Blog Tour/Review: Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Note: To celebrate the release of Jacqueline Winspear's 13th novel in the Maisie Dobbs series, In This Grave Hour, TLC Book Tours is hosting a series blog tour during the months of February and March. You can learn more about this series and tour here.

Among the Mad, by Jacqueline Winspear
2009, Historical Fiction/Mystery
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via TLC Book Tours, which did not affect my review in any way



Christmas Eve, 1931. On the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the Prime Minister’s office receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met—and the writer mentions Maisie by name. Tapped by Scotland Yard’s elite Special Branch to be a special adviser on the case, Maisie is soon involved in a race against time to find a man who proves he has the knowledge and will to inflict destruction on thousands of innocent people.

In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet.

The first book I read in this series was the tenth one and I loved it so I jumped at the chance to read more! This is the sixth book in this series. It takes place in London in 1931. On Christmas Eve, Maisie is on the way to see a client when a man commits suicide in front of her. Maisie, a psychologist and private investigator, is pulled into the case when the Prime Minister's office receives a letter threatening the loss of more lives if the author's demands aren't met and he mentions Maisie by name.

I love the time period. It's post WWI and deals with wounded soldiers and how the war affected some of them. There are parts that are disturbing but it paints a complete picture about the person they are dealing with. It's interesting to see how she solves the case without the modern conveniences we have now. There's another storyline which I also found interesting that deals with her assistant, Billy's, home life.

Since I've only read two of these books, I don't know Maisie all that well, but I do like her. She's a proper, no-nonsense kind of woman with a soft heart. I love her interactions with the other characters and how they were developed. I felt like I knew each one by the end and hope some of them will be included in future installments.

This is a series where the books stand alone if you start later in the series. There is background that will make more sense to those that read the books in order, but I feel that the author does a great job of catching the reader up on what's happening without bogging down the story. I love that these books are clean. If you're looking for romance, you will be disappointed. If you're looking for a well-written, fast-paced mystery, this is a book and series you will want to check out! I'm excited to read more!!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the New York Times bestselling Maisie Dobbs series, which includes In This Grave Hour, Journey to Munich, A Dangerous Place, Leaving Everything Most Loved, Elegy for Eddie, and eight other novels. Her standalone novel, The Care and Management of Lies, was also a New York Times bestseller and a Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist. Originally from the United Kingdom, she now lives in California.

Find out more about Jacqueline at her website, www.jacquelinewinspear.com, and find her on Facebook.

Tour Stops:

Monday, February 20th: Life By Kristen – Maisie Dobbs
Tuesday, February 21st: Bookshelf Fantasies – Birds of a Feather
Wednesday, February 22nd: Reading Reality – Pardonable Lies
Thursday, February 23rd: A Bookish Way of Life – Messenger of Truth
Monday, February 27th: Back Porchervations – An Incomplete Revenge
Tuesday, February 28th: Mel’s Shelves – Among the Mad
Wednesday, March 1st: History from a Woman’s Perspective – The Mapping of Love and Death
Thursday, March 2nd: Book by Book – A Lesson in Secrets
Monday, March 6th: Bookish Realm Reviews – Elegy for Eddie
Tuesday, March 7th: My Military Savings – Leaving Everything Most Loved
Tuesday, March 7th: Barbara Khan on Goodreads – Leaving Everything Most Loved
Wednesday, March 8th: Lit and Life – A Dangerous Place
Thursday, March 9th: #redhead.with.book – Journey to Munich

Cover Reveal: Follow the Music by L.C. Ireland

Today is the cover reveal for Follow the Music by L.C. Ireland. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Follow the Music (The Collective #1)
By L.C. Ireland
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: March 7, 2017

Blurb:

Ama is a talented, young musician whose life is changed forever when she is kidnapped by bandits and wounded so badly that she loses her hearing. Far from home and newly deafened, Ama discovers that the music she has been learning all her life possesses hidden powers. The music may even be powerful enough to guide Ama home … if she can learn to listen without hearing.

You can find Follow the Music on Goodreads

You can pre-order Follow the Music on Amazon.

Excerpt:

Ama tried to hear. She tried to hear the words spoken by the girl with the honey-brown eyes, who held out her hands to push her back down when she tried to sit up. She tried to hear her own ragged breaths as panic welled inside her. She strained to hear the music that had accompanied and defined every moment of her life. But she heard nothing.

Nothing.

And that’s when Ama knew, absolutely knew, that she wasn’t dead. Because Ama’s mother had always told her that Heaven was made of music. And this strange place was nothing but silence. The quiet was so loud that Ama wondered if sound had ever existed.

She couldn’t even hear herself scream.

About the Author:

Leslie Colleen “L.C.” Ireland is an Arts Specialist in Ogden, Utah. By day she works as an educator and arts advocate for two elementary schools. By night, she writes plays and novels.

You can find and contact L.C. Ireland here:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads * Amazon

Giveaway

There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Follow the Music. One winner will win an e-copy of Follow the Music by L.C. Ireland. Open International.

For a chance to win, enter the giveaway below:

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Book Review: Cash Valley by Ryan K. Nelson

Cash Valley, by Ryan K. Nelson
2016, 185p, Mystery/Suspense
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way



When FBI Agent Alex Travis receives an anonymous phone call on a September morning in 1954 with a tip concerning the now cold case of the Cache County Bank robbery, it has his undivided attention. The tip leads Travis to the top of the secluded Green canyon in Logan, Utah, where a young man named Jack Pepper proceeds to tell a story spanning the two years from the time of the robbery, when he and his girlfriend, Kate Austin, stumbled upon the crime of the century for the Cache valley. Travis must decide if he is dealing with the suspects or the victims of one of the largest bank robberies in U.S. history.

To get the answers, it will take one more trip up the canyon, to the entrance of the Spring Hollow mine, where the daylight ends and the cold dark begins.

This story takes place in 1954. FBI Agent Alex Travis has inherited a cold case of a bank robbery which happened in Cache County two years ago. After receiving an anonymous tip, he meets a man by the name of Jack Pepper. Jack has quite a story to tell, involving bank robbers and his girlfriend, Kate.

One word describes this story: Intense! From the moment Agent Travis met Jack, this story didn't let up. We learned Jack and Kate's story, both their history together and where they are now, from a very long conversation between Agent Travis and Jack. I'm not always a fan of that, but thought it worked well for this type of book. We also learn about the dangerous bank robbers. The leader, Eddie, is especially ruthless and has unfinished business with Jack. There are some tough scenes to read, especially when Eddie turns his interest to Kate in order to get Jack to cooperate.

This is a fast-paced, entertaining read which I enjoyed from beginning to end! The main characters are flawed but likable and easy to root for. The villains are ruthless and easy to root against. It's well-researched and includes some history of the area, which I thought was interesting. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys an intense, action-packed mystery!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Ryan K. Nelson was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife and two boys. This is his first novel.

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Blog Tour/Spotlight: 'Til the Sun Comes Up by Shirleen Davies

Description:

‘Til the Sun Comes Up, Book Eight,
MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary Western Romance Series

Skye MacLaren’s life revolves around her family and the fierce bucking bull stock they provide to rodeos. She’s competitive and competent, having no room in her life for a relationship—including one with a world champion rider and business competitor.

Gage Templeton’s rodeo past and executive position with a national bucking stock supplier assures him of exciting work and nights with any woman he chooses. He’ll let no one get close—until his company partners with a competitor, forcing him to work with the one woman who could turn his resolve upside down.

Knowing a relationship is the last thing either needs, both charge ahead, certain they can keep their explosive feelings for each other in check—and away from curious family and friends. Continuing their secret encounters becomes even harder when outside forces threaten both their businesses and the people they care about.

As Gage works to discover the threat meant to cripple his company, Skye’s doubts increase. She wants more from the most magnetic man she’s ever known, but protecting her heart must come first.

Desire, distrust, fear, and the pain of the past cloud their minds, even as they work together to identify the danger. Can two strong, determined people conquer the perils to their lives as well as their hearts?

‘Til the Sun Comes Up, book eight in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.

Excerpt:

“If we do decide to go through with this, I need to be clear. I’m not looking for a relationship. I’ve been down that road once and don’t intend to ever travel it again. Fact is, I haven’t been with a woman more than once in years. Don’t even know the names of most of them. If that makes me sound like a jerk, I guess that’s what I am. But with you…”

Her chest squeezed as she waited for him to continue.

Reaching out, he took her hand. “You have to be certain you can accept me on my terms.”

Skye bit her lip, willing herself to stay calm. “Then I suppose you should be clear as to what they are.”

Dropping her hand, he sat down on the bed, patting the spot beside him.

“I’d rather stand.” Skye clasped her hands in front of her.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs, catching her gaze with his. “All right. We see each other when we can, when it’s convenient. No expectations, no late night calls, no drama. I’m free to see other women, and you’re free to see other men.”

“No.”

He straightened. “No? If that’s your answer, I’ll walk out now.”

Turning away, she worked to compose herself. She didn’t know why she even considered his demands, except for one thing. She felt the same about all of it, other than one point.

“I’m good with it all…” She hesitated.

“Except?”

“You don’t see other women, and I don’t see other men. It’s non-negotiable for me, Gage. I’m not looking for a relationship, either, but I’m also not looking to feel cheap or used.”

Gage stood, holding a hand toward her. “Skye—”

“Please, let me finish.” She turned away, gathering her thoughts. “I can live with seeing each other when it works for both of us. No drama, no commitment. Easy and infrequent.” She whipped back around, pinning him with a hard stare. “If you need to be with other women, I’m not the person for this kind of arrangement.”

He winced at the description and the terse tone. “What happens if one of us wants to start seeing someone else?”

“A simple phone call should work.” Her voice remained steady. She didn’t know why it hurt to say it out loud.

Gage walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, his voice low and rough. “The last thing I want is to hurt you. You have to know I’m not a good bet. This could last a few nights or much longer. Either way, I don’t want anything permanent, and I want to walk away as friends.”

“I’m a big girl, Gage. I don’t want or need anything more than seeing each other whenever we have time. Is that fair?”

His nostrils flared. Studying her face, he saw no sign she didn’t believe her own words. Dropping his hands from her shoulders, he picked up his hat, settling it on his head.

Her brows drew together. “Are you leaving?”

“It’s best. You need to be sure it’s what you want. Truthfully, so do I.”

She didn’t like it, but knew he was right. “I leave tomorrow.”

“Change your flight to Sunday.” He smiled. “Please. I’d like to see you tomorrow, show you more of the city, take you downtown for dinner.” Stepping closer, he cupped her face in his hands, the kiss slow and warm. Groaning, he stepped away. “Change your flight, Skye.” 

Bio:

Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.

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Pre-Order: Condemn Me Not by Heather B. Moore

I'm so excited for Condemn Me Not by Heather B. Moore and will be sharing weekly memes until it becomes available on March 14, 2017! Be sure to pre-order your copy today!

USA Today Bestselling author Heather B. Moore brings the life of her 10th great-grandmother to center stage. Susannah North Martin, accused of witchcraft in 1692, joins five women in the Salem Jail, all sentenced to death for their crimes. Amidst tragedy, Susannah finds hope and compassion as she remembers a well-loved life, and readers discover that love reaches far beyond the grave as Susannah faces the magistrates in Salem.

Pre-order your copy here!

Grand Finale Blitz: The SEAL's Return by Patricia Potter

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Grand Finale for

The SEAL's Return

By Patricia Potter

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out...

Launch - Author Interview

What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

That they respect the military and reach out with a helping hand and understanding heart. And that love can often conquer even the greatest obstacles.

Nicole's Book Musings - Welcome to Covenant Falls!

Covenant Falls is a very special town in Colorado. It has become a healing place for returning vets with the assistance of rescue animals and a quirky town population.

Three former vets – a wounded ex-Army Ranger, an Army chopper pilot and an Army battlefield surgical nurse – have found belonging, a home. . . and love there.

The newest residents are former Navy Seal Jubal Pierce and Dr. Lisa Redding in the February release of “The SEAL’s Return.” And their romance is the most troubled-filled of all.

With Love for Books - Review

"Patricia Potter writes about troubled pasts in an emphatic way. I could easily understand the emotions of her main characters. What I loved about The SEAL's Return the most is the way she writes about animals. . . . The SEAL's Return is a captivating story about both people and animals and I enjoyed reading it very much."

Colorimetry - Excerpt

Jubal Pierce plucked the letter he'd received yesterday from the trash can. He'd read it, then discarded it. This time he reread it slowly and considered the proposal.

Hearts & Scribbles - Building a Fictional Town

When I started writing “A Soldier’s Promise,” the first in my Home to Covenant Falls series, I knew I had a problem. All my other books were set in an actual place: Atlanta that I knew well, Memphis that I knew nearly as well, Boston that I had visited many times. But now I was writing a book in which a small town is a character in the book. I wanted it to be a little quirky, and quite obviously I couldn’t use a real one where everyone knows everyone. The only solution was to build my own town.

Thoughts of a Blonde - Review

"Sometimes what you are not looking for, is just what you need most in the world! Patricia Potter takes us on an emotional journey of healing as we head back to Covenant Falls, Colorado to see the latest veteran to plan on just passing through and end up finding more than he was even looking for!"

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium - Creating the Perfect Couple

I like to create the perfect couple by creating the two people who are decidedly imperfect for each other.

When I start a book, I usually have a hero – or heroine – in mind and then visualize the polar opposite. My new book is a perfect example. I hope I have readers wonder how these two can ever resolve their differences.

Falling Leaves - Excerpt

She looked up to see two men enter Maude’s. One was Eve’s husband. The other man caused her breath to catch in her throat.

Lisa didn’t know why, exactly. It wasn’t because he was cover-model handsome. But there was something about him that was strikingly different.

EskieMama & Dragon Lady Reads - Researching a Book

One of my favorite aspects of writing is research. I have endless curiosity about nearly everything and everyone. I truly enjoy it when writing takes me to new places.

In The SEAL’s Return, I went on many journeys through Google. The first, of course, was about SEALs, the training they take, the type of missions they undertake, the various ranks, etc.

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews - Review

"I really enjoyed this story especially about a wounded hero who put his own suffering aside to help another.How could you not fall in love with a fellow like that?It really reminds you there is Hope and Joy for all of us within our reach.An enjoyable story about love and sacrifice that tugged at the readers emotions."

Babs Book Bistro - Review

"The characters are ones you want to get to know and see good things happen to. I love how the author has Lisa as a caring and not a judgmental person. She cares a great deal for people. Jubal is always there for Gordon when he really needs someone. I like how everyone interacts and makes the story a real page turner."

Cafinated Reads - Review

"This is a story of hope, belonging and finding that one true love that will heal all wounds, past and present. I will be going back and grabbing up books 1-3 if they are all as amazing as this book! Jubal’s character stole my heart instantly. Lisa’s character was chiseled perfectly, in my opinion. Definitely a keeper, if you ask me! This book is deserving of 4.5 stars and the highest “hats off” praises you can give!"

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

The SEAL's Return

(Home to Covenant Falls #4)
by Patricia Potter

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 1st 2017 by Harlequin Superromance

This is the home he never expected…

With a terrifying ordeal behind him, former navy SEAL Jubal Pierce was supposed to stay in Covenant Falls, Colorado, for only a day or two. That's it. He's not prepared to put down roots here—no matter how intriguing the town's new doctor happens to be. Not to mention Dr. Lisa Redding's teen brother is on a troubled path that's all too familiar. Suddenly Jubal finds himself entangled in the community and with deep, unfamiliar feelings for Lisa. But maybe a little detour is just what a warrior needs to find his true purpose…and true love.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

Other Books in the Series

  

About the Author

Patricia Potter is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than fifty books. She has received numerous writing awards, including RT Storyteller of the Year, its Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance and its Best Hero of the Year Award. She is a seven-time RITA finalist and three-time Maggie Award winner. She has served as president of Romance Writers of America. The SEAL’s Return is her fourteenth book for Harlequin.

Prior to writing fiction, she was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal and president of a public relations firm.

Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Amazon│Pinterest

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will win a $25 Amazon eGift Card

- 3 winners will win an ebook of THE SOLDIER'S PROMISE (book 1 in the Home to Covenant Falls series)

- Open internationally

- Ends February 14th

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Blog Tour/Review: Dragonkyn by Nathan Smith Jones

Dragonkyn, by Nathan Smith Jones
2017, 216p, YA Fantasy
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher which did not affect my review in any way



Marc Mondragon is your average teenager: always getting into trouble, crushing on the pretty girl in school. But when strange things begin happening to his body, Marc is thrust into a new world where dragons are no longer just fairytales. Now knowing he’s part dragon, Marc joins a group of Dragonkyn who call themselves Sorceron. As Marc discovers new powers within himself, he starts to wonder how much he can really trust his fellow Dragonkyn. After the leader of Sorceron orders the rest of the group to kill Marc, he flees. But when he discovers that people are going to attack the Sorceron, Marc is faced with a dilemma. Will he try to help the Dragonkyn who tried to kill him?

Marc's life is rough. His mom works hard to put food on the table and to live in a run-down house. He regularly gets chased by the local deputy who's trying to pin some vandalism on him, and he's trying to fit in at school. Things start to change once he learns that he has dragon DNA. He meets a new friend who introduces him to more of his kind (Dragonkyn) who call themselves Sorceron. Even stranger things start happening and Marc isn't sure who he can trust or where he can turn.

This book is full of action, as well as some violence. Marc is a nice kid who is just trying to fit in but when he starts to discover his dragon powers, he knows his life will never be the same. Once he meets the other Dragonkyn, he gets some answers but some strange things happen which prompt new questions. There's an evil villain that we get to know as well. He's easy to not like or trust and it will be interesting to see what happens with him in the future.

This was a fun book to read! There were parts that made me laugh and other times I was engrossed in the action, wondering what would happen. It was hard to tell the direction the story would go, which made it interesting. By the end, there were still questions to be answered, so I'm looking forward to reading more!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books & Things

Nathan Smith Jones graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English Literature. The fourth of eight children, he is the author of the Children’s book, “The Boy Who Ate America,” and several other novels and screenplays. He lives with his wife and five children in Utah.

Website  * Twitter

Tour Schedule:

February 14: Riddle’s Reviews
February 15: Reidhead Random-ness
February 17: Closet Readers
February 18: Drankgon
February 20: Bookworm Lisa || Making Life a Bliss Complete
February 21: 2 Kids and Tired Books
February 22: Rockin’ Book Reviews
February 23: The Booknerd Dragon || Wishful Endings
February 24: Mel’s Shelves
February 25: Bookish Creature
February 26: Blooming With Books
February 27: Eccentric Eclectic Woman
February 28: Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews || Jorie Loves a Story

First Line Friday #7

Welcome to First Line Friday! I got this idea from my friend Kathy over at Bookworm Nation. This meme is easy to do: simply pick up the book you're currently reading and share the very first line! There are some really good first lines out there. They grab you and suck you right into the story and make you want to keep reading. So, my selection for this week is:

Sophia's Leap-Year Courtship by Kristin Holt

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes the Timeless Romance Singles line. SOPHIA'S LEAP-YEAR COURTSHIP: A brand new historical romance novella from USA Today bestselling author Kristin Holt.

Union Pacific Station Agent Chadwick Hughes has everything in a state of readiness to welcome his mail order bride…everything but the bride. The woman he’s corresponded with for a year didn’t change her mind or miss her train in Omaha—she never existed. Chadwick’s mortified to discover he’s been swindled by a fraudulent matrimonial agency in Chicago. He needs a lawyer if he’ll ever recover a dime of the fortune he spent on worthless membership fees and the nonexistent bride’s transportation west.

Sophia Sorensen, Attorney at Law, is a spinster on the edge of propriety. The good people of Wyoming Territory are open to a lot of things, including Lady’s Privilege during Leap Years, but some aren’t fond of her day-to-day behavior. Why, the woman rides her bicycle hither and yon, showing her petticoat ruffle and ankles. She might be the least ladylike specimen beneath Wyoming skies, but it’s entertaining to watch her court the U.P. Station Agent, Chadwick Hughes, the most-eligible bachelor in the county.

First Line:

"Chadwick Hughes waited on the Union Pacific platform, heart pounding and mouth dry, as the first passengers disembarked."

I LOVE mail-order bride stories (although I never would have wanted to be one--too scary) and am looking forward to reading this novella. Look for my review next week!

So, what's your pick for this week? If you want to participate grab the logo and post your own First Line Friday entry on your blog and then leave your link in the comments. And make sure you link your post back to Bookworm Nation! If you don't have a blog, just leave the title, author and first line in the comment section below.

Blog Tour/Review: One Fell Down by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

One Fell Down, by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
2017, 255p, Clean Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher which did not affect my review in any way



When Mikaela York opens an anonymous blue sympathy card with the nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill” written inside, she doesn’t know what to make of it. But soon after, Mikaela and her fiancé are in a tragic car accident, resulting in her husband-to-be’s death. Then when Mikaela’s grandmother loses her life in a hiking accident one year later, an old man gives Mikaela another mysterious blue card at the funeral. After the service, Mikaela’s grandfather asks that she oversee the renovations on his bed & breakfast in New Zealand. When she arrives, Mikaela meets Tui Davies—the inn’s manager—and Brentin Williams, the man Tui expects her daughter to marry. Tui helps Mikaela retrieve a doll from the cellar vault, but the doll turns out to be an evil omen that Mikaela is told she must get rid of before someone is murdered. Meanwhile, the old man from the funeral is bent on revenge and is plotting against everyone who has ever wronged him, and Mikaela is next in line. But until she discovers the killer’s contact in New Zealand, whom can she trust? And while Brentin attempts to help Mikaela overcome her grief, she must decide—is she ready to love again?

First of all, I have to say that I love this eye-catching cover! When it came in the mail, I wanted to dive into it right away! 

The book starts with Mikaela on a trip with her fiance, where he is killed in a car accident. A year later, her grandmother dies, and understandably, she needs some time to recover. Her grandfather asks her to go to New Zealand to oversee renovations on his bed & breakfast. There are some mysterious blue sympathy cards with nursery rhymes that factor into the story as well.

I love that the majority of this book takes place in New Zealand. It was a great setting for Mikaela to heal and move on in life. She meets Brentin, a fellow American, and they are attracted to each other but he has another relationship to deal with first. We also quickly learn who the villain is but it takes a while to learn the motivation behind his master plan, as well as who he has helping him. The story starts out slow, but picks up as the pieces start falling into place. The romance is light and is perfect for this type of book. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys clean mystery/suspense with a dash of romance!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen lives with her husband on a small farm in northern Utah. They are the parents of three children and care for a few cows and goats. She has a passion for reading, writing, and music, though not necessarily in that order, and she enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the world. Through those travels, she's discovered she loves the mountains--a good thing since she lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. One of her most favorite countries to visit is New Zealand. One Fell Down is Ronda's fourth romantic-suspense novel.

Website * Twitter

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Tour Schedule:

Feb. 20th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/ 

http://rockinbookreviews.com/ 

http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Feb. 21st: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ 

http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ 

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ 

http://empowermoms.net/

Feb. 22nd: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/ 

http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

Feb. 23rd: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/ 

http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/ 

http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

Feb. 24th: http://www.wishfulendings.com/
http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

Book Blast: Sprinkled with Love by Jennifer Faye

Sprinkled with Love by Jennifer Faye

What does one do with a matchmaking cat named Romeo?

Spirited and beautiful, Jillian Parker is one of Marietta’s newest business owners. Still, her mother worries about Jillian’s bare ring finger. So in order to give her mother something else to fuss over, Jillian adopts a cat named Romeo. He turns out to be anything but a docile lap cat.

One snowy night, Romeo makes a break for it. With Jillian right on his heels, they have a near miss with a passing pickup driven by Avery Wainwright, one of Jillian’s closest friends. A rodeo accident has the sexy cowboy returning home to recuperate, and he’s not happy about it.

So when Avery finds himself lassoed into the Bachelor Bake-Off, he turns to the one person who has always helped him out—Jillian. But will teaching him to take chances outside of the show ring have them both discovering that their feelings for each other run much deeper than they ever imagined?

EXCERPT:

What in the world? There was something in the road. Avery tramped on the brakes. He squinted. Between the falling snow and the long shadows of evening, he was pretty certain it was a person.

The pickup hit a patch of black ice. Though he hadn’t been going very fast, the vehicle refused to stop.

Avery’s heart slammed into his ribs. “Move!”

It wasn’t like the person could hear him, but he felt as though he had to do something to gain their attention. The distance between them was shrinking with every beat of his heart.

Five feet.

Four…Three…Two…

And then the truck slid to a stop.

The breath that had been trapped in Avery’s straining lungs rushed out. The surprise, worry, and fright all ganged up on him. In turn, anger pumped in his veins. What had this person been thinking to run out in front of a moving vehicle?

He threw the pickup into Park. Ignoring the pain from his injured leg, he alighted from the truck. “What do you think you’re doing? I almost hit you—”

“You almost hit my cat.”

He immediately recognized the female voice. It was Jillian. What in the world was she doing in the middle of the road in the dark?

With his heart still pounding, Avery stepped around the front of the idling vehicle. A cold breeze rushed past him, but it wasn’t enough to cool his temper. “Do you know how close you came to getting hit?”

“I had to save Romeo.”

Avery shifted his weight to his good leg. “Who? I thought we were talking about a cat.”

“Romeo is a cat.” Jillian stepped in front of the pickup’s headlights and then she lowered her hood.

His next words stuck in his throat. He hadn’t seen Jillian since his brother and sister graduated high school eight or so months ago. Since then he’d been in Marietta infrequently, spending all of his time going from one rodeo to the next.

How was it possible that Jillian had grown even more beautiful? Her long hair was like spun gold and her ivory complexion was flawless. One of the things he admired about her was how she didn’t hide her beauty behind a bunch of makeup. Sure, she wore a little, but not too much.

And this was the first time he’d been alone with her since she’d worked for him. Normally, he had no problem speaking to her, but suddenly things felt awkward. What was up with that?

Author Jennifer Faye

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

Now living her dream, she resides with her very patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. When she's not plotting out her next romance, you can find her curled up with a mug of tea and a book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/12/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Audiobook Blog Tour/Review: Anybody Can Do Anything by Betty MacDonald

Author: Betty MacDonald

Narrator: Heather Henderson

Length: 8 hours 30 minutes

Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press⎮2016

Genre: Humor, Memoir

"The best thing about the Depression was the way it reunited our family and gave my sister Mary a real opportunity to prove that anybody can do anything, especially Betty."
After surviving both the failed chicken farm - and marriage - immortalized in The Egg and I, Betty MacDonald returns to live with her mother and desperately searches to find a job to support her two young daughters. With the help of her older sister Mary, Anybody Can Do Anything recounts her failed, and often hilarious, attempts to find work during the Great Depression.

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Betty Bard MacDonald (1907–1958), the best-selling author of The Egg and I and the classic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle children’s books, burst onto the literary scene shortly after the end of World War II. Readers embraced her memoir of her years as a young bride operating a chicken ranch on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, andThe Egg and I sold its first million copies in less than a year. The public was drawn to MacDonald’s vivacity, her offbeat humor, and her irreverent take on life. In 1947, the book was made into a movie starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert, and spawned a series of films featuring MacDonald’s Ma and Pa Kettle characters.

MacDonald followed up the success of The Egg and I with the creation of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, a magical woman who cures children of their bad habits, and with three additional memoirs: The Plague and I (chronicling her time in a tuberculosis sanitarium just outside Seattle), Anybody Can Do Anything (recounting her madcap attempts to find work during the Great Depression), and Onions in the Stew (about her life raising two teenage daughters on Vashon Island).

Author Paula Becker was granted full access to Betty MacDonald’s archives, including materials never before seen by any researcher. Looking for Betty MacDonald, the first official biography of this endearing Northwest storyteller, reveals the story behind the memoirs and the difference between the real Betty MacDonald and her literary persona.

Heather Henderson is a voice actress and audiobook narrator with a 20-year career in literary and performing arts. Her narrations include the NYT bestseller (now also a feature film) Brain on Fire; and Sharon Creech’s The Boy on the Porch, which won her an Earphones award and was named one of the Best Children’s Audiobooks for 2013 by Audiofile Magazine. She earned her Doctor of Fine Arts degree at the Yale School of Drama, and is co-curator of AudioEloquence.com, a pronunciation research site for the audiobook industry. In 2015, Heather was a finalist for a Voice Arts Award (Outstanding Narration, Audiobook Classics), for her narration of Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I.

Click to listen to an excerpt of Anybody Can Do Anything

My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Post Hypnotic Press. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion in any way.

This is the third book in Betty MacDonald's memoirs but works well as a standalone. It's the first one I've listened to, though, so it seemed like she glossed over her failed marriage and then I realized that she details that in a previous book. In this book, she's back home with her mother who helps her take care of her two young daughters while she goes to work.

Her sister, Mary, is hilarious. She is constantly finding Betty jobs, usually the one she's leaving, and gives Betty glowing recommendations, even though Betty can't do most of what Mary says she can. She also finds Betty lots of dates, usually the men she turns down, suggesting they go out with her sister, Betty, instead. I truly was amazed at all the jobs Betty held during that time period. For the most part, she was able to quickly find a new one, but there were some difficult times when the entire family pulled together to make it through. There were a couple of times when the story started lagging, but then it picked back up and I was completely engaged again, especially near the end when she talked about her and Mary's co-worker, Dorita.

I loved the narrator, Heather Henderson! I enjoyed the way she brought both Betty and Mary to life. Her voice is fantastic and I thought her pacing was perfect. She did a great job conveying the emotion in Betty's stories, and I laughed out loud multiple times. I listened to this over several days and looked forward to the time I was able to sit down and be entertained some more. This is the first audiobook I've heard narrated by Heather Henderson, and would definitely listen to her again!

Anybody Can Do Anything Giveaway #1

Anybody Can Do Anything Giveaway #2

Anybody Can Do Anything Giveaway #3

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