Just A Thought For Today

This quote really resonated with me today so I thought I'd share. Love really can conquer all, don't you think?

What I'm Reading Wednesday

This week I've been reading No Holly for Christmas by Julie Ford. This one is a murder mystery that features a single mom and an attorney who is trying to figure out the case.

So far, the mystery is really twisty and turny and I am loving trying to figure out the case. I like Brian McAlister and how he's trying to balance so many things going on at once, including his attraction to Holly.

Holly has been reduced in circumstances and is trying to keep herself afloat when she inadvertently gets drawn into a dangerous case that could cost her life. Luckily, she has Brian, but will that be enough with a killer after her?

I love the interactions between the characters, my only problem is that there are several point of view characters, so sometimes it's hard to keep them straight, but the mystery and attraction between the main characters is keeping me turning pages. I'll let you know what I think of the end!

Here's the back copy:

A story about how fate will carry us where we need to go whether we are willing passengers or not.

After being jilted not once, but twice by the only woman he’s ever truly loved, Brian McAlister has all but given up on relationships. Then, on special assignment for the DA's office, he steps into the middle of a politically sensitive murder case where he crosses paths with a beautiful ex-socialite-turned-social-worker, Holly Cavanaugh Winter.

Widowed, practically penniless, and reduced to shopping at Walmart, Holly is dreading the approaching holiday season. However, her angst isn't due to her husband's untimely death the previous December 25th, but to a secret that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid the coming Christmas. To make matters worse, she unwittingly stumbles into the throes of Brian’s case and the manhunt for a killer who now has his sights set on her.

His case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe while bringing an assassin and the powerful man who hired him to justice.

You can download your Kindle copy here

Dystopian Fans Won't Want To Miss This!

Creative and captivating, Solstice, a YA dystopian by USA Today Bestselling author Jane Redd, is on sale for only .99 cents! The second book in the series, Lake Town, is up for preorder and will be released in March 2017, so this is the perfect opportunity to read the first one and be ready for the second. 

Here's the back copy:

There are four ways to get Banished from the last surviving city on earth: 1. Cut out your emotion tracker, 2. Join a religious cult, 3. Create a rebellion against the Legislature, 4. Fall in love.
Jezebel James does all four.

Jez is on the fast-track to becoming a brilliant scientist, with one goal--save her city from total extinction. But the more Jez learns about the price of a fresh beginning, the more she realizes that carrying out the plan will lead to few survivors, and among the dead will be those she cares about the most.

You can download your Kindle copy here

And if you are anxious to see what happens to Jezebel, you can preorder Lake Town here

Here's is Lake Town's back copy: (I can't wait!)

Jezebel James is on the run after her true abilities are discovered by the Legislature, and the only one who can protect her is Sol. In order to survive, Sol sends her into an underground hideout where she quickly discovers all that she thought was true in her dying world is false. Jez reunites with Rueben and his band of insurgents, and together they escape to Lake Town, only to find that the entire island is preparing to invade the City.

But Sol has been left behind and forced to join the ranks of the Faction, who are working against the Legislature from within. As Jez works with the insurgents and their plan to destroy the City, she learns that attacking the City might save thousands of lives, but it will destroy Sol, the man she knows she can’t live without.

Book Review: A Season In London

I was really excited to see A Season in London, another Timeless Romance Anthology of Regency-era novels that are a little longer than the normal anthologies. Each one was about 100 pages and each author really packed a story into every paragraph!

The first one. Poor Relations, is by Elizabeth Johns. This was a new author to me and I really enjoyed the fact that the author combined romance with a bit of a mystery as the main characters are trying to find out what really happened to a young man named Christopher Standrich. I love a twisty/turny mystery and this one fit the short bill for me. I thought that Emma was a sweet and naive girl who didn't expect much out of life, but when she meets Colonel Shelton, her life is changed for the better. I thought Colonel Shelton was well-drawn and believable and I wanted him to get his happy ending. Definitely a page-turner to see how it all turned out!

The second one was Edward and Emily by Heather Moore. I love this author's writing style and have been a fan of hers for a very long time. This story was expertly drawn as we meet Edward Blackwood who has suddenly become the heir and he needs to marry. There's a sweet girl next door named Emily whom he's known his whole life, but overlooked her. I loved that this romance was based on a solid friendship and truly showed how the characters grew and changed and were able to overcome a lot of setbacks. Just a sweet, sigh-worthy romance.

The third story was A Sporting Season, by Rebecca Connolly, another new author for me. It was a romantic comedy since Daphne Hutchins has decided that she'll just be so silly no eligible man will want her. In her mind, that will protect her from heartache. She gets into quite a few funny situations, but meets James Woodbridge who is drawn to her despite her antics. This one was a breath of fresh air and brought a smile to my face.

This anthology was another hard-to-put-down afternoon read, the perfect length for anyone with limited reading time, or someone who just needs a good book to curl up with by the fire.

You can get your Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Elizabeth Johns, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly:

POOR RELATIONS by Elizabeth Johns
As a ‘poor relation,’ Emma Standrich has already pre-empted her dismal Season by applying for a governess post. Her aunt and cousin are kind enough to sponsor her, but in truth, Emma is just waiting for it to all be over. Emma’s grief over the death of her brother while in military service casts a pallor on everything else in her life. When Colonel Shelton, the man who was her brother’s superior, asks her to dance at her first ball, Emma is more surprised than anyone. But she has questions for him, and soon she’s caught up in an intrigue she wasn’t expecting—both of the heart and the mind.

EDWARD & EMILY by Heather B. Moore
As a second son, Edward Blackwood never anticipated becoming heir to his family estate, or the need to find a wife and secure that inheritance. But with the death of his older brother, Edward is thrust into a life he never wanted. When his mother encourages him to be kind to his long-time neighbor Emily Foster, a girl he’d hardly paid attention to while growing up, Edward realizes that returning home might not be such a set-back after all.

A SPORTING SEASON by Rebecca Connolly
Daphne Hutchins is no simpering female who aims for a husband with a fortune. In fact, she’d be more than happy to live her life free of the heartache that men seem to bring. So when she sets out to play the fool in front of the ton during her first Season in order to send all eligible men running, she’s quite unprepared for James Woodbridge. Bored, but with a sense of family duty, James arrives for the Season, anticipating going through the expected motions befitting any gentleman. What he isn’t prepared for is Daphne Hutchins and the way she completely upends his heart.

Decked Out For Dragonwatch Contest and Trailer!

Are you ready for Brandon Mull's new novel, Dragonwatch? We are so excited at our house! A new trailer came out today (which I posted below) and there's a Dragonwatch contest!

All you have to do is pay tribute to your favorite dragons and send a photo on social media. Brandon Mull may pick YOU as the fan most “Decked Out for Dragonwatch”!

Here's more information:

If you love dragons, gather together your best dragon gear and unleash your imagination by creating a space in your home, classroom, library, or local bookstore that pays tribute to all your favorite dragons from Fablehaven and anywhere else in the universe.

Take a picture of your “Decked Out for Dragonwatch” space and send it to us via social media. Brandon Mull will choose the best, most creative spaces from submitted entries, and we’ll send those lucky fans and autographed copy of Dragonwatch plus a copy of The Caretaker’s Guide to Fablehaven and Fablehaven Book of Imagination.

See the website for the five ways to enter and the official rules: http://brandonmull.com/decked/

https://www.instagram.com/deckedoutfordragonwatch/

And here's the new Dragonwatch trailer. Doesn't it look great? I can't wait!

Regency Romance Boxed Set on Sale!

I noticed that GG Vandagriff is offering her Grenville Chronicles trilogy, THREE full-length regency romance novels, for only .99 cents and I was so excited to pass the deal on to you! I haven't read all of them and I'm excited to curl up by the fire this weekend and enjoy them.

You can download your Kindle copy here

Here's the back copy:

Lord Grenville’s Choice

Alexander Lambeth, 5th Earl of Grenville, only had eyes for the fair Lady Elizabeth during his first London Season. Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s father brokered her marriage to another. Fancying himself broken-hearted, Alex consented to a loveless union with Lady Felicity, daughter of wealthy Lord Morecombe.

Five years into his marriage, his first love is widowed, and Alex’s wife seems to believe he will waste no time making Lady Elizabeth his mistress. As Felicity chooses to live apart from him, a surprisingly difficult choice is thrust upon Alex. Whom does he truly desire—the ethereal Elizabeth or the maddening Felicity? 

Lord John’s Dilemma

When Lord John returns from the Battle of Waterloo nursing a serious wound and a case of melancholia, he is hopeful of beginning a happier phase in his life. Living with a wife and family,in his native Lincolnshire would soothe his soul. His sights are set on the lovely Miss Lindsay, his country neighbor’s daughter. But to his mystification, he keeps getting distracted by her family’s governess—a little dab of a thing who is not at all what she seems. What is her secret?
His determination to solve the mystery of Miss Haverley begins to seriously undermine his interest in Miss Lindsay, who is confident he is about to offer for her. In the face of this, how can he pursue his interest in the family governess? Not only must he solve this dilemma, but he must discover what the petite woman is hiding.

When Miss Haverley begs him to resist satisfying his curiosity because such a course could bring her harm, his dilemma doubles. His enchantment turns to worry. He is more determined than ever to rescue her from whatever demons she is trying to escape, for Miss Haverley alone seems to have the power to stir him to passion and hope for a new life.

Lord Basingstoke’s Downfall

When Lord Basingstoke reluctantly attends the engagement ball of his former commanding officer, he is definitely not looking for romance. His childhood sweetheart broke his heart for good when she married another while he was serving on the Peninsula, and now that he is home he must see to putting a dilapidated estate in order.

The animated Lady Leticia Lindsay has just had her heart bruised by a careless suitor and is looking forward to leaving London for her idyllic home in Lincolnshire. When Basingstoke and Lady Leticia meet, they have an odd conversation that leads to a surprising correspondence. Is it possible for two jaded people to fall in love through letters? And will such a tenuous relationship prevail when their previous loves reenter their lives?

What I'm Reading Wednesday

I've been reading Daughter of Ishmael by Diane Stringam Tolley this week, and enjoying her portrayal of a scriptural family.

Hannah, daughter of Ishmael, is a young girl when we first meet her. She has several sisters and loving parents. As we come to know her and see her grow to a young woman, we see her feelings toward God mature and develop. However, she will face a difficult test when she finds out she will be required to marry one of Lehi's sons, a man who is easily led away from truth. Hannah's trials intensify when having a wavering husband magnifies her troubles and brings indecision to Hannah about what she should do as a believer, while still doing what's best for those she loves.

I thought the author did a great job at setting the stage and immersing the reader in the time period. The characters were engaging, and since it is based off of a well-known Book of Mormon story, I thought the author easily filled in the unknown with believable experiences and people. Hannah was relatable as a woman and easy to sympathize with. Daughter of Ishmael is a tale of love and greed, forgiveness and fury, with a backdrop of an ancient culture that will definitely keep the reader turning pages.

Here's the back copy:

Hannah tingled from head to foot, then shivered suddenly as she remembered that, if they indeed married Father Lehi’s sons, they would not be travelling the few miles to Father Lehi’s house and lands. Instead, the boys had proposed taking them into the wilderness. To an unknown place. An unknown fate.

When Hannah learns she will be given in marriage to a son of Lehi, she dreams of raising children in the paths of righteousness with a worthy priesthood holder. Instead, she is met with unimaginable hardship: an arduous journey, a cowardly husband, and possible infertility. Hannah had promised herself long ago that she would follow the Lord and His prophet, but when she thinks her journey is over, she is faced with an impossible choice between faith and family.

You can download your Kindle copy here