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Kimberly’s review of Not This Time by Vicki Hinze

TITLE: Not This Time
AUTHOR: Vicki Hinze
PUBLICATION DATE:   02/21/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?

Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

 

REVIEW:
This is the third in this series and I have not read the first two so I have to say I was really confused especially in the beginning (really through the whole thing on some people). You can tell that some of the characters have been mentioned in the other books before this one and were the backstory so coming into this book not knowing these characters was a little hard. Especially since there are so many characters mentioned just in the first three chapters. I had only read the Seascape series from this author and this book is completely different. The Seascape were these extremely romantic movie-esque books set at a magical seaside inn. This book is about terrorism and scandal. Way different.

I really liked the story of Joe and Beth. They have an adorable relationship and Joe is written as a really great guy. Beth is an interesting character as well. She is strong and caring. The problem is that it is hard to believe all of these things are happening in this small little town and nobody knows about it. And while some seems far fetched the rest seems to not have any merit. Because I did not read the first two books I did not have the whole backstory on NINA and why I would care who in the small town was the bad guy.

I think if you read all the books in order it would make sense but reading only this one was hard to do.


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Kelly’s review of Playing To Win by Jaci Burton

TITLE: Playing To Win
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/04/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.

REVIEW:
Jaci, has done it yet again.  She delivers a very hot, yet sweet story of a big bad ass football player that gets his life uprooted by a very determined female.  A determined female that has been hired to whip this bad boy football player into shape.  But to both of their surprise this chance meeting will change everything for both of them.

Cole Riley is the bad boy of football, the ladies love him, the media loves to hate him and his team mates?  Well, they really couldn’t care less about Cole.  But Cole is a great football player, but the living in the limelight is playing havoc on his career and his future with his new team.

Savannah is a sweet southern girl with a heart of a lion and an iron fist.  She has been hired to whip Cole Riley into shape before the beginning of the season and that is exactly what she plans to do.  Only problem is Cole Riley is drop dead gorgeous and Savannah wants him.    But Savannah has never mixed business with pleasure.
Never…….
Well until now.

I loved Cole & Savannah.  Both are stubborn and determined to live life their way.  Both soon learn sometimes there is a better way to do things.  And together they learn how to make each others life so much better.

If you have not started Jaci’s Play by Play series you really need too.  Theses are great books!!  And yes each book can stand alone but I would suggest starting from the beginning so you can get to know all the characters better.

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

4 Hearts

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Interview & Giveaway with Mark Murphy

The Shadow Man

Mark Murphy 

Overview

            I’m a gastroenterologist.  That’s my day job, and it’s a busy one.  But I have an alternative life as a writer. That alternative life is a reflection of what I see every day.  It is seen in the beautiful and ancient city that I live in, filled with ghosts and intrigue, drawing its very lifeblood from the sea to its east and the marshland that gave the city its name.  It is in the practice of medicine, a veritable parade of characters who waltz through my exam rooms every day.  It is in the love of my wife and children—the driving forces behind everything that I do in my life.  And it most certainly in my love of the written word—the subtle nuances of spoken diction, the deft use of description the place a reader in a certain contextual location—that makes me revel in what I do in my writing life.

             Those are the things I derive my writing from.  I’m simply a reflection of what I have been given to describe.

And what a wonderful gift that is.

 

Mark, please tell us about your current release.

My current release is a thriller called The Shadow Man.  It is the story of a Savannah surgeon, Dr. Malcolm King, who is accused of being a serial killer.  He suspects he is being framed for these crimes by another surgeon, but does not know who that person is.  Dr. King must race to determine the identity of the killer before anyone else, including his family, can be harmed—and before the police capture Dr. King for these same crimes.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

I’ve always been a writer.  I edited my high school newspaper, winning several writing awards in the process, and actually enrolled in undergraduate school as a journalism major before switching to a pre-med track.  As a clinician, I wrote several book chapters and medical journal articles, but it was the death of my wife’s close friend Lisa Erickson that catalyzed a renewed interest on creative writing.  I spent a couple of summers at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, wrote a short story about Lisa’s death called The Funeral that saw publication in a short story collection in 2004, and began writing a regular column for the Savannah Morning News, my hometown newspaper, two years ago. A little over a year ago, my car was nearly struck by a dark-tinted black SUV my way home.  I thought about honking at him, but deferred this gut response.  The car just looked ominous.  And then I thought, “What if you honked at a car like that and the driver was a psychopath who then hunted you down?”  That was the initial premise for the novel—being targeted by a serial killer.  The rest just took off from there.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

The cover of the book is a black-and-white nighttime photo of the Forsyth Park fountain, an iconic structure in my hometown of Savannah, which is the setting of the novel.  It was taken by a local Savannah photographer named Tim Nealon.  I found it online and obtained permission from Mr. Nealon to use it.  It’s a creepy, shadow-draped image, with Spanish moss draping the surrounding trees and a starry night sky overhead.  You could almost see a killer lurking in the edges of the photograph, if you look hard enough. It’s also an image that is instantly recognizable as Savannah to anyone who has ever visited our city. I thought it was beautiful and provocative, and the perfect image for the cover of this novel.

What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?

Marketing will be done through traditional print media (reviews via various media outlets, etc.), web-based media (social websites, blog tours, and my personal website) and personal appearances (book launch party, book signings, etc).

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

Probably the closest similar recent work was the John Hart novel called The Last Child, which won the Edgar Award a few years back.  Hart’s work is a well-written thriller set in the south with a twist-filled plot that kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it.  I could not put that book down while I was reading it.  That’s the effect I was striving for with my book.  However, I’m a big Stephen King fan—the protagonist’s last name is a tip of the cap to him—and there are a few Stephen King touches in my story.  Also, the Savannah setting is unique. In fact, I think Savannah is an integral part of the fabric of the story—a mysterious character woven throughout every facet of the story.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

In writing a novel, I outline the entire plot before I begin the first line of the work.  I then flesh out that skeleton by writing a chapter or so every weekend until I am finished.  Since I am a practicing physician, this requires a great deal of discipline.  I’m up every Saturday and Sunday at 4 A.M. so that I can get in four or five writing hours each weekend day.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Page 43:  Detective Sam Baker is interviewing Malcolm King about the murders, and—to his horror— it becomes clear to Malcolm that he is the prime suspect.  Moreover, he realizes that Detective Baker has physical evidence linking him to the case—and enough physical evidence to convict him.

 Do you plan any subsequent books?

Yes, there will likely be a sequel to The Shadow Man.  And I am currently writing a young adult sword-and-sorcery series called The Bloodsword Trilogy.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I’m currently reading the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (currently on book 3 in that series, A Storm of Swords), which I really love for the complex plot structure and in-depth characterization.  I’m also reading Wiley Cash’s A Land More Kind Than Home, a well-written Southern gothic tale reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor.  I love O’Connor’s writing; she’s a Savannah native, and arguably the most talented Georgia writer of all time.  Anything that echoes her writing is an attraction to me.

The Shadow Man

Formats/Prices: $14.95 paperback, $5.99 ebook

There is a devil in the night, silent and invisible, moving in the dream realm between life and death. And he’s coming for you.

Savannah surgeon Malcolm King had a perfect life—a loving wife, devoted daughter, and a thriving medical practice. But when a random airport parking lot hit-and-run links him to a dead body in a Florida hotel and an acquaintance is found dismembered and stuffed into a garbage bag, Malcolm finds himself on the run as a suspected serial killer. But he’s no murderer.Or is he?Who is the mysterious Thin Man who lurks at the edges of his vision? Are the ravens that crowd the skies overhead a warning of impending doom – or do they exist at all?With the help of Seminole tracker Billy Littlebear, Malcolm tries to untangle the web of clues left behind by a mysterious chameleon-like killer known as the Shadow Man. But will he be too late?The Shadow Man is a complex, atmospheric thriller in the tradition of Stephen King. Darkly evocative and relentless in its twists and turns, it dares the reader to put it down – even for a minute.

 

Mark Murphy‘s Bio: 

A physician currently living in Savannah, Georgia, Mark Murphy is also a lifelong award-winning writer. In the midst of a busy medical career which included several academic publications, Dr. Murphy’s decision to attend the Iowa Summer Writing Festival led to the inclusion of a short story, “The Funeral,” in a 2004 collection of works entitled O! Georgia! A well-received regular newspaper column in the Savannah Morning News followed. The Shadow Man is his first novel.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

I have one paper copy of The Shadow Man to giveaway to one commenter.
So to enter please leave Mark a comment or question
Along with your email address
*No Email, No Entry*
US Only
ends 10/23

 

 

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Guest blog & giveaway with Miranda Neville

Writer Envy: Who Do I Wish I Was?

Every now and then I read a book and think “This is so good. I should write a book like this.” Of course I can’t. Every writer has her own style, including me. But certain writers regularly inspire me with jealous torments.

I love the way Liz Carlyle sets a scene, especially a sordid scene. The opening of Tempted All Night, for example. Without going into a lot of description, she makes you see the shady pub – and incidentally tells you’re a whole lot about her hero.

“It’s generally said that a man can be known by the company he keeps, and Tristan Talbot was likely the only fellow in London who went dicing with his manservant. That his servant disdained the Three Shovels as beneath his dignity served only to further illuminate the level to which Tristan sometimes sank. And illumination was direly needed at the Shovels, for the place was dark as a den of thieves.

Actually, it was a den of thieves. And rogues and sharps and bawds—even the occasional gentleman out for a low-class lark. From somewhere deep inside the low-ceilinged alehouse, raucous laughter rang out….”

I’m always telling people Janet Mullany is the funniest historical writer around, though why I bother to qualify the statement I don’t know. Can’t think of any funnier in any genre. Only Janet—in the Rules Of Gentility– would set her marriage proposal in the bathroom.

“What are you doing in there?”

“It’s a water closet. What sort of question is that?”

“Well hurry up. I want to propose to you.’ He thumps on the door again and mutters something about women taking so long in there. It must be all the petticoats.

My papa comments that he’s always thought it so too.

I envy Eloisa James’ ability to effortlessly convey romantic deliciousness, as in this random page from Desperate Duchesses, perhaps my favorite Eloisa.

“Damon was well aware he was consumed by lust. It was a dangerous state. He’d never before experienced it as a sort of waking fever dream, as the past few days when he walked the halls of Beaumont House merely so that he could catch a whiff of Roberta’s perfume, or see the flutter of her dress retreat around a corner.”

Anna Campbell’s dark sensuality leaves me gaping. How does she do that?

“He told himself her body was all he wanted.

The declaration sounded laughably hollow. The feverish encounter had bitten more deeply than the fleeting demands of flesh alone ever could, however much he wished it otherwise.

She took a shuddering breath as he settled at her side. He fought the urge to stroke the damp black hair back from her brow. She wouldn’t welcome his tenderness, he knew with piercing regret. (Claiming the Courtesan)

Among the many things I envy in Susan Elizabeth Phillips is her ability to construct a big multi-character ensemble scene. The most fun may the one where a horde of giant professional sportsmen invade the heroine’s house (“Get your big-ass shoes off my sofa cushions.”) My favorite is the dinner party in Ain’t She Sweet when Sugar Beth turns an event designed to humiliate her into a triumph. We see her emerge with grace and dignity and Colin’s emotions turn from revenge to shame to love. There’s nothing I find more satisfying than seeing the tables turned.

And then there’s Loretta Chase. I’d kill to write like Chase. All I can do after devouring one of her books is to pray that some of her genius rubs off on me.

Among your favorite authors, can you pinpoint exactly what aspects of their work you like the most?

 

BIO

Miranda Neville grew up in England devouring historical novels and romances. She now lives in Vermont where she is hard at work on her seventh full length novel. The Second Seduction of a Lady is a prequel to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED, coming November 27th. She can be found on Facebook and Twitter and on her website. She also blogs regularly at The Ballroom Blog

 

 

 

 

Enter the thrilling, sexy world of Georgian England in my new novella—and catch a glimpse of Caro, the heroine of the upcomingThe Importance of Being Wicked, on sale December 2012.

Eleanor Hardwick and Max Quinton shared one night of incredible passion…that was shattered the next day, when Eleanor learned of a bet placed by Max’s friends. Now, five years later, Max still can’t get Eleanor out of his head or his heart. He has a single chance to make a second impression—one that will last forever.

 READ AN EXCERPT

Only $1.99! Order here:   Barnes & Noble Kindle   iTunes  Amazon UK  Amazon

The novella (approximately 26,000 words or 100 pages) will be available in a print edition.

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Interview & Giveaway with Terry Spear

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have for the first time Terry Spear to the blog today.

Terry, can you please share with us a little about yourself
TS: I’m originally from California, lived in eight states and make my home in the heart of Texas. What I love about that is that it gives me all kinds of wonderful places to base my stories. I’ve served in the military, which also has given me lots of neat experiences to use in my books. I’ve vacationed in a lot of different places, which also has given me some worlds to use for my stories. Do you see a pattern here? Fantasy IS reality. Or…reality IS fantasy. However you want to see it. I’m totally goal-oriented and focused (except when emails and searching for photos distract me), so for years I was busy with working in the military, completing advance military courses and earning a Master’s in Business Administration. After that, it was raising kids and teaching them (I homeschooled), and creating Wilde and Woolly Teddy Bears that won awards and found homes all over the world. But when I was teaching the kids to read, I was thinking up my own children’s stories, so in the beginning, that’s what I wrote!

Have you always wanted to be an author?
TS: I think a more accurate way for me to describe it was that I’ve always been a storyteller since I was a kid. The idea of actually being an author didn’t happen until I retired from the USAR. And then? At that point, I wanted to not only be an author, I wanted to earn a living at it. So I put my heart and soul into it and years and years later, finally was published! For some of us it takes longer than others!

Are you a plotter or a panster? And you explain the difference?
TS: The story unfolds as I’m creating it. Which means, I’m a pantser. I always have an idea of what I want to do initially—how the hero and heroine meet (sometimes it changes if I’m not getting them together early enough, or it’s not interesting or exciting enough), what their main purpose is in the story (see, they have to have goals just like me), and what drives them to seek these all important goals that will carry them throughout the story. It helps to also give the characters an occupation. It defines their character better to readers right off. For instance, in Savage Hunger, Kathleen returns to the jungle to locate Connor to thank him for saving her life. Initially, they met while she was under attack on an Army mission gone bad. He and his sister run a garden nursery in Texas. Kathleen’s an Army officer. If I had that he was a SEAL, how would readers view him? Differently. If I had where she was an exotic stripper, same thing. Beyond that? The story just evolves as the characters battle man, the environment, each other, and themselves until they finally find that happily ever after.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
TS: I’m not sure I have any, and that means I’m totally character-less. Sometimes I listen to music; sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I write by hand; sometimes I don’t. I edit on the screen and on paper. I drink green tea during the day, but cut it off before five so it doesn’t keep me up at night. That’s it. When I’m writing, I’m just quirk-less. I’ll have to work on that.

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

TS: Army officer Kathleen McKnight is on a drug mission in the Amazon when her team is ambushed and she’s in bad shape. Sometimes a woman needs a hero. But what she doesn’t expect is Connor Anderson to come rescue her, who is rumored to have a pet jaguar he runs with in the jungle. He saves her life and she later returns to the jungle to thank him, but the same drug lord who ambushed her mission wants her taken down. In the meantime, her guide abandons her, and she’s lost, when she comes upon a jaguar, then two. What’s a girl to do? Climb a tree? They can too. Run away? NOT a good idea. Big cats love to chase. Connor wants to get her to back to civilization as quickly as possible. His sister has other plans.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

TS: Savage Hunger is the FIRST in the jaguar shifter series and I’m so excited! When my editor at Sourcebooks, Deb Werksman, asked me to propose something different from the wolves, I balked. Mainly because I’d only sold four wolf stories at that point and new readers were constantly just finding the series. So I proposed the Highland wolves, something near and dear to my heart because I have a lot roots in Scotland and wanted to write about it. Fun! But Deb wasn’t to be thwarted! So after I sold another three Highland wolf stories to Sourcebooks, she still wanted me to write about something else. So I decided to make it a shifter story still—only this time the opposite of dogs. Cats. Big cats. Sleek cats. Predators. I wanted to make them similar to the wolves in as they’re as real as they can be. Which means they like to return to their natural habitat—the jungle.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
TS: I just turned in Jaguar Fever (August 2013), the 2nd jaguar shifter story, this one featuring Connor’s sister Maya and Wade Patterson, and the trouble they get into over the exotic smuggling market. And I just turned in A SEAL Wolf Christmas (October 2013), that one featuring Anna Johnson, undercover operative, and Bjornolf Jorgenson, SEAL, the mission they had in the jungle before that, the sparring between them in an earlier book, A SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing, and now they’re at it again as they try to solve a couple of Christmas tree farm murders and deal with a teen runaway while Anna tries to avoid anything Christmas. So right now I’m working on Silence of the Wolf, which is Tom’s story, one of the Silver brothers from the pack featured in Destiny of the Wolf. I’ve had tons of requests for his story, so it will be coming out Feb 2014.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
TS: Keep writing, keep editing and keep submitting! Start the story where the world has turned upside down for the characters.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
TS: I want to visit Prince Edward Island, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England and Germany! I also want to learn how to Photoshop so I can create fun pictures, and I want to learn how to take better pictures. *sigh* Too many projects, so little time!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
TS: I picked up about 70 books at the RWA National Conference in July and can’t wait to read them all! But I’m so busy with deadlines and an extensive virtual tour for Savage Hunger, that reading is on the back burner for the moment!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
TS: Books are like movies or meals. What one would love, another might hate. I worked in a library and saw this all the time! I’d be asked for recommendations, but what I might like, they might not. 🙂

What is your favorite time of year & why?
TS: I love Fall, although we barely have any. But when I used to live in places that had fall colors, I loved it! I love spring also because of the crocuses, and the new green leaves on trees, though I have a ton of trees and shrubs that are evergreen, but spring is so short here, just like fall, that it seems like a blip on the screen and then it’s gone. Plus I have a ton of flowers all summer long with crepe myrtles and roses so I don’t really miss the flowers until winter. Why fall and spring? The temperatures are still mild and we have cooler days and nights, and if I have time, I can actually garden. I hope to actually write outside this fall for the first time. I was too busy working full time to do this before.

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?
TS: Am I the only one in the whole wide world that doesn’t go all fan-girl crazy over celebs? Okay, I admit seeing Gerard Butler and Sean Connery in a kilt in the flesh would make me more than smile…

Is there anything else you would like to add?
TS: If you had a choice…it might not happen because if a wolf or jaguar shifter has the hots for you, well, watch out, since they’re extremely persistent if they want you for their very own—but if you had a choice between a hunky wolf or a sexy jaguar, which would you hook up with and prefer to be???

 

SAVAGE HUNGER BY TERRY SPEAR – OCTOBER 2012

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has captured hearts worldwide by wrapping the realities of nature into the glorious romance of the wild. Now, she turns her award—winning imagination from the sexy werewolf hunt to the intense sizzle of jaguar shape-shifters.

As a jaguar he is graceful and gorgeous…

Speedy and stealthy…

Fierce, independent, and wild…

As a man he is passionate and powerful…

Willful and wonderful…

And he’ll stop at nothing to protect what’s his…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Spear has written a couple of dozen paranormal romance novels and two medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her next werewolf romance and continuing her new series about shapeshifting jaguars. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear .

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Kimberly’s review of Can’t Hurry Love by Molly O’Keefe

TITLE: Can’t Hurry Love
AUTHOR: Molly O’Keefe
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Victoria Baker, the penniless widow of a disgraced financier, is ready to stand up, be counted, and make a new life for herself and her beloved son in Texas. She’s taking over Crooked Creek ranch, her birthright, and turning it into something special. All that stands in her way is Eli Turnbull, a rugged, too-handsome cowboy who wants the land just as badly. If Victoria wants a fight, Eli will give her one. He’s devoted his life to Crooked Creek, and he’s not about to let some pampered city girl-even one as brave and beautiful as Victoria-turn it into some silly spa. But Victoria’s and Eli’s burning anger and frustration only fuel heat of another kind: uncontrollable passion. And soon they each realize that the person standing in their way is the one they can never do without.

REVIEW:
There is a thin line between love and hate best describes this book. This is the second in the Crooked Creek Ranch series. And I will admit that I have not read the first one and based on this book I will not be picking it up anytime soon. I was very disappointed in this book. The characters are mean, hostile and dark. While I can handle the fighting in the beginning I expected the characters to have a change of heart that never happened. They fought on a constant basis. The characters never connected even during the “love” scenes.

I do not read a book to live vicariously in a dysfunctional situation and that is what this story was. Having never read this author before I am not sure if this is how she normally writes but I will say this series is just too dark for a fan of the romance genre.

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

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Kimberly’s review of Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan

TITLE: Ghostwriter
AUTHOR: Lissa Bryan
PUBLICATION DATE:   10/11/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After being laid off from the newspaper where she worked as a journalist, and losing her boyfriend in rapid succession, Sara Howell is looking to downsize before her dwindling savings run out. Things are finally starting to look up when she lands a job ghostwriting the biography of a popular politician and rents an isolated island house which turns out to have once been the home of her favorite author, Seth Fortner, who mysteriously disappeared in 1925.

But when strange things start happening, as objects break, or go missing, and terrifying visions appear, Sara begins to wonder if Seth ever left, or if she is losing her mind.

What happened to Seth is a secret closely guarded by the family to this day, a family that seems to exist under a terrible curse. Through an old trunk of letters she discovers in the attic, Sara unravels the mystery and becomes caught up in a tale of greed, lost love and the horrors of WWI.

When Sara realizes she is not going crazy and that Seth Fortner’s spirit still haunts her new home on the isolated island, she begins to draw him out of his shell bit by bit. She will discover what happened to the idealistic young writer who went to the battlefields of France to save lives, and to his beautiful bride to destroy the love between them, and what led Seth to make a terrible choice which would have consequences that would echo for generations.

They gradually fall in love in their world of dreams, dreams which swiftly become more attractive than reality, as Sara learns from a ghost how to truly live. Will she be the one to break the “Fortner Curse” by helping Seth conquer his demons, and heal both of their hearts in the process?

REVIEW:
This is a beautiful story with a lovely concept but I had a really difficult time getting interested in it in the beginning. While written wonderfully it was very slow in the beginning. I kept waiting for something to happen and when it did I just didn’t find myself interested for some time. I thought the relationship between Sara and Seth was beautiful as far as the love of characters go but didn’t understand how they could “fall in love” I wish the book had brought in an actual character that Sara could have found herself drawn to instead. That being said it was a beautiful love story and any fan of ghost stories will enjoy it. The time spent getting to know Seth was very intriguing and the dream life of Sara and Seth is very sweet and endearing. I found Sara to be an almost sad yet caring person and found enjoyed her character. Stepping back into the time of WWII was also interesting since I do not know a lot about that time period.

This truly is a love story in every sense of the word and one that will stick with you for a while.

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

4 Hearts
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Spotlight “In Her Sights” by Charley Colins

In Her Sights

by Charley Colins

Some call her a killer.

Others call her a hero.

Lexie Olympia calls herself neither. She’s getting the job done because she can. A beloved philanthropist by day who’s nicknamed Melville’s Sweetheart, Lexie has the city wrapped around her little finger. Having been a victim in the past, left behind with the killer still on the loose, Lexie knows what it’s like to live with that fear. Instead of biting her nails over it, she takes action. Drug lords, gang leaders, con artists, kidnappers, serial killers, anyone who leaves behind innocent victims are marked on Lexie’s list.

When a neighbor leaves a stolen ancient dagger on her doorstep and skips town, Lexie’s left picking up the pieces. The police, a local private investigator, and a gang are all after this artifact and Lexie uses her nighttime persona, Artemis, to get to the bottom of things. Everything is going smoothly until she gets caught.

 

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Interview & Giveaway with Linda Andrews

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Linda Andrews to the blog today

Linda, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Although I was born in Baltimore, I moved to Phoenix at such a young age that I consider myself a native. Growing up, I’m pretty sure my mom had superpowers, but as a parent I now know that kids are really bad at keeping secrets. Still, the idea that she could read minds started me exploring paranormal worlds, much of which is now incorporated in my stories.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No. Writing is hard work and I like the easy things like math and science. But I love to tell stories. Since there are quite a few artists in my family, I decided to stop sketching and start writing (none of my siblings write). There are days, I wish I kept on with my drawingJ

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I usually make sporadic notes in a bound notebook while at work to keep the story in my mind. Then when I come home I write for 2-3 hours depending on if I want my 1 hour of TV time. On weekends I use my early morning alone time to write another 2-3 hours then try to squeeze in another couple in the afternoon. I really find I’m creatively exhausted after 5-6 hours of writing so I do other crafts or housework. I absolutely must have my MP3 player going when I write. Although I don’t always hear the music, the lyrics trip something in my brain and help me to slip into my fantasy world.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Getting the words right is the most challenging and rewarding part of writing. Getting to that point is a lot of hard work.

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

Brianna is the story of Brianna, a woman who was diagnosed with consumption at a very young age and spent most of her life in hospitals looking for a cure. On the day she arrived at her sister’s house to die surrounded by family, she met Duncan and fell in love with him. This as well as being in the dry climate of Arizona helped her to get better. Unfortunately, Duncan’s own fears caused him to run. Now healthy, she’s on her way to Egypt at the behest of her cat (an Egyptian goddess) and Duncan’s been sent to retrieve her.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

When I was younger I wanted to be an Egyptologist. Alas, I realized I’d have to climb into some really cramped places and my claustrophobia wouldn’t allow that, so instead I decided to switch to science. But I never gave up my love of ancient Egypt or mummies. While there aren’t any mummies in my book, I did include secret passageways, undiscovered tombs and a necklace that holds the key to ancient secrets.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Currently, I’m working on the third book of my apocalyptic series, Redaction. In it, the surviving remnants of humanity are living in mines. And you guessed it, there’s going to be a cave in somewhere because though I rarely face my fears in real life, I do so a lot on paper.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Linda Howard, Linnea Sinclair, Julie Garwood, MM Kaye, and Barbara Michael’s to name a very few.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Actually, I don’t usually read when I’m writing as I tend to mimic another author’s style, but they do inspire me to tell a darn good, entertaining story.

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

I currently have 300+ books in my TBR pile and I want to read all of them. But since I’m sprinting for the finish line on my current book, I’m trying to ignore their siren call. When I do finish, I plan to scroll through the ebook app and tap one. That’s the one I’ll read first.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’ll be giving away a pdf copy of Brianna to one lucky commenter.

For a chance to win a PDF of Brianna, Please leave a comment or question for Linda.

Along with your EMAIL address

*No Email, No Entry*

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Kimberly’s review of Cosmo’s Fifty-One Shades of Blonde by Jessica Knoll

TITLE: Cosmo’s Fifty-One Shades of Blonde
AUTHOR: Jessica Knoll
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/28/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The sexy story that first burned up the pages of Cosmopolitan is here-with three new chapters that are so hot they may steam up your screen. Christopher Reiss is the handsome and extremely intimidating CEO of a major financial firm. Megan’s nothing but a lowly assistant. But when she stumbles upon some incriminating evidence that could threaten Christopher’s career, she finds herself on his radar . . . and eventually his desk, his kitchen counter, his bed . . . you get where this is going, right? Jessica Knoll is a senior editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about relationships, sex, career, and health. According to her colorist, her hair is only three shades of blonde.

REVIEW:
This short story first appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine and is only about 30 pages. It is a sexy erotic story which I would have been happy with if it had been a little longer. There was such a jump from Megan seeing Christoper to having sex that it just felt rushed. A chapter in between would have been better. But for a short sexy story this one fits the bill.

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

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Kelly’s review of A Season For Sin by Vicky Dreiling

TITLE: A Season For Sin
AUTHOR: Vicky Dreiling
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/04/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Introducing the Sinful Scoundrels…

The Earl of Bellingham is nothing is not a creature of habit: money, meals, and mistresses must be strictly managed if a man is to have a moment’s peace. It’s a system that works splendidly for him–until now. With his oldest and dearest friends succumbing, one by one, to wedded bliss, Bell is now restless and a trifle lonely. Enter the Sinful Scoundrels–Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, and Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore–who drag him back into society and draw his rakish eye to the ton’s new beautiful young widow. Bell isn’t after a wife, but a challenge. And Laura Davenport should fit the bill quite nicely…

REVIEW:
Season for Sin is Vicky’s new novella and prequel to her upcoming Sinful Scoundrels series.  If you have read Vicky’s “How To” series you have meet The Earl of Bellingham, or Bells as his pals call him.   In Season for Sin we get a closer look at what makes Bells tick and a little insight as to why his is still a very eligible bachelor.

As with ever novella we are left wanting more.  And I will say that as I was reading I was just getting into the story and then Vicky so cruelly leaves us hanging (don’t worry Vicky I still love you).  And I for one can’t wait for the first book in the Sinful Scoundrels series.

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