Most Wanted - Pub Week Review & Giveaway

Donor 3319 Profile:
Tall. Blond. Blue eyes. 
Medical Student.
Wanted for Serial Murder.

Christine Nilsson and her husband, Marcus, are desperate for a baby. Unable to conceive, they find themselves facing a difficult choice they had never anticipated. After many appointments with specialists, endless research, and countless conversations, they make the decision to use a donor.

Two months pass, and Christine is happily pregnant. But one day, she is shocked to see a young blond man on the TV news being arrested for a series of brutal murders―and the blond man bears an undeniable and uncanny resemblance to her donor.

Delving deeper to uncover the truth, Christine must confront a terrifying reality and face her worst fears. Riveting and fast-paced with the depth of emotionality that has garnered Lisa Scottoline legions of fans, Most Wanted poses an ethical and moral dilemma: What would you do if the biological father of your unborn child was a killer?

Review by Marlene Engel

Desperate for a child of their own, but suffering with infertility issues, Christine and Marcus choose to use a sperm donor to help facilitate a pregnancy.  On paper their donor seems to be the ideal candidate.  Smart, check.  All-American good looks, check.  Excitement to start this new chapter turns into their own living hell when a person who resembles their donor is accused of being a serial killer.  The similarities between the photo on TV and the profile photo from the donor file is uncanny.  Doubt turns into full-on panic when they realize they could be carrying a baby whose DNA matches a mass murderer’s. 

They hit a roadblock when the fertility clinic refuses to disclose private information, leading Christine to take matters into her own hands.  But in an effort to stay emotionally disconnected, Marcus chooses to stay uninvolved.  But for Christine, it only takes one meeting with the accused prisoner for her to come to the conclusion that him and their donor are one in the same. 

For families dealing with infertility, there is little they won’t do to have a family of their own.  I can’t imagine the pain that’s endured having treatment after treatment in hopes of finally conceiving.  And for this particular family, for their joy to turn into sheer horror is beyond anything I could imagine. 

Lisa Scottoline is a master of story-telling.  The way she weaves a brilliant tale so real, you can feel the terror in everything the family experiences.  Written in her signature style that draws you in from beginning to end, Most Wanted will have you anticipating what’s next until you turn the last page.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Lisa Scottoline is The New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winning author of 26 novels, including her latest work, MOST WANTED. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter Francesca Serritella for the Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Chick Wit” which is a witty and fun take on life from a woman’s perspective.

Lisa’s books have solidly landed on all the major bestseller lists including The New York Times,USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times, and LOOK AGAIN was named “One of the Best Novels of the Year” by The Washington Post, and one of the best books in the world as part of World Book Night 2013. Lisa’s novels are known for their emotionality and their warm and down-to-earth characters, which resonate with readers and reviewers long after they have finished the books. 

Lisa’s accomplishments all pale in comparison to what she considers her greatest achievement, raising, as a single mom, her beautiful (a completely unbiased opinion) daughter, an honors graduate of Harvard, New York Times bestselling author, and columnist, who is currently working on her first novel.

Lisa believes in writing what you know, and she puts so much of herself into her books. What you may or may not learn about Lisa from her books is that she is an incredibly generous person, an engaging and entertaining speaker, a die-hard Eagles fan, a good cook, and a vegetarian. She loves the color pink, has an incredible design sense, has recently taken up gardening and golf, and her musical taste includes everything from U2 to Sinatra to 50 Cent, she is proud to be an American, and nothing makes her happier than spending time with her daughter.

Connect with the author at:

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Get Red PR is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

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Billy and Me - Pub Week Promo & Giveaway

In this utterly sweet and moving women's fiction novel, a celebrity comes to town and sweeps a young woman - who is used to being overlooked - off her feet.

Sophie May is content with her life in her small English village, working in the local coffee shop and living with her mom. But when famous actor Billy comes to town to play Mr. Darcy in a new film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Sophie's quiet life is quickly turned on its head. Billy is adored by women around the world, but he only wants Sophie on his arm. But being with Billy comes at a price, and Sophie is thrown in the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy?

Brimming with humor, wit, and genuine warmth, Billy and Me is a book about taking a chance on life and on love.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Giovanna lives in London with her husband Tom and three cats, Aurora, Leia and Marvin. She’s an actress/writer and spend most of her time curled up in her office daydreaming about the possibilities of life.

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Thomas Dunne Books is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

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Falling Together - Review & Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

There are times in life that shake us to our very foundations. We wish for things to get better, fast. But the truth is that moments of “falling apart” are also our most powerful catalysts for growth and change. In Falling Together, Donna Cardillo, a registered nurse, Dr. Oz blogger, and beloved public speaker, reflects on the overwhelming challenges that fall into every life, and the renewal that comes when we are able to meet them with courage. A funny, big-hearted self-help memoir that takes on issues like divorce, caregiving, and burnout—and many women’s biggest enemies of all, fear, insecurity, and self-doubt—Falling Together shows how to turn the challenges that threaten to knock us to the ground into the building blocks we need to become more successful, more joyful, and ultimately, more alive.

There is truth to the say … I am woman.  Hear me roar!  How many hats do we women wear on a daily basis?  For me, I’m a wife and mom.  I am a business owner, caregiver, and domestic goddess (I’m not too proud to admit that!).  I play the role of nurse, chauffer, cook, housecleaner, teacher … heck, we’ll be here all day if I rattle off all the hats I wear!  My point is, we all have many roles.  Some we enjoy, some … well, not so much.  But each role is important to our daily lives and makes our lives, and in turn us, who we are.  But there are times when the strain of day to day living can be too much to handle.  In Falling Together, Donna Cardillo helps offer ways to better handle these stressors, to get them in check before they become all consuming. 

Written by a woman, for women, this book is the perfect tool to help tackle life’s issues and take steps to living a happier, more productive life.  And, who wouldn’t want to benefit from that?

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Donna Wilk Cardillo, RN is The Inspiration Nurse — a transformational keynote speaker, humorist, retreat and seminar leader, and author helping others to be fearless in career and life and maximize their potential. Her accomplished career combines more than thirty years of clinical, managerial, and business experience, not to mention her stint as a professional singer! Donna’s clinical experience includes emergency and psychiatric nursing. These days she heals with words. She blogs at DoctorOz.com and is the former Dear Donna columnist at Nurse.com and Monster.com. She is also a passionate advocate for family caregivers. Donna is a lifelong Jersey girl and lives at the beautiful Jersey Shore in Sea Girt with her husband, Joe.

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Booksparks is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

Falling Together by Donna Cardillo

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Lies and Other Acts of Love - Pub Week Review & Giveaway

About the Book:

After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies. 
 
Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even through her grandfather’s declining health.
 
But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves . . .

Review by Hope Smith

Family, love and the occasional white lie …

Lovey, the matriarch of the family, is holding the family together while dealing with her husband’s impaired health.  Although there’s no denying the love she has for her family, her granddaughter Annabelle has always claimed an extra special spot in her heart.  Lovey could always expect Annabelle to do the right things in life, so when she leaves her fiancée for a man she had only met, it’s acceptance from Lovey that she craves the most. 

The story is told through the eyes of both Lovey and Annabelle.  Though generations apart, it’s clear to see how similar they are. 

As Lovey tells the story of how she went against her parents where her love life was concerned and ended up marrying the man of her dreams, Annabelle tells a similar story of choosing to follow her heart in the pursuit of love instead of doing what everyone expects of her.

With perfectly flawed characters that are so real and relatable you will miss them when you turn the last page, Lies and Other Acts of Love has the perfect blend of love, emotion and complexity to make for a very satisfying read.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina and Lies and Other Acts of Love. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodsonharvey.com. She is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Domino magazine, Our State, Houzz, the Salisbury Post and the New Bern Sun Journal. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and four-year-old son where she is working on her next novel.

Connect with the author at:

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Berkley is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey

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Some Women - Pub Day Review & Giveaway

Review by Meg Munson

Annabel Ford has everything under control, devoting her time to her twin boys and keeping her household running smoothly. But when her husband of a decade announces that he’s leaving, she’s blind-sided. And suddenly her world begins to unravel.

Piper Whitley has always done her best to balance it all—raising her daughter Fern by herself while advancing her career as a crime reporter. Only now that she’s finally met the man of her dreams, Fern’s absentee father shows up, throwing everything into a tailspin.

Married to the heir of a thriving media conglomerate, Mackenzie Mead has many reasons to count her blessings. But with an imperious mother-in-law—who’s also her boss—and a husband with whom she can no longer seem to connect, something has to give.

On the surface, these three women may not have much in common, but just when they each need someone to lean on, their lives are thrust together, forming unlikely friendships that help each woman navigate her new reality.

This book is an amazing story about three women who become the best of friends.  Emily Liebert does a great job taking the life of each woman and describing how the influence of the others affect the rest of their lives and situations.  The bond these women create is unbreakable.  You will laugh, cry and even find a few surprises along the way.  I could easily picture myself having coffee and a blueberry muffin with the three of them at the Cafe Crunch. 

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

About the Author:

Emily Liebert was born and raised in New York City, attended the Horace Mann School and Smith College, where she graduated with a B.A. in English Language & Literature.

When Emily’s not writing, she teaches Pure Barre classes and enjoys traveling, cooking, and cozying up with a good book. She’s been known to ride on a Harley Davidson. And she does a mean Running Man on the dance floor. Emily lives with her husband, Lewis, and their two delicious little boys, Jax and Hugo, in Westport, CT where she moved kicking and screaming for fear that there would be no Chinese food delivery at three in the morning. She was right.

Connect with the author at:

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NAL is giving one lucky winner a print copy of

Some Women by Emily Liebert

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Stardust in Dixie - Beth Albright's Favorite Things

Beth Albright is back with a new book, Stardust in Dixie.

Abigail Harper Cartwright was coming undone. As the promotions director for a Tuscaloosa radio station, a huge upcoming Mother’s Day live event could make or break her career. But at the same time, two former lovers have stumbled back into the picture turning her life upside down. 

One old boyfriend – who works for a competing radio station, seems to be out to sabotage everything she does, while another may just be her knight in shining armor. But after being dumped during a very public marriage proposal, he may not be able to give Abby a second chance. 

To make matters worse, a nosey neighbor has started an epic turf war and azalea bushes, a stolen mailbox and some front porch graffiti are the result. 

As event day draws near, the dirty tricks at work get more intense and Abby has to call on her sassy sisters to help get to the bottom of it. 

And Abby’s new/old love has another love of his own – a three year old thoroughbred horse whose name holds the secret to some long harbored feelings. 

It all culminates in some Derby Day and Mother’s Day fireworks that will get your heart pounding and tears flowing. 

National best-selling author Beth Albright does it again with this new Southern page-turner filled with romantic comedy, emotion, passion and laugh-out-loud humor. Grab your best girlfriends and hang on tight for this hilarious, exciting, sassy, southern tale.

Purchase the book at:

Amazon * Barnes&Noble

My fellow Tuscaloosa native, Beth Albright, is back and giving us a little glimpse into her life!  Everyone loved when Beth was here and did the 12 Things About Beth Albright segment.  Today she is going to share some of her favorite things with us.  Hold tight y’all.  It’s always a good time when Beth stops by.

Beth’s Favorite Things

  

Color:  My favorite color is pink—so cliché, but I am so drawn to every shade of pink or peach I will literally cross a room or a store to go and see it up close. My wedding colors were peach and mint and still pale shades in these two hues reach out and grab me. And don’t even get me started on baby pink!

Season: I am such a fan of seasons in general, but out west, especially now in Arizona, I never see even a tad of the seasons. The change in season marks the passing of time so that everyday doesn’t run together. Our memories are based in sensuality, the smell, the feel, the visuals of life and seasons help to make memories stay with us. I really LOVE Fall!! I love springtime too so much and especially down south it is the very definition of “burst of Spring”…such a symphony to the eyes and nose! But fall is full of romance and bonfires and snuggling in the old porch swing or stargazing from the back of an old pick-up truck. I love fall!!!

Drink: Are we talkin’ drink or drink? I love mango passion fruit tea, and tea with mint! And I LOVE me some salty margaritas on the rocks!

Snack: OH MY! TOO many to name. Here is a strange one—olives! Roadtrip: Bugles and crunchy Cheetos. While writing: apples. ALWAYS: salty watermelon!

Destination: I love many places! NY. Victoria, Canada. I LOVE Charleston, SC, anyplace with cobblestone streets and tons of history. My dream destination is Paris! But what says “You are on vacation girl”—is the Gulf Coast! Blue-green, clear, warm water and white sand—I grew up going here several times a year and now I never get there. I miss it so!

Book/Book Genre: I love women’s fiction, and romantic comedy. I do like a little mystery too. And of course delicious southern fiction!!

Guilty Pleasure: This is EASY! THE BACHELOR! I have watched every single season and I NEVER miss it! It is my Monday night thing and I plan for it—menu, snacks and SILENCE…no one can interrupt me during the Bachelor and I grieve between seasons until it comes back! I need to be in a watch party!! Somebody invite me! PLEASE!

Animal: I have both a dog and two cats. I LOVE my dog and yes, I am a dog lover, but me and my cats---oh my Lord, that is a forever snuggle, butt heads, and purring kind of love. I am such a cat lover and I always want more!!

Sport: I LOVE college football! How could I not being an Alabama girl? We have held the National Championship title 16 times—more than any other college team in History! My books always have a little (or a lot) of Crimson Tide football! And we say Roll Tide like Hawaiians say aloha...it means, hello, goodbye, and God bless you. I love my Alabama Crimson Tide Football!

Show/Movie: TV show is far and away Downton Abbey. I will be miserable now on Sunday nights. This and The Bachelor is all I ever watch for pleasure. This was the best writing I had ever witnessed!! Every single line moved the story forward. And the storylines, and plots and sets and costumes and...whew, it was fabulous!! The other favorite is The Golden Girls. I watch this show as I am getting ready for bed every night. I like to end the day laughing out loud!

Type of music: LOVE 1940s swing and big band. I listen to it on Spotify while I get dressed. And in the car. And when I cook. I am transported to the era I think I was supposed to live in.  I will write a book about this soon! I already have a book in the works!

Holiday: I just love holidays in general but I am certainly a Christmastime girl. Romance and fireplaces, and Christmas lights twinkling—oh, I get excited just thinking about it! But we also do a huge Halloween complete with our own neighborhood haunted house. Half of our storage in our garage is Halloween and Christmas! Oh, and of course, I love my birthday!! I love Mother’s Day too!

About the Author: 

Beth Albright is the author of the award-winning, best-selling series The Sassy Belles, and the nationally best-selling series In Dixie. After spending nearly 15 years as a talk radio host in talk radio, acting as a principal character on the soap opera, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, owning her own acting school and children’s theater, and raising a son who was a nationally ranked figure skater, Beth returned to her roots; storytelling. “In the south, we are good at stories. We hold them close like fine diamonds, polish them up like precious silver, and we hand them down like a priceless heirloom to our young with the hope that they will tell our stories for us when we are buried beneath the red clay of home.” Except from Southern Exposure, Tales From My Front Porch. (Beth’s Memoirist book of essays.)

“It’s just what we do down south, pass on our stories,” she says.

Though Beth has had a remarkable career, literally from New York City to Hollywood, she has never forgotten where she came from, and what she loves: The Deep South!

Beth is also a screenwriter, a voice-over talent for commercials, and a nationally known speaker and emcee. Beth lives with her TV producer husband, award winning promotions and branding executive, Ted Ishler. Her son, graduating with Distinction from Berkeley in the top 10%, is on his way to graduate school in the fall.

Connect with the author at:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Share a favorite thing (or things about you and be entered to win a$20 Amazon gift card!  I’ll go first … my favorite color is pink, my favorite vacation spot is anywhere that’s warm with a beach and my favorite show is the Bachelor, just like Beth!  Giveaway ends April 8.

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery - Review & Giveaway

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery
Little Beach Street Bakery #2

By: Jenny Colgan

Releasing March 22, 2016
William Morrow

Blurb

The New York Times-bestselling author of Little Beach Street Bakery and Christmas at the Cupcake Café returns with a delightful new novel-with recipes!-that is already an international bestseller and is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Meg Donohue, and Sophie Kinsella.

For fans of Jojo Moyes and Elin Hilderbrand, an irresistible novel—moving and funny, soulful and sweet—about happiness, heartache, and hope. And recipes.

A thriving bakery. A lighthouse to call home. A handsome beekeeper. A pet puffin. These are the things that Polly Waterford can call her own. This is the beautiful life she leads on a tiny island off the southern coast of England.

But clouds are gathering on the horizon. A stranger threatens to ruin Polly’s business. Her beloved boyfriend seems to be leading a secret life. And the arrival of a newcomer—a bereft widow desperately searching for a fresh start—forces Polly to reconsider the choices she’s made, even as she tries to help her new friend through grief.

Unpredictable and unforgettable, this delightful novel will make you laugh, cry, and long for a lighthouse of your own. Recipes included.

Review by Marlene Engel

The author begins with a little bit of backstory for those who may not have read the first book in the series, allowing this to be read as a stand-alone.

After a breakup and events leading up to a near financial ruin, mainlander Polly has relocated to the tiny Cornish town of Mount Polbearne off the coast of England.  Life is starting to settle down as she enjoys days working at the bakery and nights at the lighthouse with her boyfriend and pet puffin.  But when a new owner takes over the bakery, Polly finds herself in the middle of turmoil again.  Turning her life upside down and forcing her to reevaluate life and make some difficult decisions.

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a book based around a bakery?  The way the author describes some of the breads and other bakery items, I could practically taste them.

I truly enjoyed Polly.  She came across some difficult times, but through it all she tackled the hurdles head-on and became a better person because of it.  Some of the secondary characters also made for a more interesting read.

At times tense, other times sweet, this book has the perfect blend to make for a delicious springtime read!

Buy Links:

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Author Info

Jenny Colgan is the New York Times-bestselling author of numerous novels, including Christmas at the Cupcake Café, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Meet Me at the Cupcake Café, all international bestsellers. Jenny is married with three children and lives in London and Scotland.

Author Links: 

Website | Facebook  | Twitter | GoodReads 

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SUMMER AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY

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