaging illustrations, ideas, and step-by-step instructions, this doodle book invites budding artists to bring scriptural scenes to life—with no limit on what can be imagined!

What do you think the Liahona looked like? Draw it!

Draw yourself sneaking past the sleeping Lamanite guards.

Captain Moroni carried the title of liberty into battle—draw what you would fight for.

Packed with dozens of creative prompts, this delightful activity book will provide hours of entertainment and thought, offering students of the gospel an opportunity to express their personal impressions of the Book of Mormon through art.

Monday, May 27, 2019

Memorial Day


Wishing you all a peaceful Memorial Day remembering those who have gone before.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Memorial Day Sale for Military Romance Fans!


I love writing stories that honor the sacrifices of our military men & women. This Memorial Day weekend, two of them are on sale for only .99 cents! Perfect holiday weekend reading for military romance fans.

You can get All Fall Down here

You can get The Capture here

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Giveaway Time for Romance Fans!


Giveaway time! I have a SIGNED copy of Jennifer Peel's romance, My Not-So-Wicked Stepbrother that I would love to give to you! (I really enjoyed this one!) To enter, just tell me in the comments if you have any fun summer plans you're looking forward to and I'll randomly draw a winner tomorrow morning! (U.S. addresses only)

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Blog Tour & Giveaway for Regency Fans!

 

I was really excited to see another regency romance by Esther Hatch. I like her style of writing and her characters are memorable.

In A Proper Scandal, Miss Grace Sinclair has lost her parents, but the local vicar and his wife have taken her in. Unfortunately, Grace's beauty is overshadowing the vicar's daughters and their come-outs, so Grace is shipped off to her aunt in London who has recently remarried. Even worse, when Grace arrives, she's told she needs to marry immediately, mostly because her new step-uncle is a lecher and has his eye on Grace. Grace is between a rock and a hard place, but might have found a knight in shining armor in Mr. Nate Barton. But can she be honest with Mr. Barton about why she needs to marry in haste? Or will he deem her just another pretty woman trying to entrap him?

I really enjoyed all the twists and turns this story took. Grace should have an easy time finding a husband with a good dowry and a beautiful face, but instead, both of those things make her chances of finding a love match extremely difficult. Grace is put in an impossible situation that quickly goes from bad to worse with both laugh out loud and cringe-worthy moments. Our hero, Nate, is sweet, protective, unsure and stubborn. He makes some pretty big assumptions about Grace that lead to some awkward and funny situations, but he's fighting some demons from the past and readers will sympathize with him. The push/pull between Nate and Grace is great and it is easy to root for them to find true love. To top it all off, there was one last twist at the end that will keep the reader guessing as to how it will all turn out. Another great read by Ms. Hatch!

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

You can get your copy here





Here's the back copy:

Grace Sinclair has been callously cast out of her home. And though taken in as an orphaned child by the vicar and his wife, her unsurpassed beauty makes it impossible for her to remain in the vicar’s household—with two daughters of their own about to enter Society, the vicar and his wife see Grace as nothing but competition. Thankfully, Grace’s estranged Aunt Bell has agreed to take her in to her home in London. But Grace soon learns her situation has just gotten much worse.

It takes only a moment’s acquaintance for Grace to ascertain that her aunt has married a detestable rake. And Aunt Bell, recognizing the danger of having her lovely niece too near her husband, gives Grace an ultimatum: the young woman has two weeks to find a man to marry, after which she will be turned out. With no experience in the art of attracting a husband, Grace quickly realizes that a worthy suitor might not be so easy to ensnare.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Any JAG fans out there?


Are there any JAG fans out there? Did you watch the NCIS:LA reunion of Harm and Mac last Sunday? Because that was definitely not what I was expecting and I'm so sad/frustrated! Harm and Mac were one of my favorite couples and I never missed an episode. 

*spoilers* If you don't want to be spoiled stop reading now.

To find out that after a decade of watching them work to be together and everything they went through, all the push/pull, to then find out they haven't seen each other for NINE YEARS is such a punch to the gut. No wedding. No kids. What a huge disappointment! We deserved our happy ending. I mean, the coin toss what such a tough ending to swallow anyway, but at least we had hope that they lived happily-ever-after. Now we know they didn't. Sigh.

(I may have been tweeting about it on Sunday and I saw this morning that Pop Culture posted one of my tweets, which is kind of fun in a way.) You can see it here

So, was there anyone else who watched the JAG "reunion" last Sunday? What did you think?

Monday, May 20, 2019

Hawaii Five-0 Recap & Review: The Season Finale

The season finale. Can you believe it? It all went by so fast this year!

We start with the previouslies of the drunk driving case for Junior's sister, Tamiko coming to Adam about her fiance's death, the Omar Hassan case, and then Aaron Wright pulling off his malicious code heist. If this is a preview of everything the episode is going to touch on, this is going to be a packed hour!

The episode starts off with Danny telling Steve he doesn't like how Steve walks fast when he's angry. Steve is focused on the fact that it's been forty-eight hours since Aaron Wright escaped. How did he pull this off? They both notice that Frank Bama is in Steve's office, drinking. Before Steve leaves, Danny's phone rings and he doesn't want to say who it is. Steve says to tell Rachel he said what's up. (Haha. Danny is trying to be so sneaky. I'm not sure why, really, but okay.) Steve goes in to talk to Frank who is drinking (is it early?) Frank asks where Sunshine (Danny) is. (Because he has blond hair and a "sunny" disposition.) (I'm sorry, but that is funny since Danny is pretty much the Eeyore of the group these days.) Frank fills Steve in on his new business venture in Oahu, called Chapel on the Water. He gives people a tour and then they can get hitched because he got ordained. After the small talk Frank asks "Where is he?" and Steve pulls out Joe's ashes from his DESK DRAWER! (I mean, who keeps their father figure and mentor in a desk drawer? Is there a deeper meaning perhaps? Steve is compartmentalizing his feelings about it like a drawer in a desk? Hiding the evidence that Joe is really dead? I'm not sure, but that was so odd to have the ashes in a drawer.) Frank is sorry he missed the memorial for Joe and he's surprised Joe wanted his ashes scattered over a bay in Vietnam. Steve tells him that Joe said even with all the ugliness he saw in Vietnam, this was the prettiest bay he'd ever seen. Frank says it's an honor to take Joe back there one last time and they both raise a toast to Joe.

Switch to a computer hacker's house. He gets knock at door, and it's Aaron Wright. Oddly, Aaron has rubber gloves on and says he doesn't want to leave fingerprints. The Hacker accepts this and shakes hands with him. That's not going to end well. PoorDumbHacker lets Aaron in and digs the drive Aaron wants out of the bottom of his cereal box. He's yapping to Aaron about how the drive is actually filled with next-gen malicious code malware that could inflict major casualties and he's not good with that. Aaron looks annoyed since he paid PoorDumbHacker not to look at it. But, Aaron has thought of everything and soon PoorDumbHacker is choking. Oh, the rubber glove had VX nerve agent on it, so the PoorDumbHacker has to die listening to Aaron monologue about what the agent is doing to his body. Then Aaron takes the drive and bounces.

Back at Tamiko's place, Adam is sleeping on the couch. (Hmmm...interesting.) Tamiko has made him a fancy breakfast to thank him for staying over. He's relaxed and happy, telling her that if it tastes as good as it smells, she might have a hard time getting rid of him. They sit down to eat and Tamiko talks about not being able to face another night in an empty house and Adam gets it because he's been there. (Dang Kono). Tamiko asks if he talks to Kono and he says he texts her occasionally to make sure she's okay and they both agreed it was better that way. He had to go through the process and make peace with it and accept the ending of that chapter and get ready for whatever's next. He reaches for Tamiko's hand and tries to comfort her by saying that it's hard to imagine right now but she'll get there. (With his help, from the looks of it.) Adam has to go to work, but since he's worthless on an empty stomach, he eats first. (So all of those times when Adam was just standing around not doing anything was probably because he was hungry?)

Tani is yapping to Junior about her friends and their honeymoon instagram pics and another friend getting engaged while Junior is quiet. When she finally notices he's not saying anything and presses him about what's going on, he finally says his dad won't return his calls and he hasn't heard from him since the parole hearing. Tani reassures him that he did the right thing and proses on about how hating is easy, forgiveness is hard. He'll come around.

Steve is at his desk when Jerry comes in to tell him that Omar Hassan's wife called and wants to come apologize for her husband sending the hitters to kill Joe. He questions it at first since it's been five months, why would she ask now? Jerry says that she wants to bring her son so he can see the apology. (Yeah, she knows Steve can't resist the kids with dad issues.) Steve agrees to see her. (I already know that's not going to end well.) Duke calls and the team heads over to the PoorDumbandDeadHacker's apartment. The ME knows he was poisoned by VX nerve agent and that he was a big deal in hacking community, which means this murder might be related to Aaron Wright. Jerry discovers that they are on some surveillance camera and Steve finds the device hidden in a charger that's plugged into a far wall. They rewind to see Aaron Wright after the murder and even hear him making a phone call about the exchange that's going to take place in three hours. There's a time limit now so they need to find Wright before he sells the weapon. Dun, dun, dun.

Back at the Chatting Table they summarize for those of us just joining the program that Aaron Wright has NSA cyber weapons that could take down a country's defense systems and the team has two hours to find him, but just to give HPD something to do, they're going to look for him, too. Jerry comes in and used the frequencies of the keypad tones on the recording of Aaron's phone call and he got a number! But it's an encrypted phone. Steve is going to call a friend at the NSA to crack the encryption. During their table chat, Junior takes a call from his mom and finds out his dad is missing. After the team pressures him to spill what's going on, Junior fesses up and Steve tells him to go find Pops.

I guess the NSA friend came through because next thing we know the team is waiting in a warehouse for the buyer, Monica Felix (who has a long rap sheet and done some terrible things) and Aaron. Steve tells everyone to stay sharp and not to move until they have eyes on Wright. The team easily pins down Monica and the hooded man who turns out not to be Aaron at all, just some guy Aaron paid $5000 to deliver a bag. Steve looks at the bag then tells everyone to get back. They run away just before the bag blows up. That sneaky Aaron Wright! (It was an awesome explosion.) Danny is all mock-sympathetic to Lou for losing all his hair in the explosion and Lou asks what happened to Danny's eyebrows. The team finds out the briefcase had 30 mil in Euro bonds. A very expensive explosion that was probably a distraction while Aaron made his escape. Steve thinks he had a backup buyer in place, but how did he know they'd be there?

Well, when Jerry goes down to his office, he realizes he's been hacked and Aaron has been able to hear/track all their communications since he implanted spyware on the computer. (He's only realizing this now?) He tells Steve about it and apologizes. Aaron isn't sitting around listening in to Steve and friends, however, he's with another guy getting paid for his cyber-weapon, then driving off on a motorbike, in a hurry to get off the island before WWIII is launched. Back at HQ, Tani has been looking into the PoorDumbDeadHacker's phone and he had a burner that Wright used to contact him, so they traced it to the store where he bought seven phones. Running those records showed one number that kept popping up and it belongs to Lindsey, Aaron's girlfriend. Tani and Jerry question her and she admits she knew him as Drew, but he broke it off two weeks ago and was always secretive and pretty much a terrible boyfriend. He wouldn't return calls, so she left her phone in his car to see if he was cheating, but it only led to a storage place in the middle of nowhere. Steve, Danny, and Lou go to the storage locker and there is a stash of computers. But, hey, the security cameras caught Aaron coming and going on a motorcycle so they can track that. Now that it's all been explained, an eagle-eye cop spots the motorbike and a chase ensues, which Steve joins.

Back to the filler storyline, Junior is out looking for dad and his dad's gun is missing, too. He's talking to Tani about staying focused, what if he wanted to hurt himself, the HPD is tracking the car. He doesn't need her help, though, and goes to a tavern, but the bartender hasn't seen his dad today. He does mention that Dad was talking to an ex-cop last night about how to track down someone's address.

Aaron has crashed his bike and run into a mall where he immediately takes off his jacket and gloves and throws them away. Steve tells Duke to lock it down and set a perimeter and they start a search. MagicalHackerAaron is in the bathroom with a little computer, (where did he get that? It just appeared out of thin air!) and he sets off a ballistic missile threat warning to the entire island. Everyone starts running for cover, cars are left on the road, there's a bit of a panic and Wright gets away. Steve gets confirmation that it's a false alarm, but there's no way to turn off the warning since Aaron locked the system down. On the bright side, everyone is still looking for Aaron and he needs to get off the island. But what's his plan? Well, Jerry is at the storage locker and figures out that Aaron logged 100 hours of flight training on a G5 aircraft. Luckily, there are only three G5s on Oahu and one is parked in the direction that Wright was headed when he was intercepted. The team heads over there just as Wright gets ready to take off. Steve plays chicken with the airplane while Danny frets in the car, covering his head, but Wright lifts off at the last moment and flies away. He turns on autopilot, but suddenly starts losing fuel. Jerry's voice comes over the intercom taunting him. He hacked the plane to dump fuel, using Aaron's brother Ian's code that he used to bring down an airliner. Jerry orders him to turn back and give himself up or hurtle nose first into the Pacific and he has thirty seconds to decide. Tick tock. Aaron comes back and is taken into custody. Magic Jerry who was just at the Chatting Table is suddenly at the airport to lead Aaron away. Aaron doesn't seem too ruffled and says he'll only be retired until his skill set is needed again, but Steve says he's going to the super max. Whether he spends his entire life there or just a very long time depends on if Aaron helps find the people he sold those cyberweapons to.

Junior finds his dad who is sitting in his truck staring out the windshield. Junior takes the gun while his dad talks about how he was going to do what Junior was supposed to do when he went to the parole hearing---make sure that drunk driver never spent another day outside of a prison cell. Junior tries to explain that it wouldn't have brought Mya back. His dad admits when the moment came, he reached for the gun, but got scared. He doesn't want Junior to touch him and says he's not his son anymore.

Ending montage: Junior is super sad and goes to Tani's house for comfort. Adam heads over to Tamiko's house with dinner and she seems happy to see him and invites him in. Back at HQ Steve is coming out of the elevator and telling Danny SWAT went in and took out Wright's buyers and the cyberweapons are now safely back in the NSA handler's hands. Danny is following him into his office and sits down to say that he told Steve an untruth about going to Jersey last week. Steve doesn't seem too concerned, asking if that's related to a lie and where did he take Rachel? Steve called it and he took Rachel to Kauai to be alone and it was nice and fun. Jerry interrupts to say that Hassan's wife and son are here. Steve says to send them up and she comes in slo-mo with Lou in front of her. Standing in front of Steve, she says, "Commander McGarrett, thanks for agreeing to meet with me. I came here to speak to you for my son. I wanted to show him the power of forgiveness for himself." Steve says he understands. She goes on with, "They say time changes things, heals all wounds, but I have learned that you have to do these things for yourself and not rely on time alone. You lost family, I lost family, we're all losers in this but I wish for something better for my son. I want to show him a mother's way.  They say the most merciful person is the one who forgives when he is able to take revenge." Then she gives him a handshake with her left hand. (Uh oh. Left-handed handshakes are not good. Traditionally meaning any agreement will not be honored and the person could be armed.) The little boy shakes hands, too, and Steve thanks them for coming, saying it took a lot of courage to say that and he appreciates it. Hassan's wife thanks him for welcoming them, then Steve says he'll walk them out. But he doesn't stay beside her and walks ten feet in front of her. Jerry is in front of Steve near the door. Suddenly, the wife says, "You know, I ask God every day for his mercy. Because I have none." Then she gets a 3D gun out of her kid's backpack and pushes him out of way, then shoots. Fade to black.

Who got shot? Steve? Jerry? I guess we'll find out next season. What did you think? Did you watch?

Friday, May 17, 2019

Freebie Friday for Billionaire Romance Fans!

 

Today's freebie is a billionaire romance, The Broke Billionaire, from author Bonnie Paulson. I haven't read this one, but the back copy looks intriguing.

You can download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

From living in a tent to owning her own business, an uptight business owner hires a broke billionaire who’s never worked in customer service. His inexperience could cost her everything including her livelihood but firing him could lose her more than her heart.

Tiffany Louise comes from humble beginnings and has clawed her way to owning a modest business on wheels. Ready to take on an employee, Tiffany can’t find anyone willing to work for her.

Desperate to increase the hours of operation for her shave ice truck and also… not to feel so alone, Tiffany staples ads all over the place, which doesn’t win her any love in the community. She’s only gotten as far as she has through sheer force of will and monumental control – and the townsfolk know it.

Just when she thinks nothing can go her way, her luck changes when she convinces the charismatic Kaelin Steed to take the job, the confident and charming beach comber she sees every day.

Kaelin Steed has lost everything in a family legal battle for billions and he’s returned to his grandmother’s hometown in the small town of Getaway Bay. Unwilling to use his autonomy to get ahead, Kaelin takes the last job anyone in town will consider – working for the shrewish shave ice truck owner with green eyes and unruly red hair.

Kaelin just wants a steady check but his inexperience and cocky attitude, not to mention inability to be subservient, could cost them both their goals and their dreams.

Chaos won’t be tolerated, but around Kaelin, Tiffany feels more out of control than the storms over the ocean.

Falling in love isn’t an option when eating their next meal is on the line.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

My Interview With Tristan Hunt!


I was so excited to be a guest on Tristan Hunt's show. He is a writer and narrator and his voice is amazing. During the interview he read part of the first chapter from Second Look and I was riveted! We got to chat about a lot of different topics and I had so much fun! I'd been a bit nervous to do the interview, but it went so much better than I thought it would.

If you'd like to see it and hear Tristan's reading, you can go to my author page HERE and scroll down a bit to the video.

Never a dull moment in the life of a writer!

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway!


I was intrigued by the premise of Finding Anne de Bourgh. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books and, to be honest, I hadn't thought much about Anne de Bourgh, the woman that Lady Catherine expected would marry Darcy. This book tells her story and it is really well done!

I love that the author remains true to the way Jane Austen drew the character of Anne, yet adds her own characterization and growth arc. The language of the time period, the setting, and the attitudes about station and what is expected of a daughter in search of a husband is so well done. Anne is such a sympathetic character as she tries to find her way through her health issues and actually leading her own life and making her wishes known. With such an overpowering mother, that is a feat all on its own. 

Our hero, Mr. Talbot also has his own issues that has caused him to be relegated to the fringes of society. But he sees something different in Anne and they are drawn together. I loved how he subtly championed her and her efforts to be her own woman. His kindness and humor and all he's overcome make him a hero any woman would want. And the way he treats Anne is swoon-worthy. 

The secondary cast is memorable and the author has obviously done her research with all the details that are included. My only complaint was that several times throughout the book the word reigns is used when it should be reins. I know, I know, such a small thing, but it wasn't a one time mistake and I'm surprised the error wasn't caught! With that said, the real genius to this book is that it is not merely a regency love story! This is also a mystery that will pull you into the story and keep you turning pages so you can see who the real villain is, (and there are some scenes that will pull on your heartstrings for sure, villain or no!) and of course if our couple will be kept apart or find their way to each other.

I really enjoyed this book and I think regency fans will, too.

You can get your copy here

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!


Here's the back copy:

As heiress of Rosings Park, Anne de Bourgh’s health is of utmost importance to her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Thus, following the shock of a recent fire at Rosings Park, the young woman is spirited away to Brighton to take the cure. While her domineering mother is bent on healing her daughter’s sickly constitution to secure her a suitable match, Anne herself is far more concerned with sketching the flora and fauna of the lovely sea town. It is in pursuit of artistic inspiration among the flowers that Anne becomes acquainted with Mr. Owen Talbot, a charming man with whom Anne feels an immediate connection, notwithstanding their differing stations.

But despite their growing esteem for one another, the couple faces an insurmountable problem: Lady Catherine has set her sights on a rich, well-connected man for her daughter, and Mr. Talbot is simply too common. With their love in jeopardy, the couple soon faces far graver problems. There has been a murder in Brighton, and Anne is innocently drawn into an amateur investigation that ultimately traces its roots to her own family. With a frightening foreshadowing regarding the de Bourghs, Anne begins to question whom she can truly trust.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Psychological Thriller Free Today!


I noticed that H.B. Moore's psychological thriller, Breaking Jess, is free today. From what I've been told, this is not a book for sensitive readers since it deals with mental illness. Fourteen and older is the recommended age range. But H.B. Moore is a talented writer and while I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to read this one myself, I thought I'd pass the deal along to you!

Download your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

What do a crooked detective, an upstanding psychiatrist, and a teenager who can’t remember killing her parents all have in common? Nine years of lies.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Friday Freebie for Romance Fans!


If you are looking for a clean beach read this weekend, Elana Johnson's The Prince's Bride, is free today!

Download your free Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

She's a synchronized swimmer looking to make some extra cash. He's a prince in hiding. When they meet in the "empty" mansion she's supposed to be housesitting, sparks fly. Can Noah and Zara stop arguing long enough to realize their feelings for each other might be romantic?

Zara Reddy comes from a very traditional Indian family, but she's chosen a different path than the generational restaurant. She performs in some of Getaway Bay's biggest shows as an acrobat and synchronized swimmer and takes other odd jobs—anything to stay below her mother's "where's your boyfriend?" radar.

When she lands a lucrative housesitting job in the biggest mansion on the bluffs above the beach, Zara thinks she'll get some rest, relaxation, and plenty of sun for the summer. But when she walks in, she comes face-to-face with Noah Wales, a prince from a tiny island in the Mediterranean.

The house definitely isn't empty. The man is positively scrumptious. Too bad he's demanding, spoiled, and running from the paparazzi. Noah and Zara argue about who'll be staying in the house, but in the end, they decide this could be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Zara can keep the press out of Noah's hair while he works on repairing his reputation by volunteering at Your Tidal Forever on a celebrity wedding. And Zara gets the summer away from everything, just the way she wanted.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Hear A Sample of My New Audio Book! And A Giveaway!


You can now listen to a sample of my bestselling military romance, The Captive because it's out in audio! (And I really love my narrator. It's like listening to the book acted out!)

Here's the sample: 


To celebrate the audio book release, I have three free audio copies to give away. If you'd like one and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review of the audio book email me at juliecoulterbellon AT gmail DOT com

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Book Review & Giveaway!


I was so excited to read Jennifer Moore's new book, Charlotte's Promise. I love her historical romances and I think this one was definitely one of her best!

Charlotte Bower has suffered through her parents' murder and being kidnapped and sold by Creek Indians. She is determined to escape her captors and find her brother and while it takes longer than she would like, she finally manages it. She cuts her hair and boards a ship bound for New Orleans, the place she believes her little brother has been taken. Life as a sailor isn't what Charlotte expected at all, but she must make it work if she's ever going to find her brother. But will her secret be discovered while they are out at sea? Captain Alden Thatcher knows right away that Charlotte is a woman, but keeps her secret when he realizes she's being sought by men who would enslave her again. But Captain Thatcher faces his own dangers including when his ship is attacked and a crew member goes overboard. The risks intensify the closer they get to New Orleans, and the captain and Charlotte must face the demons of their pasts if there is ever to be a future between them.

I loved Charlotte's character. She was spunky and determined, but had also been through a lot so her spirit was tender. Watching her try to be a "man" was quite funny and it was nice to see her slowly build friendships with the crew. Her relationship with Captain Thatcher makes for a slow romantic build that I truly enjoyed. Captain Thatcher is such a wonderful hero and so easy to imagine. His reactions to Charlotte as Charlie were sweet and I was glad we got to see his point of view throughout the ship scenes. There was a nice twist at the end regarding the captain's affections and Charlotte's quest to find her brother that might surprise some readers, but never fear, we still get a sigh-worthy ending.

I think Ms. Moore expertly weaves in the history surrounding this time period and I loved learning details. Her knowledge and research is stellar and really makes her books stand out. This is a beautiful story of resilience and love and will definitely go on the keeper shelf!

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

Get your copy here


Here's the back copy:

One year ago Charlotte Bower's life was ripped apart when Creek Indians attacked, killed her parents, and separated her from her young brother—now, she will stop at nothing to find him. After a year of captivity, she has finally made her escape. Her search will begin in New Orleans, where captives were taken after the raid. But how to reach a city hundreds of miles away? As she watches men boarding a waiting ship, Charlotte formulates a bold plan: if it's men they need for the ship's crew, it's a man they'll get. Taking on her childhood nickname, Charlie, it is all too easy to gain passage on the New Orleans-bound vessel. Easy, that is, until Charlie is caught . . .

From the moment he sets eyes on the new deckhand, Captain Alden Thatcher knows one thing for certain: Charlie Bower is no man. But for reasons of his own, he keeps her secret. As their journey progresses, however, the voyage is increasingly ill-fated. With danger ever present, Charlie and the captain find themselves relying on one another in ways they'd never imagined. As they draw closer to her goal, Charlotte is faced with the most perilous adventure of all—an adventure that may risk her heart.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Traci Hunter Abramson Will Be My Guest Tomorrow Night!


All right, the final details have been confirmed! Romantic suspense writer Traci Hunter Abramson will be doing a Facebook Live book club event on my author page TOMORROW, May 8th at 6:15 MST! (You can find my page here)

We'll be doing several drawings for prizes (all you have to do is head over to my author page today and ask away!) (as a former CIA employee, if she answers them, will she have to kill us? Hmm...maybe that's MI6) Anyway, if we live through it, I hope you'll join us tomorrow!

See you there!

Friday, May 3, 2019

A .99 Cent Sale for Romance Fans!

 

 My romance, Love's Broken Road, is on sale for only .99 cents! I have a special place in my heart for this story. So if you're looking for a weekend read you can snuggle in with, pick this sweet, small town, second chance romance up! (Free on Kindle Unlimited!)

Get your sale copy here

Here's the back copy:

After surviving an abusive marriage, Victoria Newel needs a clean slate for herself and her son. Taking a job as a math teacher, she moves across the country to the small town of Lincoln, Utah, where no one knows her and she can start over. However, her new colleague, Drew Dalton, offers her friendship and maybe something more. But has her heart healed enough that she could trust again?

Drew Dalton lost his wife to cancer years ago and he locked his heart away, throwing himself into his teaching job. But when Victoria Newel starts working at the high school, she awakens something in him that he never thought he’d feel again. Her gentle nature and quiet strength draws him to her, but it’s obvious she’s hiding something in her past from him. Can he open his heart to a woman who harbors so many secrets of her own?


Thursday, May 2, 2019

The Captive is Available on Audio!

 

I am SO excited to be able to finally announce that The Captive is available on Audible! So many of you have asked for my books in audio, and now you've gotten your wish!

My narrator, Tristan Wright, is truly amazing. I think he captured my characters perfectly and really brings them to life. I can't wait to hear what you all think!

You can get your audio book copy here

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway!


I was so excited to see Undercover Honeymoon, the third book in Kari Iroz's series come out. (Although I noticed it's not labeled as a series, but it totally should be. You could probably get by with reading this one by itself, but I think they should be read in order: Date with Danger (#1) and Mormon Girl Incognito (#2).

In this one, Jack and Damon are finally getting married! The book opens with Jack worried that her mother is going to kill her for being late to her bridal shower because the bridal shop has lost her wedding dress. Jack's inner thoughts are so funny and real, she steals the show in all her scenes, really. Jack is definitely the kind of girl you want for a best friend.

I think I loved the second half of the book best, when the suspense starts to ramp up as Jack and Damon board a cruise ship for a honeymoon that isn't going as planned. Damon has secrets that are about to blow up in their faces and Jack gets herself into some sticky situations trying to "help." She truly does her best to get out of them and that provides a lot of laughter for the reader. Damon and Jack are a fun couple and I've really loved their story through all three books. A fun and suspenseful read!

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway!

You can get your copy here 



Here's the back copy:

Wedding bells are finally ringing for Jacklyn “Jack” Wyatt and her FBI-agent fiancé, Damon Wade. After their adventurous beginning, the happy couple finds the relative calm leading up to their big day a huge relief. Unfortunately, it seems the peace and quiet were too good to last. As they embark on their honeymoon, a weeklong cruise, Jack can’t shake the feeling that something is off with her new husband. When she stumbles upon a secret plot—one in which her husband is a key player—she realizes this getaway will be anything but smooth sailing. When she delves into the shady happenings aboard the ship, Jack realizes Damon’s involvement is just the tip of the iceberg—she has become an unwitting player in a deadly conspiracy, and in such close quarters, there is no escape. Now, Jack has no choice but to work with her new husband to unravel the truth before their happily ever after—and their lives—are ended all too soon.