Cover Reveal with Giveaway! Saving Marilee by Annette K. Larsen

Coming May 1, 2015 - Saving Marilee by Annette K. Larsen

Synopsis

Marriage wasn’t bliss—not for Marilee. Instead of finding contentment with the handsome son of a sovereign duke, she found betrayal and neglect. And fear. A fear that finally lifts when her husband dies, freeing her from his domineering hand. But freedom alone can't give her peace, and she must battle to regain her love for life, rebuild her happiness, and reclaim the ability to trust. When her charming neighbor intrudes on her quiet life, offering his friendship (and a dog, of all things), she must determine whether his interest is genuine, whether he is a friend or foe, and whether he deserves the fragile bit of trust she has managed to scrape together.

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Author Annette K. Larsen

I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

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Cover Reveal Giveaway 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/8/15 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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Review & Giveaway: House Divided by Jennifer Peel

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My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

There is a law irrevocably decreed in the state of Alabama that you must choose a team. You're either an Auburn fan or an Alabama Fan. There is no fence sitting or waffling. It’s one or the other. However, it doesn't mean that you can’t fall in love with someone from the opposing side. They even have a name for it ... House Divided. Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson were just such a couple, but unfortunately they were separated by more than just their loyalty to a university. Against the odds and against the rules, Ellie and Brady dove right into the forbidden current of friendship and then love. Their sweet, innocent romance was one for the storybooks, but old rules and family prejudices ultimately tore them apart, just as they were each ready to depart to their beloved universities, Ellie to Auburn and Brady to Alabama. But years later, when near tragedy strikes, they're brought together again and given a second chance at love, this time with help from some very unlikely sources. House Divided is a sweet romance filled with southern charm, a dash of humor and, for good measure, a pinch of lies and intrigue.

My Review

Wow, there is quite a bit of emotion in this story. The friendship between Ellie and Brady is so sweet, and he is so determined to win her heart again. His relentlessness is my favorite thing about this book. It was refreshing for the hero to know exactly what he wants and goes for it. Of course, this laid the conflict at the feet of Ellie, who repeatedly thought/said how much she wanted him, but it was impossible to be together. Major angst-fest. The prologue was written well about Ellie and Brady's early relationship; it made me invested in them and rooting for them from the beginning to the end. Ellie's Aunt Lu is a fabulous secondary character and helps show Ellie's more compassionate and nurturing side. She has an unwavering devotion to her aunt that tells us how deeply she loves. I couldn't put this book down and had yet another late-night reading hangover :)

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Author Jennifer Peel

 I'm a Colorado native who currently calls Alabama home. I'm the mother of three amazing children who have grown up way too fast. I enjoy the mountains, vacations at the beach, date night with my husband, late night talks with my kiddos, touring model homes, and pink bubblegum ice cream. I grew up on the Western Slope in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I learned to love the beauty of the outdoors, but not camping--unless staying overnight at the Marriott counts. I met my husband while living in Denver and then several years later we traded the beauty and majesty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for the art and culture of Chicago, Illinois. My family and I enjoyed living near this world class city, despite the crazy cold winters, but new adventures awaited in Northern Alabama--just six hours away from Orange Beach, Alabama. These three magical places (the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Chicago, and Orange Beach) are the inspired locations used in several of my books.

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$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/12/15 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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Review: Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Miss Onyx Hamilton is about to make what everyone agrees is a perfect marriage—until handsome Major Jack Beresford comes galloping into her life. But with his fortune and connections, Onyx knows he’d never ask for her hand, would he? New and longtime fans alike will relish this delightful romance from Carla Kelly. Charming, sweet, and full of fun, it’s simply impossible to stop reading.

My Review

The synopsis of this book makes it sound more light and fluffy than I found it to be. Onyx is an illegitimate child, being bullied by her foster mother into a loveless marriage with an obnoxious reverend- who could give Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice a run for his money. I rather pitied Onyx as she woodenly gives in and goes along with plans that others make for her life. My interest in the book was dwindling until Onyx experiences independence from her family as she travels to her future home and begins to realize the value of the person she really is. She meets Jack through a harrowing experience that tests her mettle and establishes her as the strong and spunky female lead I always enjoy reading about. Jack is a wounded soul, just trying to get home and recover from the nightmares of war, but Onyx brings joy and laughter into his heart again- I found his wicked sense of humor a fun element to their relationship. For a regency romance, this book is a little more gritty than the norm, which I appreciated as the author explores themes of death, sickness, grief, war, societal bounds, and family loyalty. Highly recommend to fans of Jane Austen, Julie Klassen and Julianne Donaldson.

(Thank you to Cedar Fort Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: The Boardwalk Antiques Shop by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, Heather B. Moore

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and renowned bed-and-breakfasts. The Boardwalk Antiques Shop is an exclusive shop where every antique has a story, and each story possesses the gift to match true love. The customer who buys an antique also buys its story and soon discovers that its story unites the past with the present, creating an unexpected romantic future…

“Where Every Antique has a Story”

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: Jennifer is newest owner of The Boardwalk Antiques Shop, inherited from her aunt. When Jennifer arrives in Seashell Beach, her first priority is to meet with a realtor to sell the place. She laughs out loud when she discovers the realtor’s name is Mr. Studly. But the more Jennifer gets to know Paul Studly, the more she finds reasons to stay and run the antiques shop herself.

SOLVING FOR X: Abbie is only a little bit obsessed with antiques, okay, a lot. So when Holden, an out-of-town business executive, tries to purchase the tin soldiers that Abbie’s had her eye on, Abbie refuses to back down. The antiques shop owner issues a challenge: whoever comes up with the best story for wanting the soldiers, will become the new owner. Abbie isn’t about to let some fancy executive beat her out, no matter how charming he is.

A STITCH IN TIME: When Cate learns that antiques dealer Henry Lancaster has purchased the sewing machine left to her by her grandmother, Cate is determined to get it back. What she isn’t counting on is that Henry has just as much claim as Cate. And it doesn’t help that Henry is good-looking and apparently single. Getting to know Henry becomes an unexpected surprise, sending her life into a sudden detour.

My Review

It was a pleasure reading these three stories that tie together in a subtle way. The characters are vibrant, the setting is interesting, and the plots are well-rounded. I don't think I could choose a favorite of the three since I liked them all equally! I love antiques so that theme especially appealed to me. I would love to be in Jennifer's shoes- running an antique shop where every piece is special and has a story behind it :) As soon as I finished reading this book I immediately bought the first book in the series- The Fortune Cafe, which I also loved! I'm looking forward to more fun stories from these talented authors.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

The first book in the Tangerine Street Romance series: 
The Fortune Cafe by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, Heather B. Moore