Thursday, September 7, 2017

Review: Cheyenne by Jennifer Peel


Heidi Reads... Cheyenne by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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

Synopsis

What happens when your motto in life has been to always love yourself more than anyone else could, but then you find someone who does it better? If you’re Cheyenne Fairchild, you do your best to push him away.

Cheyenne’s life has taught her to never depend on anyone, especially men. She’s done her best to keep every relationship short and every man at arm’s length. That is, until the mysterious Aidan Bates moves to town. Not only does he give earth-shattering kisses, but he has the audacity to save her life after a tragic accident. Now Cheyenne can’t stop thinking about him, and it’s driving her crazy. Worse, he won’t stop trying to help her.

While Cheyenne is doing her best to keep Aidan from working his way into her no vacancy heart, she finds herself embroiled in more than one Merryton scandal. One that rocks her best friend’s world and shows what Cheyenne is really made of. And one that she’s created in hopes of deterring Aidan. Unfortunately for her, she finds that it only brings them closer together.

Can Cheyenne let her defenses down long enough to see that Aidan is unlike any other man she has ever known? Or will she cling to the past and the walls she’s carefully constructed around her heart?


My Review

I've been so excited to read Cheyenne's story and see what her point of view would be like! We get to know her in the previous books of the Women of Merryton series, and she is quite a character. Beautiful, blunt, trash-talking, checker-out of baseball players' butts, and loyal friend. She's not close to many, doesn't care what anyone thinks of her, and dates for her own pleasure- but two weeks is her max. I think her friend described her well- she gets away with what normally only men can.

In this book we get to learn about Cheyenne's past and how the reasons for her parents' divorce in her childhood influence her attitude about men, relationships, and marriage. It was funny and also sad to see how she viewed her friends Abby, Jessie, Taylor, and Rachel, and her judgements about their lives and choices. They are a big part of her life and she has unconditional love for them, would do anything for them... within reason, of course- changing diapers is not going to happen ;)

She and Aidan have amazing chemistry, but both fight it and each other. They challenge each other (in serious ways and *hilarious* ways) and reluctantly form a kind of friendship that has nowhere to go but committed relationship- which scares her more than anything. Cheyenne struggles with new vulnerabilities, health challenges, and accepting help (and more) from Aidan. It was fascinating to see how she changes from one extreme to get to the point where she can accept and trust the love Aidan is offering her.  

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

Don't miss the first books in the Women of Merryton series!


http://amzn.to/2gNONon


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

Synopsis

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, lies the quaint town of Merryton, Colorado. You will never find finer people or better friends. But try keeping a secret in Merryton and you will soon find that the good townspeople are better than any private investigator or undercover journalist. The men and women of Merryton are like living barometers, and when a storm is brewing in the life of one of their own, they are sure to get to the bottom of it--and forecast it on the Merryton grapevine.

Jessie Summers and her husband Blake just haven't connected since their baby was stillborn and they learned that Jessie couldn't have more children. And then Blake drops a bombshell-he fathered a child with Jessie's old roommate when they had broken up briefly.
It was before they married thirteen years ago, but it's still devastating to Jessie, considering she'll never have a child of her own.
But in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, they discover that Madeline may just be what the doctor ordered to heal their broken hearts and mend their own tattered relationship.

Will they have the courage to look forward and find a greater love than they could ever imagine? Or will past hurts and the town grapevine tear them apart?

http://amzn.to/2xeD6hE

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

Synopsis

Determined not to repeat the same mistakes as her mother, Taylor Cole left her husband with their toddler in tow fourteen years ago and vowed never to return to Merryton. Now she is finally ready to face her demons and put the past and her ex-husband behind her, but to do that she and her daughter must return to the place that haunts her memories. A place where she lost not only the love of her life, but her childhood hopes and dreams.

When they move back, Taylor can’t seem to remain apathetic toward her ex-husband or his nine-year-old daughter. She discovers that maybe all wasn’t as it seemed so many years ago. And maybe—just maybe—she and her ex-husband need each other more now than they ever have before. But can the exes put the past behind them and find a way to forgive each other? Or will they let past mistakes and misunderstandings keep them from future happiness?

Return to Merryton and join Taylor and Easton on their journey, and catch up with old friends you grew to love in Jessie Belle.

http://amzn.to/2eOyKpA

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

Synopsis

Rachel Whitney’s life changed forever when Drew, the son of her twin sister, Sydney, was placed in her arms—and there he stayed. At twenty-two, she had no idea what she was doing, but in that moment, she knew that raising Drew was what she was meant to do with her life.

Fiercely independent, Rachel makes her own way managing her family's insurance agency. Decidedly against introducing any men into her life, or Drew’s, she protects her heart against all romantic entanglements. But what she didn’t count on was a letter from her sister that leads a famous secret to her door eight years after her sister’s death. A secret with the same eyes as her son’s.

Desperate not to get the courts involved, Rachel allows Drew’s previously unknown father, Andrew Turner, into their lives, and to her surprise, little by little into her heart. But for Rachel, taking that step could open her family to a firestorm of media attention that not even Merryton can protect them from. Is love worth the risk? Or will Andrew's fame and ambition ruin their chances?

Link-up: Free / Bargain Books



Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Leels Loves Books | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | Traci Hayden
Tuesday
Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Jude Ouvrard
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Heidi Reads...
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance |
Colorimetry | J.C. Clarke
Saturday
3 Partners in Shopping | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings 
Sunday

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author
For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author
For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 
For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!

Would you like to share our linkup on your site? click here
Would you like to become a weekly host? sign up here


Come back and check out the new selection every week!







Review: All That Makes Life Bright by Josi S. Kilpack



Heidi Reads... All That Makes Life Bright by Josi S. Kilpack

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/all-that-makes-life-bright?autocomplete=true&variant_id=148904-paperbackhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled romance, eventually a family, and continued opportunities to develop as a writer. Her husband Calvin is completely supportive and said she must be a literary woman. Harriet's sister, Catharine, worries she will lose her identity in marriage, but she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. Deeply religious, she strongly believes God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer and will help her accomplish everything she was born to do.

Two months after her wedding Harriet discovers she is pregnant just as Calvin prepares to leave for a European business trip. Alone, Harriet is overwhelmed-being a wife has been harder than she thought and being an expectant mother feels like living another woman's life. Knowing that part of Calvin still cherishes the memory of his first wife, Harriet begins to question her place in her husband's heart and yearns for his return; his letters are no substitute for having him home. When Calvin returns, however, nothing seems to have turned out as planned.

Struggling to balance the demands of motherhood with her passion for writing and her desire to be a part of the social change in Ohio, Harriet works to build a life with her beloved Calvin despite differing temperaments and expectations.

Can their love endure, especially after "I do"? Can she recapture the first blush of new love and find the true beauty in her marriage?


My Review

I knew nothing about Harriet Beecher Stowe before I read this book, although the name was familiar. It was fascinating to learn about who the real woman was- most known for authoring Uncle Tom's Cabin, while also enjoying a fictionalized account of a portion of her early married life. (In the afterword the author tells chapter by chapter what is based off research, accounts, and letters, which I appreciated). I had many feelings while reading this book! The author does a skillful job of showing the perspective of both Harriet and her new husband Calvin, and making the reader sympathetic to both sides. It made me remember the first year of my marriage and the transition from being centered on one's self to being required to care for another's desires as well. Harriet's circumstance is more extreme of course, with the role of a wife still strongly traditional, not being raised to keep house but rather pursue intellectual edification, and becoming pregnant quickly and giving birth. Although they love each other, Harriet and Calvin are opposite in nature and the frustrations that build ebb and flow until a breaking point is reached (which was surprisingly emotional for me and I had to wipe away a few tears). I loved Harriet's strong desire to keep a hold of herself and continue what she and many viewed as her God-given talent and purpose of writing, especially to persuade her readers to a new opinion or viewpoint. Her struggles with keeping a balance in her life are all too real, and the pressure from several people whose opinion she values add to her burden. It shows how important it is for a couple to take each other into consideration and be compassionate while still feeling heard and respected. Sometimes it seems impossible, but as Harriet and Calvin each turn to God in prayer their hearts are softened and the answers that they seek begin to come, along with the blessing of peace. I loved that this story was based on a real woman who had a major influence on our country's history, and it showed that she like so many struggled with, learned to manage, and found joy in the balance of self and home.

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


Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Book Tour Grand Finale: Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Sunsets at Seaside
By Addison Cole

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:


Launch - About the Series

Sweet with just enough heat...

Under the name Addison Cole, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster is releasing each of her beloved, and steamy, Love in Bloom titles in a “sweet with heat” version. The new Sweet with Heat series has no explicit love scenes or harsh language, but her voice is naturally passionate, and because of that, the stories convey all of the heat you expect between two people in love (within the confines of the “sweet” genre). The stories and characters in Sweet with Heat remain mostly the same as the Love in Bloom series, however, in addition to the omission of graphic sexual scenes and cursing, certain characters have also been repositioned.


She stared at the phone, unable to believe she’d been seconds away from winning what she was sure was her father’s baseball and had lost it. She hated phones. She hated eBay. She hated bidding against nonexistent people in tiny little stupid phones. She hated the whole thing so much she turned and hurled the phone over the deck.

Wow.

That felt really, really good.


"I loved reading this book. I like the way these longtime friends continue to hang out each summer and always have each other’s backs. . . . I highly recommend this book to other readers. It is a really good read and held my attention well throughout."


"Charming and whimsical romance with a bite set in Cape Cod. The story flowed smoothly and had just enough tender and passion to leave some to the imagination."

Wishful Endings - Review

"SUNSETS AT SEASIDE is a romance story about a woman who is trying to find out what a normal life would be like and a man who has been largely labelled for his wealth and business acumen who find a chance for love with each other. There is a group of friends who are the focus of other stories in the series who bring a family/small-town feel to this story. Readers can expect some drama, romantic tension, and the usual twist in the story that creates a barrier to these two finding their happily-ever-after."


“Ouch! What the…” A deep male voice rose up to her.

Jessica crouched and peered between the balusters. Standing on the gravel road just a few feet from her building, in a pair of black running shorts and no shirt, was the nicest butt she’d ever seen, attached to a tanned back that was glistening with sweat and rippled with muscles. Holy moly, they didn’t make orchestra musicians with bodies like that. Not that she’d know, considering that they were always properly covered in black suits and white shirts, but could a body like that even be hidden?

Harlie's Books - Review

"...I loved the book clean and dirty. I’ve read Ms. Cole and her alter ego, Ms. Foster before and she never disappoints. I can’t wait to dive into the other sweet books in this series."


Becky on Books - Excerpt

“Guess it’s just you and me.”

Jamie’s rich voice slid over her, bringing goose bumps to her arms and heating her up even more. How the heck did he manage to pull off laid-back and sensual at the same time?

Kindle and Me - Promo


“So, you claim you’re not a phone thrower or a kisser. What kind of girl are you?” His arm remained around her waist as they walked down the gravel road toward her apartment.

She shrugged. “I’m not really sure. That’s kind of why I took the summer off. To find out.”


"Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole is the 4th book in the Sweet with Heat Seaside Summer Series. Jessica and Jamie are such a sweet loving couple. I adored them from the beginning. It was one of those love at first sight things. The immediately fell for each other and I immediately fell for them. . . . This is the second book I have read in the series and I absolutely can not wait to read more."


"I won’t ruin the story for you, but this is typical romantic fare with the masterful writing of Addison Cole. It is very easy to see why her books are so well-received. She writes with passion and description that often makes things a bit hot and heavy.. . . . this is a romance novel that I definitely recommend to those who want to disappear into a romantic story with passion, humor, and relatable characters."


Jamie shook his head. “Vera is going to love you, and I have a feeling I’m going to be left in the dust tomorrow. Maybe I need to rethink my position on this date.”

Her mouth went dry, and she dropped her eyes.

With their hands still entwined, he used his finger to lift her chin and gazed into her eyes. He leaned down and kissed away all the worry that had coiled in her belly.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

Sunsets at Seaside
(Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers #4)
by Addison Cole
Sweet Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 308 pages
August 23rd 2017

Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers features a group of fun, flirty, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They’re sassy, flawed, and so easy to relate to, you’ll be begging to enter their circle of friends!

Sunsets at Seaside by Addison Cole is the sweet edition of New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster's steamy romance novel Seaside Sunsets. The stories and characters remain the same, and convey all of the passion you expect between two people in love, without any explicit scenes or harsh language.

In SUNSETS at SEASIDE…
Jessica Ayers has lived a sheltered life with little more than cello lessons and practices taking up her day. Now a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she escapes the prim and proper symphony to vacation in the Seaside community in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to determine if she is living life to the fullest or missing it altogether.

For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother—and falling in love is not in his plans.

From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sweet, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie’s business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the brown-haired beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie’s life—and his heart—upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away.

SWEET WITH HEAT: SEASIDE SUMMERS SERIES
Read, Write, Love at Seaside
Dreaming at Seaside
Hearts at Seaside
Sunsets at Seaside
Coming soon!
Secrets at Seaside (releasing October 25th)
Nights at Seaside (releasing December 13th)
Seized by Love at Seaside
Embraced at Seaside
Lovers at Seaside
Whispers at Seaside

Other Books in the Series


And coming October 2017...

About the Author


SIGN UP for ADDISON'S Sweet with Heat newsletter. Fun, flirty romance with a dash of heat.

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.


Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card or Paypal Cash (winners choice)
Open internationally
Ends September 10th

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Review: Perfectly You by Robin Daniels


Heidi Reads... Perfectly You by Robin Daniels

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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

Synopsis

Ivy Nixon is the student body Vice President at Franklin High School. Each year, the school holds a date auction to raise funds for the senior class graduation party, and this year, Ivy’s in charge. Planning the event is a huge task and Ivy is determined to prove she can get the job done right. Unfortunately, she’s still one participant short and her deadline is looming.

Andy Walker, her cute but socially reclusive art class table mate, is her last resort. He may not be popular, but he’s funny, talented, and full of surprises. With a makeover and some major social marketing, Ivy is sure he could fetch a decent price at the auction.

Andy reluctantly agrees to help, but the more time Ivy spends with him, the more her feelings shift from professional to romantic in nature. To top it off, she’s done her marketing so well, that other girls are starting to notice Andy too. Come auction time, will Ivy be able to let him go to the highest bidder? Or will she find a way to keep him for herself…

Content Description: This is a stand-alone YA contemporary romance with companion novels set at the same high school. It contains minor language, innuendo, and crude humor, some steamy kissing, a party scene where underage drinking is taking place, and a brief but tasteful conversation about sex. The author has attempted to write characters who make good choices in questionable situations, in effort to keep the content appropriate for teens. This book contains no sex, written or implied, and no explicit language. Recommended for ages 14 and up.


My Review

I read the first book in the series, Perfectly Oblivious, and this book back-to-back, because the author's style is different than what I normally read and once I got used to it while reading the first book, I knew I needed to stay in the zone for this second one. I actually started this book first, and put it down after the first chapter because the snarkiness and immature behavior of Ivy and her friend Lilly was too much to take. After reading and enjoying Perfectly Oblivious, I decided to give this one another try and I'm glad I did. Despite the excess sassiness that eventually gets dialed down a bit, the characters are great and the details and mannerisms that round them out are creative. I loved how Andy's personality was revealed as Ivy got to know him better, and their chemistry was awesome. His friend Jake and her friend Lilly are funny together and the banter between all four of them was entertaining. This would make a great teen movie, actually. I think it's a book that would be enjoyed by older teens and young adults. And not-so-young adults that enjoy reading in the YA genre ;)

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


 Author Robin Daniels 

Robin Daniels is a wife, mother of five and avid consumer of books. She loves reading SO much that she was actually grounded from it as a twelve year old. No Joking! Her mom caught her reading when she was supposed to be cleaning, which was a common occurrence. At that point mom took the books and instructed her to go watch TV or play outside like a normal kid. Robin is a sucker for home design shows and magazines, watches way too much Netflix and has a very codependent relationship with with a certain diet soda who’s brand shall not be named. (Though anyone with a similar problem could probably guess which one.)




 Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 in Paypal Cash Ends 9/25/17 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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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Review & Giveaway: Miss Leslie's Secret by Jennifer Moore


Heidi Reads... Miss Leslie's Secret by Jennifer Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/miss-leslies-secret?autocomplete=true&variant_id=153208-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Decorated war hero Conall Stewart has spent ten years envisioning his return to his beloved Scottish Highlands. But now, with the days of battle finally behind him, it seems that his dreams of home have been in vain: the land of his youth lies in ruins, and his family is gone. Though he will never stop searching for his kin, Conall knows he must begin again. But when he takes on a rented farm in a nearby town, he finds far more than the fresh start he was looking for . . . 

After catching a mischievous local lad stealing, Conall returns young Jamie to his mother, Aileen Leslie—and finds the woman’s coddling of the child maddening. What Conall does not realize is that Aileen hides a frightening secret: her devoted protection of Jamie is all that shelters them from discovery by a dangerous man from their past. Drawn together by circumstance, Conall soon develops a fatherly relationship with Jamie—as well as romantic feelings for Aileen. But even as the couple accepts their growing affection for one another, time runs out for Aileen and her son: after years of hiding, they have been found. Conall lost his family once—he will do all in his power not to let history repeat itself . . .

My Review

I loved this book! Such a great setting in Scotland, in the aftermath of a tragic history that shows not only the mettle and strength of Aileen and the other members of the community, but their heartache as well. Everyone has lost someone, and both Aileen and Conall have family members who are lost. Aileen has created a new family for herself with Jamie and an elderly woman from her village (who is pretty funny) and soon Conall joins their tight-knit circle as he and Jamie take to each other. It was fascinating to learn about many of the traditions of the Scottish and how they weave into their spiritual beliefs. A wonderful story of change, opening up to love, and the importance of family and community.