Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Falling in Love Event: Author Rachael Anderson & Giveaway

  



 My Brother’s Bride by Rachael Anderson 

Abigail Nash leads a lonely existence. Her mother died giving birth to her, her father’s business dealings took him away more often than not, and her ailing great-aunt, unable to provide much in the way of companionship, was a lack-luster guardian at best. So when her dear friends offered to launch her into London society, it appeared Abby’s life was taking a turn for the better, with suitors and social engagements aplenty. When she marries a proclaimed darling of the ton, it seems she will at last settle into the life of her dreams. But appearances aren’t always what they seem, and dreams often become disappointments. Just months into her marriage, Abby finds herself widowed, penniless, increasing, and determined to never hope again. But when her late husband’s brother, the Earl of Brigston, attempts to thaw the numbness surrounding her heart, Abby must decide if she has it in her to risk another chance at happiness, knowing the odds are not in her favor. 



https://amzn.to/2xqRqRs    

My Sister’s Intended by Rachael Anderson 

For as long as Prudence can remember, it has been understood that her sister will one day wed the eldest son of their nearest neighbor. Such an alliance will benefit both families and bring a great deal of joy to all parents involved. Unfortunately, Prudence has never been able to feel as joyful. She believes her sister is mad to consider marrying a man she hardly knows, even if he will one day make her a countess. Titles and wealth shouldn’t factor into matters of the heart, and as an aspiring romance novelist, Prudence cannot fathom how anyone could even think of settling for less than love. She certainly wouldn’t, and she doesn’t want her sister to either. Unable to stand by and do nothing, Prudence sets out to help the awkward couple discover the best in each other with the hope that they will eventually find love. What she neglected to foresee, however, was the possibility that she might fall in love with Lord Knave herself. 



   

When Prudence lifted her eyes to his again, they sparkled with a challenge. “I was going to save this question until later so as not to shock you from the get-go, but I really do need to know . . . What does it feel like to kiss a woman?” 

A large lump formed in Brand’s throat, and his mouth went dry. What the deuce? She had promised not to ask questions that would make him uncomfortable, but already he wanted to flee like a frightened kitten. How could he possibly explain how it felt to kiss a woman? Brand searched his mind for a way to avoid answering until he heard a snicker escape her lips. She was laughing at him. Him! Hildebrand Ethan Cannon, Viscount Knave—a man at least eight years her senior and a great deal higher in social standing. Unbelievable. “You are teasing me,” he said, hoping it was true. If she’d posed the question to make him squirm—and perhaps make him more inclined to answer her other questions—then she wouldn’t be expecting an answer. 

She shook her head, still smiling. “I’m afraid not, my lord, although I did find the look of terror on your face vastly amusing.” 

“I’m glad I could entertain you.” 

“I hope you will be equally glad to instruct me on a few things as well. The first scene in my book will include a kiss, and I have no idea how to describe the experience. Do a woman’s lips feel warm or soft or even moist? Would your pulse quicken? Aside from touch, what other senses are engaged? How would it make you feel and what would you notice when you held a woman in your arms?” 

If she thought he’d appeared terror-stricken before, there would be no word for how he looked now. Did she earnestly expect him to answer such questions? Surely even she knew how inappropriate it would be to discuss such things, her being an innocent. “I cannot say,” he finally muttered. 

Her brow puckered in confusion. “Have you never kissed a woman, my lord?” 

Brand was sorely tempted to lie and say he had not, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Any man of six-and-twenty who had never experienced a kiss would be laughed out of his manhood. Women were expected to remain innocent until married. Men were not. “Yes, I have kissed a woman,” he finally admitted, “but I have no intention of discussing any of the details with you.” 

“Why not?” she asked, her large brown eyes blinking at him curiously. “Would you rather I invent the information?” 

“Yes.” 

She obviously didn’t appreciate his retort because she scowled. “Can you not tell me at least a little?” 

“No.” 

“Why?” 

“Because a kiss could never be described with any sort of accuracy, at least not by me. It involves too many feelings and sensations and complexities of thought. If you wish to know what a kiss feels like, you’ll have to experience it for yourself.” Too late, Brand realized his mistake. Her expression became contemplative, as though she was actually considering doing just that. Good gads, had he really just encouraged an innocent young woman to go hunting for a kiss? Who would she ask? A groom? Stablehand? The next peddler that came to town? 

“I think you are right,” she said at last. “I really must experience a kiss for myself if I am to describe it with any sort of accuracy.” She blinked up at him with that innocent expression again. “Will you kiss me Lord Knave? No, how silly of me. You are to marry my sister, so that would never do.” She pursed her lips for a moment before musing, “Perhaps one of the footmen would be kind enough to show me how it’s done.”  

Kind enough? Brand could think of a great many reasons a footman would comply with such a request, and kindness did not factor into any of them. Brand would kiss her himself before he allowed a footman near her. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Perhaps I can try to explain what it feels like after all.” Better that than having her chase after a footman. 

“But you only just said you couldn’t do it justice,” she pointed out. “I realize I sound dreadfully forward, but I really must know, and experience is the best teacher, is it not?” 

“No, it isn’t,” he lied. “And you are not going to kiss a footman.” 

“Then who? Felix or Lionel, perhaps? I’m fairly certain I can convince one of them to do it, if given the opportunity. The question is how to go about it?” It was plain to see by the firm set of her jaw that she would not rest until she had experienced a kiss of her own. She didn’t seem to care who did the deed, only that the man did a thorough job of it. A quick peck on the lips wouldn’t satisfy her curiosities. “Perhaps I could send a note to Felix and ask him to call on me,” she continued to muse. “We could take a stroll through the maze in the gardens. There is a hidden alcove on the south side, which could be quite perfect. We would have to evade Ruth, obviously, but—” 

“Devil take it,” Brand growled as he pulled her to him. Her quick intake of breath was the only sound she made before his mouth covered hers.


    

 “I got seriously hooked on this book right from the first glance. Everything in this story is so beautiful and done so perfectly. The cover is stunning, the blurb intriguing and the story flow expertly done.” –NjKinny’s World of Books & Stuff 

“The moment I set eyes on this cover page, I knew I am going to love this cute love story. Delightfully crafted with endearing characters this is an ongoing tale of fun, love and some hard decisions. –Finitha J., Know Your Books Blog 

“My Sister’s Intended is my FAVORITE kind of book to read. It is the kind of story I will save in my Kindle forever so I can re-read again and again. What makes this story so good? Everything! This book is pure perfection.” –Nicole, Christian Fiction Girl Blog. 

“WOW. I reserve five stars for books that blow me away, and this has become my newest addition! What a delight to discover a gem like this.” –Mary, Goodreads.com   


   

Author Rachael Anderson 


A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.  


     





Giveaway Details Ends 10/5/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.    





Monday, September 17, 2018

Review: A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings


Book One in the Ozark Mountain Romance series

Heidi Reads... A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

A Marriage of Convenience Turns Most Inconvenient in this Historical Charmer

Having fled a difficult home life, Civil War nurse Abigail Stuart feels like her only friend in the world is sweet but gravely wounded patient Jeremiah Calhoun. Fearing he won't survive, the Confederate soldier's last wish is that Abigail look after his sickly sister at home. Marry him, return to his horse farm, and it'll be hers.

Left with few choices, Abigail takes him up on his offer and moves to Missouri after his death, but just as the family learns to accept her, the real Jeremiah Calhoun appears--puzzled to find a confounding woman posing as his wife. Jeremiah is determined to have his life back to how it was before the war, but his own wounds limit what he can do on his own. Still not fully convinced Abigail isn't duping him, he's left with no choice but to let the woman stay and help--not admitting to himself she may provide the healing his entire family needs.


My Review

The unusual plot made this story one that was hard to put down! Abigail and Jeremiah are both determined and stubborn, and it was fun to see their personalities clash before they began to work together for his family and the farm. There are complicated family dynamics with Jeremiah's grown sister who is dying and making everyone miserable with her, a sweet-hearted mother who is devoted to both Jeremiah and Abigail, and a community still dealing with the dangerous aftermath of war. Balancing out the entertaining banter are the themes of loss, grief, and forgiveness, which bring depth and purpose to the day to day efforts of the characters. A bright spot in the story is the mischievous neighbor children, Josiah and Betsy, who each have their own tales later in the series. There is some suspense and action as Josiah and Abigail defend their land against those who would take advantage.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



Check out the other books in the Ozark Mountain Romance series . . .

Book Two
Heidi Reads... At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.

Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count--but no mysterious painting--Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse.

Book 2.5 (From the With This Ring? novella collection)

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis
1870s Missouri

Heavy rain means trouble for Katie Ellen. With her parents away, she's left to take care of the mountaintop farm alone until Josiah Huckabee happens to check on her. She used to think him charming--used to--but before she can run Josiah off, a stranger appears. The bridge has washed out, stranding a weathered and threatening man with them. Immediately sensing danger, Josiah steps in and claims the place--and Katie Ellen--as his own. His farm, his wife, and this Silas Ruger character better be respectful. Furious, Katie Ellen is forced to play along. Readers of Regina's Ozark Mountain Romance series will love seeing favorite characters all grown up.

Book Three

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Betsy Huckabee might be a small-town girl, but she has big-city dreams. Writing for her uncle's newspaper will never lead to independence, and the bigger newspapers don't seem interested in the Hart County news. Trying a new approach, Betsy pens a romanticized serial for the ladies' pages, and the new deputy provides the perfect inspiration for her submissions. She'd be horrified if he read her breathless descriptions of him, but these articles are for a newspaper far away. No one in Pine Gap will ever know.
 
Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but this job in tiny Pine Gap is his only shot at keeping his badge. With masked marauders riding every night, his skills and patience are tested, but even more challenging is the sassy journalist lady chasing him.




Guest Post & Giveaway: The Ornament Keeper by Eva Marie Everson


TheOrnament Keeper_BLOG

Welcome to the blog tour & giveaway for The Ornament Keeper by Eva Marie Everson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

the ornament keeper Title: The Ornament Keeper  
Author: Eva Marie Everson  
Publisher: New Hope Publishers  
Release Date: September 24, 2018  
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Holiday

Award-winning author Eva Marie Everson wraps up a Christmas story of hope, love, and forgiveness just in time for the holidays.

The Ornament Keeper, a contemporary Christmas novella, features Felicia and Jackson Morgan who are spending their first Christmas apart after twenty years of marriage. But a lifetime of gifted ornaments helps Felicia piece together the story of their marriage and the one mistake of unforgiveness she made before they said, “I do.”

Can these memory-filled ornaments reunite this family before Christmas? Only time will tell.  

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

GUEST POST


Main Character Bios:

Felicia Stewart Morgan is a woman who is about forty years of age. She is married to Jackson Morgan, a man she has loved since they were high school sweethearts. They have three children--Sara, 19, Travis, 14, and Hank, 7. All three children came as surprises and all three interrupted Felicia's plans for higher education. Still, she loves them dearly--that love is the one thing in life she is sure of. 

Jackson Morgan left UGA midway through a four-year degree after his father dies unexpectedly. Jackson nearly worshipped his father whose business--an auto parts store in a small Georgia town--meant everything to him. Jackson cannot bear the thought of losing both his dad and the family losing the business, so he drops out of school. In time, he makes the business more successful than his father ever dreamed of, including expanding the business to other locations. 

Felicia and Jackson appear to have a rock-solid marriage. He is as handsome as she is beautiful. Their children are thriving, they live in a beautiful home, they both work jobs they enjoy. But underneath the façade, a root of unforgiveness grows in Felicia's heart. And this Christmas, for the Morgan family, is different than the others before … this Christmas, Jackson and Felicia are separated and neither of them can figure out why. 

As Felicia opens up the special ornaments given to her over the years by Jackson, the story of their marriage is revealed and Felicia finds herself coming to understand just how powerful unforgiveness--even over the smallest things--really is. 

Author Holiday Favorites: 

I absolutely adore Christmas! My mother did, too … so having her ornaments and do-dads places here and there in the home brings her all the more closer to me. I put up four trees filled with special ornaments. I also have an antique wooden bowl (that my great-grandmother used for making bread) in the center of the dining room table which is filled with ornaments from my mother's collection (that I couldn't fit on the trees). Placing it on the table is almost a ritual, done with absolute love and care. 

I play a lot of holiday music at Christmas … starting the day after Thanksgiving. And I enjoy hot cups of apple cider. 

One of the most important traditions for me, however, comes during the years when I am able to return to my hometown of Sylvania, Georgia. Shopping in the stores with my best friend, Carla … seeing the sites from my childhood … breathing in the cold air … saying "Merry Christmas" to those who shaped my childhood … but most especially, attending the Christmas Eve candlelight service with my brother. These days are so precious to me, especially as I become older, knowing they are now rare gifts. 




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

eva-marie-hi-res

Eva Marie Everson is a multiple-award winning author and speaker who hails from the picturesque Southern town of Sylvania, Georgia. She is president of Word Weavers International, director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, Managing Editor at Firefly Southern Fiction, and enjoys coaching new authors through her company, Pen in Hand. She is an avid photographer who enjoys turning her photos into inspiring memes for you to share (with proper attribution). Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida. They are the parents of three fabulous children who have blessed them with the world's greatest grandchildren.

CONTACT: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

the ornament keeper blog tour giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive:
  • a print copy of The Ornament Keeper, and
  • an ornament handpicked by the author
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 17, 2018 and last through 11:59pm September 24, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Follow along at JustReadTours for a full schedule of stops!
cropped-justread-logo.png





Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon: Kick-off!




https://www.wishfulendings.com/2018/08/2018-tackle-your-tbr-read-thon-sign-up.html


I always look forward to the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon! My goals are to get caught up with my book reviews (four are waiting for me to get on it!) and then read the four books below- all are review books and two are due to be posted during the read-a-thon.


https://amzn.to/2x1mirPhttps://amzn.to/2N3ygf8


https://amzn.to/2wZpRyNhttps://amzn.to/2CPgvMf














#FallIntoBooks #BooksToMovies



I have to admit that I saw the movie/miniseries of North and South before I read the book, but I'm glad I did because it really helped me visualize the setting and understand the conflicts of the era in a book that might have been an otherwise difficult read... not to mention that it's my #1 favorite movie kiss of all time! Check out my "North and South" Pinterest board below for some of my favorite stills from the movie, collages, and fan art.


http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the north of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction.

In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell skillfully fuses individual feeling with social concern, and in Margaret Hale creates one of the most original heroines of Victorian literature.



https://amzn.to/2pdjjJ9

http://www.amazon.com