Thursday, January 19, 2017

Favorites of 2016: Series

Here is the final post of my Favorites of 2016! Of the 197 books I read, 74 were ones I rated 5 stars, and it sure was tough to whittle that down to the best of the best! Check out my other Favorites of 2016 posts if you missed them: historical, contemporary, novellas.

These are the books where there were two or more in a series that I couldn't bear to not share... Use the links below to add them to your Amazon wishlist or Goodreads list!

The Love in Lenox series by Nicole Deese

A Cliché Christmas
Amazon - Goodreads
A Season to Love
Amazon - Goodreads

 The Bishop's Family series by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Imposter
The Forgotten Recipe
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review
The Courtship Basket
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review

The Women of Merryton series by Jennifer Peel

Jessie Belle
Taylor Lynne


Christopher & Jaime
Beck & Call


Broken Things to Mend by Karey White
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review
Between Heaven and Earth by Michele Paige Holmes
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review
To Move the World by Regina Sirois
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review
Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review
King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt
Amazon - Goodreads - My Review

Happy reading in 2017!!!





Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Review: Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren


Heidi Reads... Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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

Synopsis

Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town.
 

Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart.
 

With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?

My Review

I was so excited to start a new series from Susan May Warren! It has all the elements I've come to expect from her writing- dynamic characters, a sense of family and community, drama and angst, and curl-your-toes romance! Even though I'm not normally a fan of the surprise baby/child trope, I was completely immersed in the relationship between Kacey and Ben since it takes such a unique twist... more than once! I loved that the author revealed bits and pieces of their past throughout the story so we could see how the two fell in love and it allowed me to hope that they would reconcile. Intertwined in their story is the continuation of Sierra and Ian's ill-fated romance from the prequel novella (which I highly recommend reading first!). Add to that the action and suspense from the rescues of the team, and this is a book that's impossible to put down! 

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

Be sure to read the FREE prequel novella in the Montana Rescue series, If Ever I Would Leave You

http://amzn.to/2iJPtIt


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

Synopsis

If you harbored a devastating secret, had given your solemn promise of silence… what would make you to break it?

Ian Shaw can have anything he wants…

...except the woman he loves. After all, Sierra Rose is his amazing assistant, a woman who helps him hold his empire together, leaving him free to pursue his adventurous hobbies—his only distraction from his excruciating past… until now. But what if she is the one who can finally free him from his regrets?

Sierra Rose harbors a terrible secret…

...the fact that Ian’s favorite niece and ward, Esme, just might elope with her less-than-awesome boyfriend. Sierra’s made a promise to Esme—but her first loyalty belongs to her boss Ian, the man she's admired for years. But letting herself fall in love with him risks the best job she’s ever had.

When tragedy strikes, sparks ignite…

...because Esme has vanished. Ian fears the worst--has she run away with her boyfriend? Or, has something more sinister happened in the wilds of Glacier National Park? It's a race against time, with Sierra and Ian caught in the crossfire of secrets, regrets and what-ifs. 


Can't-Wait Wednesday: Life After by Katie Ganshert (with awesome pre-order extras!)


http://www.wishfulendings.com
 I'm so excited for Life After by Katie Ganshert! Each month before the book releases there will be a different package of extras for those who pre-order!

http://amzn.to/2iBUx4D


Get details at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/katie-gansherts-life-after-pre-order-offer/

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

Synopsis

On the day of a late spring storm, in Chicago, Autumn Manning boarded an “L” train. A bomb explodes, killing everyone in the train car except for Autumn—the sole survivor. A year has passed and Autumn suffocates under a blanket of what ifs and the pressing desire to bring the victims back to life, every day, if only for her. She doesn’t want their stories to be forgotten. She wants to undo what cannot be undone. An unexpected ally joins her efforts, also seeking answers and trying to find a way to stumble ahead.
 

But one victim’s husband, Paul Elliott, prays to let the dead—and their secrets—rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to hurt his loved ones.
 

Caught between loss and hope, these restless souls must release the past to embrace a sovereign God.




Friday, January 13, 2017

Book Tour Grand Finale: The Cowboy's Twins by Tara Taylor Quinn

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
The Cowboy's Twins
By Tara Taylor Quinn

We hope you enjoyed this tour about a charming cowboy, his twins and a TV producer! Grab a copy for yourself while it's on sale and if you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out...



Launch - Note from the Author

Welcome to The Cowboy’s Twins tour!! This is the third and last book in the Family Secrets Cooking Show series. It’s fun. The twins entertained me from the beginning of the book until the end. And, in typical ttq fashion, it’s emotionally intense, too.

underneath the covers - A Letter from TTQ

Welcome to the Family Secrets cooking show, and the episode where you’re going to see everything that goes on behind the scenes, straight from the show’s creator, producer and director herself, heroine Natasha Stevens.

Nicole’s Book Musings - Review

"I really enjoyed this one. What's not to like about Spencer. He will do anything for his children even have a cooking show descend on his ranch. I liked Natasha as well, she has a big self discovery while working on this location for her show. It helps her work through some inner battles she didn't realize she had."

Hearts & Scribbles - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 1

The things you do for love...

Every single thing he did was for love. Love for his children. And love for his ranch.

He didn’t much love the idea of waking up the glamorous city woman at two in the morning. But a deal was a deal.

Angels with Attitude Book Reviews - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 2

A figure moved just outside the front door.

Tall. Slender. She was in shadow, but there was no doubt in Spencer’s mind, the second he saw movement down the steps, that the body belonged to Natasha Stevens.

“I’ve heard of cowboys sleeping in their clothes, to be ready to ride on a second’s notice, but not a famous television producer,” he said, meeting her a few yards from the cabin.

Thoughts of a Blonde - Review

"With Book 3 in the Family Secrets series, we finally get to hear Natasha’s story. We’ve seen her producing the show and wondered what made her tick, and now we find out! It was a bit slower moving than the previous books in the series, but still an enjoyable cast of characters."

Wishful Endings - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 3 (Review here)

Natasha’s long legs made it easy for her to keep up with the handsome cowboy’s strides. She just wasn’t used to tromping across dusty ground in new cowboy boots in the middle of the night.

Though she’d lived on the West Coast for most of her adult life, she’d never succumbed to that particular footwear—having just purchased her new shiny red boots for the show. She’d figured boots were boots. Not so.

"Heartwarming and romance fans alike will find much to love here. . . . Sweet, charming, with a little heartbreak that ends in happily-ever-after was exactly what I was hoping for."

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 4

She didn’t need a man. Or his strength. Didn’t even want one. Her strength of character—okay, her innate need to run her own show, whether it be on television or in her home—was like a coffin in waiting for any relationship.

Becky on Books - Review

"Ultimately, The Cowboy’s Twins was a highly satisfying romance. Though it did end a bit abruptly, it was a good ending, and since the series is based on Natasha’s show, I’ve got high hopes of seeing more of Natasha, Spencer, Tabitha, and Justin in future books!"

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review

"I really liked this book. It caught my attention from the beginning and held it throughout the book.

I also really liked the characters. They were well developed and easily visualized. I felt like I could be right there with them living that life."

Falling Leaves - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 1

HE DIDN’T WANT the woman there. Spencer took a deep breath. And didn’t like what he smelled. A sixth sense told him something wasn’t right.

And he knew what that something was. The city woman sitting in the corner, staring, while Ellie labored.

Book Lover in Florida - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 2

Nodding, Natasha jumped into the fray. She grabbed when she was told to grab. Pulled. The calf didn’t budge. Her arms ached. Using her entire body weight, she leaned back. And managed to keep the hooves outside the cow’s body.

Everything happened in seconds after that. One minute Ellie was in obvious stress with Spencer on the ground by the struggling cow’s tail. The next, Spencer was pushing Natasha aside, grabbing hooves, and had pulled a calf out into the world.

Her new red boots were going in the trash.

Getting Your Read On - Review

"It was sweet though, and clean, which I really appreciate!"

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 3

“You’re supposed to be brushing your teeth.”

“We did.” Justin’s immediate response was followed by a drop in his gaze. And then his chin met his chest. “No, we didn’t,” he corrected himself before Spencer could take the breath necessary to challenge the boy. “But...do we gotta?” Justin’s eyes widened as he gave Spencer an imploring look. “They’ll just get dirty again, and I’ll brush it all away tonight.”

Spencer pressed his lips together, hoping he looked stern.
The hardest part about being a single parent was having no one with whom to share the laughter.

I Am A Reader - Excerpt/Chapter 1, Part 4

And he made no pretense to himself about the reason for that.

He wanted to spend as little time as possible with the city girl who’d invaded his space.

In more ways than one.

And enter the giveaway below if you haven't already...

The Cowboy's Twins
(Family Secrets #3)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
January 3rd 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

It looked so good on camera…

If it weren't for the money, Spencer Longfellow would happily drive Natasha Stevens and her TV crew right off his ranch. But his land, and his kids, mean the world to him—and he'll do anything to secure their future. Even cohost Natasha's cooking show, Family Secrets, in his barn. Even play the token hunky cowboy to her sophisticated city slicker and flirt with her on national television… It could never amount to anything real anyway. After all, he was fooled and left in the dust by a city girl once. And he will never let that happen to him—or his kids—again


Other Books in the Series

For Love or MoneyFor Love or Money
(Family Secrets #1)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She can't afford to lose this…or him

There's no way that struggling single mom Janie Young is going to lose Family Secrets. Not even to Dr. Burke Carter. The prize money and media exposure from the cooking-competition show will secure the future for her and her son, who has special needs. Sure, Burke is a talented chef with his own reasons to win, but he already has so much: wealth, a beautiful daughter, great looks…and definitely her attention. As their families become closer, Janie is beginning to care too much about him. But she can't afford to get involved. Not when everything is riding on beating him.

Her Soldier's BabyHer Soldier's Baby
(Family Secrets #2)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
November 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Will the truth heal him--or tear them apart? 

The baby she gave up for adoption long ago is a secret Eliza Westin has concealed from her husband. With good reason. Wounded soldier turned police officer Pierce Westin was Eliza's high school sweetheart. He's also her son's father.

Seventeen years ago, Pierce went off to war unaware that he'd fathered a child. Eliza's shot as a contestant on the Family Secrets cooking competition show is her chance to reconnect with the past. But once she finds her long-lost son, she can only hope that Pierce will embrace their newfound family. Or will Eliza lose the love of her life all over again?

About the Author


The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive ebooks of the first two books in the series, FOR LOVE OR MONEY and HER SOLDIER'S BABY
Open internationally
Ends January 17th






Thursday, January 12, 2017

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Cowboy's Twins by Tara Taylor Quinn


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Cowboy's Twins
(Family Secrets #3)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
January 3rd 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

It looked so good on camera…

If it weren't for the money, Spencer Longfellow would happily drive Natasha Stevens and her TV crew right off his ranch. But his land, and his kids, mean the world to him—and he'll do anything to secure their future. Even cohost Natasha's cooking show, Family Secrets, in his barn. Even play the token hunky cowboy to her sophisticated city slicker and flirt with her on national television… It could never amount to anything real anyway. After all, he was fooled and left in the dust by a city girl once. And he will never let that happen to him—or his kids—again

Excerpt

“I GET TO name her.” “Nuh-uh, I do.”
Listening just outside the bathroom door while his kids stood on identical stools at double sinks, supposedly brushing their teeth, Spencer smiled. Starting the day with only two hours of sleep would catch up with him.
Later.
For now, he had duties to tend to.
“No, Justin, that is not true. Daddy said that if she’s a girl, I get to name her. And she’s a girl.”
Spencer couldn’t help the smile growing wider on his face as he listened to the most articulate seven-year-old he’d ever known. Justin was a handful but didn’t faze him a bit. Tabitha was going to be the death of him.
“Well, I get to pet her first...”
When he heard the intensity rising in his son’s voice, Spencer entered the room to see two dark- haired little kids standing on stools, their brown gazes at war in the mirror. Neither of them had anything resembling toothbrushes in sight.
“You’re supposed to be brushing your teeth.” “We did.” Justin’s immediate response was followed by a drop in his gaze. And then his chin met his chest. “No, we didn’t,” he corrected himself before Spencer could take the breath necessary to challenge the boy. “But...do we gotta?” Justin’s eyes widened as he gave
Spencer an imploring look. “They’ll just get dirty again, and I’ll brush it all away tonight.”
Spencer pressed his lips together, hoping he looked stern.
The hardest part about being a single parent was having no one with whom to share the laughter.


Tour Schedule

January 7th: Launch
Other Books in the Series

For Love or MoneyFor Love or Money
(Family Secrets #1)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She can't afford to lose this…or him

There's no way that struggling single mom Janie Young is going to lose Family Secrets. Not even to Dr. Burke Carter. The prize money and media exposure from the cooking-competition show will secure the future for her and her son, who has special needs. Sure, Burke is a talented chef with his own reasons to win, but he already has so much: wealth, a beautiful daughter, great looks…and definitely her attention. As their families become closer, Janie is beginning to care too much about him. But she can't afford to get involved. Not when everything is riding on beating him.

Her Soldier's BabyHer Soldier's Baby
(Family Secrets #2)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
November 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Will the truth heal him--or tear them apart? 

The baby she gave up for adoption long ago is a secret Eliza Westin has concealed from her husband. With good reason. Wounded soldier turned police officer Pierce Westin was Eliza's high school sweetheart. He's also her son's father.

Seventeen years ago, Pierce went off to war unaware that he'd fathered a child. Eliza's shot as a contestant on the Family Secrets cooking competition show is her chance to reconnect with the past. But once she finds her long-lost son, she can only hope that Pierce will embrace their newfound family. Or will Eliza lose the love of her life all over again?

About the Author


The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive ebooks of the first two books in the series, FOR LOVE OR MONEY and HER SOLDIER'S BABY
Open internationally
Ends January 17th






Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Still Life by Dani Pettrey


http://www.wishfulendings.com

http://amzn.to/2isulFk

I can't wait for the second book in Dani Pettrey's new suspense series, Chesapeake Valor! The main characters in this book were introduced in the first book, Cold Shot, and I can't wait to read their story in Still Life, which publishes on January 31!

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

Synopsis

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright--and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit and support her best friend, who modeled for the show. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead--and the photographer insists he didn't take the shot. Worse, her friend can't be found. She immediately calls Parker for help. As Avery, Parker, and his friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat.




Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Book Blast: Friends ForNever by Melissa Baldwin

  friends-fornever  





Friends ForNever by Melissa Baldwin

Erin Taylor is a hard-working journalist with a serious TV addiction and lack of a social life. She's focused on her career and determined to leave her tiny cubicle behind for a fabulous corner office! But when a new co-worker, a friendship drama, and a hot workplace crush collide, Erin finds it harder and harder to focus. Especially when that crush on the oh-so-yummy Aiden Thomas starts to materialize into what feels like a magical relationship. Erin's life seems to finally be heading in the right direction...until suddenly friends aren't such great friends after all, her magical relationship hits a bumpy road, and her career could be derailed by it all. Erin learns a lesson the hard way: Sometimes people aren't who they seem to be. With her happiness on the line, can Erin rise above her disappointments and create the life she's always dreamed of or will she be stuck being Friends ForNever?

amazon
Praise for the Book 

Friends ForNever is a cleverly written book that will keep you wanting for more until the very end! I highly recommend this book! Friends for Never is like listening to your best friend tell you about her day at work! And anyone who has worked in an office will totally relate to this book. I was absolutely sucked in. The love story was great! It was well paced and funny! The author is really good. An intriguing look at the demands of family and friendship when personal goals are at risk. A novel of back-stabbing emotions.


add to goodreads

Melissa BAuthor Melissa Baldwin
Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she took her creativity to the next level by fulfilling her dream with her debut novel, An Event to Remember . . . Or Forget. Since then, she has written and published four more novels, Wedding Haters, See You Soon Broadway, Not Quite Sheer Happiness and Friends ForNever. Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing, this multi-tasking master organizer is busy being a mother, wife, chauffeur, PTA President, and Fitness Trainer. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, running, fitness, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.


amazon paypalBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/26/17 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.

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