National Podcast Day!

Guess what? Today is National Podcast Day! I know you all know that I have a podcast with two other bestselling authors called Authors Off the Page. We have so much fun! Have you listened to our latest episode?  You can find us on iTunes and Spotify or catch us HERE 

And to honor the day, I'd love to know what other podcasts you listen to regularly!

Book Review: Roommaid

Sariah Wilson has a new contemporary romance out called Roommaid and I was intrigued by the premise and couldn't wait to read it!

Madison Huntington has renounced her rich, manipulative family so she can live her life on her own terms. Only, that means she is trying to navigate a previously unknown world of paying rent, staying on a budget, and learning to live without servants. An opportunity comes up where she can get free room and board in exchange for cleaning the penthouse. The man who owns the penthouse is drop-dead gorgeous and not interested in relationships---which is fine with her. She can't pass up the deal and is sure she can learn how to clean---and stay in the friend-zone with her new roommate. But things don't always go as planned.

This is a cute romance with lots of fun banter and laugh out loud situations. Madison makes a lot of mistakes, but comes across really authentic as she tries to find where she belongs in the world and getting away from her overbearing family. Tyler is a swoon-worthy hero dealing with his own demons and I loved the journey to romance these two had. This story really had a depth to it that I appreciated. Ms. Wilson also does a great job with the chemistry between the hero and heroine. The plot is unique and provides a lot of fun situations that wouldn't otherwise happen. I also enjoyed getting to know Madison's friends. They added another layer to the story and I hope they get their own books! A fun afternoon read. 

Get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

Madison Huntington is determined to live her dreams. That means getting out from under her family’s wealth and influence by saying no to the family business, her allowance, and her home. But on a teacher’s salary, the real world comes as a rude awakening—especially when she wakes up every morning on a colleague’s couch. To get a place of her own (without cockroaches, mold, or crime scene tape), Madison accepts a position as a roommaid. In exchange for free room and board, all she needs to do is keep her busy roommate’s penthouse clean and his dog company. So what if she’s never washed a dish in her life. She can figure this out, right?

Madison is pretty confident she can fake it well enough that Tyler Roth will never know the difference. The finance whiz is rich and privileged and navigates the same social circles as her parents—but to him she’s just a teacher in need of an apartment. He’s everything Madison has run from, but his kindhearted nature, stomach-fluttering smile, and unexpected insecurities only make her want to get closer. And Tyler is warming to the move.

Rewarding job. Perfect guy. Great future. With everything so right, what could go wrong? Madison is about to find out.

It's Giveaway Time!

Did you see that my new regency romance, The Highlander's Hidden Heart, was released a few weeks ago? To celebrate, I am doing a giveaway! It ends TOMORROW at midnight, though, so don't wait to scroll down and enter!

Get your copy here 

Here's the back copy:

A duke's daughter. A Highland warrior. And a love worth fighting for.

Lady Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Barrington, has done her best to secure an advantageous match, but a shy nature, combined with a stutter, hasn't helped her cause. After two Seasons, her father won’t wait any longer and promises her to a man she despises. There doesn’t seem to be anything Elizabeth can do beyond wish for a freedom she’ll never have---until a charming Highlander appears and makes all her dreams of a love match seem within her reach.

Alec Ramsay unexpectedly inherits an earldom and must leave his beloved Scottish Highlands to present himself in London and settle the estate affairs. After meeting his new neighbor, Lady Elizabeth, he feels a connection to her that he’s never felt with any other woman. Alec makes every effort to further their acquaintance, but soon finds out that Elizabeth could be swept out of his reach before they have a chance to explore the feelings between them. With everything at stake, can he risk all for a chance at love−−before it’s too late?

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Free Book for Regency Romance Fans!

Regency romance fans, The Earl's Winning Wager, by Jen Geigle Johnson, is free today!

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

Lord Morley's life will change forever when he wins a game of cards and a family of sisters to go along with it.

Miss Standish in none too pleased to have become the responsibility of yet another Lord, even if he is full of charm and goodness. Her responsibilities are to her sisters first.

With the repairs on the castle moving forward nicely and concerted efforts in a season in Bath made to find suitors for them all, Miss Standish and Lord Morley must determine where duty stops and matters of the heart take over.

How Old is Too Old?

I have a confession to make. I've never really said anything to anyone, but I've always wanted to learn kickboxing---and I decided that I'm going to just do it. This is the year! But today, when I finally told someone that I was going to learn kickboxing, they sort of chuckled and said, "Don't you think you're a little old for that?"

I've been thinking a lot about that question ever since. What do you think? How old is too old to try new things? Is there an age limit on certain activities?

Book Review and Giveaway!

Stacy Henrie has a new historical romance out called Heart of Gold. I was really excited to read it because it features the Klondike Trail and Canada, so that was something unique!

In the book we meet Tava Rutherford who has been in love with Jess Lawmen, a ranch hand, since she was a teen. She's all grown up now, but Jess has firmly put her in the friend zone---until they receive news her father has taken ill on his trip to the Klondike and might die. Tava and Jess journey to the Klondike and meet up with some new friends along the way---including an adorable boy and his dog. But with all the stresses of the trip and being in close contact, will Tava be able to hide her real feelings for Jess? And can she reach her father before it's too late?

This was a gentle romance set against a really great backdrop. I thought the author did a great job describing the trail and the obstacles of the Klondike. I loved the adventure of it all, and after reading about it, I really don't know if I would have made it! Beyond that, Jess and Tava's romance is gentle and low tension---just a nice little thread in the big picture. This was a sweet romance and a cute afternoon read.

Get your copy here

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

Here's the back copy:

They'll have to conquer more than the Klondike Trail to reach her father in time—they’ll have to overcome their past too.

After months of silence from her father in the Klondike, Tava Rutherford finally receives word from him. Only the outdated letter reveals that her father is ill and may be dying. Desperate to discover his fate, Tava resolves to make the journey to the wilds of northwestern Canada. But Jess Lawmen, her ranch foreman and the man who broke her heart, insists she doesn't go alone. Jess intends to keep his promise to look out for her—even if that means traveling thousands of miles with Tava, the woman he claims to feel just friendship for but has never stopped loving.

With their own ragtag group of travelers in tow, Tava and Jess confront one challenge after another as they join the hundreds of stampeders scrambling to reach the goldfields. But as the two of them come face to face with their past hurts and mistakes in their race to reach Tava’s father, they will have to decide whether to cling to safety or risk their hearts for something even greater.

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Christmas Story Sale!

If you are in the mood for Christmas stories, All Hearts Come Home for Christmas is only .99 cents today! These four novellas will definitely put you in the Christmas mood.

Get your sale copy here

Here's the back copy:

Christmas at Falstone Castle - Sarah M. Eden - The Dowager Duchess of Kielder eagerly anticipates spending Christmas with her son and his family. Though their relationship has been strained, the duchess is determined to heal the chasm. Even with the help of the widowed local vicar, her plan will take a Christmas miracle. But during this magical season, anything is possible . . . even two second chances for love.

The Heart of Christmas - Anita Stansfield - When a chance meeting brings together a gentle seamstress and a widowed banker, each lonely soul finds a first hint of hope. As their lives become entwined, it will take Christmas spirit to guide a broken family to love and healing. 

’Tis the Season to Be Daring - Esther Hatch Elizabeth - Davenport has had quite enough of the London Season. Determined to evade a parade of unsuitable suitors, she seeks help from the one gentleman who has no regard for Society’s rules. All of Society knows Lord Hawthorne is not interested in marriage, yet he cannot deny Miss Davenport’s unique charm. And as the Christmas season works its magic, their charade begins to feel less like playacting and more like love. 

The Christmas Dress - Joanna Barker - Seamstress Nell Addington is thrilled when her childhood friend Jacob Hammond commissions a dress for his sister. But when Nell realizes her feelings for Jacob run far deeper than friendship, an unexpected snowstorm—and some holiday cheer—may convince them both that love is worth fighting for.

A Little Peek At My New Book!

Just sharing a little excerpt from my new Griffin Force romantic suspense. I am so in love with Augie and Rian's story!

You can preorder it for only $2.99 right here

Here's the back copy:

Griffin Force tracks a dangerous terrorist to Libya, but the only man on their team that can infiltrate the terrorist's lair is Augie---their computer tech. They'll take a huge risk with an undercover asset who gets Augie in and assures them he won't be killed.

But who can the team really trust when the op goes sideways?

Freebie Friday!

If you are a fan of Biblical fiction, H.B. Moore's book, Eve: In the Beginning, is free today. This one will definitely make you think!

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

The first love story on earth.

In a world where everything is perfect, yet the same day after day, Eve must decide if she wants to live forever in the garden with Adam and never know what lies beyond the walls. When she makes a choice with terrible consequences, the pain of mortality is swift. As she and Adam explore their new world, and her body changes, Eve discovers the sweetness of first love with the man who has always been at her side.

Are You A Picky Eater?

It's feeling all fall-like outside, so I think I'm going to make zucchini bread today. Do you love zucchini bread? Are there foods you definitely WILL NOT eat? If so, take my quiz below. I want to hear!

Book Review: The Wonderland Diaries

My nine-year-old son was super excited to get the new book by Jeff Savage, The Wonderland Diaries. I was, too, actually because it's such a fun premise. And the story did not disappoint!

Mr. Savage has taken a new twist to a well-loved story and truly made it his own. Both my son and I loved getting to know Celia and Tyrus as they fall through a portal that lead them into an amazing adventure. We loved seeing some familiar characters like the Cheshire Cat and meeting new ones like Sylvan. They were so well-drawn and memorable. Celia and Tyrus are trying to get out of Wonderland and must learn to work together to solve the riddles and find out how to do it. But the Queen of Hearts is working hard to capture them and will stop at nothing! With time running out, will they make it back?

This was a really great adventure story that will have your child begging to stay up later for just one more page. It was a nice cross between the familiar and the new and the characters hit all the right notes for both younger readers and older. There was one part that was just a tiny bit too scary for my little boy, but we talked about it and that helped. Tyrus and Celia are great characters that have traits children will identify with as they make mistakes and try to put them right. There are also some great spots to open up a conversation with your child on topics like dyslexia and how to apologize when you've done something that hurts someone else. (The discussion questions in the back were helpful, too) But all in all, it was an imaginative take on Alice in Wonderland. If your family likes twisty, turny adventures where everything isn't just what is seems (or what you remember) you'll want to pick up The Wonderland Diaries!

Get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

Something monstrous has been found in the magic world of Wonderland and it wants to get out.

Lewis Carroll created a curious and fantastical world in his classic book Alice in Wonderland, but he secretly recorded the true story of his actual travels to Wonderland in four journals which have been lost to the world...until now.

Celia and Tyrus discover the legendary Lost Diaries of Wonderland and fall into a portal that pulls them into the same fantasy world as the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. However, Wonderland has vastly changed. A darkness has settled over the land, and some creatures and characters that Tyrus remembers from the book have been transformed into angry monsters.

Celia and Tyrus make their way through this unpredictable and dangerous land, helped by familiar friends including the Cheshire Cat and a new character, Sylvan, a young rabbit. Together, they desperately work to solve puzzles and riddles, looking for a way out of Wonderland. But the danger increases when the Queen of Hearts begins hunting them. Believing the two young visitors hold the key to opening multiple portals to multiple worlds, she will stop at nothing to capture them.

It's up to Celia and Tyrus to save Wonderland and the real world. It's a race against time before they are trapped in Wonderland forever.

Regency Romance Fans I've Got A Free Book For You!

My regency romance, The Marquess Meets His Match, is free today! 

InD'Tale Magazine said, "This regency spy romance is filled with intrigue, suspense, and a hero who could make the hardest of hearts swoon." 

Don't miss this one! 

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

A traitor with a deadly plan. Two agents sent to expose his identity before he strikes. But danger is closer than they think . . .

Lord Christian Wolverton―known as Wolf in a covert group operating during the war against Napoleon―has been called home from his military duties. For the moment, his family responsibilities require him to suspend his more clandestine activities. But information falls into his hands that a traitor will soon try to tip the scales back into French favor and Christian doesn't have much time to stop it from happening.

Going to the one person who can help him, the powerful Duke of Huntingdon, Christian comes face to face with Lady Alice. She's a beautiful member of the ton with a very big secret―she's also a trained agent and already on the case. Forced to partner with her to lure the traitor out of hiding, Christian wants to quickly close the case himself, before Lady Alice is more closely involved. But Lady Alice has ideas of her own and she's going to prove her theories correct―with or without him.

Danger is closer than they think, however, and it's a race against time to expose the traitor's identity before British lives are endangered. Both Christian and Alice have strong opinions on who he is, but which one will be proven right?

In the Non-Fiction Corner: Lord How Is It Done?

In the Non-Fiction Corner With Lauren

The book Lord, How Is It Done? by Ken Gibson, features five principles that help readers see how grace can have more power in our lives. It was so thought-provoking.

In this book, there were quotes and scriptures I felt were especially for me. I had a spiritual “ah-ha” moment while reading this book that I haven’t had in quite a long time (outside of reading the scriptures, of course.)

Gibson is clearly inspired and has done a lot of preparation and study for this spectacular book. I particularly enjoyed his comparison to the story of Enos at the end of each chapter, and his personal stories that really hit the message home.

My favorite part of the book is when the author was talking about Christ’s atonement. He told the story of when his daughter had her car impounded and she was late for work. He drove down, paid for the car to be released, and told his daughter that he didn’t expect to be paid back because he knew she couldn’t afford it. He likened this to our relationship with our Savior, who gave us a gift that we can never pay back, nor does he expect us to. It truly is incredible that we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants to bless us and doesn’t expect much in return. He gives us tender mercies, prayer, covenants, and many other kinds of blessings to show how much He loves us, and Kent Gibson helped me to understand that a little bit better through his perspective in this book.

Get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

How can we make grace a greater enabling power in our lives and more fully participate in the Savior’s atoning gift? In Lord, How Is It Done?, author Ken Gibson introduces five principles to help readers confront the trials of mortality most of us feel ill-equipped to resolve because we simply don’t know the answer to this overarching question of how. The author draws upon Enos’s experience of asking, “Lord, how is it done?” and illustrates what it means to experience the Savior’s Atonement and lay claim to the promises of peace He has given. Readers are invited not just to come unto Christ but also to learn line upon line how it is done. The principles taught in this book are designed to illuminate the pathway to enduring peace and spiritual prosperity for all whose souls hunger.

Who Do You Like Best?

Okay, friends, you know my next Griffin Force book, Second Chance, features Augie, the lovable computer geek of the team. I'm trying to decide which of these actors best fits him. 

What do you think?

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you have a wonderful day and get to spend some time with your favorite people (and your favorite food!)

We are building a shed today, so this will definitely be a "labor" day for us. We're hoping to get the roof on before it starts raining!

Wish us luck!

Freebie for Suspense Fans!

I LOVE Omar Zaghouri thrillers and The Killing Curse is free today! H.B. Moore does such a great job with the historical and contemporary aspects, it is really hard to put her Omar Zaghouri books down.

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

Betrayed by her father. Kidnapped by her brother. Only one chance to survive.

Omar Zagouri should have known that the hunt for an ordinary art thief in London would end up being far from ordinary. Abducted and carted across several countries until he’s locked up in the middle of Jordan’s desert, Omar becomes the target of an underground crime organization that dates back to the Crusaders era. As Omar works to uncover the deadly secrets that connect centuries of deceit, he finds himself trying to prevent a scheduled honor killing from turning into another tragedy, while exposing the ancient crime organization for generations of lethal corruption.

Don't Miss This One!

I am reading Heather Moore's new book, The Paper Daughters of Chinatown, and it is phenomenal. Not an easy read by any means, but amazing.

It is on sale today for only $7.99 and if you buy the Kindle version, the audio is half-price as well. 

Get your sale copy here

Here's the back copy:

Here's a little more about it: When twenty-six-year-old Donaldina Cameron arrives at the Occidental Mission Home for Girls in 1895, she intends to stay for only one year to teach sewing skills to young Chinese women. Within days, she discovers that the job is much more complicated than perfect stitches and even hems. San Francisco has a dark side, one where a powerful underground organization—the criminal tong—buys and sells Chinese girls like common goods. With the help of Chinese interpreters and a local police squad, Donaldina works night and day to stop the abominable slave and prostitution trade.

Mei Lien believes she is sailing to the “Gold Mountain” in America to become the wife of a rich Chinese man. Instead she finds herself sold into prostitution—beaten, starved, and forced into an opium addiction. It is only after a narrow escape that she hears of the mission home and dares to think there might be hope for a new life.

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown throws new light on the age-old scourge of human trafficking. The heroes who fought this evil and the victims who triumphed over it more than a hundred years ago offer a bright example of courage and determination for anyone wishing for a better world.

Warehouse Sale On LDS Temple Pictures & A Giveaway!

Havenlight is having a VIP inventory blowout sale at their warehouse in American Fork, UT!

Starting September 3rd at 10:00 AM, you can save up to 90% on framed and unframed temple portraits at the Labor Day scratch and dent warehouse sale!

Simply RSVP and download your voucher HERE

Come and browse through some of the most well known, beautiful photographs of the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This sale ends September 5th at 5:00 PM!

For those of you not in Utah Valley, we would love to give you the opportunity to win a 24x36 temple print of your choosing! Please enter the giveaway below:

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My Book Received the Crowned Heart Award!

I'm so thrilled that the audio book for my regency spy romance, The Marquess Meets His Match, received the Crowned Heart for Excellence award today!

My favorite part of the review was, "a storyline that is believable, original, and refreshingly fun . . . this audiobook will leave the listener with a smile on their face."

Woohoo! 

You can read the full review here

You can get your audiobook here

Here's the back copy:

A traitor with a deadly plan. Two agents sent to expose his identity before he strikes. But danger is closer than they think....

Lord Christian Wolverton - known as Wolf in a covert group operating during the war against Napoleon - has been called home from his military duties. For the moment, his family responsibilities require him to suspend his more clandestine activities. But information falls into his hands that a traitor will soon try to tip the scales back into French favor and Christian doesn't have much time to stop it from happening.

Going to the one person who can help him, the powerful Duke of Huntingdon, Christian comes face to face with Lady Alice. She's a beautiful member of the ton with a very big secret - she's also a trained agent and already on the case. Forced to partner with her to lure the traitor out of hiding, Christian wants to quickly close the case himself, before Lady Alice is more closely involved. But Lady Alice has ideas of her own and she's going to prove her theories correct - with or without him.

Danger is closer than they think, however, and it's a race against time to expose the traitor's identity before British lives are endangered. Both Christian and Alice have strong opinions on who he is, but which one will be proven right and can they catch him before it's too late?