Sunday, December 31, 2017

GIVEAWAY WINNER!! The Lady Traveler's Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger, by Victoria Alexander


https://tlcbooktours.com/2017/09/victoria-alexander-author-of-the-lady-travelers-guide-to-larceny-with-a-dashing-stranger-on-tour-december-2017/


Announcing the winner of the blog tour giveaway for
The Lady Traveler's Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger!!!

This tour was sponsored by 
TLC Book Tours!!





The Lady Traveler's Guide to Larceny 
with a Dashing Stranger
(The Lady Traveler's Society, Book 2)
Victoria Alexander
Mass Market Paperback, 538 pages
HQN
November 28, 2017
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33998331-the-lady-travelers-guide-to-larceny-with-a-dashing-stranger





Join the Lady Travelers Society in their latest romantic misadventure, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander!

She must secure her future

A lady should never be obliged to think of matters financial! But when Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe’s carefree, extravagant lifestyle vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure—a Renaissance masterpiece currently in the hands of a cunning art collector in Venice. Thankfully, the Lady Travelers Society has orchestrated a clever plan to get Willie to Europe, leading a tour of mothers and daughters…and one curiously attentive man.

He must reclaim his heritage

Dante Augustus Montague’s one passion has long been his family’s art collection. He’s finally tracked a long-lost painting to the enchanting Lady Bascombe. Convinced that the canvas had been stolen, he will use any means to reclaim his birthright—including deception. But how long before pretend infatuation gives way to genuine desire?

Now they’re rivals for a prize that will change everything

Willie and Dante know they’re playing with fire in the magical moonlit city. Their common quest could compromise them both…or lead them to happily-ever-after.




And the winner is.....

John Smith!! 

CONGRATS TO YOU!! 
WOOT, WOOT!!

He has already claimed his prize!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



A great big "thank you" to all of those who entered!

Please keep checking back, as I have giveaways going on ALL THE TIME, whether my own, through blog tours, or as part of giveaway blog hops!

These are my current ones!
Click on the images for
more information!!


https://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/2017/12/midwinters-eve-giveaway-hop-2017.html

I have EXTENDED this one until midnight on 1/7/18!!!!!


https://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-reviewgiveaway-cowboys-legacy-by.html

This one ends on 1/17/18!!!!



HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!






Saturday, December 30, 2017

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 237: Dance of Thieves, by Mary E. Pearson



Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!



This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!



Here's my choice for this week!





Dance of Thieves
(The Remnant Chronicles, Book 1)
Hardcover, 384 pages
Henry Holt & Company
August 7 , 2018
   Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35796008-dance-of-thieves






My Thoughts About This Cover

This is the type of cover that I could spend HOURS contemplating! It has the perfect combination of simplicity and intricacy. And the entire composition is made up of ornate, French-looking floral designs, and GORGEOUS, medieval-looking calligraphy, along with some influence from Greek art, which is very obvious in the stylized wings, as well as the "column" running down the length of the cover, and ending in an inverted triangle. So, several artistic motifs and styles have been beautifully and harmoniously combined here!

I first came across this cover on the blog Wishful Endings; specifically, on the meme "Can't Wait Wednesday"! Thanks to Tressa, who hosts this wonderful meme!

Well, I have no idea who created this elegant, incredible cover..... Perhaps because the release date is SO far away, it's impossible to get details on the identity of this highly talented person.... I have already checked out Amazon, but there's no reading preview available for this book, unfortunately..... Whoever this terrific designer is, they are already on my list of favorite cover illustrators and designers!



What do you think of 
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!



Happy New Year to Everyone!!











Friday, December 29, 2017

Book Blogger Hop No. 116: A New Year's Eve Kiss With A Fictional Character



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @


For more information, and 
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.


This Week's Question

What character or characters
would you not mind sharing
a New Year's Eve kiss with?

(Submitted  by Kitty @ 



My Answer

Answering this question could get a LOT of us in trouble with our spouses or significant others.....lol. But heck, it's all in good fun, right? These people are FICTIONAL. So, down, hubby, down!! Lol.

In my case, there are two fictional characters I Would DEFINITELY be interested in sharing a New Year's Eve kiss with. I actually fell in love with one of them back in 2006, which was when I first met him. Alas, I don't see how I could ever exchange a kiss with him, though, as his mate is immortal, and very, very strong..... In fact, she could probably send me through the air, two blocks over, with just a tap of her little finger! Lol.

Of course, I'm talking about the one and only EDWARD CULLEN!! He's my own personal heartthrob, my hero, my very own gentleman vampire....sigh.....






Edward is a VERY romantic guy. He's also a very faithful one, so I seriously doubt that he would ever share a kiss with me. But hey, a girl can dream, can't she? Lol. 

Ever since I met him, through the pages of Twilight, the first book of The Twilight Saga, I haven't stopped swooning over him.... 

Actually, there's one other guy I wouldn't mind....WHAT? MIND? This is not an appropriate word here! No red-blooded female would use this word to refer to a kiss by either of these two guys!

So who's the other guy? JACOB BLACK!! OF COURSE. He's my other heartthrob and very FAVORITE werewolf!! He's just as swoony and romantic as Edward, and those abs....well, they've really bothered Edward for some time, now, as he would prefer that Bella not see them AT ALL, if he can help it. Lol.







Jacob is gentle and sweet (well, heck, so is Edward!), and fought hard to be Bella's forever guy. Now that Bella has -- AHEM -- married Edward, and fully entered the vampire world, Jacob has imprinted on Renesmee Cullen. I don't think Nessie (yeah, Bella doesn't like that nickname, as it reminds her of the Loch Ness Monster, lol) would allow me to kiss Jacob, either. And, being half vamp, she could probably swing me around and around with her little finger....

So these are the two (fictional) guys I wouldn't mind (MIND? no, WOULD LOVE) to lock lips with this coming New Year's Eve!!

And now comes the BIG REVEAL: ONLY IF I WERE SINGLE. LOL. LOL. LOL.

  



What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!  
 





Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Book Review/Giveaway!! Cowboy's Legacy, by B.J. Daniels



Cowboy's Legacy
(Cahill Ranch, Book 3)
B.J. Daniels
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
HQN
November 28, 2017
Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance,
Suspense, Thriller


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37706444-cowboy-s-legacy





Nothing will stop a Cahill cowboy from protecting what’s his

After a rocky marriage and even rockier divorce, Sheriff Flint Cahill finally has something good in his life again. Maggie Thompson’s down-to-earth charm and beautiful smile hooked him from the start. When she disappears on the day they plan to start their lives together, all signs point to abduction—and his ex-wife.

Functioning on adrenaline and instinct, Flint must call on his every resource to bring Maggie home before it’s too late. His past and future are blurred. Maggie’s only chance at surviving her abductor and a raging winter storm depends on an old vendetta that could destroy it all. But the Cahills don’t give up easily, and Flint’s love will have to be strong enough to conquer anything, including the unimaginable.






Note
I received a complimentary copy of this 
book from the publisher, which 
in no way affected my 
honestly enthusiastic review!!

This was actually my first foray into romantic suspense, and I really enjoyed it! In all honesty, I simply could NOT put this book down. Going in, it seemed that this was going to be a feel-good Christmas romance -- the type I enjoy reading at this time of year. Well, it DID feel good, but then there was also all that intrigue, mystery, and heart-pounding action! What a GREAT introduction to this author, whose other novels I now want to read! I especially want to find out more about the Cahill clan!

The romantic leads, Flint Cahill, the town sheriff, and his girlfriend, Maggie Thompson, who owned a hair styling salon, were very engaging characters. Both had issues from their past, and these were made an intrinsic part of the plot. Both characters dealt realistically with these issues, and yet, both really tried to be there for each other.

In Maggie's case, her past had a huge impact on the plot, although Flint's own past was another contributing factor. How these play out is part of the suspense, with amazing plot twists that kept me turning pages until the wee hours!

I loved that both of these characters were strong in spite of their emotional issues, and yet, they were also vulnerable. And both were supportive of each other precisely because of their vulnerabilities. 

In Flint's case, he was badly hurt in his first marriage, so it's understandable that he would have some difficulty wanting to enter a new romantic relationship. Still, when he meets Maggie, he's irresistibly drawn to her, and becomes willing to try to trust a woman again. He's a decent, good man, and excels at his job. Furthermore, when he falls for Maggie, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Of course, I fell in love with him myself right away! 

Maggie, on the other hand, has been a little secretive about her own past. Having been brought up by an aunt who resented having to be responsible for her, Maggie has a problem with feeling accepted by others. She's sweet, kind, and loves Flint as much as he loves her. Although she's a little hesitant to take the next step in their relationship, she never wavers in her love for him. It's precisely because of this love that she shows great courage at one point in the novel. So I really admired her for that!

This novel has two very well-written villains. One of them is mentioned in the synopsis, although not by name. She is Celeste, Flint's ex-wife. She is mean-spirited, vengeful, and spiteful. She's just full of rage at the fact that Flint is finally happy, that he's found someone he plans to marry, someone who totally fulfills him. So Celeste does everything she can to ruin this relationship. She's even been suspected of vandalizing Maggie's business. 

The other villain was a totally unexpected one, and, of course, I won't say much about this person because I don't want to give out spoilers. Suffice it to say that this part of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat, and made me feel as if I were watching a suspense/thriller movie. And in fact, I do think this book should be made into a movie. I'm positive it would garner great reviews, and be a box-office success!

I also loved the secondary characters, and how they were woven into the plot.

Flint's assistant, Mark Ramirez, was such a great character! Thanks to his steadying hand, Flint was able to keep it together in the wake of Maggie's disappearance, and Mark did his utmost to help him discover just who was behind it. 

The detective couple, Frank and Nettie, were terrific! I greatly enjoyed reading about how they followed up on clues, going from one location to another, talking with different people, and putting the pieces of the puzzle together.  I also loved how well they worked together. Frank really listened to Nettie's input, and, in fact, she was right on the money on more than one occasion. It was also abundantly clear that they had a great marriage.

Deputy Harper Cole was a rather unpleasant character, although, paradoxically, he did do some excellent detective work himself, and actually helped the investigation. In spite of this, I couldn't help disliking him, even though he did have one redeeming epiphany. I actually found this part of the novel a bit unrealistic, although I still enjoyed the book enough to give it five well-deserved stars!

As for Flint's family, I loved them all! They obviously cared a lot for Flint, and welcomed Maggie into their midst right away. Flint's brothers, Hawk and Cyrus, were very funny, and Lillie, his sister, was always concerned about him, although she tried hard not to be some sort of surrogate mother to him.

Even though this novel is labeled as a Christmas romance, the emphasis is on the suspense, on the driving action. I didn't mind this at all; in fact, I totally enjoyed it! The whole plot was so well worked out, the clues, the twists and turns so unexpected (although I did see one coming pretty early on, but that didn't bother me at all), that I think I would have read the whole book in one sitting, if I could have! 

Adding to the appeal of this novel is a bonus story, included at the back of the book. Titled "Cowboy's Reckoning", it, too, was quite enjoyable, with well-handled suspense, as well. It features Billie Dee, another member of the Cahill family.

In short, I totally recommend this book to readers who love suspense as well as romance, with a very skillful combination of the two. I guarantee that you will lose sleep over this one! I certainly did! And I LOVED every minute, too!


MY RATING:




Purchase Links






CONTEST RULES

The winner's book will be provided 
by TLC Book Tours.
Only US/CANADA residents may 
enter this giveaway.
The winner will have 48 hours to 
claim their prize. After that, 
another winner will be chosen. 
Good luck to everyone who enters!!



Previous books in this exciting series!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31394310-renegade-s-pride

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33133981-outlaw-s-honor





NYT and USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels was born in Texas but moved with her family to Montana at the age of five. Her first home was a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon and later a lake house on Hebgen Lake outside of West Yellowstone.

Most of her books are set in Montana, a place she loves. She now lives in a unique part of the state with her husband and three Springer Spaniels.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to play tennis, boat, camp, quilt and snowboard. There is nothing she enjoys more than curling up with a good book.

Website/Goodreads/Facebook
Amazon/Twitter



To access the complete tour schedule, just click on the button below!

https://tlcbooktours.com/2017/09/b-j-daniels-author-of-cowboys-legacy-on-tour-december-2017/





Can't Wait Wednesday No. 46: Reaper at the Gates, by Sabaaa Tahir





Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!
   
This is a weekly event hosted by
Tressa @ Wishful Endings, and inspired by "Waiting On Wednesday", which used to be hosted by
 Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

For more information, please click HERE.

As in the previous meme, this one showcases future releases  we book  bloggers 
are eagerly anticipating!!
There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!



Here's my choice for this week!


 Reaper at the Gates
(Ember Quartet, Book 3)
Sabaa Tahir
Hardcover, 464 pages
Razorbill
     June 12, 2018       
Fantasy, Young Adult 
   


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30809786-a-reaper-at-the-gates?ac=1&from_search=true






Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister’s life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias’s devotion—even at the cost of his humanity.




Why I can't wait for this one!

Yup, here's yet another case where I come across the third or fourth novel in a series, and I haven't even read the first one yet!! Lol. It does happen to me very often...... And it's always a series I've heard SO many GREAT things about, too! I think the first book is somewhere in my library, lol. Seriously, I need some sort of Time Machine in order to get these books read!! Anyone know Dr. Who's cell phone number? (Hmmmmm...and they changed the cover style for both the hardcover and the paperback. I'll have to get the paperbacks, then, and what am I going to do with the hardcover?! GRRRRRR!!!!)



The other books in this series. Click on the covers for the Goodreads pages.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25558608-a-torch-against-the-night









Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous Indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.






What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!