Thursday, September 6, 2012

Idolizing In: Fool’s Gold Series, Book 9

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Hardcover - Pages: 376; Paperback - Pages: 376; Kindle Edition - File Size: 517 KB; Audiobook - Unabridged | Expected Release Date: July 24, 2012 | Publisher: HQN Books | Obtained: NetGalley

"All Summer Long" [Fool’s Gold Series, Book 9] by Susan Mallery

My Book Summary : Chantal (Charlie) moved to Fool's Gold, a couple years ago, after visiting on vacation and fell in love with it. Now she is happy with her life, being a firefighter, her friends, and the community. The only thing she would like to change is her fear of men that she's had ever since the rape experience she went through years ago. She'd like to get over her fear because ever since her rape she hasn't been able to move on from the incident, meaning she hasn't had a relationship with any men at all, and she would love to be able to be emotional whole enough for her to have children sometime soon. However, she doesn't want to go through with years of possible therapy that it would involve to move on. Therefore, she comes up with the idea that she needs to find a man who could personally help her out to heal her scars and after looking around she thinks her best friends' brother-in-law, Clay, would be the perfect man for her.

A few years ago, Clay's wife, Diane, died in a car accident. Therefore, because she was the love of his life he doesn't expect to fall in love with anyone else, yet he likes and respects Charlie so he agrees to help seduce her in hopes to teach her the wonders that life has to offer while healing her.

However, will both their hearts be able to withstand each other's charms? Or will they stick to their friend’s only status no matter what their hearts tell them?

My Book Review : 5 out of 5 stars!! Ever since this year's three-part series from Fool's Gold came out, I have wanted to read more about Charlie's romance! Therefore, I'm so happy that it turned out even better than I expected!!! This is a novel about what the heart is able to overcome when faced with the opportunity to heal. I LOVED CHARLIE & CLAY!!! Together or apart Charlie and Clay were a great duo that I couldn't get enough of!! I loved the way this novel dealt with Charlie's fears, helping Clay with his ambitions, and bringing Charlie and her mother back together again. It was a charming book, which I could not put down!!

While this novel also gave me a little idea of what to expect within one of the next books in this series and I can't wait to see where it'll take us....Justice & Patience! *hahaa* Their names even sound great together!

I recommend this series and DEFINITELY this novel to anyone who loves contemporary romances that have just the right amount of drama! =0)

My Previous Interview(s) with this Author : May 2012

My Previous Guest Post(s) by this Author : The Appeal of Romance - June 2012

My Previous Review(s) for this Series : Book 1 | Book 4 | Book 5 | Book 6 | E-novella 2 | Book 7 | Book 8

My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Tempting | Accidentally Yours | Falling For Gracie | Having Her Boss's Baby | Barefoot Season

Author's Series Extras : Fool's Gold Magazines | About Fool's Gold | Fool's Gold News | Meet the main characters from the Fool's Gold Series


Author Book/Series Trailer :

Book Teaser(s) :
"What do you want?" she demanded, before she remembered that perhaps she might want to be nicer to the man she'd asked to sleep with her.
One corner of his mouth twitched. "Not a morning person?" he asked.
"It's two in the afternoon."
"I was giving you the benefit of the doubt."
She sighed. "I don't like yard work. I'm not good at it. Not the physical stuff---that's easy. But knowing what to do. I think my plants make fun of me behind my back."
"Because they respect you enough not to do it to your face?"
"Something like that." ~ within Chapter 5
"Have you noticed how damn happy everyone is here?" he asked. "It's not natural."
"It's small-town America," Clay reminded him. "What's not to like?"
"Everything. I miss the city."
"You don't want anyone to know your name?"
"Exactly. The woman who cleans my room at the hotel was telling me about her kid playing football. She invited me to the game."
Dante sounded outraged, as if the woman had suggested he violate laws of nature. ~ within Chapter 11
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Susan, then please check out her website. To find out more about the town of Fools Gold then click here.

Guest Post :: Conquer Your Fears and “Live to Give” Webcast


Thomas Nelson Author and Hoops of Hope founder, Austin Gutwein, to host September 6 online event to focusing on themes his latest release, Live to Give.

On September 6 at 8:00 pm EDT, Austin Gutwein will be hosting a live Facebook web event to encourage participants to conquer their fears and use their talents to help others. The webcast will center on the themes Gutwein writes about in his latest release “Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles(Thomas Nelson/August, 2012). At the conclusion of the webcast, the winners of a month-long social media fueled “Get and Give” contest will be announced, including the winner of a Kindle Fire and $250 donated to the winner’s charity of choice.

Join Austin on the evening of Thursday, September 6th as he shares about his own experiences and encourages others to conquers their fears and “live to give”. Austin will also be taking audience questions and interacting with participants. PLUS – there will be several “Live to Give” giveaways – books, gift certificates and much more! RSVP today and tell your friends.

Based on the John 6 story of Jesus feeding the 5000, in “Live to Give” Gutwein challenges his readers that regardless of age and talent, God can use them to make a difference. Even though God could take care of everything Himself and doesn’t really need our help, He desperately WANTS us to help Him care for others. Gutwein walks young people through discovering and embracing their unique God-given strengths and abilities, then figuring out how to use those talents to help others. Sometimes doing that takes a leap of faith on our part, and often becoming fearless in the process.

More about Austin: At eighteen years old, Gutwein speaks with wisdom and has the experience to reinforce his message. When Austin was just nine years old, he watched a video that showed children in Africa who had lost their parents to AIDS. Gutwein realized these kids weren’t any different from him—except they were suffering. Feeling called to help, he took his love of basketball and decided to shoot free throws to raise money for orphans in Zambia. On World AIDS Day in 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Through sponsorship from parents and friends, Gutwein raised over $3,000 that day to give hope to eight orphans in Zambia.

Over the past eight years, Gutwein’s efforts have created Hoops of Hope, the largest free throw marathon in the world. With an estimated 40,000 people in more than 25 countries participating, Hoops of Hope has raised more than $2.5 million to build schools, medical clinics, dormitories for orphanages, and the only computer lab in Zambia.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire and have $250 donated to your favorite charity. Click for the banner for details and entry or visit http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13528976/livetogive.



Learn more about Austin and Hoops of Hope at www.AustinGutwein.com and www.HoopsOfHope.org.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Made the Grade: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.co.uk: Hardcover - Pages: 272; Paperback - Pages: 304; Kindle Edition - File Size: 351 KB; Audiobook - Unabridged | Expected Release Date: October 05, 2012 | Publisher: MIRA Ink Books | Obtained: NetGalley

"Dash & Lily's Book of Dares" by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

My Book Summary : Dash fooled his divorced parents this holiday season, making them believe he was going to be spending the holidays with the other parent. Therefore, both of his parents decided to go on trips for the holidays, while he is left by himself. However, he's happy to have them gone since he likes his solitude and ever since he's parents got a divorce years ago he's not that big of fan of the holidays.

Lily loves the holidays! She cannot get enough of her family traditions and the joys of the holiday season. However, this season is already starting to suck because her parents decided to take a 25th Anniversary trip to Fiji leaving her home alone with her older brother. Even though she is close to her extended family (her grandfather dotes on her, she has a great-aunt who helps her out with almost anything she needs, etc.) it just doesn't seem the same. She is even more disappointed when all her brother, Langston, wants to do is spend time with his boyfriend, Benny, and not with her now that their parents are gone. Therefore, to get Lily out of Langston & Benny's way they take one of her new red notebooks to the Strand, a bookstore that their cousin works at, writes some clues into it and leaves it there in hopes that she might find a guy for herself. And she does ....

Dash loves to read so when wondering the Strand during one of his typical trips there he finds Lily's red notebook and starts her daring game. Soon they both find out more about themselves and push themselves to do things they would never typically do. As they get to know each other, they find that they are highly intrigued and a bit infatuated with each other. Nevertheless, how much of that is real, how much of that is made up in their minds, and would they be willing to give up the notebook and the dares to find out for themselves if they are made for each other?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, Dash & Lily find a fun way to get to know someone new without having to meet each other but they also find out more about themselves along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!! Dash was everything that he portrayed. He was snarly, sweet, independent, and dashing in his own ways. Lily was coming into her own person throughout this novel. She goes from being the "little girl" of the family into a young woman who knows more about who she is and what she wants for herself then she knew before. PLUS, the additional characters---Boomer, Mark, Langston, Lily's Grandpa, Mrs. Basil E., etc.---were wonderful additions that kept this novel lively and bouncing from one activity to the next! The only reason I gave this a medium-ish star rating then I originally wanted to, was because the plot was soo good up until a little after the middle of the novel, then life just gets in the way and even though it made the novel feel more real I was disappointed to have it happen. Nevertheless, the ending was still good enough that I could appreciate how everything ended.

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good quirky young adult contemporary romance.

My Previous Review(s) for David Levithan : Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Authors' Novel Extras : Book rec: 'Dash & Lily's Book of Dares' | 'Dash and Lily's Book of Dares' authors send readers on a wild tour of Manhattan | 'Dash & Lily's Book Of Dares' Authors Wonder How They Can Cast Justin Bieber | Required Holiday Reading: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Author's Series Interview(s) :



Book Teaser(s) :
"Have you been a good little boy this year?" he asked.
I didn't feel that I was the right person to determine my own goodness or badness, but in the interest of speeding along this encounter, I said yes.
He actually wobbled with joy.
"Good! Good! Then what can I bring you this Christmas?"
I thought it was obvious.
"A message from Lily," I said. "That's what I want for Christmas. But I want it right now."
"So impatient!" Santa lowered his voice and whispered in my ear. "But Santa does have a little something for you"---he shifted a little in his seat---"right under his coat. If you want to have your present, you'll have to rub Santa's belly."
"What?" I asked.
He gestured with his eyes down to his stomach. "Go ahead."
I looked closely and saw the faint outline of an envelope beneath his red velvet coat. ~ within Chapter 3 - titled '-Dash- December 22nd'
At last I had it---the Christmas present I'd wanted all along, but hadn't realized. His words.
I felt a sense of longing for him such as I've never experienced in my lifetime for any person, or even for any pet.
It seemed weird to me that he'd spent his Christmas alone ... and had seemed to like it. He hadn't seemed to think anyone should feel sorry for him about that, either.
I had spent my Christmas mostly alone for the first time in my life, too.
I had felt rather sorry for myself.
But it hadn't been so terrible, actually. ~ within Chapter 8 - titled '(Lily) December 25th'
For more information on this book and/or any other books by Rachel and/or David, then please check out their websites: Rachel's website & David's website.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Feasted On: Takhini Wolves Series, Book 2

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 449 KB | Expected Release Date: September 11, 2011 | Publisher: Samhain Publishing | Obtained: Vivian Arend

"Silver Mine" [Takhini Wolves Series, Book 2] by Vivian Arend

My Book Summary : It's been ten years since Shelley has been back to her hometown of Whitehorse and the Takhini pack. However, other than getting to be around her older half-sister, Caroline, again and opening up her veterinary/doctors office soon she isn't very excited to be back. Especially since, it was the Takhini pack that ran her away from the area in the first place because of her being a wolf shifter who can't shift. Nevertheless, since Caroline swears that Evan, the current Takhini Pack's Alpha, has changed and made the pack better Shelley is willing to give the area a try again.

Therefore, while setting up her office Shelley meets Chase, a Métis--which means he has a dual nature--of cougar/wolf and the "Alpha" of the outcast shifters living in the Keno area. They have an insistent attraction between them that grows more and more with every moment they share together but Shelley gave up sex with shifters a long time ago to get away from their mind games and doesn't intend to turn back on her plan. However, some of the best laid plans can get out of hand too, which is what happens between Shelley and Chase when they spend a time together finding a cure to the unfamiliar disease spreading among shifters living in the Keno area. Will they be able to accomplish their search for a cure without falling for each other or is it inevitable?

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! This is the way I hoped the Takhini Wolves Series would be--inventive, spicy, and a whole fun new cast of characters!!! And .... boy ... do I really like the characters! Chase and Shelley are one hot item that I'm soo happy to read about! They have complications that I wasn't sure how they would work out but through their determination and big hearts, they make it through it all. In addition, I LOVED the characters living in the Keno area pack! I really hope that they will be, or at the very least Chase and Shelley, will be in or mentioned in the next few books.

The plot was more thought out and had a better follow through then the first book in this series, which is probably why I liked it as much as I did. Along with the wonderful characters and the antics, they got into!

I recommend this novel and series to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances with a little bit of adventure.

- On a side note -
After Frank explained about bears love lives I kept on hoping that Shelley would find out that she was part bear so that would be the reason to her problem, making it so Caroline (her older sister) would be unknowingly a full bear shifter. *crossing fingers* *sigh* We'll have to wait and see then I guess. =0/

My Previous Review(s) for this Series : Book 1

My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Tidal Wave | Wolf Games | Whirlpool | Wolf Tracks | Wolf Signs

Author's Novel Extras : Saturday Snippet

Author's Series Extras : Working on the next wolfies

Book Teaser(s) :
She pulled out a pad of paper and asked him questions. The usual overall health and history. When he mentioned his Métis blood, her eyes widened but she stayed professional. Now that she was over her initial shock, she'd slipped into the smoothest bedside manner he'd ever seen.
His cock got hard just thinking about beds and her at the same time.
Her scent floored him. This time, it wasn't just the wolf that was interested, but the cougar as well, and that bastard was the pickiest thing when it came to females.
"Chase."
He'd gone and lost all train of thought. "Sorry. What?" ~ within Chapter 4
"Will we hike back to your cabin tonight?"
"Partway."
"I can walk. I'm tired, but I can go for a while."
He hummed noncommittally. "How's your arm feel?"
"How's your shoulder?" she snapped back.
Chase snorted. "Woman, you are so not good at the do everything you're told thing."
Carrying on a conversation made it easier to ignore exactly what she was doing to the body in front of her. "You'd have been bored. Admit it."
"I would have been completely bored," he drawled. ~ within Chapter 16
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Vivian, then please check out her website.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: Return to Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs | Interview & Review

Today I'm turning my blog over to Susan Wiggs, who I interviewed about her latest novel "Return to Willow Lake," which is the 9th book in her Lakeshore Chronicles Series!!



My Q&A with Susan Wiggs :

Jess : Who or what was your inspiration to begin writing?

Susan : There was never a time when I wasn’t writing. Even as a toddler, I used to dictate stories to my mom. Evidence here: early writings. I think people are born storytellers. Most grow up and get sensible jobs, but some of us never get over it.

Jess : Tell us a bit about your Lakeshore Chronicles Series.

Susan : It’s an unending series of books about the lives and loves of the Bellamy family. The setting is a nostalgic town in the Catskills, on the shores of Willow Lake. It’s become so real to me that the new book, "Return to Willow Lake," features endpapers with maps.

Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least like to invite to dinner, from which book and why?

Susan : Fun question! I would most like to invite Zach Alger from "Return to Willow Lake" to dinner, because he is total eye candy and he would make an awesome video of the experience. I’d least like to meet up with Zach’s father, Matthew, because he’s a total douchebag. Fortunately, Zach did a better job raising himself.

Jess : Please describe your heroine, from "Return to Willow Lake," in one to two sentences.

Susan : Sonnet Romano is smart, driven, loyal and romantically confused. She’s also a wonderful daughter to her mom at a time when her mom really needs her. And she can’t seem to stop thinking about this guy she’s not supposed to even like....

Jess : If "Return to Willow Lake" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?

Susan : Sonnet looks a bit like Alicia Keys. She would be played by a lovely mixed race actress...And Zach, hmm...somebody tall, blonde and yummy. I’m open to suggestions.


Jess : In regards to "Return to Willow Lake," if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?

Susan : Gosh, no. I rewrote it so many times, my head would explode! If you find a typo while reading it, well, I’d change that.

Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?

Susan : I stopped counting after forty. So, probably fortysomething? My favorite is the NEXT one because I’m so excited to be writing it. Of my published books, "Return to Willow Lake" is my fave, because I just felt so close to the characters and their situation. I’ve never been in that situation, but I felt it very deeply.

Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?

Susan : I’m finishing up "The Apple Orchard," the first Bella Vista Cooking School novel which takes place in Archangel, in Sonoma County, California. It will be out next May. After that, I’m going to tackle Logan’s story in the Lakeshore Chronicles.



About the Author :

Using blunt scissors, pages from a Big Chief tablet, a borrowed stapler and a Number Two pencil, Susan Wiggs self-published her first novel at the age of eight. "A Book About Some Bad Kids" [I still have this-CL] was based on the true-life adventures of Susan and her siblings, and the first printing of one copy was a complete sell-out.

Due to her brother's extreme reaction to that first prodigious effort, Susan went underground with her craft, entertaining her friends and offending her siblings with anonymously-written stories of virtuous sisters and the brothers who torment them. The first romance she ever read was "Shanna" by the incomparable Kathleen Woodiwiss, which she devoured while slumped behind a college vector analysis textbook. Armed with degrees from SFA and Harvard, and toting a crate of "keeper" books by Woodiwiss, Roberta Gellis, Laurie McBain, Rosemary Rogers, Jennifer Blake, Bertrice Small and anything with the words "flaming" and "ecstasy" in the title, she became a math teacher, just to prove to the world that she did have a left brain.

Late one night, she finished the book she was reading and was confronted with a reader's worst nightmare—She was wide awake, and there wasn't a thing in the house she wanted to read. Figuring this was the universe's way of taking away her excuses, she picked up a Big Chief tablet and a Number Two pencil, and began writing her novel with the working title, "A Book About Some Bad Adults." Actually, that was a bad book about some adults, but Susan persevered, learning her craft the way skydiving is learned—by taking a blind leap and hoping the chute will open.

Her first book was published (without the use of blunt scissors and a stapler) by Zebra in 1987, and since then she has been published by Avon, Tor, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Warner and Mira Books. Unable to completely abandon her beloved teaching profession, Susan is a frequent workshop leader and speaker at writers' conferences, including the literary institution Fields End and the legendary Maui Writers Conference. Her novel "The Charm School" was voted one of RWA's Favorite Books of the Year. She is the proud recipient of three RITA awards for "Lakeside Cottage," "Lord of the Night" and "The Mistress," and is often a finalist for the prestigious award. Her books appear regularly on numerous "Best Of" lists.

Susan enjoys many hobbies, including sitting in the hot tub while talking to her mother on the phone, kickboxing, cleaning the can opener, sculpting with butter and growing her hair. She lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with her family.




- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Hardcover - Pages: 311; Kindle Edition - File Size: 487 KB; Audiobook - Unabridged | Expected Release Date: August 28, 2012 | Publisher: Mira Books | Obtained: NetGalley

"Return to Willow Lake" [The Lakeshore Chronicles, Book 9] by Susan Wiggs

My Book Summary : Sonnet has always been the type of person who likes to plan out her life then strive to achieve her goals as quickly as she can. However, when she finds out that her mother (who's in her 40's) is unexpectedly pregnant and that the pregnancy has some high-risk complications Sonnet puts her life plans and goals on hold and moves back to her hometown of Avalon to support her mother through this tough process. Nevertheless, just because she back home doesn't mean she doesn't need to work, especially since she gave up her high-powered job in the city to be there. Therefore, she becomes the Casting and Location Coordinator for the town's latest reality show called Big Girl, Small Town, and working with her once best friend Zach.

Zach is a good guy who had grown up in a crappy home. However, Sonnet's mother always made him feel welcome throughout Sonnet and his friendship and that hasn't changed over the years. It does get complicated though after Sonnet and he share an unexpected sparks-flying night together, especially afterwards when Sonnet wants to forget about it and go back to being friends again.

Now with Sonnet working on the Big Girl, Small Town with him they try working through their feelings while dealing with the intense situations around them. Can they work through everything to finally realize what they truly want for themselves in life and love? Or will they find that it would be better to be apart for good?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, this is a moving charming novel. About the lengths, those will go to for the ones they love. I loved stepping back into Susan Wiggs' Lakeshore Chronicles world and catching up with all of these characters! However, I truly enjoyed reading about Nina's struggles, Nina's triumphs, Sonnet finding herself throughout this whole novel, the budding romance between Zach and Sonnet, and how no matter what happened between Sonnet and Zach they always were their for each other in the end. The town wraps you up and makes you want to read more!!

With that being said, I really hated Sonnet's father and the way she tried to please him at all costs. I mean I know where she was coming from since I was raised by a single mother for most of my life so I understand her need to show her worth to her father. However, when her father doesn't appreciate her efforts or thinks that only the path he picks is the correct one for her, then I really just don't like the man. Nevertheless, I like that throughout this novel Sonnet works out her issues with her father and comes to her own conclusions about him in the end.

In addition, I wish the epilogue had more!! I'm happy with the way it ended, who ended up with who, and how everything turned out. However, it leads you up to what you'll be expected to see and then it stops. =0(

Anyway ...

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I would recommend it and the Lakeshore Chronicles series to anyone who likes contemporary romances!!

Author's Novel Extras : Read an excerpt | Reading Guide | Booklist LURVE | dedication page | shout out to Library Journal

Author's Series Extras : When life gives you lemons... | How many books are in the Lakeshore Chronicles? | “It’s a Wonderful List” | reading to music | series or single title? | “Walk away.” | ‘fessing up | from today’s front page | cover art debate | just a taste | for reading groups | my grandma, the maniac | oopsie Daisy | fair enough question | women’s fiction | Daisy+Logan+Julian

Author's Book Trailer :

Author's Series Interview(s) :

Book Teaser(s) :
Zach thanked him and hung up, looking around the bakery at the coffee drinkers, the tourists and locals, the little kids smearing their hands on the glass cases, the old guys with their crossword puzzles. These people had no idea that the world had just shifted for him. Finally the dream was coming into reach. He'd been trying to get a break forever, sending out his portfolio of digital clips, emailing them into what seemed like a black hole of digital ether. He'd been networking through people in the business who were at least six degrees away from West Coast and New York producers. Each award he won, each scrap of recognition, hoisted him another rung up the ladder, but until now, nothing had materialized.
The opportunity was still so new, he had only the sketchiest idea of what was in store for him next. ~ within Chapter 4
"Tell you what," she said to the shaking boy. "Let's go together. You and me. What do you say?"
"What good's that going to do? Then we'll both die."
"Nobody's going to die. You saw everybody take a turn and they loved it. Come on, I'm scared, too, but I still want to do it."
"You're not scared. I heard you telling Salt over there that you couldn't wait to take a turn."
"Salt?"
"That's what we call him." Andre jerked a thumb in Zach's direction. "'Cause the two of you are salt and pepper."
She felt her cheeks heat up. She didn't want to be pepper to Zach's salt. "Never mind that. Let's do this thing." ~ within Chapter 12
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Susan, then please check out her website.



Find Susan Wiggs :
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