Friday, February 9, 2018

Romance is in the Air: Author Julie Coulter Bellon & Giveaway!

       







Love's Journey Home 

Olivia Dalton has a reputation in the DA’s office---tough, thorough, and fierce when she’s closing a case. Those skills are essential in the courtroom, but not in the relationship department---until Mick Donovan crosses her path. Everyone thinks he’s a player, but when an unexpected situation arises, she glimpses an honorable man instead. Olivia is drawn to him, but he pushes her away, unable to shake the past that still haunts him. Mick Donovan learned at a young age never to let anyone close because those you love never stay. Keeping people at arms-length has never been hard for him---until he meets Olivia Dalton. Mick is caught up in a case she’s prosecuting, and he can’t deny his attraction to her, but when she uncovers the past he’s kept carefully hidden, he’s sure she’ll turn away. Yet, even with all his secrets in the open, Olivia reaches out. Can he let his guard down long enough to let her in and take a chance on love?   


 






"Bellon usually writes action packed international intrigues, but with Love's Broken Road she introduces a tender romance to her readers . . . This story is a second romance between two people who have suffered hurt and loss and are uncertain whether they can risk loving again. The characters are likable and draw the reader's sympathy from the start . . ." --Meridian Magazine 

"This book was easy to fall into and felt so good around my heart. I really enjoyed it!" --Getting Your Read On 

"Readers will be pleased with this gentle romance . . ." --InD'Tale Magazine



         



















Author Julie Coulter Bellon 

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense. Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order. 

           





















Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/5/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.     




Thursday, February 8, 2018

Review & Giveaway: A Tangled Inheritance by Chalon Linton



Heidi Reads... A Tangled Inheritance by Chalon Linton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/tangled-inheritance?variant_id=158039-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Nora Ellsworth, darling of London society, has her choice of eligible suitors, but since childhood, she has been expected to marry Jonathan Browning, a gentleman whose wealth and stability will someday secure the futures of Nora and her mother and sister. The family estate will pass to an odious male cousin upon the death of Nora’s father, and when he suddenly takes ill, her need to marry well becomes vitally important.

As Nora struggles with the idea of marrying without love, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Devlin Fausett, a man with dark eyes and intriguing conversation. But Devlin’s reputation as an indebted gambler is difficult to ignore. Despite the rumors from the ton and the marriage decision before her, Nora is determined to befriend the dashing Mr. Fausett, and his charms soon make it all but impossible to remember her duty. Until she learns the truth of her fortune. There is a way to keep her family’s estate, but the price is high: Nora must wed, as soon as possible. Torn between two very different men, she must make the ultimate decision. Will she be guided by her head or her heart?


Synopsis

A lovely Regency romance with nods to Austen! The most obvious similarity is the "odious male cousin" expecting to inherit the entailed estate a la Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice and Mr. William Elliot from Persuasion. More subtle is the similarity of the author's writing style to Jane Austen's in that the narrative is rich with details of daily life and the manners of society. It's not a book that can be read quickly but needs to be savored. I enjoyed Nora and her friendly relationship with Devlin which balanced on the edge of something more throughout the book, complicated by Devlin's gambling addiction and Nora's mother encouraging a courtship with Mr. Browning. Nora exhibits a good deal of compassion for her friend even after learning of his scandal, and also for her sister when she develops a mysterious illness. I appreciate when the heroine of the story is unselfish and caring, I find it inspiring for me in my own life. Devlin's perspective was fascinating since he doesn't fit the usual gambling rake persona. He's troubled by his relationship with his father and there are deeper issues that he's battling at the table. It created a level of anticipation as I read, wondering if Nora could motivate him to change what he needs to in order to find peace in his life. This is the second book by the author and ties into her first, but can be read as a stand alone.

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

Romance is in the Air: Author Jennifer Griffith & Giveaway!

   







Illegally Wedded by Jennifer Griffith 

 He needs a promotion. She needs to stay in the country. Piper Quinn has a great thing going. She’s young, talented, and the sole chef at Du Jour, San Antonio’s hottest lunch bistro. She and her business partner just have to stay open one year to be eligible for the coveted Texas Star. Days before eligibility though, Piper gets terrible news: she’s getting deported. To New Zealand. Where her parents have joined a hobbit cult. Attorney Zach Travis can’t seem to break into the partnership bracket at his big, respected firm—despite his stellar record. Then, Zach hears a rumor his bachelor status may be holding him back, and he needs a wife to advance his career. The girl at the bistro is an intriguing candidate. As Piper shares her desperate plea for legal help, Zach realizes he can fix both their dilemmas—with a marriage certificate. However, their plan puts them in the cross-hairs of more than one vindictive enemy. Worse, neatly ending their marriage may be tricky due to a sparking chemistry neither Zach nor Piper can ignore.
  

   




“I have to really love a book to give the perfect 5 stars but this one deserved it! …Well written characters and plot. Would DEFINITELY recommend this book.” –Melanie Pontius 

“If I could I would give this 10 stars - or one BIG Texas Star (read the book you'll see why that's important). Such a compelling situation and full as life characters. I even found myself dreaming about Piper and Zack one night. And the ending - so full of all the right feels I had tears in my eyes.” – NMW 

“This book had me mad at my phone for not holding a charge just a little longer!” –LC 

“Everything about this book is brilliant ... the characters, the story, the food, the twists and the romance. Add the exceptional, funny and original support characters and stories .. biker granny, Hobbits, tiny dog, Neil Diamond ... and you have a beautifully written, clever, clean romance that you won't want to put down. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it is a definite must read for everyone.” - lcr       






http://amzn.to/2E2veTl

    





“That leaves you with the one glaring choice remaining, marriage.” The word made Zach’s mouth go unexpectedly dry, and his heart started pounding, neither of which effects he’d anticipated. After countless court appearances and arguments in front of judges and the wealthiest property owners of the largest state in the continental U.S., he’d never gotten wobbly like this.

But he re-collected his chutzpah, pressing back the nerves that he refused to let dominate.

“And if you’ll have me,” he cleared his throat, Piper’s pure green eyes suddenly glued to him and making his heart thunder, “that marriage could be to me.”

The words bounced across the water like a dragonfly, zipping away, never to return.
  


    





Author Jennifer Griffith 

Jennifer Griffith writes light, sweet romances she calls Cotton Candy for the Soul. Her Legally in Love Collection stems from the fact she fell in love with a handsome law school student who now serves as a judge—as well as her muse. She also writes the Billionaire Makeover Romances, billionaires and makeovers being some things with which she has less experience. Jennifer loves old cars, landscape paintings, fresh bread with raspberry jam, and reading. She lived in Japan during college, where she once ate a cricket on a dare. She also traveled through Europe, where she slept a night in a castle on the Rhine. Jennifer worked summers in a cookie factory, and she spent a few years working for the U.S. Congress before becoming a wife, a mom and an author. 

       

  












Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/4/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.