5 Star – Page 19 – Books-n-Kisses

April 1, 2014March 31, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Roux of Revenge by Connie Archer

I’m delighted to have Connie Archer here today to discuss her new book, A Roux of Revenge. This is one of my favorite mystery series right now and I absolutely adore her main character, Lucky and her restaurant, By the Spoonful Soup Shop. Take it away, Connie.

When a band of travelers arrives in the village of Snowflake, Vermont and a dead stranger is found by the side of the road, the past returns with a vengeance. Long kept secrets will be revealed, lost loves will be found and the lives of many in the village will be irrevocably altered.

Special thanks to Books-n-Kisses for hosting this stop on my blog tour for A Roux of Revenge, the third book in the soup lover’s mystery series.

How did this book come to be? Well, it’s a cozy culinary mystery–there’s a dead body, an old crime and a young girl in danger, but apart from all that, this story somehow took on a life of its own, and before I realized it, I was also writing a love story–a story about love gone wrong, lost love and love found again after many years.

Sometimes we know exactly what sparks a particular story and sometimes it’s lost in the recesses of memory. It was just such a random event that gave me the kernel of an idea for A Roux of Revenge. A brief headline on a web page read: “Eleven Romanian Gypsies Captured by Canadian Border Patrol.” My ears went up. I just had to read this article. And it turned out to be true! It wasn’t an exaggeration and it made me wonder.

Why couldn’t a group of travelers from the north arrive in the village of Snowflake, Vermont? Perhaps they come from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Perhaps they speak a form of Gaelic–Scottish Gaelic. Perhaps they have been traveling for generations and could be connected to someone in the village of Snowflake, Vermont. That’s how my invented clan of Scottish Gaelic-speaking travelers came to life.

But then I started wondering about all traveling people — are there gypsies or travelers in the U.S. today, still living a nomadic lifestyle? How do they live? Under the radar? How do they deal with the simple things of life, like a birth certificate or a driver’s license. I did a bit of research and learned a lot.

The word “gypsy” is a perversion of the word “Egyptian,” but the people called “gypsies” weren’t from Egypt. They migrated out of northern India over a thousand years ago, moving through western Asia and Europe, and eventually traveling to the British Isles and the Americas. They are know by many names in many countries – they have become the Irish Travelers (although this group claims a different lineage), the English Romnichels, the Ludar, the Hungarian Slovaks, and the Tinkers of Scotland, to name just a few. They have been persecuted, vilified and subjected to forced emigration throughout the centuries.

Today, in the United States alone, there are estimated to be more than a million Romani people who come from far flung places around the globe. Although traveler culture honors family and ancestors and a commitment to a nomadic lifestyle, many descendants of travelers have very little information about their roots.

There are, however, dedicated people who want to help. If you believe you’re descended from a traveler culture, read on and explore the following websites where you might learn more about your origins and your ancestors.

The Gypsy Lore Society

http://www.gypsyloresociety.org/additional-resources/gypsy-and-traveler-culture-in-america

Roma of the Americas

http://sciway3.net/clark/freemoors/roma.html

Irish Travelers

http://sciway3.net/clark/freemoors/travellers.html

My clan of Scottish Gaelic-speaking travelers knows exactly where they come from and the place they’ll return to every year. It may be a long time before they’re in Snowflake, Vermont again, but I know you’ll enjoy reading about them all in A Roux of Revenge.

About the Author:

Connie Archer is the national bestselling author of A Spoonful of Murder and A Broth of Betrayal, the soup lover’s mystery series set in Vermont, from Berkley Prime Crime. The third book in the series, A Roux of Revenge, will be released on April 1, 2014. Connie was born and raised in New England. She now lives on the other coast.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

STIRRING UP TROUBLE

Snowflake, Vermont, is known for its skiing in winter—and its soup all year round, thanks to Lucky Jamieson’s By the Spoonful. Autumn brings golden leaves, pumpkin rice soup, the annual Harvest Festival…and murder.

Lucky’s soup shop is busier than usual this October, with groups of itinerant travelers in town to work the Harvest Festival. One newcomer seems to take a particular interest in Lucky’s young waitress, Janie, spying on her from across the street. Is the stranger stalking Janie?

After an unidentified man is found murdered in a van by the side of the road, simmering suspicions about the travelers are brought to a boil. But when Janie is put in harm’s way, Lucky must join forces with the travelers to turn up the heat on a killer…

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of A Roux of Revenge

Review (4.5 Stars): This is one of my favorite mystery series right now because I absolutely love the residents of Snowflake and Lucky’s restaurant, By the Spoonful. In this book, the town of Snowflake is preparing for the annual Harvest Festival which will bring a much needed influx of tourists into this little town. Before things get under way, a man is found murdered in his van and believed to be a part of robbery that had taken place many years ago. While the police look for clues, Lucky is having problems of her own with her boyfriend, Elias. A flame from Elias’ past has come back and Lucky is afraid that her budding romance may soon be over. Long hidden secrets finally come to light in this wonderful mystery and not everyone is ready to hear the truth.

This is the third book in the Soup Lover’s Mystery series and I look forward to each installment of this series. I’ve always liked Lucky and I’m so glad to see that everything is going well for her in the beginning of this book. Her business is successful and her relationship with Elias seems to be getting stronger until an old love from Elias’ life comes back to town. She goes through a lot of emotions during the course of this book which really adds to her character. The thing that makes this series so great besides having a fabulous restaurant which I wish I could visit, is the characters. Each of them add so much to the story and Ms. Archer does a great job creating them and writing such entertaining mysteries. I can’t say enough wonderful things about these books and I’m looking forward to the next installment in this charming series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of A Roux of Revenge. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by April 7th, please leave a comment or question for Connie:

March 25, 2014March 25, 2014

Natasha reviews Night Of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle

TITLE: Night of Pleasure
SERIES #: The School of Gallantry #4
CHARACTERS: Clementine Grey & Derek Holbrook
AUTHOR: Delilah Marvelle
PUBLICATION DATE: March 28, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
An arranged marriage is daunting, but not as daunting as seducing a spouse whose passions you do not understand…

Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, knew his fate since he was seventeen when his father announced his union to the
beautiful but mysterious American girl by the name of Miss Grey.
To protect the troubled estate, Derek submits to his father’s wishes, not realizing he’s about to entangle himself in a hell of a lot more than marriage.

Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey may be worth millions, but not a single coin has ever bought her a smidge of happiness. When she marries the charasmatic and dashing Viscount Banfield, whose only strife in life appears to be the uneven seams in his coat, she finds that siring the heir he wants requires far more than her heart is prepared to give.

Unable to seduce his overly-serious and reluctant wife, Derek realizes his dreams of creating a loving family has turned into a nightmare. But with the unexpected assistance of a retired courtesan and her outrageous school, Derek and Clementine discover that passion is a language spoken not just from the body, but from the mind, heart and soul.

REVIEW:
I just love this series! I thought I knew the characters well since I’ve encountered them in previous books, but I was so wrong. Focusing on Derek and Clementine rather than them being mere mentions made me see them in a whole new light and I loved it! Poor Derek, he expected so much from his marriage to Clementine, and she just wasn’t having any of it. She is extremely strong-minded and doesn’t submit to anyone’s authority over her own. She initially was a very difficult character for me to like, which is not the norm with Delilah’s novels – I instantly fall in love with everyone. However, as we got to know Clementine better I feel like I began to understand her at the same time Derek did, and I realized how wrong I’d been about her. She is a truly unique and complicated individual. By the time I got to the end of the book, I was astonished at how beautifully Clementine was written and admired Delilah for her bravery in writing a character as different as Clementine. It was a new and great experience for me and really made this book even more amazing. I absolutely loved the interactions between the main characters as well as all the side characters – I’m really hoping we’ll get to see more of them in future books. This is another great story to add to an already fabulous series. Delilah always amazes, and this book was no different. Read it now!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Delilah Marvelle in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

March 1, 2014March 1, 2014

Blog Tour Giveaway & Review: Midsummer Sweetheart by Katy Regnery

BLURB:

During the annual Montana festival of Midsommardagen, a law enforcement official must protect a beautiful nurse from her past, thereby breaking his own vow to never risk his heart.

SYNOPSIS:

Erik Lindstrom never had much faith in love. He saw his parents’ marriage collapse and vowed to avoid the same anguish himself. His fiercely protective nature drew him to a career in law enforcement, where he’s managed to keep himself and his heart safe…until now.

Katrin Svenson is in danger. After leaving her home in secret, her only hope for safety seems to lie in the hands of a man who has steeled himself against her deep blue eyes and sunny smile. But sparks fly between the nurse and her handsome protector, and those sparks become fire as Katrin melts the ice
surrounding Erik’s heart. That fire will ward off the dark force determined to keep their sweet midsummer nights from being an impossibly perfect forever.

Amazon/B&N

Author Bio:

Katy is a 2013 NECRWA First Kiss and 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations contest finalist who has always loved telling a good story and credits her mother with making funny, heartwarming tales come alive throughout her childhood. A lifelong devotee of all Romance writing, from Edwardian to present-day, it was just a matter of time before Katy tried her hand at writing a love story of her own. Katy lives in the relative-wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories of all can often be the messy or unexpected ones. Katy has a Paranormal alter-ego: KP Kelley – https://twitter.com/KPKelleyAuthor

Her Paranormal It’s You is scheduled for a Winter 2014 release.

Goodreads:

Katy Regnery – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery

By Proxy – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18299829-by-proxy?ac=1

Midsummer Sweetheart – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20613919-midsummer-sweetheart?ac=1

Midsummer Sweetheart Blog Tour

Hosted by:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jennifer’s Review of Midsummer Sweetheart

Review (5 Stars): This was a great story for me. Katrin was trying to get away from an abusive relationship when the opportunity to become a nurse in Skidoo Bay opened up for her. To get to this rural town several hours away, Katrin agrees to accept a ride with Erik Lindstrom, who just happens to be a friend of the family. He is on his way to a new job in law enforcement and is surprised when he meets Katrin for the first time. She isn’t at all what he expected and they are both caught off guard by the physical chemistry that they have with one another. Katrin will need someone to look out for her because her past relationship isn’t quite ready to let go of her yet.

Ms. Regnery is a new author for me but she is definitely one to watch. Katrin and Erik’s story was very romantic and I loved that they seemed to bring out the best in each other. Katrin had been through so much already with her abusive ex-boyfriend and I liked that she tried so hard to stay strong and fight for her independence. She was determined to make a fresh start in this new town and she never planned on caring about Erik. I believe that people come into your life for a reason and Erik was definitely someone that she needed by her side.

Erik was definitely a strong alpha male who would do anything to protect Katrin and you could see that whenever they were together. He originally had the attitude that he would keep things casual and wouldn’t let anyone get to him until he met Katrin. He wanted to experience love but was afraid to give his heart away and I’m glad that Katrin was the one woman who could show him what it meant to be truly loved by someone. Midsummer Sweetheart was a very touching romance and I would love to read more from Ms. Regnery.

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014

Blog Tour & Spotlight: Vitro by Jessica Khoury

Welcome to the VITRO blog tour! Jessica Khoury, the talented author of Origin, is back with a death-defying tropical adventure. Follow along over the next two weeks as Jessica takes readers behind the scenes of her latest novel.

“SOPHIE CRUE UNVEILED”

Sophie Crue is the heroine of Vitro. She spent the first six years of her life on Guam with her parents, Moira and Foster Crue, both doctors working for Corpus. When Sophie was six, her parents divorced. Her mom stayed in the South Pacific, moving to Skin Island full time to work, while Sophie and her dad moved to Boston. Ten years later, Sophie’s returning to Guam for the first time in response to a mysterious email that leads her to believe her mom may be in trouble.

In a way, Sophie is the opposite of Pia, the protagonist in Origin. Where Pia was raised in isolation inside the Immortis Project hidden in the Amazon jungle, Sophie was excluded from all things to do with her mother’s research and comes to the project as a total outsider. One of the hardest parts of writing Sophie was dealing with the psychological effects left on her by her mother’s absence. Like many kids, Sophie both hates and loves her parent, and that difficult relationship with her mother is crucial to her inner growth throughout the story. Sophie’s tale is one of emancipation from a childhood of abandonment and confusion as the questions that have haunted her are answered—and many of them in ways she never imagined.

About the Author:

Jessica Khoury is 23 years old. She has red hair. She was homeschooled. She’s an avid soccer player and was a three-time All-American striker. She is of Syrian and Scottish descent. She went to college in the same tiny Georgia town in which she was born and raised. And she’s a prodigiously talented writer with a huge following.

Jessica Khoury lives in Toccoa, GA with her husband, Benjamin. You can visit her online at www.jessicakhoury.com.

When Sophie is summoned by her long-absent mother, a scientist who works in a classified lab, Sophie throws caution to the wind and heads to the South Pacific. She sweet-talks her way onto a tiny supply plane piloted by Jim Julien, who lives on Guam with his alcoholic father. Jim is captivated by Sophie and against his better judgement agrees to take Sophie to the secretive and tropical Skin Island where her mom has been working for so many years.

There Sophie and Jim are met not by her mother but instead by Nicholas, a handsome, brilliant boy who leads them to Lux–a girl who looks exactly like Sophie. Lux is Sophie’s genetic twin and was bred using in vitro fertilization. But why? And just what have the scientists created Lux to be capable of?

With lyrical writing and ever-increasing tension, Jessica Khoury draws out the explosive answers in her much-anticipated followup to Origin.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Vitro

Review (4.5 Stars): The concept of Vitro was very interesting and thought-provoking for me and I really enjoyed this action-packed novel. Sophie Crue has come to Skin Island in search of her mother after receiving a distress email stating that she needed Sophie. With the help of an old friend, Sophie arrives at Skin Island and finds that everything isn’t what she believed it would be. She learns that she has a “twin” known only as Lux and the medical research that she once believed would help the world has a more sinister agenda. Now, she has to try to get off the island before its too late or Sophie will never escape this nightmare.

Vitro is an amazing novel about testing the boundaries of scientific research that will leave you mesmerized. I was so impressed by Ms. Khoury’s writing (reminded me of Michael Crichton) and found myself immediately caught up in this action-packed adventure. I was impressed with Ms. Khoury’s previous book, Origin, but nothing prepared me for how Vitro would affect me. This story will stay with me awhile especially since you hear so often how certain advancements in the field of medicine border between helping the world and just seeing if they can play God. That is what we see in Vitro, the scientists of Skin Island see life as something that they can use for financial gain and forget that there is still a human being involved. This attitude leads to some disastrous consequences. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Khoury and I hope she writes many more books to come.

January 19, 2014

Book Spotlight: Snowbound with a Billionaire by Jules Bennett

One blizzard plus two ex-lovers equals one passionate reunion in this Billionaires and Babies novel!

For years, billionaire producer Max Ford believed Raine Monroe had betrayed him. Now that he’s back in his hometown, he wants answers. But his ex plans to keep her mouth shut and her heart far away from temptation…until a snowstorm strands them—with her baby—in her cozy farmhouse. Soon Raine is falling faster than the snow outside…

But she has to put a stop to it before a fling with Hollywood’s hottest bachelor jeopardizes her chances of officially adopting her daughter—before saying goodbye again becomes impossible…before dark secrets from their past finally come to light…

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

American romance author, Jules Bennett, has been touching the hearts of thousands of readers since 2005. A former beauty salon owner, Jules juggled the demands of owning her own business, raising two small children and attempting to get home in time to cook her husband (also her high school sweetheart) dinner all while plotting the next scene in her head.

After twelve years of juggling the roles of beautician, wife, mother and romance writer, on very little sleep; Jules decided to hang up her shears and turn her part-time, late-night craving into her full-time passion.

Since beginning her writing career, Jules has had the pleasure of writing for The Wild Rose Press, Samhain Publishing, Berkley Publishing, and currently writes for Harlequin Desire.

Jules loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her contact page and readers may like her fan page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all the happenings in Jules’ writing life.

Jennifer’s Review of Snowbound with a Billionaire

Review (5 Stars): I absolutely loved Max and Raine’s story!!! Max, a famous movie star, returns home to help his mother after her surgery and runs right into the woman that broke his heart as a teenager. Raine, never forgot her first love, but was devastated when he went to L.A. and left her behind when his acting career had taken off. Now they have a chance to make things right but Raine is raising a baby which leaves Max to believe that there is another man in her life. But, Max and Raine soon find themselves snowed in together and old memories quickly rise to surface in such close quarters.

I loved Max and Raine together and I was so glad that they found their way back to each other after so many years apart. Raine was such a strong character, raising a child alone and trying to make her way in this world without leaning on anyone for support. She came from a very rich family but to access that money she had to follow whatever rules her society-driven parents wanted for her. I loved that she wanted to live on a farm and create yummy soaps and lotions to sell at the Farmer’s Market and live her life on her own terms. Max seemed like the typical Hollywood actor but never got over Raine not joining him when he moved to Los Angeles. Both of these characters needed closure and getting snowbound with each other was the perfect thing to fix their broken relationship. I was so mad when I found out why their relationship deteriorated when Max moved to L.A. and was so glad they got back together when they shouldn’t have been separated in the first place.

Snowbound with a Billionaire was a sweet romance that will have you believing in second chances. Perfect way to spend an afternoon. Loved Jules Bennett’s writing and can’t wait to read more of her books.

January 10, 2014January 9, 2014

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Love Your Entity by Cat Devon

SOMETIMES LOVE IS A MATTER

Sierra Brennan can inherit her great-uncle’s historic Chicago townhouse under one condition: She must live there for thirty consecutive days. What could possibly go wrong? As a writer and a ghost whisperer, Sierra has a vast imagination and a brave spirit. But not even she is prepared for the gorgeous—and naked—vampire who greets her at the door.

OF LIFE AND UN-DEATH

Ronan McCoy has spent the past century waiting to come home…to this house. The presence of the beautiful, brazen Sierra is one complication he doesn’t expect. The other is Hal, a dangerous ghost and original member of Al Capone’s gang who’s dead-set on revenge. What is a formerly indentured vampire supposed to do to get a moment’s peace? All he knows for sure is that he must protect Sierra from Hal. But once he has her in his arms, can he ever let her go? Life—and love—is becoming stranger than fiction for Sierra…and more delicious than she and Ronan could have ever imagined… in Love Your Entity.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Cat Devon is a pseudonym for an award-winning author. A former librarian and confessed bookaholic, she has a weakness for wickedly sexy vampires, imported dark chocolate and decadent cupcakes. She and her family live in the Chicago area. For more info please visit my website www.catdevon.com or Like me on Facebook www.facebook.com/catdevonauthor or follow me on Twitter @catdevonauthor.

Jennifer’s Review of Love Your Entity

Review (5 Stars): Sierra has the opportunity to inherit her family’s property but only if she is able to stay in the house for thirty consecutive days. The problem is that the house is haunted and has scared away everyone that has set foot in it. She never expected that besides dealing with the ghosts, she has to deal with a gorgeous stranger that always seems to be half-naked when he is around her. Now she just has to complete her mission by staying in the house, finish writing her new book and hopefully resist from falling into this handsome vampire’s arms.

I loved Ms. Devon’s previous books and Love Your Entity is just as entertaining as the rest of them. Sierra was a great character that you could instantly relate to and I think she may be my favorite of the series so far. Sierra is a popular author who writes about a ghost hunter and has had quite a bit of experience in that department because she has been seeing real ghosts since she was little. Inheriting her family’s townhouse would be a dream come true where she would finally get a chance to settle down in a place that she could call home.

Ronan has been an indentured servant for a hundred years to the vampire that sired him. Finally free of his master’s bonds, he learns that his deceased sister’s soul is being held captive and the key to her salvation resides somewhere in Sierra’s house. He can’t see any of the ghosts that are haunting the townhouse, which leads to some hilarious scenes in this book. I can definitely see Joe Manganiello as Ronan and I could understand why Sierra had a hard time resisting him.

Cat Devon is a wonderful author and Love Your Entity is an entertaining thrill-ride that will have you laughing out loud. Each of her books are a treat and it amazes me how easily I can get lost in her books. Ms. Devon is an author to watch and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Love Your Entity. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by January 16th, answer me this question in the comments:

Have you ever had an experience with a ghost or visited a place that was haunted?

January 7, 2014January 7, 2014

Book Spotlight & Interview: Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett

It’s the roaring twenties, and San Francisco is a hotbed of illegal boozing, raw lust, and black magic. The fog-covered Bay Area can be an intoxicating scene, particularly when you specialize in spirits…

Aida Palmer performs a spirit medium show onstage at Chinatown’s illustrious Gris-Gris speakeasy. However, her ability to summon (and expel) the dead is more than just an act.

Winter Magnusson is a notorious bootlegger who’s more comfortable with guns than ghosts—unfortunately for him, he’s the recent target of a malevolent hex that renders him a magnet for hauntings. After Aida’s supernatural assistance is enlisted to banish the ghosts, her spirit-chilled aura heats up as the charming bootlegger casts a different sort of spell on her…

On the hunt for the curseworker responsible for the hex, Aida and Winter become drunk on passion. And the closer they become, the more they realize they have ghosts of their own to exorcise…

Amazon/B&N

Interview with Jenn Bennett

1. Tell me about your new release, Bitter Spirits.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog! BITTER SPIRITS is the first book in my new Roaring Twenties historical paranormal romance series: in 1920s San Francisco, a scarred man known as the Viking Bootlegger falls wildly in love with a spirit medium when he’s haunted by the ghost of a dead prostitute in Chinatown.

2. How did you come up with the idea for the series?

I also write the Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series, and originally, the Roaring Twenties also started as urban fantasy. But somewhere along the way, I realized that what I enjoyed writing best were the character interactions and their relationships. So I scrapped the first incarnation and started again, this time focusing on the romance between the hero and heroine. After that, all the pieces fell into place.

3. What made you pick this time period and what kind of research did you have to do for this or for Aida’s profession?

I’ve been fascinated with early 20th century culture since I was a teenager–the 1920’s in particular. Over the years, I’ve amassed a small library of research material, including maps, magazines, books, and photographs from that era. In regards to Aida’s profession as a trance spirit medium, that was rather fun to research. Spiritualism’s heyday lasted from the second half of the 19th century through the 1920s, and during that time, several mediums made splashy national headlines–like the Fox sisters or Cora Scott or Paschal Beverly Randolph. Even President Abraham Lincoln attended seances organized by his wife!

4. Have you had any experience yourself with ghosts?

Someone close to my husband’s family claims to be able to see ghosts. When she was a teenager, she walked into my husband’s childhood home and said it was teeming with ghosts and has since refused to step foot in there again. My mother-in-law often reports unexplainable things happening in that house–strange noises, lights flickering, objects disappearing and reappearing in different places–but I’ve never experienced anything spooky there myself.

5. What are you working on now?

Quirky young adult contemporary romance (which is an absolute joy to write), and a third book in the Roaring Twenties series.

Lightning Round

1. Favorite Food

This week, it’s Castelvetrano olives (bright green and buttery, from Sicily).

2. Favorite Scary Movie?

Either Susperia or The Shining.

3. Favorite Holiday?

Halloween, hands down!

4. What one thing would people be surprised to find out about you?

When my husband and I lived in the Los Angeles metro area, I had season passes to Disneyland and went, like, all the time. I knew every secret nook in the park, had a favorite hotel room that overlooked waterfalls (in the Bonita Tower of the Disneyland hotel), and rode Pirates of The Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion rides an obscene number of times. My dirty little secret is out!

About the Author:

Jenn Bennett is the author of the Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series from Pocket Books and the Roaring Twenties historical paranormal romance series from Berkley. Born in Germany, she’s lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe, the U.S., and the Far East. She currently lives near Atlanta with one husband and two very bad pugs.

Website/Facebook/Twitter

Jennifer’s Review of Bitter Spirits

Review (5 Stars): What an amazing book! I loved everything about Bitter Spirits from its fascinating characters to the intriguing supernatural world of the 1920’s. I loved having Winter and Aida together as a couple because they just fit so well together. Winter was a bootlegger haunted by the death of his wife in a car accident that left him physically scarred. He had such a towering presence that affected everyone around him, but Aida was the only one who saw him as handsome while the rest of the world labeled him a monster.

Aida was my favorite because she had this firecracker personality and made a living as a spiritual medium in San Francisco’s Chinatown. She was not only haunted by the spirits that she could see in her everyday life but by the death of her own family. Forced to survive at a very young age, it made her a strong interesting character, which is what I loved about her.

Bitter Spirits is an exciting supernatural mystery that will leave you spellbound. Ms. Bennett has created an amazing supernatural world that I can’t wait to visit again. Looking forward to her next release in the series, Grim Shadows, which features Winter’s brother, Lowe.

January 6, 2014January 4, 2014

Jennifer reviews Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

TITLE: Some Girls Bite
SERIES #: Chicagoland Vampires #1
CHARACTERS: Merit, Ethan
AUTHOR: Chloe Neill
PUBLICATION DATE: 4/7/09
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago’s vampires announced their existence to the world–and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he got only a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker…and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I’ve traded sweating over my dissertation for learning to fit in at a Kenwood mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude–and servitude. Right….

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I’m surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan’s attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone’s still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war…and there will be blood.

REVIEW: This is the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires series and definitely should not be missed. One thing that I loved about Merit was that she wasn’t your typical heroine because she never asked to become a vampire and this wasn’t how she envisioned her life to be. She was a grad student with the hopes of becoming a teacher and all that changed the night that she was attacked. I enjoyed watching her internal struggle as she tried to decide what to do with her newfound vampire powers. The choice of becoming a vampire was taken away from her originally, but Merit could now decide to enter that world on her own terms and I loved watching the decisions that she made right in front of my eyes.

Chloe Neill created a magical paranormal world where vampires are commonplace and people now make the conscious decision to be turned and join a vampire house like it is a celebration. The chemistry between Merit and Ethan was so intense in this book and I enjoyed how their personalities clashed on every little thing. Merit wasn’t going to back down from anyone and that included the master of the Cadogen House. Also, there are very hot-looking vampires in this book and I am hoping that Merit will get together with at least one of them (please let it be Morgan) in the future. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series because I have a feeling that it is going to be very entertaining watching Merit’s interactions in her new vampire world.

January 4, 2014January 4, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston

I’m so glad to have Linda here with us today to talk about her new book, Teacup Turbulence. I adore this series and rescued animals have a special place in my heart because of my little Maddie. She was found on the side of the road with her babies and brought to an animal shelter where she wasn’t adopted for two months. We luckily found her at our local humane society the day she was transferred and it was love at first sight. She is a wonderful kitty and I’m thankful that we have this lovely lady in our lives. Take it away, Linda.

Hi, I’m Linda O. Johnston, and I’m delighted to be blogging at Books-n-Kisses. I’m here thanks to a really delightful book tour. It was set up for me by Great Escapes Book Tours to help me promote my latest Pet Rescue Mystery, TEACUP TURBULENCE, a January release from Berkley Prime Crime.

My pet rescue mysteries involve both dogs and cats–but I focus on saving dogs. Why? Because I love them! So, I’m sending more kisses in their direction as I blog here.

My own dogs definitely rank high among my writing inspirations. I have two–or, rather, they have me. My Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Lexie and Mystie have trained me better than I’ve trained them.

Zoey is the main dog in the Pet Rescue Mysteries. She is–what else?–a rescue dog adopted by protagonist Lauren Vancouver, the chief administer of HotRescues, a wonderful, fictional no-kill pet shelter in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.

Of course when I talk about “no-kill” I’m referring to pets, not people. The Pet Rescue Mysteries are cozy mysteries, so someone is murdered in each of them. The animals all come out of the stories fine, even if some of them get into danger now and then.

So, kisses to the dogs, both those in my stories and my own. And kisses to Lauren for saving animals. She does have a love interest, by the way–Matt Kingston, a captain with Los Angeles Animal Services. Kisses, as well, to Matt. And to Dante DeFrancisco, the wealthy benefactor of HotRescues in my stories, since he makes sure HotRescues has enough funds to take care of all the animals it saves. Yes, it’s fiction, since most real shelters are always in need of funds. But it’s one less worry for Lauren as she takes care of animals and solves mysteries.

What’s the underlying theme of TEACUP TURBULENCE? It centers on a very special bunch of people who pick up homeless animals from areas where their sort isn’t being adopted particularly quickly, and move them to locations where people will welcome them with open arms…and homes. I fortunately did not make this up. A bunch of real organizations actually do this, using both private planes and cars. Private planes are the vehicles of choice in TEACUP TURBULENCE. And of course, since it’s a cozy mystery, there’s a murder involved that Lauren Vancouver has to solve. My kisses to the characters in TEACUP TURBULENCE, as well as to those genuine people who do such generous work to save homeless pets.

Let me add my kisses to Books-n-Kisses for hosting me here. I’d love to see your comments on this blog and my Pet Rescue Mysteries–and I’ll blow you a kiss if you comment!

About the Author:

Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 35 romance and mystery novels, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.

Linda’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. In this cozy series, “no-kill” refers to pets, not people! And watch for Linda’s Superstition Mysteries from Midnight Ink.

Website/Facebook

Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . .

Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.

But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Teacup Turbulence

Review (5 Stars): I have loved this series from the very beginning and Teacup Turbulence is the best in the series for me. Lauren Vancouver, the administer of HotRescues, learns that a shelter in Missouri has more small dogs than they can handle at a time where L.A. residents are clamoring for these dogs as a result of a new dog collar ad campaign. After Lauren arranges for these adorable dogs to be flown to HotRescues, she learns that a rescue worker has joined the pups and will be monitoring their treatment in L.A. Teresa isn’t a very nice woman and seems to get in arguments with everyone that she comes into contact with, which leads to Lauren finding another dead body at the shelter. It’s up to Lauren to find out who is to blame for Teresa’s death and everyone seems to have a reason for wanting this snarky woman dead.

Every time that I read one of Ms. Johnston’s books, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend. I love her Pet Rescue series and I am always entertained by whatever situations Lauren seems to find herself in to investigate a new murder and protect these adorable animals. I enjoyed catching up with these characters and I loved that I couldn’t figure out the mystery before Lauren did. Teacup Turbulence is a wonderful addition to a great series and I can’t wait to read the next Pet Rescue mystery.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Teacup Turbulence. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by Jan 10th, please leave a meaningful comment for Linda:

January 1, 2014December 30, 2013

Kelly & Kimberly review Rebel by Skye Jordan

TITLE: Rebel
SERIES #: Renegades #2
CHARACTERS: Wes Lawson & Rubi Russo
AUTHOR: Syke Jordan
PUBLICATION DATE: December 22, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sassy, smart, and sexy, former supermodel-turned-tech guru Rubi Russo has it all—looks, money, confidence and freedom. Her life is a whirlwind of fast cars and fleeting affairs—and she likes it that way. With a past like Rubi’s, forever isn’t part of her vocabulary. So when studly Renegade stuntman Wes Lawson wants to take their friendship to the next level, she’s all out.

Raised a simple country-boy, Wes knows the brazen Rubi isn’t his type. But after spending time with her, he discovers she’s everything he’s ever wanted in a woman. To win her wild rebel heart, he’ll have to prove he sees behind her smokescreen to all the goodness she tries to hide. Then it’s just a matter of crushing her fears, shattering her barriers, and convincing her that loving him is everything she’s been missing in her life, too.

Piece of cake.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Wes has finally realized that it is time to break out of his mold and go for what he really wants in life. And what he wants is Rubi. Forever. Trying to convince her of that is another story.
Rubi is a woman who doesn’t do relationships at all. Her only lasting relationship is with Lexi and now the Renegades. As much as Rubi is tempted by Wes and what he has to offer she can’t take the risk of losing her best friend.
Heartbreaking, fun, determination, a little stupidity and amazing true love is how I would describe this book. Wes & Rubi are on fire in every way possible. They are both headstrong, very determined and very set in their ways. I felt Rubi’s pain pour off the pages of this story. I wanted so bad to hug this girl. And Wes as sweet and determined as he is I wanted to slap him so bad for leaving her. Oh I was so mad at him!!!

Skye has knocked out of the park again with this book. I so love this series and can’t wait to see who is next. Rachel maybe???

Oh but I have one questions for Skye. Was that a safe thing to do with ice cream?

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
5 Hearts I have a new make believe boyfriend. I totally love Wes. He is the guy every girl wants. He is all man but with a heart as big as Missouri (you will understand that when you read the book). He has a romantic side any woman would love and he seems to “get” the way Rubi thinks so well that he makes you melt.

Rubi is just an insecure little girl in a woman’s incredible body. She has abandonment issues, she is commitment phobic and she is just plain scared sometimes but hides it with her flirty ways. She makes the reader want to become friends with her so you can try to help her understand how much she hurts herself.

I loved the first book in the series and thought the author could never match up to that one and I was right… She didn’t match it she surpassed it. The scene at lunch encompasses the whole relationship of the couple. I found that scene so poignant and knew from that moment on this couple should and would be together. Great read!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Cygnet Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 30, 2013December 26, 2013

Kelly reviews I’m Dreaming of An Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

TITLE: I’m Dreaming of An Undead Christmas
SERIES #: Half-Moon Hollow #2.6
CHARACTERS: Gigi Scanlon, Iris, Collin, Jane and the whole gang
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: December 5, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Free from Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It’s Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi’s first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It’s taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi’s safety.

Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow. And then there’s the small matter of the handsome, frustrating vampire who keeps appearing in Gigi’s peripheral vision, then disappearing before she can talk to him.

Can the Scanlon sisters negotiate romantic problems, vampire politics, and Christmas cookie disasters and enjoy a relatively normal holiday?

REVIEW:
In I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas Gigi Scanlon is coming home for the 1st Christmas since her sister has been turned. But everything will be just fine if Gigi can finally tell Iris about her new job, tell Ben she wants to break up and not freak out about her new stalker. But is Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow so what could go wrong?

LOVED this book!!! Yes it was a novella and totally left me wanting more. But that is okay I have on very good authority that Gigi will be getting her own novel. YAY!!!!!! So once again Molly Harper reminded me why I am so moving to Half-Moon Hollow and plan to stalk Jane, Iris, Gigi and gang until they become my bestest friends ever. I just love everything about Molly’s writing then you add Amanda Ronconi as the narrator and I am one happy reader/listener.

Disclaimer:
This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

December 25, 2013November 24, 2013

Winter Romance Review: Jennifer reviews The Christmas Cookie Collection by Lori Wilde

TITLE: The Christmas Cookie Collection
SERIES: Twilight Texas
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: There’s a legend in Twilight, Texas. It says that if on Christmas you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.

Carrie, Raylene, Christine, and Flynn are all members of the Christmas Cookie Club. Each has a story to tell, and each discovers the miracles of the season and the power of love.

REVIEW: I loved each of these wonderful stories which is the perfect romance collection for the holiday season. Each of these stories revolves around a member of the Christmas Cookie Club that are having a hard time around the holidays due to losing someone that they truly cared about or have yet to find their true love.

The first story involves Carrie who hates the holidays because her high school sweetheart, Mark, left her after having their marriage annulled eight years ago. She never has gotten over the pain of that event and has recently found out that a reality television show is coming to Twilight to prove that their first love legend is only fiction. To Carrie’s horror, she learns that the host of Fact or Fiction will be in Twilight as well and is none other than her ex-boyfriend, Mark.

Mark has never gotten over his relationship with his high school sweetheart, Carrie and is hoping that coming to Twilight will help him finally get over her or to make amends. He never expected the feelings that he had for her to come rushing back to him the moment he laid eyes on her. The only thing is that Carrie wants nothing to do with him and is avoiding him at every turn. Can he convince her to give their love another chance?

This was one of my favorite stories out of all of them. Carrie never has gotten over the love of her life and the holiday season only reminds her of what she had lost. They married right after high school and Carrie ended the relationship after learning that Mark was accepted to a big college and she never wanted to stand in the way of him pursuing his dreams. She didn’t want him to stay in Twilight if he had the opportunity for bigger and better things just because he was with her. Very sweet story and I loved that they never stopped caring for each other and that love will always find a way.

The second story involves Raylene, the owner of the Horny Toad Tavern, who is just as bitter about the holidays as Carrie. Raylene is having a hard time around Christmas because her husband left her a year ago after learning that she had a child before they were together and she had given that child to the wealthy grandparent’s of the father. She has never forgiven herself for that decision and now she has lost the only man that she has ever loved.

A mysterious young woman comes into town and ends up on Raylene’s doorstep looking for a job but is really there for a different reason. Shannon Dugan has come to Twilight to learn more about the mother that had left her behind and see if she can build a relationship with the only remaining family that she has left. Shannon gets more than she bargained for when she meets Nate Deavers, a man that would do anything to show Shannon that family isn’t the only thing that she can have while she is Twilight. Shannon now has the opportunity to make a home in Twilight and find that everything that she has ever wanted has been waiting for her in this small Texas town.

I think that Raylene’s story was the best because it dealt with two people finding something that they had always been searching for. Raylene never forgave herself for giving Shannon to her paternal grandparents because she felt that since they were wealthy they could provide her with a better life. Shannon grew up with a silver spoon but never really had the love that she needed from her grandparents and recently had her heart broken from a two-timing con man. I loved Nate in this story because once he saw Shannon, that was it for him. It was love at first sight and he treaded carefully as to not scare her away from the possibility of a relationship with him. Shannon was afraid to love again after her last disastrous relationship but I loved how caring and considerate Nate was with her. Was so glad that everyone found their happy ending in this story and Raylene was able to find the love that she once thought that she had lost.

The third story is Carrie’s and it was a cute one. Carrie has always been wanting a family of her own but after a car accident as a teenager, she learned that she could never have a child. This fact prevented her from having a true relationship because the jerks that she dated before ran when they learned that she would never be able to conceive. Happy with her successful bakery, Carrie yearns for something more when Eli walks into her shop one day. Eli, is a face from her past, a high school crush that she never forgot about and neither did he.

Eli is a widower raising four kids of his own and has heard great things about the bakery in Twilight. So he entered Carrie’s bakery on a mission to have her make a birthday cake for his teenage daughter, never expecting to find the girl that he once kissed behind the high school bleachers working there. The two of them have a second chance at love but have to face a few obstacles along the way. Great story but I would have loved their story to be just a little bit longer.

The last story in this collection is called Grace and involves Jesse and Flynn Calloway. On Christmas Eve, they venture out into the snowy night to bring presents to a family who wouldn’t have much of a Christmas otherwise. Flynn is nine months pregnant with their first child and could give birth at any time so they try to rush home so Flynn won’t be out in the cold for very long. On the way home, Flynn and Jesse get separated and Flynn is involved in a car accident and Jesse will do whatever it takes to get to his wife and unborn child. Very short tale but the perfect ending for this collection.

Lori Wilde is a great writer and knows how to write fabulous small town romances that will tug at your heart strings. I love her Twilight, Texas series and I think that The Christmas Cookie Collection will be a book that you can read over and over again this holiday season.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.