Romance

NEW RELEASE: “Excess Baggage”

June 9, 2017 Leave a Comment

**Note to readers: This is a late post**

“Excess Baggage” by Laura Barnard

Blurb: Stuck in a dead-end relationship, Erica Bennett finds herself daydreaming of her first holiday romance. She was fifteen, it was exciting, new and full of possibilities…and Jack Lawson was hot as hell. That kind of thing leaves a mark.

So when her friends suggest a girls holiday to Luna Island, it’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off things. What she doesn’t expect is to spot Jack – a much older, hotter version of him – across the hotel lobby.

Their attraction is still there and it isn’t long before sparks fly, but fifteen years is a long time. They aren’t the same people they were back then and besides, it’s only a week, right?

Is it a second chance at something real or will their excess baggage ruin their shot at love after they leave Luna Island?

**Click HERE to get your copy of “Excess Baggage” now!

*****

**Contact Laura: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Goodreads

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BOOK FEATURE: “The Internet Made Me Do It (The Avery Fowler 2.0 Trilogy Book 2)”

May 30, 2017 Leave a Comment

“The Internet Made Me Do It (The Avery Fowler 2.0 Trilogy Book 2)” by Jennifer Ammoscato

Blurb:

It’s been forty-three days, seven hours and twenty-six minutes since reporter Avery Fowler last consulted her favourite website, HowTo.com, for advice.

But now—her mouse finger’s getting itchy:

You see, after a year of highs, the lows are coming fast and furious.

Maybe just this one time, she can turn to Clem…

Dear HowTo.com: Is it hacking if it’s my boyfriend’s computer?

Dear HowTo.com: What’s in fashion for S&M: leather or lace?

Dear HowTo.com: Should there be icicles in my turkey?

Dear HowTo.com: Is the definition of “hooker” flexible?

Does Avery have an unhealthy Internet advice dependency? Probably.

But it would never steer her wrong—would it?

EXCERPT

IN THE fluttering light of the melting candles, through a thin slit in the black scarf that covers my eyes, I see the promising shadow that his manhood casts against the wall of the dusky bedroom.

My stomach muscles quiver in anticipation. The silken knots that bind me tightly to the bedpost are no longer restraints. Instead, I know, deep in my core, that they will unleash a wild abandon that I never knew existed.

He steps closer to the bed on which I lay helpless; his sapphire blue eyes flicker over me—wanton and full of lust. He licks his luscious, full, red lips in appreciation of my carnal offering. I draw in my breath and the bustière thrusts my breasts tantalizingly closer to his insatiable mouth.

The palpable heat of my skin—and the furnace that he knows burns inside of me—invites him ever nearer. I wait for his touch. For his command. For him to impose his will. I wait with a fast-beating heart and he plunges—

“Avery, are you home?”

Shit! It’s Ryan! I shove the book under my pillow and my Better-Than-Ex vibrator under the covers. Damn it! It won’t shut off! I feel frantically for the switch and silence its enthusiastic buzzing.

“Ave, where’re you?” I hear the telltale creak; he’s on the first step on his way upstairs to see me.

“Just resting,” I moan in a listless voice. (Mild nausea or strep throat? Which should I pretend I have? I can play either but nausea invites unfortunate visuals that I don’t want my boyfriend to associate with me.)

I close my eyes, sink back onto the pillow, and try my best for a tired, mildly ill expression. (The telltale glow in my cheeks will probably rat me out.)

Ryan appears at the door of our bedroom. “Why’re you in bed? Not feeling well?”

I groan, roll over on my side, and open one eye. “My throat’s not quite right,” I rasp. As an afterthought, “And, my head’s pounding.”

Ryan leans against the doorframe and appraises my condition. “That’s funny, I thought women use headaches to avoid sex.” He strolls over to the side of the bed and pulls the trashy novel out from under my pillow where I stashed it. (Not that well. Obviously.)

He glances at the cover. “Hmmm. Unleash My Love. If this is a how-to book, I’m completely on board.”

**Get your copy now of “The Internet Made Me Do It (The Avery Fowler 2.0 Trilogy Book 2)”!: Amazon

*****

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Funny, breezy, breathless, bursts and stabby.

Tell us about the Avery Fowler series: The Avery Fowler 2.0 Trilogy is the story of a woman who must learn to grow up and face life with her favourite crutch—the on-line help website, HowTo.com.

It’s comprised of three books: Dear Internet: It’s Me, Avery (Book 1); The Internet Made Me Do It (Book 2); and The Internet Never Lies (Book 3).

Dear Internet: It’s Me, Avery begins when newspaper reporter Avery Fowler discovers her husband is having an affair and her newspaper’s new publisher is the Wicked Bitch of the West.

Naturally, she turns to HowTo.com for advice on how to handle these challenges.

If the Internet is Avery’s information god, then HowTo.com is her Holy Grail. Its live chat option is like having a virtual life coach for the low, low price of $14.95 a month.But, Avery will eventually discover that

But, Avery will eventually discover that that the Internet doesn’t have all the answers. Even if it takes her three books to do so.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Ebooks.

In what atmosphere do you work best? A bright, sunny room with a caramel latte next to me. Or, wine. Wine works, too.

What is your favorite thing about Avery? Her resilient spirit.

Who or what motivates you? I just love to write. I wrote my first book, Dear Internet: It’s Me, Avery, just to prove to myself I could write an entire novel. And then I wondered what I used to do with all that free time!

Salty or sweet? I must choose???? Sweet.

What is your go-to reference book? Collins English Dictionary.

What would your readers be surprised to find out about you? I ran hurdles in high school. (Preparation for real life…)

Tell us about your guilty pleasure? Peanut butter on toast with chocolate chips on it. Or wine.

On your perfect day, what would you do? My husband and I would take our Welsh Springer Spaniel, Remy, for a long walk (and he wouldn’t growl at anyone). Enjoy a coffee on the patio outside (or wine, later in the day). Listen to the birds and appreciate the fact it’s not winter. Maybe go for a drive out to the county for a romantic dinner. And—somewhere in that day—there would be chocolate. Yes. Definitely chocolate.

What are you working on right now? I’m finishing the launch of the Avery Fowler 2.0 Trilogy. My goal was to put all three books up for sale after winning the rights to them back from my publisher. I’m happy with how they ended up and feel I’ve done my best by them. I’m anxious to get back to work on my new novel, The Detour. The main character is a man!

*****

**About the author: I’m chick lit author (and smart-ass blogger) Jennifer Ammoscato. My goal is to make you laugh so hard that I prop up the adult diaper industry in the process.

I live in a small, tucked-away corner in the amazing country of Canada. We love us some hockey and Tim Hortons coffee.

By day, I’m an intrepid writer/editor. By night, I fight crime the urge to organize closets, and to stuff myself with salted chocolate caramels.

I’m married to my wonderful husband, Ezio, and am the mother of two sons, Dante and Christian.

We all serve at the pleasure of our Welsh Springer Spaniel, Remy.

**Contact Jennifer: Facebook Twitter Website Email

RELEASE DAY: “Playing House”

March 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

“Playing House” by Laura Chapman

Blurb:

She’s a work in progress . . .

Bailey Meredith has had it. As an assistant at a prestigious interior design firm, she’s tired of making coffee and filing invoices. She’ll do just about anything to get out from under the paperwork and into the field for real experience. Then she sees an ad for a job that seems too good to be true.

He’s a fixer upper . . .

Wilder Aldrich knew she would be perfect for the crew the moment he saw her. His hit home improvement show only hired the best, and Bailey had potential written all over her. It isn’t just her imaginative creativity and unmatched work ethic that grabs his attention. There’s just something about her.

With chemistry on screen, it’s only a matter of time before sparks fly behind the scenes as well. But with Bailey’s jaded views on romance and a big secret that could destroy Wilder and everyone he cares about are either of them willing to risk it all for love?

**Click HERE to get your copy of “Playing House” now!

BOOK FEATURE: “Playing House”

March 14, 2017 1 Comment

“Playing House” by Laura Chapman

Blurb:

She’s a work in progress. . .

He’s a fixer upper . . .

**Available on March 21! Available on: Amazon Apple Barnes & Noble Kobo

*****

“PLAYING HOUSE” EXCERPT

Keeping a close distance, she followed Waverly up the cracked path to the house. Bailey took quick mental notes of her surroundings. The exterior needed a lot of work. The sagging roof missing gutters made her think they’d find the inside in similar disarray. They stepped through the front door, nearly tripping over Wilder Aldrich, who was measuring the entryway.

“Hey!” He sprang to his feet and out of their way. “What did I tell you about waiting until I gave you the all clear?”

“You were taking for-frickin’-ever, and some of us were freezing our tits off.” She pursed her lips and took on a warrior stance, seemingly daring him to say something else.

Conceding victory to her, Wilder turned and flashed an apologetic grin at Bailey. “Hey.” He offered a hand. Warmth permeated through the thin material of her glove. “Welcome to Casa de Waverly.”

Giving him a smug grin, Waverly sipped her coffee and faced Bailey. “Do you have a smart phone?”

Bailey stared blankly for a second, still dazzled by seeing Wilder up close. But she quickly snapped to attention and dug her phone out of her coat pocket.

“Good,” Waverly said after inspecting it. “While you’re on the job, I’d like you to snap some photos for our social media accounts. I’ll want to vet everything before we post it, but we need to start building the buzz for the next season while we’re filming. In exchange, we’ll cover your phone payments to take care of your data usage. Understood?”

“I can do that.”

“Good. Now . . .” She pulled out her own phone. It was the latest model that had come out on the market a month ago. With all of its reported bells and whistles, it put Bailey’s poor phone to shame. “I’m going to make a quick call. I’ll be back in a few minutes, and we can get started on,” she gestured around her, “this mess.”

She spun on her heel and waltzed out of the room, cooing into the phone.

Wilder cleared his throat, and Bailey turned to give him her full attention. She estimated he was only a couple of years older than herself—maybe in his late twenties or early thirties. He looked younger in real life than he did on TV. He was leaner and a little shorter—though she still had to crane her neck a little to meet his gaze.

He was also more handsome. Not the GQ model, your tongue-sticks-to-the-top-of-your-mouth kind of sexy. But he was hot in the same way the guy you sat next to in Chemistry was. It was enough to distract you from formulas and Bunsen burners every so often, but not enough that you’d ever set the lab on fire or forget to finish your final exam.

So far, he seemed much more serious. Where was the guy who scared Waverly with a stuffed dummy in a closet in the last episode she’d watched before calling an end to the marathon?

He was, she realized, studying her every bit as closely, with those hazel eyes speckled with green. Noting that, she didn’t feel quite as rude taking mental notes on the man in front of him.

At least she looked good. She’d laid out three outfits that morning in the hotel room. The first was a long, silky turquoise tunic that she’d paired with a pair of black leggings and knee-high boots. It was similar to the clothes Waverly favored on screen—only hers weren’t name-brand knockoffs. Then she had the casual jeans, a gray T-shirt that she could dress-up with a navy blue blazer. And there was option three: dark-wash, fit jeans, a chambray shirt, and a scarf. It was an ensemble that fell somewhere in the middle. It was the one that looked the most like her when she inspected herself in the mirror.

It was the one that felt most like her now in the middle of the foyer.

She wondered what he saw when he looked at her. Did he see a confident young woman ready to tackle major projects adeptly? Or did he see someone who was desperate to create, no matter what happened? Both were correct, but which one shone through right now?

Like a light switch, that triggered something in her. She offered her hand again. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Bailey Meredith.”

*****

GUEST POST

HOW IS PLAYING HOUSE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OTHER BOOKS AND WHAT MADE YOU WRITE IT?

Playing House marks a bit of a change for me as a writer. Though it still carries the comedy—and hopefully whimsy—of my previous books like The Marrying Type and the Queen of the League series, this story is different. It focuses primarily on the love story in line with contemporary romances. Plus it’s steamier—there’s no fading to black here. (Sorry, not sorry, Mom and Dad.)

That’s why I’m calling it a sexy romantic comedy. You’ll still find laughs and giggly situational elements, but there are also a few scenes that made me blush to write.

I didn’t add these scenes to be gratuitous by any means, or because I was trying to be edgy. I just realized—once this story came to fruition—that it called for some spice. Because sometimes when a woman cares for a man, and he feels the same admiration for her, they want to express it in a physical sense.

As a reader and writer, I was raised on great love stories told by the likes of Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, and Judith McNaught. Not only were they some of my favorite writers, but they also became my teachers. It felt like a natural profession to shift my writing more squarely under the romance umbrella, because these stories are among my favorite. That’s not to say I won’t return to another chick lit story or sweet romance in the future. But right now, my current roster of books to-write tends to lean in this direction. It’s been a lot of fun.

As for why I felt the need to write Playing House in particular . . .

The idea for Playing House came to me the weekend after I published First & Goal, the first book in the Queen of the League series, back in September 2015. I was attending a conference in Indianapolis for my day job at a museum. My co-worker and I, by mutual agreement, kept our TV tuned into HGTV whenever we were in the room. When we weren’t in lectures or meetings, we were in front of that TV. It amounted to hours and hours of home décor, home purchasing, and so on. At a certain point, I started to wonder . . . how much of it was real? The work, the relationships, all of it—how much of it is true and in the moment, and how much is manufactured for TV?

And I let my imagination wander.

By the end of the weekend, I whispered to my co-worker that I was pretty sure I had an idea for my next stand-alone novel. So I did what I always do when I have a story idea. I obsessed about it and researched it. I ended up reading blogs and message boards to answer some of my questions about what happens when the cameras are off. I also watched way more hours of some of my favorite HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop, and House Hunters. By the time National Novel Writing Month came around in November, I had the gist of my story.

Even with all of my watching and reading, the characters and situations are original in Playing House and it is a work of fiction. I did not use any of the real-life stars as inspiration, nor did I take any true stories and make them my own. The only thing I really stole was the consistent element I saw throughout every post: most of the work happens when the cameras are off and there’s always more to the whole story than what we see on TV.

I hope readers will enjoy reading about the world in Playing House as much as I did imagining and writing it.

*****

**About the author: Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, The Marrying Type, and Playing House. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. She loves talking to readers. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also get the latest news from her website, blog, and monthly newsletter.

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**GIVEAWAY**

This month, during the Playing House blog tour, you can enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of 1 free Audible copy each of The Marrying Type, First & Goal, Going for Two or 1 $20 Amazon gift card.

**Click HERE to enter the giveaway!

BOOK FEATURE: “Whisper of Love”

February 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

“Whisper of Love” by Melissa Foster

Blurb: Tempest Braden adores her family and her small hometown, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be confining. At almost thirty, having watched most of her siblings find true love, she’s anxious to experience her own happily ever after, and the move to Pleasant Hill, Maryland, is just the change she needs. When she rents a room from ruggedly handsome, and closed-off, artist Nash Morgan and his adorable son, Phillip, she thinks she’s found a little slice of heaven on the outskirts of town, where she can concentrate on building her business. That is, if she can ignore the undeniable heat between her and the sinfully hot single father.

When Nash bought his farmette, he had one goal in mind—to provide a loving, stable home for his son. He never imagined he’d be raising Phillip alone, or renting out a room to keep their heads above water. Then again, he never imagined losing his brother, or spending two years sailing around the world with parents who seemed to forget one son was still alive.

Sparks fly from the moment Tempest moves in, and her positive energy and inquisitive nature brings new life into Nash and Phillip’s quiet, confined world. For the first time in years, Nash wants to let a woman into his world, but while his loss made him stronger, that strength came at a price, leaving him walled off and wary of opening his heart again.

EXCERPT

Nash Morgan shifted his three-year-old son, Phillip, onto his hip and reached behind him to shut the gate. The chickens scurried away amid cackles and mad wing flaps. He set Phillip on the ground, and his son shook his head, shrugging like he’d been doing this for twenty years and couldn’t believe the chickens still ran from them. He ruffled his boy’s springy dark curls, drawing a serious, expectant look and an outstretched hand from Phillip. Nash loved his little man’s eagerness to get started on their evening chores. He handed him a smaller bucket from inside his larger one and nodded toward the coop.

Phillip returned the nod and clomped his booted feet into the coop to collect the eggs. Nash adjusted his baseball cap, listening as Phillip counted off each egg with an “Mm-hm.”

He drew in a deep breath, hoping, for the millionth time, that he was doing enough for his son. He was the only parent Phillip had. Or rather, the only one who wanted him, a fact that never failed to grate on him like nails dragging along a chalkboard. His cell phone rang and Larry Robert’s number flashed on the screen. Nash uttered a curse. Larry owned a gallery in North Carolina, and he’d given Nash his first big break. A break that could have carried him to a lifetime of success. But after Phillip was born he’d been unable to keep up with the demands of custom orders. Larry was opening another gallery in Virginia, and he wanted to feature Nash’s work. Nash had turned him down, but Larry was persistent.

Swallowing the acidic taste of disappointment, he let the call go to voicemail and looked across the yard at the barn, which served as his workshop for the furniture he made and sold in town. He’d long ago locked up his metalworking and wood-sculpting workshop and stored his unfinished work. Gallery-worthy pieces, if he ever had the time to finish them. Pipe dreams. He’d had them, even made them a reality for a while. But that was a long time ago, and there was no sense thinking about something that could never be—at least not until Phillip was much older.

He ducked into the coop and checked the chickens’ food and water. Scanning the nesting beds, he snatched up the few eggs Phillip had missed. Phillip leaned against Nash’s leg and yawned. Nash couldn’t imagine anyone not loving their child with all their heart, but Phillip’s mother, Alaina, had taken off three months after their son was born, and other than receiving official documents releasing her from her parental rights, he hadn’t heard from her since. Not a day passed that he didn’t worry about the long-term effects her leaving would have on his son.

“Good job, Phillip.” He said his son’s name so fast it came out sounding like “Flip.” He set down his bucket, wrapped his arms around his boy, and whispered in his ear, “I love you, little dude.” He kissed his cheek and scooped him up, earning the sweetest giggle known to man.

Nash grabbed the buckets and headed for the goat pen. Big and Little, the two goats, trailed behind them as Phillip followed Nash through the process of checking their food and water and sweeping out the goat house, as he did every night. Phillip wiggled the nozzle of the water pipe, just as Nash had, mimicking his “Hm.” Nash tossed a cup of oats in the food bin and waited while Phillip did the same. Big nibbled on Phillip’s shirt, and Phillip leaned down and kissed his head.

“C’mon, buddy.” Nash had grown up in rural Virginia. Most of his friends had lived on farms, and he had no doubt that caring for animals would help Phillip learn responsibility. Not to mention that his son adored all types of animals, from squirrels to goats to worms. That was just fine with Nash. In his experience, animals were a lot more trustworthy than people.

The sound of tires on gravel drew his attention. He scooped Phillip into his arms, locked the goat pen, and grabbed the buckets.

“Visitor,” he said, carrying Phillip toward the house and eyeing the Prius parking behind his old Ford pickup truck. His truck was a gas guzzler, but as much as he hated that, he needed the bed of the truck to haul the furniture he made into town. He hoped Tempest Braden, the woman coming to see the room he was renting out, wasn’t a preachy tree hugger. Hell, he hoped she would turn out to be the silent type so he could pretend she didn’t live in their house.

Phillip’s brows knitted, his hands firmly planted around Nash’s neck. He wasn’t used to visitors. The last several people who had come to see the room they had for rent hadn’t been the kind of people Nash wanted around his son. They’d rubbed him the wrong way—too aggressive, too loud, too shady, too flighty. He just needed a stable, responsible person to rent the room so he could afford to upgrade a few of his tools and start saving for Phillip’s future. He tightened his grip on his son and headed up to meet the tall blonde stepping from the car.

Her wispy skirt fluttered around her knees. Large pink roses with muted green leaves looked as if they’d been thrown onto the flimsy white material haphazardly. A fringe of lace lined the edges. On anyone else the flouncy, floral skirt might look immature. But her legs went on forever, and coupled with her tight, curve-hugging tank top, she looked like Sweet and Sexy collided at the corner of Sinful Temptation.

**Buy Links: Amazon B & N Google iTunes Kobo

**About the author: Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance, and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, perfect beach reads, and always family oriented.

**Contact Melissa: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads

**GIVEAWAY**

**Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

**Click HERE to see other stops on Melissa’s tour!

BOOK REVIEW: “Taking a Chance”

February 25, 2017 3 Comments

“Taking a Chance” by Becky Monson

Blurb: Liza Parker has a fear of heights, crowds and small spaces. So what’s a girl like her doing on a crowded elevator going to the top of the Empire State Building? Freaking out, that’s what she’s doing. Enter Jay Sanders, a tourist who thinks he might be able to help Liza face her fears, but she has to be willing to spend the day with a complete stranger. Maybe taking a chance on Jay is just what Liza needs.

My Review: I’ve been a huge fan of Becky Monson ever since reading “Speak Now: or Forever Hold Your Peace,” so I was excited to start “Taking a Chance.” Having it been a late and lazy Friday night, I figured why not start what turned out to be an adorable novella.

Though they began as strangers, I could feel instant chemistry grow between them–even through Liza’s fears. I loved how Jay took charge of their day together and helped her overcome several obstacles. While it was emotional for her to achieve her goals (not only for herself but mainly for her sister), I liked that it didn’t take away from the storyline between these two.

My only complaint was that I wish it could’ve been a full novel, and am curious if things continue between Liza and Jay after their day together.

If you’re looking for a uber-sweet novella you can curl up with on a lazy weekend, I definitely recommend “Taking a Chance!”

I give this book 5 stars!

**About the author: By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last… but it probably won’t.

**Contact Becky: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

BOOK REVIEW: “The Whole Man”

February 10, 2017 Leave a Comment

“The Whole Man” by C.F. Rose

Blurb: Evan O’Cleary was in college when she spent a passionate 48 hours with up-and-coming baseball star Jesse Walsh. But after he broke her heart, she vowed to never see him again. So why does her heart leap when she runs into him ten years later

Jesse not only abandoned Evan, but also his dream of becoming a major league baseball player when his brother died in Iraq. Shattered by the loss, Jesse turns inward. He refuses to commit to more than a one-night stand, until he sets eyes on Evan again, whose body still draws him dangerously near…

Evan knows better than to trust Jesse, but when he protects her against an abusive ex-turned-stalker, one thing leads to another and she finds herself in a delicious encounter on his living room floor. Jesse may not be willing to commit just yet, but maybe Evan can break down the wall. As she gets close, though, Evan uncovers a devastating secret that could destroy their families and drive them apart forever.

My Review: The theme for this book was definitely romance all the way. I was hooked from the beginning, and it didn’t let me down. Though at times, it was a little repetitive and a few scenes I didn’t think belonged–only because I wanted to get back to Evan and Jesse, “The Whole Man” was emotional, yet beautiful, too.

While Evan and Jesse were both broken when they met, time (10 years) can do a lot to people, and from the start, it was like magic when they were together, as they both fought back some very heated sexual tension. I won’t give any spoilers, but I urge you to buy this book…trust me, you won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for a page-turner, and one that will make you melt during a few scenes, then I recommend “The Whole Man.” I give this book 4.5 stars!

**Click HERE to buy “The Whole Man”

**About the author: Cheryl Rosenberg, writing as C.F. Rose to protect the innocent, is a sportswriter turned romance writer. When she’s away from her laptop, you can find her at the gym or serving as her kids personal uber driver. She grew up on the East Coast, but survives in too-sunny Southern California with her husband, the three kids and two rescued mutts.The Whole Man is her first book.

**Contact C.F. Rose:

Website Facebook Twitter

**Click HERE to see other stops on C.F. Rose’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

BOOK RELEASE: “Cards From Khloe’s Flower Shop”

January 17, 2017 2 Comments

“Cards From Khloe’s Flower Shop” by Isabella Louise Anderson

Blurb: As the owner of a successful florist shop, Khloe Harper trusts her instincts. She has a strong bond with her family and friends, but after being betrayed by her last love, she’s kept herself at arms’ length from romance. When dashing entertainment attorney Derek Thomas walks into her store, Khloe’s interest is piqued. What at first seems like a business relationship quickly turns into romance, and Derek slowly plucks away the petals she’s been hiding behind. Just as Khloe lets down her guard, she discovers that Derek may not be worthy of her love after all.

Frumpy Connie Albright has a faux fascination with an imaginary man named Walt, thinking that by sending herself flowers from him she’ll feel less out-of-place with the “mean girls” she works with. When she comes face to face with her possible prince charming and thinking she might have a happy ending, when a truth is revealed, she wonders if she’ll ever have a Cinderella story.

A recently widowed senior, Gabby Lewis, isn’t ready to give up on love—which means releasing herself from survivor’s guilt and taking a chance on finding happiness and companionship again. After signing up for an online dating site for senior citizens, much to her surprise, she’s matched with Harry, an energetic and loving man, who quickly eases himself into her heart. Will Gabby take the leap of falling in love again, knowing it’s possible to have two loves of her life?

As each woman’s story develops through flowers and cards sent from Khloe’s shop during the Fall months, they begin to learn that love can only truly blossom when you trust your heart.

**About the author: Isabella grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. She focuses her time on featuring other writers on her blog, Chick Lit Goddess, along with organizing Goddess Book Tours, and is a member of the Romance Writers of America.

She lives in Dallas with her husband, enjoys spicy Mexican food, margaritas, gin on the rocks (with a splash of lime). She loves spending time with family and friends and cheering on the Texas Rangers. Not only is Isabella an author, she’s also a Scentsy consultant and hoarder.

Isabella’s short story, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe,” was featured in Simon & Fig’s Christmas anthology, Merry & Bright, in November 2013. The Right Design is her first novel, and she’s currently working on her next release.

**Contact Isabella: Email Website Facebook

Instagram – Isabella Louise Anderson Instagram – Chick Lit Goddess Pinterest Twitter

**Find the book!: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads Kobo

BOOK REVIEW: “The Next Best Thing”

January 16, 2017 Leave a Comment

“The Next Best Thing” by Wendi Nunnery

Blurb: Four years ago, Emma Fraser’s first love took his own life. Now, twenty years old and in college, Emma and her best friend, Andy, are still mourning the loss of a friend and brother. Nothing is the same as it once was…and things are about to change even more.

Too heartbroken to even consider falling in love again, Emma stays distracted by school and work. Until she meets Landon and, for the first time ever, finds herself believing she might actually have a future with someone. But when Deegan Burke—the man responsible for all of Emma’s heartache—gets out of prison early, Emma is suddenly confronted by her worst fears. And when faced with choices she never thought she’d have to make, Emma discovers that the only person she really wants by her side is the last person she ever expected.

My Review: Having dealt with my own heartache, I was drawn to “The Next Best Thing.” At first, it started out slow, then it quickly picked up, and when it did, it didn’t stop until the last sentence. I loved Emma’s character. Losing a loved one is hard, but she had a wonderful support group around her that helped her move on from a horrible incident. Emma’s strength throughout the book amazed me, especially with how things went down with her best girlfriend–who I thought wasn’t a good friend at all, and I believed Emma saw that, too.

While I liked Emma with Andy and as sweet as he was, there was something about how they seemed better as friends. Without giving away any spoilers, Emma ended up with the right guy, and I was so pleased with how when a certain truth came out that he didn’t abandon her for good, (thank you, Wendi, for this).

If you’re looking for a page-turner that will make you think about life and how precious it is, then I recommend this book.

I give “The Next Best Thing” 5 stars!

**About the author: Wendi Nunnery is the author of The Mayfield Family Story, The Best Kept Secret, and The Next Best Thing. She is also the founding editor of Lady Literary Magazine and her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Simply Beloved, and Introvert, Dear. Wendi is a proud Georgia Southern University alum and believes colorful language is good for the soul. She lives, loves, and mothers in Atlanta, Georgia.

**Contact Wendi: Blog Twitter Instagram Facebook

**Find her books: Amazon Goodreads

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