The Marrying Type - 12 Things About Laura

Always the wedding planner, never a bride, Elliot Lynch is famous for orchestrating the splashiest weddings in Charleston, South Carolina. When her father’s sloppy management practices leave them on the brink of bankruptcy, Elliot will do whatever it takes to save the family business. When asked to appear on “The Marrying Type,” a reality TV show about the people behind the scenes as couples exchange I dos, she says yes to the invasion of privacy (and the hefty paycheck that comes with it).

With a camera crew capturing every detail of her life, Elliot faces her most challenging contract yet: planning a wedding where her ex is involved in every part of the process. Add in a lazy assistant, liquor-loving bridesmaid, and rival planner encroaching on her turf, and Elliot’s wedding season goes from high-end to high-stress.

Forced to confront her past, Elliot must live out her troubled present on national TV if she has any hope of saving her future.

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“12 Things About Laura”

1. My first favorite books growing up were the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'm pretty sure I was drawn to them, because they were written by a woman named Laura about a girl named Laura. Can we say vanity?

2. Unless you went to high school with me, you probably don't know (but might have guessed) that I was a total band geek. I played oboe, English horn, alto saxophone (badly), and percussion. Every fall, I still get an urge to play a marimba on a football field during the halftime show. (Though I never would have called it that during high school.)

3. My first true love was Prince Eric, but after I realized it was a long-shot for us to make it (he is a cartoon) my 3-year-old self broadened her horizons. That's how I simultaneously ended up "dating" Leo from church daycare and Brandon from down the street. (Don’t worry, they both knew about each other, and they were totally fine with it.) I was the only girl invited to each of their McDonald's Playland birthday parties, and I didn't let my pouffy dress interfere with having just as much fun as the boys. I also successfully won over both of their mothers during private iced teas and chats. Little Laura had game.

4. Football brings out a sappy side of me. I cry during movies like "Remember the Titans" and "Jerry Maguire" and after tough losses. What can I say? I'm a devoted Huskers and Packers fan.

5. I'm currently no longer speaking to my former imaginary future husbands Benedict Cumberbatch, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, and Aaron Rodgers, who all wronged me with other women (quite publically, I'll add) in 2014. At least I still have Fassy and Clay Matthews, or I'd be despondent. I’m currently accepting applications for imaginary future husbands, so let me know if you’re intriguing and interested.

6. I'm torn between wanting to live on a Colorado Mountain, a Washington State shore, or in a London flat. I suppose I'll stay put in Nebraska until I can decide.

7. I met my high school fangirl crush J.C. Chasez backstage at a cable TV awards show in 2008. Despite my best efforts to seem adorable and available, our meeting only resulted in a nice conversation and not running away together.

8. I prefer Colonel Brandon to Misters Ferras or Willoughby in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. This is heavily influenced by the 1995 movie starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Sure Hugh Grant and Greg Wise are dishy, but Alan Rickman is so cool.

9. One of my greatest wishes is to visit all 50 states during my lifetime. I've made it to 29, but need to get a move on the other 21. Incidentally, if you live in one of these yet-to-be visited places and want to help a girl out, let me know.

10. My cats are named Jane and Bingley after the characters in Pride and Prejudice. My sister and I were actually searching for an Elizabeth and Darcy. The kitten goddesses knew better and we happily found ourselves settled with the most beautiful cat in the county and a most agreeable orange tabby, who is worth more than 5,000 pounds per annum.

11. In college I was briefly addicted to the show "Whose Wedding is it Anyways?" In addition to freaking out my then-boyfriend, this is probably what led me to write The Marrying Type.

12. While compiling this list in a laundromat (that's how I roll) I spent 20 minutes inadvertently eavesdropping on the woman next to me, who happened to be planning a wedding. During our time together, I learned that she doesn't want an updo or big rose bouquets, her bridesmaids will be in all black (or maybe not, she can't decide), the men won't wear ties, her mother is driving her crazy, and she doesn't care who is paying for it, this is HER wedding so everyone, including her mom, can just deal.

About the Author

Laura Chapman is the author of The Marrying Type, Hard Hats and Doormats, and the Autumn and Tuck series, which appear in Merry & Bright and A Kind of Mad Courage. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Until she fulfills her dream of landing a British husband or becoming a Disney princess, you can find her in a bar penning her next novel.

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Crashing Into Love - Review & Giveaway

Crashing Into Love
Love in Bloom #20: The Bradens # 12

By: Melissa Foster

Releasing March 17^th, 2015

Self-Published

Blurb:

Fiona Steele has a great career, strong friendships, and a loving family. To an outsider, her life appears happy and fulfilling. But the one thing that’s missing is true love, and the only man Fiona wants is the one she can’t have, sinfully handsome and seductively intense Jake Braden—the man whose heart she broke, which she has regretted ever since.

As an LA stuntman, Jake Braden’s at the top of his game. He’s hired for all the best movies, hooks up with the hottest women, and lives an unencumbered lifestyle where his needs come first—and where he doesn’t have to examine his life too closely. Except when he visits his family in his close-knit hometown of Trusty, Colorado, where he spends his time avoiding Fiona—the only woman who knows who he really is.

When Fiona’s best friend is hired to act in Jake’s movie, Fiona jumps at the chance to try to win him back. There’s no denying the white-hot attraction burning between them. With every encounter, Fiona hopes Jake can’t resist falling back into the love they once shared. But her well-orchestrated rendezvous doesn’t go over well with the brooding heartthrob. Living in the fast lane is perfect for a guy who’s buried his emotions so damn deep he’s not sure he can remember how to feel—and he’s not sure he ever wants to.

Buy Links:

iTunes | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Review by Marlene Engel

Jake and Fiona were high school sweethearts on the path to a lifetime together until a rash decision, encouraged by Fiona’s mother, caused Fiona to end things with Jake.  Although years have passed since they’d been together, Jake has never been far from Fiona’s mind … or heart.  When Fiona hears that Jake, who is a professional stuntman, has been cast in the same movie her best friend is acting in, she figures, this may be her only chance at trying to get him back. 

Since breaking up, Jake has made every effort to avoid Fiona.  He’s reluctant to admit to anyone, sometimes even himself, that his love for Fiona is still strong.   Now, living in LA, his life is much different than it was in Trusty.  His house resembles a party any given night of the week and he usually has a different girl on his arm.  Quite a different life than the one Fiona was in.

Fiona enlists the help of Jake’s family to get him to the bar that she’s going to be at, in hopes of a happy reunion.  But when Jake spies Fiona, he’s anything but happy.  Fiona fears that she may have lost him for good.

I’ve always been of the thought that everyone deserves a second chance.  So, it’s no surprise that I was rooting for Fiona and Jake to get back together.  If they do or not, well that’s left up to you to find out when you read the book.  I loved this story, fell in love with the characters and devoured this book in no time!  I have yet to meet a Melissa Foster character (and book) that I didn’t like.  Grab this book, you’ll be glad you did.

About the Author:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Two Digital Copies of DREAMING OF LOVE

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The Playboy of Rome & Best Man for the Bridesmaid - Giveaway

The Playboy of Rome / Best Man for the Bridesmaid
The DeFiore Brothers Series # 1 & 2

By: Jennifer Faye

Releasing March 1st / April 1st, 2015

Harlequin Romance

Blurb

THE PLAYBOY OF ROME

Taming the Italian playboy…

Lizzie Addler's dream of working in Italy is about to come true—that is if she can convince passionate Italian chef Dante DeFiore to keep his side of their bargain. Dante might be hotter than the Italian sun, but he's as cool as ice toward Lizzie…

Dante hasn't the time to pander to Lizzie's dreams of culinary fame—he has a restaurant to run! But as Lizzie proves herself to be a spectacular addition to his kitchen—and to his life—Dante wonders…can he keep her forever?

Buy Links:

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Blurb

BEST MAN FOR THE BRIDESMAID

Always the bridesmaid…

Planning her sister's Italian wedding only reminds Jules Lane of how far away she is from finding her own true love. And worse, she's doing it alongside the brooding, mouthwateringly handsome best man, Stefano DeFiore.

Maybe the bride?

Having seen the destructive power of love, Stefano has no time for weddings—but Jules's smile is captivating. Making her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world is one thing, but can he give this blushing bridesmaid a happily-ever-after of her own?

Buy Links:

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The DeFiore Brothers

A recipe for dating DeFiore men…

Take two Italian brothers with a pinch of playboy charm

Add two American sisters with a liberal dash of feistiness

Simmer under warm Italian skies until perfectly combined

Serve with lashings of love.

To start: The Playboy of Rome

Dante DeFiore is passionate about life, women and the tasty Italian food he creates. And with the arrival of feisty American TV star Lizzie Addler he finds her almost too tempting to resist! As the temperature soars in the kitchen, the passion between Lizzie and Dante simmers until they reach boiling point. Has this Italian playboy finally met his match?

The main: Best Man for the Bridesmaid

Stefano DeFiore is proud and reserved —he likes the quiet life. So planning a wedding for his celebrity chef brother is his idea of hell. But when bold and colorful Jules Lane enters his world— chief bridesmaid and sister to the bride —Stefano decides to take his best-man duties seriously…including doing all he can to make Jules’s time in Italy simply heaven…

To finish: Happily-ever-after?

About the Author:

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming romances. Jennifer has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. She'd love to hear from you via JenniferFaye.com

Author Links:  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

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Jump, Jive and Wail - 12 Things About Kathryn & a Giveaway

  

Blurb:

Kaitlin Reynolds is used to fearlessly flying off mountains. But nearly two years after a devastating injury has ended her ski jumping career, Kaitlin is still struggling to put one foot in front of the other and find her new life. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger begins to put life into perspective. Dashing figure skater, Declan McLoughlin has just returned from the Olympics amid a swirl of publicity and fanfare. Just as Kaitlin begins to have hope again, her charming savior turns out to represent everything she has lost. If Kaitlin can just let go of the past and take a leap of faith, will she find herself soaring into Declan's arms?

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“12 Things About Kathryn”

1.     I'm partially OCD. I say partially because my house is a mess, but there are certain things that cause me significant anxiety, like low batteries on cell phones and my sheets being a mess.

2.    My favorite color is green. I have green shirts and tops in almost every shade of green. Sometimes I have to force myself not to buy more green.

3.    I'm a cat person. I put up with dogs, but can't imagine not having a cat. I've pretty much had one since I was about five.

4.    I cannot drive a stick shift. When my husband and I first got married, his car was a 5-speed. He tried to teach me to drive it. Shortly thereafter, we traded it in for a different car in the interest of making it to our first anniversary.

5.    I've never had a blond hair on my head that wasn't the direct result of peroxide, so it boggles my mind that I have two blond-haired children (although my son is starting to go darker).

6.    Despite pasty white skin, freckles, and green eyes, I'm as much Cuban as I am Irish.

7.     I have a condition known as Bilateral Brachiodactyly, Type D. It's a fancy way of saying I have toe thumbs (my thumbs literally look like toes). It is a source of endless amusement for friends and family when I forget and give a 'thumbs up.' However, it makes my job as a physical therapist easier. They are also known as "murderer's thumbs" so be nice to me about them...

8.    I like to sew and make my kids' Halloween costumes every year, as well as Christmas pajamas. This year, I'm going all out and making my daughter's First Communion Dress. She picked out fabric with glitter on it. I think she's trying to kill me. (See #1. Glitter is something I'm OCD about)

9.    Before writing a list like this, I always have a moment of panic that I will not be able to think of 12 things to tell you.

10. On my bucket list of animals to see in the wild: penguins, moose, whales.

11.  I brainstorm and plot my books while trying to fall asleep at night. I don't outline and wait for brilliant ideas to hit me.

12. I've been dancing since I was five. I'm not that great, but it makes me feel good and I love the fact that, at the age of 39, I'm still dancing en pointe.

Author Bio:

Telling stories of resilient women, Kathryn Biel hails from upstate New York and is a spouse and mother of two wonderful and energetic kids. In between being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage the government and insurance companies to fund her clients' needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of novel that she likes to read. Her musings and rants can be found on her personal blog, Biel Blather. She is the author of Good Intentions(2013), Hold Her Down (2014), I'm Still Here (2014), Jump, Jive, and Wail (2015), and Fly Robin Fly, a short story (part of Cupid on the Loose: A Valentine's Anthology 2015).

Connect with the author at:

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The Firelight Girls - Review

Review by Meg Munson

If I could use just one word to describe this book it would be WOW!  This story truly touched my heart and I absolutely loved these ladies.  They are each going through their own personal conflicts, but with the help of each other and their amazing friendship they are able to find their way again. There were several moments were I found myself thinking back to my own camp days and I even remembered the words to some of the songs they sang. I hope when I am older, sitting around with my friends, I have as much fun as these ladies.  Their scavenger hunt had me crying with laughter!  This is a must read for anyone who honors true friendship.  This book will make you want to call your girlfriends and get together for s'mores!

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Kaya McLaren is the author of Church of the Dog, On the Divinity of Second Chances, How I Came to Sparkle Again and The Firelight Girls. She is currently writing her fifth, The De Vine Winery and Goat Ranch.

Kaya loves to sit in hot springs, kayak, hike, bicycle, cross country and telemark ski, ride horses in the mountains, and swim in lakes with her dog, Big Cedar the Dog Food Eater. Sometimes she makes time to paint or make a quilt, but usually she writes. She enjoy gardening too.

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The Girls of Mischief Bay - Review

Review by Marlene Engel

Pam, Shannon and Nicole are as close as friends can be, but equally as different in their individual lives.  Where one has age, another has youth.  Where one is financially stable, another has concerns.  Where some have kids, another only wishes for them.  Regardless of their differences, they all shared the most important thing … friendship! 

                                                 

Pam and her husband have been happily married for 30 years.  But being 50 is something that Pam is having a hard time with.  Examining every imperfection on her body has her wondering if a trip to the plastic surgeon should be in her near future.  You can imagine how she must have felt when she finds out that she’s going to be a grandmother!  But it’s an unexpected event that turns her world upside down and has her reevaluating the important things in life. 

Shannon is a successful business woman who longs for a husband and a family.  With her biological clock ticking away, she wonders if those things are in the cards for her.  Most men are intimidated by her career or she meets men like Quinn, whose main interest is getting her in bed.  It’s not until she meets Adam that she starts to think that maybe she can have her happily ever after.  That is until he drops a bomb that could change the outcome of their relationship forever.

Then there’s Nicole.  She’s a loving, supportive wife who has been taking on full responsibility of being sole bread-winner and parent to their young son.  When her husband decides to quit his job to pursue his dream of writing a screenplay, her support and patience are tested.  Spending more time with writing groups and less with the family, her marriage is paying the price and she begins to wonder if it’s even worth saving.

With a great cast of characters, a story that will have you laughing one minute and crying another, Susan Mallery shows you that no matter what life throws at you, it’s always easier to tackle when you have good friends by your side.  An absolute must read!  I can’t think of a better book to start off 2015 than The Girls of Mischief Bay.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has won the hearts of millions of readers around the world with books described as “immensely entertaining, intensely emotional” (RT Book Reviews), “hilarious” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), and “heartwarming” (Publishers Weekly). One major retailer recently described her as “the queen of romantic fiction.” While she deeply appreciates the accolades of critics and booksellers, Mallery is even more honored by the enthusiasm of her readers and the word-of-mouth that catapults her toward the top of the bestsellers lists time and again.

Mallery lives in not-so-sunny Seattle with her husband, plus a toy poodle and two ragdoll cats who are not at all impressed by her growing fame.

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Miracle in March - 12 Things About Juliet & A Giveaway

Blurb:

Emma had plans, travel plans, going-far-away plans, but her family means everything to her, so when they needed help, she was there to deliver it. Running the family business of beachside cabins in Tarrin’s Bay might not be the same as the French Riviera, but Emma finds a certain level of peace in the beautiful setting and small town community.

But when she finds that her ex-boyfriend, a man she left behind without explanation, staying in one of the cabins, her peace is ruined. She knows the only way to get it back is to share the secret she’s been hiding for five years, and admit to him the limitations that she now carries. But James has his own truths to share, and he’s not the man that Emma once knew.

They are both in very different places than before, but it’s a time for renewal and second chances when their reunion brings secrets to the surface, dreams to be remembered, and the realization that they are both in need of a little miracle.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon / Amazon Aus / iTunes/iBooks / Amazon UK / Kobo / Nook/B&N / Google Play / Booktopia / All Romance / Big W ebooks / JB Hi-Fi

“12 Things About Juliet Madison”

1. I accidentally became a writer.

Oops, I wrote a book. And then another one. And another, and so on. Okay, so it wasn’t a complete accident (or easy), but I hadn’t planned on becoming a writer when I did. I always wanted to write a book one day, but when I made an unexpected and quick decision to leave my business and homeschool my son, I decided to see if I could craft a novel, just for fun, even if only one person read it and didn’t think it sucked. Long story short – I was hooked, and the rest is history.

2. I’ve never been overseas – yet!

I’ve only travelled within Australia, but I will be going to the USA in May and June! I hope to meet a few of my online American friends who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know via Facebook. J

3. I can’t stick to one genre.

I started out writing women’s fiction / chick lit, and then my stories morphed into wacky romantic comedies, some with a touch of magic, and also romance with drama and high emotion. Then I branched out into supernatural young adult mystery, and so I basically just write whatever I feel compelled to write!

4. I dance while I cook.

As an ex-dancer I can’t help but move and stretch in a dancerly way around my house, it’s ingrained in me. While stirring the pot, I might stretch my leg on the kitchen counter, or while waiting for something to cook I might do the odd pirouette or arabesque. I wonder if my neighbours can see me through the window…

5. I don’t write at a desk.

I don’t write at my desktop computer anymore, I use my Macbook Air or NEO (portable word processor). I write either on the couch, on my deck chair on the balcony, in bed, or at a café. My office is wherever I open my laptop.

6. I almost became a doctor.

I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and after years of study I worked as a naturopath for several years. During this time I sat the (long and intensive) entrance exam for medical school – and passed. I missed out on an interview at my chosen university by two points though, and after seeing the great results my patients were getting with natural medicine, I decided to keep doing what I was doing and not to reapply the following year. And then, I became a writer anyway!

7. I can’t work on one project at a time, monogamy schmogamy.

My mind is like an internet browser with multiple tabs open. Although I may sometimes write one particular book, I am always plotting and writing down snippets of scenes for other books. Starting in April, I’ll be writing two completely different books at the same time.

8. I inject a lot of real life experience into my books.

I think many authors do, at least in some way. I don’t write an autobiographical account of my life experiences, but I do weave bits and pieces of it into my plots, and bits of me into my characters. For example, in The January Wish, Mark was a naturopath and I used my experience to help write his scenes. In my new release, Miracle in March, I included a child character with autism and drew on my experience raising a child on the spectrum, as well as dealing with autistic patients in my health practice.

9. I make up my own recipes.

Although I follow recipes sometimes, I often just experiment and throw things together and see what happens. Luckily, most have turned out alright! I call myself an intuitive cook. Except if it goes wrong and then I’ll just blame a pretend recipe! ;)

10. I never stop thinking. Ever.

I didn’t come with an off switch. Getting myself to go to sleep at a reasonable hour is a huge undertaking, and requires lots of mental preparation! I’m a deep thinker, I think about life a lot, and of course I think about my book ideas. 

11. I dreamt I got a book contract the night before I got one.

Yep! I saw the contract in my dream (including the publisher’s name), and the next morning I received my first offer in my inbox.

12. I love doing random acts of kindness.

I love spreading joy around and often leave little gifts for strangers in public, even though I don’t know who is going to find them. I don’t do it to get anything in return, but it’s amazing how often you do get gifts yourself in return! 

Author Bio:

Juliet Madison is a naturopath-turned-author with a background in dance, art, internet marketing, and perfume sales (yes, she was one of those annoying people in department stores who spray you with perfume). Nowadays she prefers to indulge her propensity for multiple careers by living vicariously through her characters. She likes to put her characters into extraordinary situations and take them on a challenging journey to discover their true passion and inner strength, weaving in some laughs, tears, romance, and sometimes a touch of magic along the way.

Living near the beach on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, Juliet spends as much time as possible writing and coming up with new ideas, while doing her best to avoid housework.

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