Two of a Kind - Review & Giveaway

Review by Darcey Pickett

Can love, like lightning, strike twice?  It doesn’t seem likely when we meet Christina and Andy.  Christina thinks Andy is rude and dismissive, Andy thinks Christina is reserved and cold.  However, when offered a chance at a job decorating Andy’s apartment, she knows she cannot refuse.   

Andy is a very handsome, successful OB/Gyn doctor whose patient list is like the who’s who of the New York City elite.  He is in high demand, his business is growing.  He is so focused on the business and grieving the death of his wife, that he doesn’t realize his teenage son, Oliver, is growing more withdrawn.  Oliver misses his mother and just wants his father’s love. 

Christina is a devoted mother and owner of her own interior decorating business.  She is the mother to Jordan, an aspiring ballerina.  Christina’s business is struggling and she is staring down the barrel of having to make changes to provide for her family.  She too has lost a spouse, and hasn’t had much luck find “Mr. Right”.  Jordan wants nothing more than to be a ballerina and to make her deceased father proud of her; she is focuses solely on improving her dance, no matter the cost.

Fate brings these two families together, but there are plenty of forces trying to tear them apart.  Is there really a happily ever after in store for this unlikely couple?

Ms. McDonough takes you on a wonderful journey of a couple who hardly like each other through the ins and outs of a romance.  I loved this book; it has the makings of a great story where the main characters don’t immediately fall in love.  It is like the building of a relationship from the strong foundation to roof.  This book is a must read for all.

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of five novels for adults, THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS, IN DAHLIA'S WAKE, BREAKING THE BANK (which has been optioned for a film), A WEDDING IN GREAT NECK and TWO OF A KIND. Her sixth novel, YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME, will be out from New American Library in October, 2014. 

She is also an award-winning children's book author with 21 children's books to her credit. THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS received a starred review from Jewish Book World saying that it "will become a classic." In another starred review Kirkus called the sequel, THE CATS IN THE DOLL SHOP, "a quiet treasure." THE DOLL WITH THE YELLOW STAR won the 2006 Once Upon a World Award presented by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Her latest book LITTLE AUTHOR IN THE BIG WOODS, a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be published by Holt in 2014.

For over a dozen years, Yona has been the Fiction Editor at Lilith Magazine. She works independently to help aspiring writers polish their manuscripts. To arrange a book club visit, inquire about editorial services or just to say hi, please contact Yona at:

Website * Facebook (personal page) * Two of a Kind FB page

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Playing For Keeps - Blog Tour & Giveaway

In the game of love… Fun-loving and always the life of the party, Kevin Morgan isn’t looking for a serious relationship. His light-hearted, playful attitude attracts many a female, and he enjoys their company. That is until their beautiful eyes turn starry, and they start talking marriage and kids. He just hasn’t encountered that one person that would make him even consider heading down the road to potential matrimony until... Katy Martin comes to town for an extended stay with his best friend and sister-in-law, Tori. Like Kevin, Katy is focused on her career and isn’t searching for a long term relationship. Already friends, Katy and Kevin find themselves spending more and more time together. Their adventurous spirits prove to be more than compatible. They are combustible. More than a snowstorm is brewing as attraction draws them together and desire starts a fire of burning need. Will trust issues and her belief that Kevin is just out to win the game of conquest hold Katy back, or will Kevin be able to prove to her that he is playing for keeps this time? *NOTE: Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone novel *

~Excerpt~

“Okay, Morgan. Fun’s over. You’re the winner of this round.” Katy grumbled as she attempted to regain her balance by swinging her legs the rest of the way onto the couch. Unfortunately Kevin’s legs had to follow, which put them completely horizontal on the couch with her body melded to his. Her eyes widened this time not in surprise, but in recognition of the reaction that had been created in the lower regions of Kevin’s body that Katy could feel pressing against her abdomen through her thin pajama shorts. “Oh, I’ll have to disagree with you there, Martin. “ He said teasingly with a sensual tone. Her senses went on high alert as his hands moved upwards on her legs to her backside. They cupped her bottom and stilled as he said “I think the fun is just getting started.”

~Buy Links~

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

Wife and mother of three daughters and one son, life is never dull. I fell in love with the written word as a young girl. My enchantment with the act of falling in love was cemented after reading Pride and Prejudice in the 10th grade. I love being able to crawl inside a book as if I am a bystander watching it all unfold live. Now that’s a good book! My desire is to share my fictional friends with you so that they become your friends too! When you read my books, if you don’t end it by saying “Best Imaginary Friends EVER!” then I haven’t done what I set out to do.

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~Giveaway~

$20 Amazon Gift Card

2 Signed Copies of Playing for Keeps (US Only)

3 eBooks of Playing for Keeps

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