Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews Christmas On 4th Street by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Christmas On 4th Street
SERIES #: Fool’s Gold #12.5
CHARACTERS: Noelle & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
There’s nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool’s Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped… Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That’s why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool’s Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that’s magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel’s memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year’s eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can’t stop sharing.

Gabriel didn’t think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
5 Stars 6 Hours! 6 Wonderful hours… That is how long it took me to read this book. I could not put it down. There is no better place to be than Fool’s Gold during the holidays or anytime of year really. But there is something about the streets covered in snow with decorations on every business that makes you feel at home there.

We met Noelle in the previous books in the series and while we knew she had a history we hadn’t found out what it was until now. Noelle is a fighter but you wouldn’t know it from the sweetness we have come to know about her. And it takes awhile for Gabriel to see it too. These two are perfect for eachother. There is a chemistry that you feel from the first couple of pages and never seems to stop sizzling.

There is just something about this unbelievable town that makes you want to pack up and move there. Mallery has a way of bringing you home to her fictional town and making you never want to leave.

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Stars As always Fool’s Gold is a fun place to visit. While this was not my favorite Fool’s Gold book I have read so far it was still a fun book. Gabriel & Noelle are so sweet together. It started from chapter one and keep going to the end of the book. Which is where I had my only problem. For me the jump from I can’t commit
to the altar was just a little too fast for my liking. But other than that I enjoyed this book. I really loved the snow scene!
If you are a Susan Mallery fan you will love this book. Because how can a trip to Fool’s Gold ever truly be bad?

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

September 25, 2013September 24, 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Late Thaw by Ana Blaze

Title: A LATE THAW
Author: Ana Blaze
Publisher: Entranced Publishing
Imprint: Kissed
Genre: Contemporary romance
Release Date: November 11th 2013

The town’s too small for Kiley St. Claire’s reappearance to be a surprise, still seeing her hits Cole Thomas like a punch to the gut. She ripped his heart apart when she turned to ice and ran away all those years ago. Now that she’s back, Cole’s going to say his piece and move on.
Even if she does look damn good in that uniform.

Kiley St. Claire is back in the small town of Barrett, Vermont, for one reason and one reason only: to earn some cash so she can survive her final semester of grad school. She’s not there for the sexy Christmas tree farmers.
Even the one who once held her heart.

Goodreads

About the Author:

Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, Ikea, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office.

Blog /Twitter /Facebook/ Pinterest

Giveaway

Ana Blaze is giving away a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice) and an e-copy of her contemporary romance novella THE BEST MAN

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September 24, 2013September 19, 2013

Release Day Madness 9.24.13

Happy Release Day!!!!

What are you getting this week?

Did I miss your favorite?

Send me an email at kelly(at)books-n-kisses.com and let me know of any upcoming releases you want featured on Tuesday’s Release Day Madness.

September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

Book Spotlight: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates–brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveal an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find–aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch nemeses have set a course for revenge–but who will be left alive at the end?

Goodreads/Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

V.E. Schwab is the author of The Near Witch, a YA fantasy from Disney Hyperion, as well as The Archived, the first book in a YA supernatural series, also from Disney Hyperion. The product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a Southern upbringing, Victoria has a penchant for tea and BBC shows, and a serious and well-documented case of wanderlust. Vicious is her first adult book.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Vicious

TITLE: Vicious

CHARACTERS: Victor, Eli and Sydney

AUTHOR: V.E. Schwab

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

I was waiting patiently to get my hands on Vicious because everything that this author writes is amazing. Vicious tells the story of Victor and Eli, two intelligent, yet arrogant, college students who believe that they have the ability to become Extra-Ordinary individuals if they carefully create and experience near-death events. By coming back from the brink of death, they would develop supernatural abilities that would not only prove their thesis but put them in a higher class than those around them. Victor and Eli play with the delicate balance of their own lives and these events lead to tragedy and betrayal that will haunt them for years.

Vicious was such a great book for me because it reminded me so much of another novel, Frankenstein, that I still love after reading it so many years ago. Victor and Eli believed that by creating their own near-death experiences that they would achieve unbelievable power and used death to create a new life. By playing God, each of them had to deal with the tragic events that resulted, destroying a friendship and sending one character into the slow descent of madness. By becoming Extra-Ordinary, Eli believed that he had to right to get rid of others who had their own near-death experiences. Instead of becoming the hero he wanted to be, he in a way became a monster who had to be stopped before he harmed others. Now, Victor is on the hunt for his old friend and with each step that leads Victor to Eli, their story slowly unfolds in front of our eyes.

Vicious is an emotional thrill-ride about the consequences of life and death that is destined to become a literary classic. V.E. Schwab weaves a captivating tale that will haunt you well after you have finished reading the last page and I was sorry that we had to say goodbye to these characters. If Ms. Schwab isn’t on your list of authors to watch, she should be because every book is more amazing and thought-provoking than her last.

September 23, 2013September 22, 2013

Death of a Schoolgirl Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Why Jane Eyre Owned a Pencil. Probably Just One….

By Joanna Campbell Slan

Author of Death of a Schoolgirl

My most recent book, Death of a Schoolgirl, picks up where Charlotte Bronte’s original classic, Jane Eyre, left off. Readers who know that I also write two contemporary mystery series, often ask me, “Doesn’t that take a lot of research?”

The short answer is yes.

Although Bronte’s book was published in 1847, the story of the orphaned governess is actually set in the years 1818-1820. In the two centuries that have passed, people haven’t changed much. We still get up in the morning, get dressed, eat breakfast, and go about the business of loving, hating, and tolerating each other. But the world around us, the theatre in which we perform our lives, has changed dramtically, in large part because we enjoy such abundance.

Items we use every day, and discard without a second thought, were precious and hard to come by back in the Regency era. Take, for example, the ubiquitous lead pencil. Since Jane was an amateur artist with some talent for drawing and sketching, we might presume she owned one.

Yes, one.

Instead of buying pencils by the dozen, people in the early 1800s bought them one at a time. Unlike today’s pencils, these writing instruments of the past were neither bright yellow nor hexagonal. Both are modern enhancements. Today’s iconic yellow shaft was a nod to China, home of the best graphite in the world. And it was an American named Ebenezer Wood who crafted the first hexagonal and octagonal shapes to keep pencils from rolling off of desks.

Back then, a pencil didn’t automatically come with an eraser. Up until the year 1770, an author wishing to erase an errant mark grabbed bread crumbs and rubbed them onto her paper, hoping that they would remove the unwanted graphite. As with many inventions, the rubber eraser came about by accident. In this case, a British engineer named Edward Nairne grabbed a wodge of rubber gum and scrubbed away at this paper. Perhaps his sandwich was out of reach.

Some might find delving into ancient history tedious. Indeed, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know, and so the process of writing can get terribly bogged down. But each exploration into the past leaves me feeling grateful for the many conveniences I enjoy every day. Conveniences I use, but too often take for granted.

About the Author:

Award-winning and National Bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan is the creator of three mystery series, including the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and a new series featuring Cara Mia Delgatto, a young woman who runs a recycling/repurposing shop.

The first book in Joanna’s historical romance mystery series, The Jane Eyre Chronicles, is Death of a Schoolgirl, winner of the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter.

Visit Joanna’s website at www.JoannaSlan.com. See all her books at http://tinyurl.com/JoannaSlan. Follow her on Pinterest (www.Pinterest.com/JoannaSlan) Join the conversation at http://tinyurl.com/JCSlan Or communicate directly with her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com

Jennifer’s Review of Death of a Schoolgirl

TITLE: Death of a Schoolgirl

SERIES #: The Jane Eyre Chronicles

AUTHOR: Joanna Campbell Slan

PUBLICATION DATE: 08/07/12

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: In her classic tale, Charlotte Bronte introduced readers to the strong-willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. Picking up where Bronte left off, Jane’s life has settled into a comfortable pattern: She and her beloved Edward Rochester are married and have an infant son. But Jane soon finds herself in the midst of new challenges and threats to those she loves…

Jane can’t help but fret when a letter arrives from Adele Varens–Rochester’s ward, currently at boarding school–warning that the girl’s life is in jeopardy. Although it means leaving her young son and invalid husband, and despite never having been to a city of any size, Jane feels strongly compelled to go to London to ensure Adele’s safety.

But almost from the beginning, Jane’s travels don’t go as planned–she is knocked about and robbed, and no one believes that the plain, unassuming Jane could indeed by the wife of a gentleman; even the school superintendent takes her for an errant new teacher. But most shocking to Jane is the discovery that Adele’s schoolmate has recently passed away under very suspicious circumstances, yet no one appears overtly concerned. Taking advantage of the situation, Jane decides to pose as the missing instructor—and soon uncovers several unsavory secrets, which may very well make her the killer’s next target…..

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: Jane Eyre has always been a wonderful book to me and one that I have read, time and time again. Death of a Schoolgirl picks up right after Jane Eyre left off and I was amazed how this book reminded me of visiting an old friend. The story starts with Jane finally settling down with Edward after the traumatic events of Jane Eyre. Edward is recuperating after losing his eye and Jane has been blessed with the birth of their young son, Ned. Adele is off at boarding school and her letters have been very succinct and worrisome since she has made no mention of the new addition to their family. When Adele’s recent letter uncovers a hidden message, Jane and Edward realize that something is wrong with her at school and Jane soon sets off to find answers. Along the way, Jane is robbed and mistaken for the new German teacher at the school which helps Jane to determine exactly what is happening at the school. She soon learns that Adele’s schoolmate has died under suspicious circumstances and Jane must find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt.

I loved this book and I really didn’t want it to end. I loved seeing what happened to Jane and Edward after the events of Jane Eyre and see how much her life has changed after she got married. Jane was always a great character to me and she just has grown into such a strong determined woman after everything that she had been through. I enjoyed the mystery in this book and I’m so glad that this is a start to a new series because I can’t wait to read more about these characters in future books.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Death of a Schoolgirl. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

Which book do you consider to be a classic?

September 23, 2013September 16, 2013

Interview with Jamie K. Schmidt

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Jamie K. Schmidt has over thirty short stories in publication. Her romantic suspense novel UNDERCOVER LOVER, published by Musa Publishing, will be released September 13, 2013. THE QUEEN’S WINGS, book one of the Emerging Queens series, a paranormal dragon romance will be published by Entangled’s Edge line this fall. Book One of her contemporary romance series, INNER GODDESS, will be published by Random House’s Loveswept line June 2014.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in Secondary Education English. She’s also held various jobs as a call center manager, a Tupperware consultant, a paralegal, and finally a technical writer for a major corporation. She is an active member in the Romance Writers of America (RWA), serving as the President for her local chapter Connecticut Romance Writers of America (CTRWA).

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, ever since I was a little girl. My first novel attempt was in the fifth grade. I wrote about a family of dryer lint named The Fuzzies. I did my own artwork too. I self published a nonfiction book on Switzerland—also self illustrated. I was tickled to see my own catalog card in the library. When I was in middle school, I tried to tackle a Vietnam war novel called Blood and Brothers, about twins going to Vietnam. The first romance novel I wrote was “Sweet Southern Revenge.” It was heavily influenced by V.C. Andrews Flowers in the Attic Series. It’s probably best that manuscript has been forever lost.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m a big procrastinator. I work best when I have a deadline otherwise I start a bunch of books, get distracted or bored and never finish them. I’ve got at least five novels in different genres that I should finish. But I’ve got to finish the two books I’m contracted for first.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Undercover Lover: Her lips are sealed

When Reiki therapist Pamela Krupin is attacked by thugs who work for her client, a Russian mob boss, the boss orders his godson, Detective Drake Logan, to protect her. Their attraction flares across Pamela’s line in the sand: She will not violate her patient’s confidentiality. But when Drake’s godfather is murdered and Pamela is targeted, together they have to find out what the mob is really after.

Here’s an excerpt from it:

They stood up to leave when Vera brought over their checks. Drake took both of them and pulled out his wallet.

“You don’t have to do that,” she protested and tried to take her check from him.

“It’s the least I could do. Besides, it’s my pleasure to treat a beautiful woman to lunch. I usually get to buy hot dogs from the street vendor for me and my partner.”

“Well, thank you,” she said graciously and then impulsively kissed him on the cheek.

His face was smooth and warm. His cheek just having the slightest brush of whisker, unlike Ralphie whose beard was as riotous as the rest of his blond curls. Drake turned his head and their lips just missed brushing each other. There was a flicker of desire deep in her belly and her fingers itched to slide into his jacket and see if he had muscles to go with that suit.

Staring at his jaw, she wondered again why she was comparing him to Ralphie. Ralphie was her patient. It wouldn’t be ethical to be anything more. And this detective was a little too slick for her. Maybe it was the ponytail or him not taking off his sunglasses, but warning bells started to go off when he slid his finger down her chin and tilted it up so she was looking at her dual reflection in his sunglasses.

“Are you doing anything Friday night?” he asked.

“I’m working,” she said and stepped back. Just like that the spell was broken. She slung her purse over her shoulder. “Thank you again for lunch. Good luck with your search.”

“Stay safe,” he said and she felt his eyes on her as she walked out the back door

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I had a dual inspiration. The first was the movie Eastern Promises with Viggo Mortensen. I thought his Russian accent was mesmerizing and I was intrigued by the history of the Russian mob, most notably the vor v zakone. The other inspiration was the Reiki treatment I was undergoing. I found the mysticism and the energy work to be fascinating and it inspired my creativity.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I have a dragon paranormal romance series coming out from Entangled Publishing this fall, in which the fate of the dragon race revolves around a human woman who dreams of shifting into a dragon. The first book is called The Queen’s Wings and it’s due out in November 2013. I also have a contemporary romance series coming out early next year with Random House’s Loveswept line. The Couture Series revolves around an ex-stripper named Colleen who after inheriting a lot of money starts a secret sex society. In book one, Inner Goddess, Colleen’s strait-laced sister hides from her abusive boyfriend at what she thinks is a fashion house, but when she finds out the real purpose of Couture, she is shocked to discover that she can find true love amidst the bawdiness.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I’d like to meet Ilona Andrews (husband and wife writing team, Gordon & Ilona Andrews) because I love all of their series. The Kate Daniels one is my favorite. I was sorry to see the Edge series end. Their online serial novel was something to look forward to every week. And their holiday novellas are always a treat.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Write. Finish the damn book. Then start a new file on the computer and write a new story. Don’t ever stop writing. The more you write the better you get. Join a writer’s group. Writing is a lonely job and it helps to have friends and colleagues to go to for advice or even a shoulder to cry on.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I would like to take my son to Disney World. I want to go on a Hawaiian cruise. I want to quit my day job and write full time. Those are the top three items on my bucket list.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

So. Many. Books! I’m looking forward to Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt, Up from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch, The Descent by Alma Katsu, and Barefoot by the Sea by Roxanne St. Clair.

September 23, 2013September 16, 2013

Interview & giveaway with Sasha Summers

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I love books! And movies! And my four kids! Not necessarily in that order. 🙂 I love museums, they’re chalk full of inspiration for future projects.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I think so, yes. My mom has found some of my very early work… They will not be published. LOL!

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

I have some amazing plotting friends. They use story boards and ‘acts’ and know exactly what should happen on what page. I can’t plot a story. I get bogged down in the details and feel like I’ve ‘written it’. Do I do make little notes when an idea resonates, yes! But I tend to write in order, with minimal plotting. So I’m a combo – all the way.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m kind of boring. I don’t have a lot of quirks… I guess I play my music a little loud. Okay, a lot loud. Like my neighbors complain about the noise level sometimes, but that’s it. 🙂 I’m trying to use headphones.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Hollywood Homecoming is my latest release. It’s a lovely, sweet contemporary romance about two funny, quirky characters that love with their whole hearts — while being surrounded by Hollywood. 🙂

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’d ‘met’ Helen and Joseph in the previous Red Carpet books and loved the characters. It was a natural evolution – their story. It wasn’t as tortured or steamy as Hollywood Ever After or Hollywood Holiday, but it’s the perfect story for these characters. I think fans of the series will be happy – I am.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I’m finishing up my first Young Adult novel – and it’s awesome. I’m really proud of my big-city girl moving to a small town and falling for a cowboy story. After that, the third Loves of Olympus book is up.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Diana Gabaldon. I admire her work and respect her so much.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Write what’s in your heart. Take everything with a grain of salt. Be patient and get a thick skin. Remember it’s a business, so be professional. How’s that? 🙂

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I Must go to GREECE. Sooner would be better than later.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Jolene Navarro’s Lone Star Holiday. Fighting Irish by Gina Maxwell

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

TOUGH one. I do love Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Or I can shamelessly promote my books here…

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Autumn and winter. I love the change in seasons, the crisp air and turning leaves. In Texas, the two kind of run together so…

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Oh, I have a few. Chris Hemsworth is rocking my world (and my muse for Apollo in my next Loves of Olympus book). If I ever met him, I would thank him for making Thor such an epic superhero movie. He embodies the God of Thunder, making something that could be cheesy into one of my all time favorites. Oh, and, that I think he’s really beautiful.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

THANK YOU for the interview. It was fun! 🙂

| B&N

Make-up artist to the stars. The favorite aunt. Dance teacher. Baby sister. Talented musician and song-writer.

Single.

Why did that word rank above the rest? Helen loved her family and understood they wanted her to have the real love they’d all found. It’s just that she’d found her someone special and learned to live without him. She’d been too young for the quirky, idealistic doctor-off to save the world-to notice. And, really, if she had it her way, he’d never know how she’d felt. Now, he was one of her best friends, a pen pal, losing him would be too much.

Seeing him at their parents wedding, Helen realizes the horrible truth: she still loves Joseph… which wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t in the situation she was in.

But she was. And her secret will change everything.

Will it destroy hope for a Hollywood happy ending too?

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September 23, 2013September 1, 2013

Kimberly reviews Butterfly Cove by Christina Skye

TITLE: Butterfly Cove
SERIES #: Summer Island #4
CHARACTERS: Olivia & Rafe
AUTHOR: Christina Skye
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Maybe opposites don’t always attract. If they did, architect Olivia Sullivan would have run away with bad boy Rafe Russo when they were teenagers. Instead, Olivia has spent ten years dreaming up designs for a life that hasn’t gone the way she planned. Still reeling from her career’s implosion and her father’s death, Olivia thanks her lucky stars for the support of her three lifelong friends. But this good girl is through sitting on the sidelines. When Rafe returns to the beautiful Oregon coast where they grew up, her former flame ignites a new desire. Now Olivia must take a walk on the wild side to show the new deputy that in matters of love being bad can feel very good.

Freshly back from Afghanistan, rugged ex-Marine and new deputy Rafe is done breaking laws and hearts. He’s always regretted leaving Olivia behind, but now she’s after adventure and he’d better proceed with caution. Because wanting her again might be easy, but fighting for a future together will be his biggest risk yet.

REVIEW:
Another great read by Christina Skye. As the author grows so do her stories. When I found her books she was fun to read but now she brings more of an air of romance and intrigue to her books and they keep getting better every time I read one.

The characters she has of Olivia and Rafe have been through so much in their lives and yet it was each other they most wanted. There are a lot of stories right now about the servicemen coming home from the war in Afghanistan and this is another one and while to be honest there was nothing different about this story than so many others right now there was something that connected between the two characters and I found it a pleasure to read.

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

September 22, 2013September 21, 2013

Chili Con Carnage Blog Tour Interview and Giveaway

Today I have Kylie Logan here with us to discuss her new book, Chili Con Carnage, which is the first in a brand new series. Kylie Logan also writes as Casey Daniels for the Pepper Martin series, which is one of my favorite characters. I enjoyed her new character, Maxie, and I know this is a great start to the series.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Chili Con Carnage is book #1 of the new Chili Cook-Off mysteries. It features heroine Maxie Pierce who (thanks to a no-good, two-timin’ creep of a rock guitarist boyfriend) decides that she’s done, done, done with relationships. Besides, Maxie has more important things to think about. Her dad, famous chili spice purveyor Texas Jack Pierce, is missing, and Maxie and her half-sister, Sylvia, have been called in to run his Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace as it makes the rounds on the chili cook-off circuit.

In a perfect world and a perfect family, that might not be a bad thing. But Maxie and Sylvia have hated each other since the day Maxie’s mother stole Jack from Sylvia’s mom. Now, Sylvia handles the day-to-day business of the Palace while Maxie dons a gigantic red chili pepper costume and dances out front as the Chili Chick.

Things get even more complicated when Maxie finds the body of a roadie and Sylvia is arrested for murder. Truth? Maxie actually thinks about letting her half-sister languish in prison. That is, until her better self kicks in and she decides to investigate and find the real killer. Then she can get back to finding her father.

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

I credit my agent, Gail Fortune, for sparking this idea. We were talking and I mentioned to her that my husband had just won a chili cook-off (he’s a great chili cook!). Gail’s reaction was immediate. “Chili?’ she said. “That would be a great idea for a mystery series!”

3. Did you have to do any research for this compared to your other books?

No matter how easy any idea looks to me from the outside, I always have to do plenty of research once I’m writing a book. Chili Con Carnage is set in Taos, New Mexico and I’ve been there so that part was simple. But of course, there’s the whole cooking part of the book and how real chili cook-offs work figured into it, too. A celebrity chef makes an appearance…and I needed to know how cable cooking shows work. And then there are RVs. Maxie and Sylvia have one so they can travel from cook-off to cook-off and I’ll tell you what, I didn’t know a thing about RVs!

4. Which authors do you feel have been a big influence on you as a writer?

There are so many! I’ve always loved the writing of the late, great Elizabeth Peters (and her alter-ego Barbara Michaels). I also enjoy the books of Alan Bradley who writes the Flavia de Luce mysteries. The first-person voice of those books is astonishing and always reminds me how important characterization is to any book. Then, of course, there is the influence of so many writing friends who’ve shared their time and their talents discussing ideas and brainstorming plots. Too many to name!

5. What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m finishing up book #2 in the Chili Cook-Off series. It’s called “Death by Devil’s Breath” and is about a contest for the world’s hottest chili. That sounds easy but of course in Maxie’s world, nothing is, especially when the cook-off is in Las Vegas and the suspects in a murder are a cast of characters that include a magician, a jazz musician, a diva and a wedding chapel owner!

That’s what I’m working on, but there are other books coming out. In December, “Buttoned Up,” book #4 of my Button Box mystery series and in February, “A Tale of Two Biddies,” book #2 of my League of Literary Ladies mysteries.

6. What was the first book you ever wrote?

I started my career writing historical romance and my first book was “Twilight Secrets,” written under the name of Constance Laux. It’s out of print, but readers can find it on Kindle along with 7 others of my historical romance.

Lightning Round:

Favorite Food?

You know, I actually had to stop and think! I love couscous and veggies of all kinds and really good ribs. Ice cream…yum!

Morning person or Night Owl?

In between! I don’t stay up really late, but I don’t jump out of bed at dawn, either!

Favorite Candy?

Snickers

The one TV show you have to watch every week?

Have to? Not a one! But I do DVR a few and try to keep up: “Bones,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Downton Abbey” of course!

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer! Let me also mention that readers can check out both my websites: www.kylielogan.com and www.caseydaniels.com

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (Mayhem at the Orient Express) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Jennifer’s Review of Chili Con Carnage

TITLE: Chili Con Carnage

SERIES #: A Chili Cook-Off Mystery

CHARACTERS: Maxie Pierce, Sylvia and Nick

AUTHOR: Kylie Logan

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships–well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto. Besides, she has more important things to worry about. Her daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks now. In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia, to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown, to be judged by celebrity chef Carter Donnelly.

But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in the chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him while wearing a giant red chili pepper costume–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father……

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I’m a big fan of Kylie’s other series, the Pepper Martin mysteries and Chili Con Carnage is off to a great start. Maxie Pierce is a cute heroine with a lot of attitude and has had her share of bad relationships. She is working on the chili cook-off circuit with her half-sister, Sylvia, when she discovers the body of Roberto who just happened to fall out of the celebrity chef’s RV. Maxie had one miserable date with Roberto but now she is determined to find the killer because her sister, Sylvia, has been arrested for his murder.

I thought this was a great little mystery and I enjoyed learning about the chili cook-off circuit. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like to Maxie in the beginning but she definitely started to grow on me and I can’t wait to read more about her in future books. There is a possible love interest for Maxie with Nick, the security guard for the chili cook-off so it will be fun to see where that goes. Fun mystery and a great start to the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Chili Con Carnage. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite spicy food?

September 22, 2013September 16, 2013

Kissin’ the week of Sept 16th-21st Goodbye

9.16.13

Book Blast: Maple Crossing by Edwin G Rice

JD Tyler

Kelly reviews First Surrender by Katie Reus

9.17.13

Sarah Castille

Release Day Madness

Kelly reviews She Can Scream by Melinda Leigh

9.18.13

Interivew & Giveaway with Rebecca York

Guest blogger Stacy Moran

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman

9.19.13

Gina Lamm

Kimberly reviews Midnight Lies by Ella Grace

Thursday’s Thought…

9.20.13

Melinda Leigh

Kimberly reviews The Night Is Forever by Heather Graham

9.21.13

SINsational Saturday Series

September 21, 2013September 18, 2013

Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi series

North of Need

Hearts of the Anemoi #1

While attempting to escape the agonizing memories she associates with Christmas, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband-and collapses in tears against the snowman at the sight of what she’ll never have.

Called to life by the power of Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.

Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things, and her heart opens enough to believe he’s a Christmas miracle. But this miracle comes with an expiration-before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.

*****
West of Want

Hearts of the Anemoi #2

Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted…

When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured–and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce–Ella fights to survive.

Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.

Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want–a love that can be trusted.

*****
South of Surrender

Hearts of the Anemoi #3

She’s the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within…

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious summer storms that threaten the mortal realm, dangerously drain Chrys, and earn the ire of the Olympic gods who ordered Eurus dead.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather’s horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can’t resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who’s ever loved the real him

*****
East of Ecstasy

Hearts of the Anemoi #4

Release day April 22, 2014

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost

September 20, 2013September 13, 2013

Spotlight Feature of “She Can…..” series by Melinda Leigh

SHE CAN RUN

Series: She Can…, Book 1

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Publication date: November 28, 2011

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N

One bad decision turned a single mom into a fugitive.

Ten months ago, Elizabeth Baker uncovered a dangerous secret about her politician husband—a secret that nearly got her killed. Now she and her children are running for their lives. When Beth is hired as the caretaker of a remote Pennsylvania estate, she dares to hope she has found a corner of the world where Congressman Richard Baker can’t find them. But when her new boss dies suddenly and his nephew inherits the estate, Beth is faced with outwitting a former homicide detective who is very smart, very suspicious—and very attractive.

Forced into retirement by an injury and grieving the loss of his uncle, Jack O’Malley is unprepared to share his new home with a strange woman and her two kids. He is even less prepared for the instantaneous attraction he feels whenever Beth enters the room. She is beautiful, intelligent, kind…and obviously terrified of someone or something. As Jack’s investigation uncovers the shocking details of Beth’s past, the rural community is shaken by the murder of a local woman Driven by instinct and desire, Jack is determined to keep Beth and her children safe, even if doing so means putting his heart—and his life —on the line.

*****

SHE CAN TELL

Series: She Can…, Book 2

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Publication date: December 4, 2012

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N

A horse trainer’s homecoming turns deadly when a vicious stalker, a cold murder case, and a hot police chief threaten to expose family secrets that a killer wants to keep buried.

After a terrible accident ends her riding career, horse trainer Rachel Parker returns to her hometown to a hostile welcome. Her efforts to rebuild the family farm are hampered by her sister’s domestic crisis and a violent vandal who threatens Rachel’s new business and her life. She is also blindsided by the undeniable and unwanted attraction she feels for hot police chief handling her case. Someone is systematically trying to destroy her. Someone who knows private things about her. Someone who’s been watching her…

As his investigation uncovers the turbulent past Rachel keeps carefully hidden, Police Chief Mike O’Connell finds himself with too many suspects and too many feelings for his fiercely independent victim. His desire for Rachel is a conflict of interest that jeopardizes everything he stands for. Long buried family secrets, a skeleton, and a corrupt local official with a grudge against Mike complicate the case, but the escalating violence against Rachel convinces him he doesn’t have much time. Whoever is watching Rachel wants her dead. Mike and Rachel race to untangle a web of deceit and lies that stretches twenty-five years into the past—before her stalker strikes again.

*****

SHE CAN SCREAM

Series: She Can…, Book 3

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Publication date: September 17, 2013

Pre-Order Link: Amazon

In one moment, high school teacher and single mother Brooke Davenport interrupts a vicious assault, saves a young woman’s life, and attracts the attention of a serial killer.

Sixteen years ago, Brooke lost her roommate to a brutal murder. Now she teaches women’s self-defense, still trying to heal from the guilt and grief that plague her. Convinced the predator knows his victims and is stalking his prey online, she is determined to find him before he strikes again. Her brother’s friend, Luke has the computer expertise to help. But Brooke’s unexpected desire for Luke complicates her investigation, and her fixation with the case provokes a deadly reaction from the killer.

Injured in terrorist bombing overseas, computer expert Luke Holloway is still haunted by flashbacks of his young assistant’s death in the explosion. But Luke can’t refuse the request of a deployed friend to look after his sister, Brooke. Taking on responsibility for Brooke’s safety threatens Luke’s tenuous recovery, especially after he develops feelings for her that transcend a promise to a friend. When Brooke saves a young girl from a brutal assault and becomes a killer’s obsession, Luke vows to protect her at all costs.

*****

Make sure to check out my review of SHE CAN SCREAM here

*****

SHE CAN HIDE

Series: She Can…, Book 4

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Publication date: March 25, 2014

Pre-Order Link: Amazon

From the moment Officer Ethan Hale pulls Abby Foster from icy waters, he senses there’s more to her than meets the eye. Abby has no memory of the accident that submerged her car in the frozen river. Three years ago, Abby was kidnapped and abandoned in a well for a week. The botched police investigation nearly killed her. Abby had moved to the mountains of Pennsylvania for a fresh start, but when it becomes clear that this car crash wasn’t an accident, she knows the violence from her past has caught up with her.

But Abby’s former assailant was convicted and imprisoned, so who else wants her dead?

Ethan uncovers a fresh string of murders tied to Abby’s past. Someone is trying to kill her, and this time the stalker seems determined to finish the task. As the killer grows bolder, Abby begins to trust Ethan enough to share the truth, her heart, and her life. But to stop the murders, Ethan must make a decision that could jeopardize it all.

A little about Melinda Leigh:

Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing when her youngest child entered first grade as a way to preserve her sanity. in 2007, she joined Romance Writers of America, learned a few things about writing a book, and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. It was time to get serious about making her hobby a career. She began submitting her work in 2008. In 2009 she signed with an agent, who sold Melinda’s debut romantic suspense novel, SHE CAN RUN, in 2010 to Montlake Romance.
SHE CAN RUN released in November 2011 and became the #1 Bestseller in Kindle Romantic Suspense. SHE CAN RUN has been nominated for a 2012 Thriller Award for Best First Novel.

Melinda is also an avid martial artist. She holds a 2nd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs and one neurotic cat with an inexplicable fear of ceiling fans. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination

To find out more about Melinda and her books you can connect with her online:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads