Wednesday, December 5, 2018

12 Days of Clean Romance: Author Lucy McConnell & Giveaway

 

  

 Marrying Kiss Kringle: Frost 

Frost buried her face in her hands, feeling all the pressure to save Christmas. Neither Stella nor Robyn had the potential for love yet. They were starting from scratch. But she had more than potential; she had an invitation. It was up to her to find Tannon; get him to profess his love to her; and save her family, the North Pole, and Christmas for children all over the world. Oh, Tannon, I hope you're ready to love me. 

Frost Kringle broke one of the North Pole's rules the day she replied to a letter from Tannon Cebu; but, her Kringle-enhanced empathy wouldn't allow her to walk away from the anguish in his words. What began as a disobedient impulse grew into friendship and eventually love. If her secret romance is revealed, she'll be banished from her home and family. 

When the Kringles discover Christmas Magic is dangerously off balance, Frost musters up the courage to meet Tannon in person with the hope that they can marry and save Christmas. While she's away from her precious Letters Room, her secret is blown right open and she's exiled. In order to make it home for Christmas, Frost has to bring Christmas cheer to those who need it most. 

Tannon is tired of the corporate grind and wants out. He's decided to sell his paper mill and retire to a quiet corner where he can raise his son in peace. His announcement, right before the holidays, creates an uproar as employees wonder if they'll have a job in the New Year. No one in town feels like celebrating and they have little hope of a happy holiday. 

If Frost can get Tannon, and the town of Elderberry, to believe in Christmas once again, she'll make it home and save Santa's workshop from turning into a block of ice and ruining Christmas for children all over the world. Trouble arises when Tannon's interest turn to Frost more than to Christmas. She walks a tinsel-fine line between falling for him and failing in her Christmas quest. 

With her whole world out of balance, Frost must look deep inside herself to bring about a Christmas miracle--with a little help from her jolly family. 

  

Frost Kringle rubbed her arms. “It’s not my year. I’m the youngest. You two should find your husbands first,” she told her older, single sisters.

Robyn huffed. “Apparently, Christmas Magic doesn’t give a partridge in a pear tree about birth order. And I don’t, either. Come with us—just to get used to being south-er.”

Frost hesitated, searching for a polite way to tell them to jump out of a flying sleigh.

Stella took her hesitation as a silent agreement and forged on. “Perfect. Where should we go? I was thinking of heading back to Alaska.”

“No thanks.” Robyn popped another chocolate. “We need someplace new.”

Frost puzzled the question of where they should go. She puzzled it high and she puzzled it low. And while she puzzled, a strange thought came to be. A thought she thought just might be the key. She tried to hold it in, did her best to be good. But there was a part of Frost Kringle that never quite could.
“Oregon,” Frost whispered, staring off into space. “Elderberry, Oregon. That’s the place.”

Both her sisters stared at her. “Why there?” asked Stella.

Frost cleared her throat, breaking through the fog that had clouded her mind while at the same time giving herself clarity. She mentally stumbled to come up with an excuse that wouldn’t reveal her biggest and best-kept secret. “It’s got a large populate of single men. There’s a, um, paper company and mill and they make beautiful stationary.” Like cream envelopes with gold trim that bring the most wonderful letters.

Stella shrugged. “As long as it’s got men, I’m game.”

Robyn poked Stella in the arm. “That’s your problem—you need to be pickier.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

Frost held her breath. She’d dreamed and dreamed of going to Elderberry, of meeting Tannon, of finally seeing the man whose words had captured her heart. If she was a romantic, it was because each mail delivery included a little bit of romance just for her.

“No,” admitted Robyn.

“Okay, then.” Stella slapped her hand on the table. “Meeting adjourned. We’re going to Elderberry the day after tomorrow. Have your bags packed.”

Frost threaded her fingers together under the table, holding her hands tight, tight, tight in an effort to hold in her excitement as her sisters left the room. She was going to meet Tannon.

“I’m going to meet Tannon,” she said out loud. With a squeal, she threw her hands in the air.

This trip may be the best thing that ever happened to her, or it may be the ending of a long and special friendship. Either way, the time had come to meet her crush face-to-face.

   

https://amzn.to/2SuHOOz


I have loved all of Lucy McConnell's books, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. 

 I love the other books in this series and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable story that kept me reading late into the night. I can’t wait for next installment! 

I found Marrying Miss Kringle to be a fun and lovely read. It is light in nature with a feeling of watching one of those Lifetime Christmas movies, but only in book form. 

     
    
 

Author Lucy McConnell 


Award-winning author, Lucy McConnell, loves Christmas, romance, chocolate and Elvis. After graduating from the University of Utah, she became an editor at an advertising agency before moving on to teach in the marketing department of the local community college. She loved teaching and often misses the academic environment. Lucy retired from teaching and began to write articles and sweet romance novels. She has been published in national magazines, newspapers, short story compilations, and she writes cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock. If she's not at the computer, you can find her trying to keep up with her husband and four kids on the ski slopes, on a bike, in the kitchen, or on a horse.
  
 
   
https://amzn.to/2E48KAM

     



Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 1/1/19 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 may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, 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 & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   





Tuesday, December 4, 2018

12 Days of Clean Romance: Author Brooke St. James, Sale & Giveaway

 

  

So This is Love by Brooke St. James 

Abigail Spencer loved her job. She was a marine biologist who maintained some of Miami's most spectacular ponds and aquariums. She had the opportunity to travel around the city, meeting new people and working in beautiful locations. So, even though it was just another day at the office when she suddenly met the man of her dreams, she wasn't in an office at all. Every girl imagines meeting her prince charming. It's doubtful, however, that any of these fantasies include it happening when they're soaked with sweat and knee-deep in pond scum. Fate can be funny that way. 

    

"Oh, thank goodness!" Tori said when I walked into the office that morning. She was holding the phone to her ear, but she was talking to me as I approached her U-shaped reception desk. She stared at me from over her reading glasses, and she waved me forward like she had been anxiously awaiting my arrival. I was twenty minutes early, so I had no idea why she was so relieved. 

"Abigail's here now," she said to the person on the phone. "She just walked in. I'm looking at her right now. Okay, I'll tell her. Bye." 

I stood in front of Tori's desk and watched as she hung up the phone before looking at me with a relieved smile. 

"I'm so glad you're here." 

"I'm always here," I said cautiously. 

"I mean, I'm glad you're early. I was gonna call you and tell you to hurry. That was Lance. We have to rearrange your schedule today. He needs you to head out on a pond job… like right now. It's a priority."

    



This was definitely another winner! Loved Ash and Abigail and how their relationship grew. Brooke's books are always an instant click for me, I don't even have to read the blurb of what its about. I appreciate that she writes clean books and would recommend them highly. I've read everything she's written and can't wait for the next!! 

What a great book! The main characters' backgrounds are refreshingly original. So many romances are formulaic or copycats of other books out there. Additionally, the chemistry between Ash and Abigail is so strong it's practically tangible. This book is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Read it! 

I loved this book- when are the rest coming out?!?!?! I truly relate to Abigail as I am in a profession where I am usually more dirty than clean. I appreciate the religious aspect of the book without it being pushed hard, it's just part of the characters life. Thank you Brooke for amazing books and keeping them at a price that buying the entire series doesn't break my bank account!

     


 
 
Author Brooke St. James 
Brooke St. James is a bestselling author of contemporary romance novels with Christian and inspirational themes and happy endings. She was born and raised in south Louisiana but has had the opportunity to travel and live throughout the U.S. An avid reader, writer, audio book addict, and fan of all things artistic, Brooke constantly has her hands in some creative activity. She's currently back home in Louisiana enjoying life with her husband, children, and two lazy dogs. 
  
 

 

Get copies of All In & Something Precious for just 99 cents! 

     



Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 1/1/19 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 may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, 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 & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   





Review & Giveaway: Wager for a Wife by Karen Tuft



Heidi Reads... Wager for a Wife by Karen Tuft

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/wager-for-a-wife?variant_id=170146-paperbackhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

William Barlow's life has been forever altered: his estranged father is dead, and William has inherited the title of Viscount Farleigh. Along with the title comes a neglected estate, an enormous amount of gambling debt, and one astounding acquisition that will turn William's world upside down . . .

It is her first London Season, and Lady Louisa Hargreaves could not be more pleased. She has attracted the attention of the Earl of Kerridge, and the two are on the cusp of an official betrothal. That is, until she learns of a generations-old family debt: her grandfather gambled her hand in marriage and lost, and now Louisa must pay the price. She will marry not the earl but a man she just met, who has taken her freedom in one fell swoop. Even as she struggles to understand the handsome and aloof man she is to wed, Louisa is irresistibly drawn to him—and he to her. But she soon realizes he is harboring secrets, and as her wedding day approaches, she must discover what her future husband is hiding before she makes the gravest mistake of her life.


My Review

I enjoyed this Regency romance and the characters that came to life in their unusual circumstances. I loved the premise of the plot- the difficulties that both Louisa and William are dealing with, and the relationship that slowly develops between them, despite their differences. I learned some new details about the Regency era as new plot twists surfaced. A lovely romance with emotion, angst, tension, and a wonderful ending!

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Blog Tour . . .

 
 

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: After the Rain by Brandy Bruce




Synopsis

Genre:  Contemporary, Inspirational, Romance, Christian
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
Publication date:February 4, 2019

A heartfelt, emotional story of the beauty and pain found in picking up the pieces and starting over after disappointment.

About the Author


Brandy Bruce is a mom, a wife, a book editor, an author, and someone who really loves dessert. She’s the author of the award-winning novel The Last SummerLooks Like Love, and The Romano Family Collection. Brandy, her husband, and their children make their home in Colorado.








Giveaway

Giveaway details: (1) Winner will receive their choice of a print (US only) or e-copy (International) of The Last Summer by Brandy Bruce.


Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

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Curio by Evangeline Denmark #FantasyforChristmas!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Evangeline Denmark for
Days of Fantasy for Christmas

https://amzn.to/2PcrsbgCurio
(Curio #1)
By Evangeline Denmark
YA Steampunk Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 432 Pages
January 5th 2016 by Blink

Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually need.

By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.

But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.


Author Interview

Q: How did you come up with the idea for your novel, Curio?

A: I’m a bit of a logophile and regularly get crushes on words. I was driving home one day when the word curio popped into my head and I was just smitten. I played around with it in my head, thinking about how curio and curiosity have the same root. Then I started thinking about curio cabinets and the kinds of objects found in them—knick-knacks and figurines. For a while I daydreamed about all those curios coming to life. What kind of world would they live in? What would they want, and what would be important to them? Finally I landed on the question: What would be a curiosity to these animated curios? The answer was the key to the story—a human! From there I knew I’d be writing a novel about a girl trapped in an enchanted curio cabinet.

Q: Curio is a Young Adult Steampunk Fantasy. Can you explain steampunk?

A: I don’t think anybody can really explain steampunk. You can describe it and give some rough parameters, but part of the fun of steampunk is that it’s changeable and imaginative. But generally speaking, steampunk stories take place in the Victorian era, so mid 19th century up until the turn of the century. Of course there’s wiggle room. Curio takes place in an alternate history Colorado setting in the early 1900s. Steampunk almost always contains anachronistic technology powered by steam and/or clockwork. If you’ve see the recent movie, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, you’ve gotten a taste of the steampunk genre.

Q: Do you have a favorite character?

A: I’m a sucker for the Troubled Boy archetype, so the male characters in Curio definitely hold my heart. Both Blaise and Whit make some bad choices, but usually with good intentions. I try to make all my characters strong in some ways and vulnerable in some ways so they can take turns helping each other.

Q: Do you have any other books available?

A: The Curio prequel, Mark of Blood and Alchemy, is available on ebook, and I have a holiday novelette called The Ice Child that’s a perfect read for a snowy winter evening.

Q: Are you working on anything new?

A: Yes! I’m currently working on another YA fantasy so watch my website and social media for updates. You can find me at http://www.evangelinedenmark.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/evangelinedenmark/.

Other Books in the Series

https://amzn.to/2SpslQ1Mark of Blood and Alchemy
(Curio #0.5)
By Evangeline Denmark
YA Steampunk Fantasy
ebook, 112 Pages
September 29th 2015 by Blink

In this novella prequel to Evangeline Denmark's YA fantasy novel Curio, Olan Havardsson flees a devastating plague that took his family only to be saved by a mysterious group of "magickers" with healing powers. But as he accompanies his rescuers to their alpine enclave, mysteries arise surrounding their potions and powers of alchemy. Questions mount when Olan observes a deep division forming between those who seek to defend the purity of the healing alchemical work and those who would wield it as a powerful weapon.

Olan is thrust into the midst of this dissention after he discovers he is somehow special--chosen as a guardian like the enclave's founder. As he spends time with two of his rescuers--Auriana, a clever and captivating inventor, and Alaric, a brooding young man wrestling with his father's cruel beliefs--Olan realizes he may have the power to direct the course of blood and alchemy.

Introducing readers to the fantastical world of Curio, this novella is wrapped in adventure, romance, and intrigue.


About the Author

Evangeline Denmark’s debut Young Adult novel, CURIO, was an RT Reviews Top Pick, and USA Today’s HEA blog called the world-building “two levels of genius.” She has also co-authored children’s books and published shorter works of fantasy. Fairy tales, folklore, and magical elements form her creative substrate and weave through every project, whether she’s writing about this world or another.

Evangeline is an active member in her local arts community and is passionate about encouraging creativity in young people. From school visits, to speaking at conferences, to paneling at cons, Evangeline builds her platform on the principle that creativity is for everyone and everyone is creative.

She lives in Colorado with her engineer/artist husband, two sons, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering cattle dog.


Tour Schedule
(Links won't work until the posts go live.)

December 1st: Launch
December 2nd: Gillian Bronte Adams - The Songkeeper Chronicles
December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Mark of the Raven
December 4thEvangeline Denmark - Curio
December 5th: Kate Avery Ellison - A Gift of Poison
December 6th: J.M. Hackman - Spark
December 7th: Ronie Kendig - Embers
December 8th: C.E. Laureano - Oath of the Brotherhood
December 9th: Belle Malory - The Twelfth Keeper
December 10th: Melissa McShane - Voyager of the Crown
December 11th: J. Ellen Ross - The Remembered Queen
December 12th: Jennifer Silverwood - Silver Hollow
December 13th: Melissa Wright - Blood & Brute & Ginger Root
December 14th: Morgan Wylie - The Age of Alandria Series
December 15th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


Grand Prize #1: Winner will receive a FIRE HD 8 TABLET along with the following ebooks (open to those who are eligible for the Fire Tablet in their area can receive Kindle gifted copies of ebooks):
- CURIO, MARK OF BLOOD and ALCHEMY (The Curio Prequel), and THE ICE CHILD (a holiday novelette) by Evangeline Denmark
- A GIFT OF POISON by Kate Avery Ellison
- THE TWELFTH KEEPER by Belle Malory
- SERVANT O THE CROWN or VOYAGER OF THE CROWN (winner's choice) by Melissa McShane
- THE REMEMBERED QUEEN by J. Ellen Ross
- SILVER HOLLOW by Jennifer Silverwood
- THE FREY SAGA (Books 1-3) ebook box set by Melissa Wright

Grand Prize #2: Winner will receive the following print books (open to continental US residents):
- ORPHAN'S SONG by Gillian Bronte Adams
- MARK OF THE RAVEN by Morgan L. Busse
- SPARK by J.M. Hackman
- ABIASSA'S FIRE 3-book collection by Ronie Kendig
- The complete set of SONG OF SEARE TRILOGY by C.E. Laureano
- SILENT ORCHIDS by Morgan Wylie

Ends December 19, 2018