His First, Her Last - Review & Giveaway

Review by K.T Sullivan

Jason and his fiancée, Hazel, are travelling to the Philippines to meet her family. Jason is nervous about the trip. His aversion to germs and to all things unknown brings him close to a panic attack. Stepping off the plane, he feels like he has stepped back in time. The sights and smells threaten to overwhelm him. The streets are crowded, poverty surrounds him, and a car ride is a harrowing experience. Hazel’s family is large and loud. All greet him and welcome him. Hazel’s best friend, Joy, captures Jason’s attention. His heart isn’t far behind. Trying to fit in, Jason attempts to speak the language and bond with the younger children. Each day brings more delights and dangers. An accident kills one of his loves and seriously injures him. Who will survive and pick up the pieces?

This story is loosely based on the author’s actual experience in the Philippines. He and his fiancée visited her family and were injured in a car accident. His depiction of the contrast between wealth and poverty are striking. His own experience in the health care system there is frightening. The country becomes a character in the book: enticing him, crowding him, and helping him. The different culture adds humor to the story as well. It’s fun to observe his attempts to understand the language and customs while trying to impress his future in-laws. People trying to acclimate into another family will relate to him. The story is told with a touch of sadness and a lot of heart. An interesting read.

Author Bio:
Jonathan Sturak grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He is a Penn State University graduate and holds degrees in Computer Science and Film. He currently lives in Las Vegas where he uses the energy of the city to craft stories about life and the human condition. “The Place Called Home,” Sturak’s essay about Eastern European heritage in Northeast Pennsylvania, was featured on Glass Cases, associate literary agent Sarah LaPolla’s pop culture blog at glasscasesblog.blogspot.com. Sturak is also a contributing editor at NoirNation.com, the premier location for international crime fiction. His debut thriller novel Clouded Rainbow was published in December 2009 and has over 100,000 downloads on the Amazon Kindle. New for 2013 are two exciting novels, his crime thriller Vegas Was Her Name published by Noir Nation Books, as well as his adventure romance His First, Her Last: The Incredible True Story of an American Lost in the Philippines. Sturak keeps updated information on his website at sturak.com

Connect with Jonathan at:

Facebook * Twitter * Website

Jonathan is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

His First, Her Last

Open to U.S Residents Only

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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.

Facebook * Twitter * Website * Goodreads

~Giveaway~

$20 Amazon Gift Card

2 Signed Copies of Playing for Keeps (US Only)

3 eBooks of Playing for Keeps

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Christmas at Copper Mountain - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

Harley needed to get away from Central California, away from the memories that haunted her.  She decided to take a temporary job as a housekeeper and cook at the Copper Mountain Ranch.  She needed the time away to clear her head of the tragedy that took the lives of her children and husband.  Doing physical work at the ranch is exactly what she needed, but dealing with her gruff boss was going to be a challenge. 

Brock Sheenan is the owner of Copper Mountain Ranch.  He’s known for being a recluse of sorts since losing his wife and becoming an only parent to their twin children.  The last thing he expected, or wanted, was for a beautiful, young woman to work at his ranch.  He didn’t want the distraction.  When he was told that a woman named Harley Diekerhoff was to temporarily replace his housekeeper/cook he envisioned an older, stocky woman … not a young, beautiful one! 

But when Brock’s eleven year old twins show up in the middle of the night, when they were supposed to be in New York at a boarding school, the atmosphere changes at the ranch.  Harley has a hard time with it since her oldest daughter was their age when she passed.  She specifically took the job knowing that she wouldn’t be working with kids, knowing that it would be too difficult after losing her own.  But Harley begins to bond with the children and even gets their grumpy father to loosen up a bit.  Will Harley be able to break the ice that surrounds Brock’s heart?  Or will being around be a constant reminder of what she has lost?

I love holiday themed books and Christmas at Copper Mountain is the perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit!   I thought that the story was well written and the characters felt so real.  The struggles that they dealt with were ones that many people can relate to.  As a mother who has lost a child, I can relate to the pain that Harley feels, but it just made me root for her happiness.  This is a must read!  It will bring out many emotions, but ultimately have you feeling the Christmas spirit!

Purchase  book at:

Amazon 

Bestselling author Jane Porter has been a finalist for the prestigious RITA award four times and has over 12 million copies in print. Jane’s novel, Flirting With Forty, picked by Redbook as its Red Hot Summer Read, went back for seven printings in six weeks before being made into a Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. A mother of three sons, Jane holds an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and makes her home in sunny San Clemente, CA with her surfer husband.

Connect with Jane at:

Montana Born Books website

Jane Porter’s website

Montana Born Books Twitter

Montana Born Books Facebook

Tule Website

Tule Facebook

Tule Twitter

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Almost Always - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

Eva is notorious for striking up conversations with strangers, so it was no surprise to anyone when Eva did just that while dining out with her husband.  In the booth behind her sat two teenage girls.  One of the girls, Cecelia, talking about being pregnant and wanting to place the baby for adoption.  Eva’s daughter, Shelly, has been trying to get pregnant with no success.  Eva knew that she had to approach this girl.  How often do situations like this happen?  And she surely wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass her by.

One would think that Shelly would be thrilled to hear about the potential of adopting Cecelia’s baby, but instead she’s cold when dealing with her and makes no effort at getting to know her. This not only confuses, but also concerns Eva.  She doesn’t want Cecelia changing her mind about allowing Shelly to adopt the baby. 

But, as the pregnancy progresses, Eva and Shelly get more and more concerned.  Cecelia rekindles the relationship with the baby’s father and starts spending less time with Eva and her family.  The thought that Cecelia could call off the adoption weighs heavily on their hearts.  Eva starts to question if she made a mistake approaching Cecelia in the first place and Shelly wonders if she’s going to have to deal with another disappointment.

Almost Always is a heart-warming book.  The bond that the family shares and the lengths that they’ll go to in order to make each other happy is palpable.  The book will make you laugh one moment and cry another.  I found myself forming a bond with the characters and relating to what they were going through.  As a young mom and also an adoptive parent, I could relate to Cecelia’s struggle with being a pregnant teen but also with Shelly and the stress one goes through when adopting.  This book will tug at your heart strings and will be in your mind long after you finish the book.  A must read for sure!

Purchase at:

Amazon

Bobbi Reed lives in central Ohio with her husband and three children. She is the recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award. Almost Always is her first novel and was inspired by a true story.

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Second Star To The Right - Spotlight

Sometimes fairy tales do come true...

As a single mother of two, Faye O’Neill has no time for fairy tales. She’s not even certain she believes in luck. Practical, smart and desperate to escape a shadowy past, Faye takes a job at a top advertising firm in London where she hopes she and her children can find a fresh start. When she finds the beautiful two-story flat for rent in a stately old Victorian complete with a neglected but tumbling English garden, she can scarcely believe her good fortune. But it’s not long before Faye realizes everything in the old home may not be as peaceful as it seems.

A strange light begins to appear in her children’s rooms at night, and then there’s the reclusive elderly tenant her landlady warned her to steer clear of, the woman who spends her evenings spying on Faye’s children from her garret-room window.  To make matters worse, Faye, who has sworn off men, discovers her downstairs neighbor Jack is a disturbingly handsome professor with a talent for charming women and children alike. Before she knows it, Faye has embarked upon a whole new adventure into a world where anything might be possible, where broken hearts can be healed by a kiss, and where Neverland may not be a place of fables, but a forgotten land one can still find if they are only brave enough to follow the second star to the right.

 Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times, USA Today bestselling author of fifteen novels.   She has received numerous awards, including several Readers’ Choice Awards, the 2008 South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing and was featured at the National Book Festival, and the International Book Award for Green Fiction.

Mary Alice is a frequent speaker at book festivals, conferences, and private events.  Monroe is also a frequent contributor to magazines and online blogs. She serves on the Board of the South Carolina Aquarium, The Leatherback Trust, and Charleston Literacy Volunteers.   For more information, videos, podcasts, and more, go to www.maryalicemonroe.com  and Facebook.

A Little Bit of Holiday Magic - Review and Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

It probably wasn’t the smartest decision to drive across country just before Christmas, but Grace was determined to start a new life for her and her three year old son, Liam.  Widowed at the age of twenty three, Grace knows all too well what it feels like to lose someone you love.  But it’s time to pick herself up and move on … literally.  With her son in tow, they brave a blizzard destined for Astoria, Oregon.  But as they make their way through Mount Hood, her truck spins out and hits a snow bank.  Luckily neither of them were hurt and they were able to find shelter at a house close by.

Bill Paulson is a fire fighter and wilderness first responder.  He’s used to being thrown into difficult situations.  But when Grace knocks at his door soaking wet from the storm and carrying her son in her arms, no amount of training could’ve prepared him for this.  Bill enjoys his bachelor life, not wanting to settle down or have children anytime soon.  But spending time with Grace’s son has brought on unexpected feelings that he never knew existed. 

As the snow continues to fall and Grace has no other option than to stay at Bill’s house, thoughts and feelings that have been suppressed start to surface.  However, she’s hesitant to allow herself to get close.  Can Grace push aside her fears and allow herself to know Bill better?  Or will she pack up Liam and continue their journey to Astoria once the snow ends? 

Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love reading Christmas books during the holiday season.  A Little Bit of Holiday Magic is like a warm fire on a cold winter’s day.  It’s the perfect book to snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and hot cup of cocoa and read!  The story kept me interested and the characters were so relatable.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking to read an amazing holiday romance. 

I've always been a fan of fairy tales and "happily ever afters", but I'd never read a category romance until my senior year of high school when my A.P. English teacher, Mrs. Cooper, had the class study genre fiction. She assigned each of us a Harlequin Romance to read. Mine was set in the Canary Islands and I couldn't wait to read another one. And another and another. I was hooked. Needless to say, I owe Penny Cooper a debt of gratitude. And yes, we do keep in touch!

After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in mechanical engineering, I worked for Allied Signal analyzing engine performance in Phoenix, Arizona, and my love of romance novels continued to grow. One day, I decided to write a romance of my own. Easier said than done I quickly learned, but I discovered the Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America and realized how little I knew about writing romances.

After three years in Phoenix (Tempe, actually), I began to hate the Arizona summers. Who cares if it's a dry heat? Anything over a hundred and ten is still hot. So I took at job at United Airlines in San Francisco. I was still analyzing jet engine performance, but now I had travel benefits. I spent five years traveling the globe. My love for writing romances also grew.

Writing became a passion, and the few hours spent at the computer during lunchtime and in the evenings weren't nearly enough. With lots of prodding and support from my husband of six months whom I met working at UAL, I decided to follow my dream and write full-time.

Connect with the author at:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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