Murder of a Stacked Librarian by Denise Swanson ~A Scumble River Mystery #16 ~ Review

Murder of a Stacked Librarian 

by Denise Swanson 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview:

Crystal: Today I am pleased to welcome Denise Swanson. She has so graciously allowed me to ask her a few questions. I'm very honored to have you here today Denise. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Denise: I write two mystery series, the Scumble River mysteries, which currently have sixteen books, and the Devereaux's Dime Store mysteries, which I've just started and presently have two books. I was a school psychologist for 22 years and base a lot of my stories on those experiences. I'm from a small town in the Midwest. I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we have a black cat named Boomerang. 

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Denise: My favorite scene is the opening of Little Shop of Homicide. The sleuth, Devereaux Sinclair, is working in the dime store she just purchased and a homicide detective from Kansas City marches in and accused her of murder by high heel shoe.

Crystal: I have to say that Little Shop of Homicide first book I read of yours and I was hooked from the first page. So remember reading that scene. You have some really interesting story lines. How do you come up with some of these intriguing ideas? 

Denise: I'm inspired by my real life experiences. My husband claims that I'm a magnet for the weird and bizarre. Things happen to me and people tell me stuff and I turn it into fiction.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Denise:  I just finished writing Scumble River #17 and am taking a couple of months to work on a funny, contemporary romance called Can't Buy Me Love.  October 1, I'll need to start on book #4 in my Devereaux's Dime Store series. Hopefully, I'll have a plot by that time. ;)

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing? 

Denise: I write every day from about 8 to 3. Before starting to write, I have to play and win a game of Free Cell and Spider Solitaire, and I also treadmill before starting my writing day. 

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Denise:  I've been fortunate in that I usually don't have to do a lot of research. There are always tidbits that I need to look up, but mostly I write about things that I know. For Murder of a Stacked Librarian, the two areas that took the most research was wedding stuff, since my sleuth gets married in this book, and green construction, since my victim's ex-husband's company specializes in that.

The most fascinating thing I discovered is how expensive weddings have become. When I got married thirty-three years ago, we had 500 guests and my parents total bill was under three thousand dollars!

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Denise: Charlaine Harris, Heather Webber/Heather Blake, Sara Rosett, Marcia Talley, Earlene Fowler, Carolyn Hart,  Carolyn Haines, Jenny Crusie,  Susan Mallory, Rachel Gibson, and anything with zombies. Yes, I know that last one is weird. What can I say? 

Crystal: Is there any genre you haven't written that you would like to try?

Denise: I would love to write what I call and after the fall book. The idea of society rebuilding itself after an apocalypse fascinates me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review: 

I have had the grand pleasure of reading 3 great books by Denise Swanson. I just finished Murder of a Stacked Librarian the sixteenth book in the Scumble River Mystery series. Ms. Swanson has created yet another wonderful story that kept me completely entertained all the way through. She has created a town full of characters that are charming, funny, and interesting to read about.  This book contains some of my favorite elements, laughter, suspense, mystery, and some really touching scenes.

Skye has enough on her plate with the holidays and an upcoming wedding, now their have a murder to solve.  I love how Skye and Wally work together to solve cases. They really are a great team and you can really feel their connection together in their work. They both really want to solve the mystery of who killed the temporary librarian before they leave for their honeymoon. However the more they piece together they find more suspects to add to the list. 


There are some really sweet touching scenes as Skye and Wally as they prepare to spend the rest of their lives together.  I'm not going to give away too much but as is normal with most weddings there are things that go wrong in the plans that have to be fixed. This adds a little extra drama to the story line  and laughter. 

I have quickly became a huge fan of Ms. Swanson works. I would never hesitate to pick up any of her work. She has a great way of telling a murder mystery with some humor thrown in the mix. If you enjoy a really good mystery that includes that small town feel, I think you will enjoy Murder of a Stacked Librarian. I know I certainly had a very enjoyable experience reading this book.

I can not wait to see what may be next, I know I will be anxiously awaiting Ms. Swanson next release. 

I was very thrilled to receive a copy of this book in order to share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my review with you. 

High Octane Heroes anthology ~Interview Tahira Iqbal ~ Goddess Fish Blog Tour ~ Giveaways ~ Excerpt

High Octane Heroes anthology

One randomly drawn commenter will win the grand prize package (US only):

• * $50 Amazon gift cert, signed copies of Cowboy Lust and Smokin’ Hot Firemen from Delilah
• * Tiara from Sabrina York
• * A print copy of Under His Skin and a So Inked mug from Sidney Bristol

Individual blog day prizes for randomly drawn commenters will include:

• Adele Dubois: a download of REV ME UP
• Brindle Chase: an eBook copy of his book Dark is the Night awarded every day of the tour
• Delilah: a hand-painted art pendant, backlist downloads
• Elle James: a prize package of books and swag on her blog day
• Jenny Lyn: $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N and a copy of her new book
• Megan Mitcham: a “hot high-octane guy” calendar
• Sabrina York: an eBook of choice from her backlist on the day she blogs
• Sidney Bristol: an eBook of choice from her backlist on the day she blogs
• Tahira Iqbal: a digital copy of The Merger.

With all these great prizes up for grabs make sure you leave a comment below along with you email address so you may be contacted if you are one of the lucky winners. To increase your chances of winning be sure to visit the other stops on the tour. You may find the other locations here.... http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/07/virtual-book-tour-high-octane-heroes.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview:

Crystal: Today as part of the Goddess Fish Virtual Book tour, I have the opportunity to interview Tahira Iqbal. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Tahira: I’m a multi published Erotic Romance Thriller writer from the UK. I have been writing for a very long time, but was only published about 3 years ago. I’m so very proud to have joined the Romantic genre as the writers I have connected with through my work in anthologies are some of the best in the business.  And when I’m not writing, to pay the bills, I work in the film and TV industry.  

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Tahira: In The Star, my favorite scene is when Calder helps Estella on with her coat…then takes her hand to walk her home. He’s a soldier and his duty of care comes through even when he’s not on the battle field.  

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for The Star?

Tahira: The idea for The Star came from wishing to explore how two people from two different countries could be united in grief, but ultimately in love.  It was important for me to show the rawness of war, but to also show the power of love.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Tahira:  I am currently working on a full length romantic thriller novel, which has a supernatural slant to it!  I’m also working on a trilogy that I hope to release exclusively on Amazon for your e-readers, so keep an eye out for that!

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing? 

Tahira: I don’t have a special routine when I write, but I am currently trying the little and often rule…which involves trying to write everyday for an hour, rather than worrying about not writing and then spending hours on the weekend trying to get my ideas down! So far…I like it!

Crystal:  Did you have to do a lot of research for this short story or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Tahira: For this short story, The Star, I did do quite a bit of research to ensure that I got the names and designations right, especially as it’s to do with the US air force.  An interesting fact that I learned during my research is that the US and UK soldiers like to play football (soccer) together on bases!  And I actually used that in the story.

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Tahira: I am really into Sylvia Day at the moment, I really liked her Crossfire series.  

Crystal:  Is there any genre you haven't written that you would like to try?

Tahira:I haven’t written in the children’s genre, and I would quite like to try that. I tried a few years ago, but the story turned quite dark and scary. That’s when I realized that I was more of an over 18’s writer!  But you never know, I might try again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

What is it about heroes like Superman, Iron Man or Thor that revs our engines like no other? Is it the suit? The manly physique? Or is it the courage they display, wading in where others fear to go, to save the damsel, the city, the Earth? Are there real-life heroes who inspire the same lustful fascination? Kickass iconic heroes who enter danger zones in the name of duty, honor, country—or maybe love—who conjure images of hard, chiseled bodies, deadly glares and camouflaged features?

High Octane Heroes will satisfy the reader who craves the romantic idea of that “super alpha” man. Imagine the Navy SEAL sent on a suicide mission; the damaged Army Ranger home from war; the para rescue team member jumping into frigid waters; a SWAT team member entering a human trafficker’s den… military members and based in far-flung places around the world or the smoke-jumper living next door. Then imagine the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT from The Star by Tahira Iqbal 

I’d picked the wrong day to come to the cemetery. It is raining so hard that my hair is wet within moments as the wind catches my umbrella turning it inside out as I step from the car. 

I miss a puddle, but not the next one, the water sloshing over my heels and dampening my toes as I quickly make my way over the sodden turf while fixing my umbrella. I didn’t have time to change out of my office clothes after leaving work early. I’d been keen to get out of London so that I could beat the rush hour traffic. But being chilled by the cold, the rain… it doesn’t matter. Nothing does anymore. He’s here, and I want to see him. 

Carefully finding my way through the graves, I stoop down to pat the headstone, feeling how smooth it is, so very brand new, not aged like some of the markers deeper in the cemetery. The gold scroll of the words my parents and I had chosen is eloquent and heartfelt; the letters gleam against the sparkling black granite, the rain water caught in the etching.

 “Hello Dean.”

I remove my cold hand to jam it into a pocket, the tears rising freely as I step back looking at the patch of earth that now keeps my brother. I live over a hundred miles away; my parents had of course wanted Dean to be buried close to their village, so I was only able to visit him when I came to see them.

Six months. Six long, aching months since we’d received notification that their brave son, my brave brother in the Royal Air Force had been killed in action. We’d tried to shelter my mother from the extent of his fatal injuries, but she had wanted to know everything, especially questioning why we couldn’t have an open casket. 

Nightmares had given me twisted visuals of what had become of him. There had been awful hours where horrors occurred and showed me a sibling that I didn’t recognize. I’d pleaded on my knees on hot desert sand to the heavens for him to be… restored. 

Days would go by and all I could think of was him, tall, broad, funny and serious at the same time. The coolest older brother, the utterly skilled pilot who delivered effective force where it was needed but never without great thought and planning for the innocents on the ground. I’d lost my brother, my best friend, but I was proud of him, his decision to defend, but that didn’t curb the ache inside, something that I knew would stay with me forever.

I shiver as the wind blows, creeping under the battered umbrella and the collar of my coat. Sunset is breaking the horizon apart. “I better go Dean, I’ll see you soon.” I lay the small bunch of flowers against the fresh bundle that my mother had left earlier in the week before heading to the car. 

That’s when I see him. The stranger standing beside my car. My heart picks up speed as he begins to walk towards me. He’s dressed in dark clothes, perhaps denims and a jumper with an unzipped parka that’s now wet from the rain, like his hair. 

The tall, handsome blue eyed man stops a few yards from me. 

He looks past me, to the spot I’d just stood on, then back at me, those intense eyes, lit like the brightest sky send a rare shot of warmth to cradle the hope that’s almost dead inside of me.

 “I’m Calder.”

I nod with understanding. The man, who had only appeared as short sharp descriptions in even shorter emails, had become like family to Dean. He had said that Calder was the best comrade from another country’s army anyone could have.

 “I’m sorry for your loss.” his American accent is a rich vibration of power.

I nod again, my voice hidden in the depths of my surprise.

“I got home from my tour last week. Bought a ticket and here I am.”

I try for a smile. “I’m Estella.”

 “I know who you are Ma’am.”

My eyes fill with tears; I brush them away quickly. “Um, I’m sure my parents would like to meet you; do you have time to visit them?”

 “Your mom and dad are on my list,” Calder says, “so are you.”

And that’s when I lose it. “I really wish I wasn’t...” I whisper, “then Dean would still be here.”

Calder looks at the grave again, his shoulders squaring. “Even if he was... I know that I’d want to meet you, the way your brother talked about you, the way he cared for you even though he was thousands of miles away.”

The offer to drive him to my parents home is declined for the moment. Instead, I take him to his hotel in the centre of the village. 

 “I’ll be in touch.” Calder says before leaving the car with my phone number.

I don’t sleep well that night. I’d been given my old room, even though it had been cleared of all my childhood paraphernalia there were moments when I’d expect Dean to pop his head around the door frame, tease me about my latest experimental hair style or ask me a question (or to do the sums) for his math homework.

I rise, the house dim, quiet and warm. I stop at Dean’s room. He had his own place, a small apartment in a nearby town, but he’d left lots of his personal items here before leaving.

I reach for a photo frame. Dean in his pristinely pressed uniform, smiling, giving me a comforting hug as we’d said goodbye for his first deployment. That had been nearly eight years ago.

He’d come home a different man after his first tour of duty. Quieter, but with an intensity that had created a force field around him that I couldn’t quite break through. We might not be kids anymore, but still we joked around, reverting to our silly teenage selves when we were around each. But he was gone in certain respects; in his place was a razor sharp soldier. 

I hear my cell trill in my room, so I head back. It’s Calder. Checking if tomorrow morning would be okay to visit my parents. I reply quickly, confirming the visit (as I’d already spoken to them earlier in the evening) and then curl up in bed thinking of the American.

Lieutenant Peter Calder, United States Air Force, Dean had written once, the man can cut paper just by looking at it.

It’s after eleven AM when I finally wake and I can hear Calder’s striking voice drifting upstairs. “Damn it.” I’m edgy and clammy as I’d been taken in by a nightmare that had held on so tight that I’d been unable to fight it. I’d walked through a battlefield filled with bodies to where normally Dean would have stood. 

But now it was Calder who was there, his hand open and waiting. Behind him in the distance, his F-16 was billowing smoke from where its tail should be. I had extended my hand but everything had disappeared into a booming cloud of pure white light and heat as something long and pointed had arrived with a screech to crash and explode between our feet, throwing us apart. In pieces. 

I quickly wash, change and head downstairs. Calder rises out of his seat with a welcoming smile. “Good morning Estella.” The good manners make me blush a little as I enter the room. 

My terrible night’s sleep is forgotten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Writing since she can remember, Tahira’s work went from thrillers and romances, until she realized she could merge to two… drama, danger, sex in good, measured doses is what she writes best. 

Author link – www.tahiraiqbal.com

High Octane Heroes Amazon Buy Link

The Protected by Shiloh Walker ~ Release Day Blitz ~

The Protected 

By Shiloh Walker 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buy Links: 

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks | The Book Depository

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AN ASSIGNMENT SHE CAN’T REFUSE

Agent Vaughnne MacMeans would do anything to avoid setting foot in Orlando again. But her new assignment, keeping tabs on a psychic kid who may or may not be in danger, is forcing her right back to the city where her sister was murdered. And the Special Agent in Charge isn’t taking no for an answer.

AN ATTRACTION HE CAN’T DENY

Protecting the boy Alex is a priority for Gus. Gus may not understand the boy’s “gift” but he just knows that some people would kill for it. When a beautiful stranger moves in next door, his impulse is to take the kid and run. But Gus has learned never to flee without a plan, and besides…she doesn’t exactly look like an assassin.

A GAME THEY’LL PLAY FOR KEEPS

When some dangerous people from Gus’s past catch up to him and Alex, it’s too late to run. His cute neighbor is the last person he thought he could turn to, but Vaughnne isn’t just cute. She’s fearless. And she’s the only chance Gus and Alex have left

Read an excerpt HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little about Shiloh: 

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more…ah…serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.  She writes romantic suspense and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy under the name J.C. Daniels.


Website: http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/
Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorShilohWalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shilohwalker
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/96909.Shiloh_Walker

Fool’s Game by Heather Huffman ~ Goddess Fish Blog Tour ~ Interview ~ Excerpt ~ Giveaway

Fool’s Game

by Heather Huffman

Heather will be awarding an ebook (international) of ROSES IN ECUADOR by Heather Huffman, at each stop, along with a grand prize of an autographed paperback (US only) of RING OF FIRE to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So be sure to leave a comment below along with your email address so you may be contacted if you win. To increase your chances of winning stop by the other tour locations. You may find those locations here...  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/07/virtual-nbtm-tour-fools-game-by-heather.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview:

Crystal: Today as part of the Goddess Fish Virtual Book tour, I have the opportunity to interview Heather Huffman.Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Heather: I have to start by admitting that I’m laughing at myself just a bit because this question has been really hard for me to answer. I’m a mom to three boys – ages 14, 10 & 9. They all have these amazing, vibrant personalities that bring me immense joy while always keeping me on my toes. And they all participate in activities that keep us fairly busy August through May.

My family lives on about 14 acres in the Missouri Ozarks, where we are attempting to homestead, or live off the land as much as we possibly can. It’s a transition process, since my husband and sons were raised in the suburbs of St. Louis. That said, I’m pretty happy with how far we’ve come in just a year and a half. We have a menagerie of animals that – like my boys – bring me joy but keep me busy!

My family is also pretty active in our little neighborhood church. The people there are more like family than friends, so most of our social life that doesn’t revolve around the boys’ school or extended family is centered there.

Somehow, in the midst of everything else, I carve out time to write love stories that are full of sparks, suspense and second chances. Some of my books contain dark subjects, some don’t, but they are all centered on love, laughter and hope.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Heather: It’s hard to choose one; this book had several scenes that I’m still really pleased with. Some of my absolute favorites are just too long for a blog post. I finally settled on this one because it’s leading up to a really big scene, and I love the tangible chemistry between the two main characters.

Not ready to go home just yet, [Cat] headed back to the bar, eager to let the steady rhythm of the blues soothe her tumultuous soul.
She went to order a Diet Coke and got an amaretto sour on impulse. One drink wouldn’t impair her thinking too badly, she reasoned. Drink in hand, she wove her way to a table in the corner, ignoring the admiring looks she received. Once there, she rolled her head back, closing her eyes as the music washed over her body. Each beat, every note blended into a harmony so rich, so tantalizing she could feel it, like the fingers of a lover massaging her neck.
Jack and Ella watched from their own table. They had come out for a drink and a bite to eat, and mostly for a break from the tense apartment. Jack nudged Ella and pointed toward the door.
Cody stood staring at Cat, mesmerized as she so obviously enjoyed the music. He didn’t think she was even aware of her body rocking gently to its rhythm.
It wasn’t the beauty of her form or the seductive movement coming so naturally from her that held Cody so rapt. It was something deep within that he couldn’t help but respond to. For the first time in his life, he had nothing smooth to say, no great pickup line and no lie. His mind was filled with her. He studied the shape of her body—her tanned skin, the fullness of her lips, the hair that flowed freely down the back of her chair as she rolled her head slowly. He had been such an idiot, and now he had lost her.
Her eyes flew open and she was staring straight at him. Busted. There was no way to explain his way out of ogling her, so he continued to do just that.
A sad smile flashed across her lips, and she motioned for him to join her. A slow, easy grin spread across his face.

Crystal:  Where did you come up with the idea for Fool’s Game?

Heather: When I was seventeen years old, I had a dream that my best friend and I were spies in the drug war. I laughingly told her about it the next day, and that conversation turned into the seed for a novel.

Crystal: What are you currently working on?

Heather: At the moment, I’m working on an untitled contemporary romance. In it, Karise McAlister – a character introduced in Ring of Fire and Roses in Ecuador – is an architect living in Boston, engaged to Mr. Right. Her entire life is about coloring in the lines out of fear that she’ll turn out like her mother, whose carefree lifestyle left a wake of broken hearts. When she meets a man who challenges her idea of what’s right, it leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew.

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing?

Heather: I find it’s easier to work on novels now that my boys have gone back to school (go figure). During the school year, I get them dropped off, run any errands, then head back to the house to take care of farm chores.

Once that’s all taken care of, I spend an hour or two answering emails and checking in on the social media sites. Then, finally, I’m ready to immerse myself in a book.

I always have a soundtrack picked out for each novel. Selecting songs for it is one of the first things I do when I transition from research to writing. Listening to that book’s soundtrack helps me shift gears from daily life to the world I’m creating.

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us?

Heather: Sometimes I feel like I spend as much or more time researching as I do writing! I can spend a month or more researching settings and facts before I even start to write. Then I find myself slowing scenes down to a crawl because I keep hopping online to research some minute detail. Since so many of my novels are romantic suspense, it’s become a bit of a joke in our family that I’m probably on all kinds of government watch lists because I spend so much time researching black markets, guns and various spy-stuff.


Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Heather: I have pretty varied interests when it comes to reading; actually, I have pretty eclectic tastes in everything. When I need a good laugh, I pick up Janet Evanovich. When I want to be swept off my feet, I go for Sylvain Reynard. If I want to feel like I’ve been hugged by God, I read C.S. Lewis. Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell are my go-to girls when I’m in the mood for the classics.

Crystal:  Is there any genre you haven’t written that you would like to try?

Heather: I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a YA line of books. There are a lot of teenagers and young adults in my novels with fascinating stories. I think they need to be told, too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:

At the request of the U.S. Government, Caitlyn O’Rourke faked her death years ago, only to be reborn as the Cat—a deadly black-ops agent tasked with working for the shadowy organization Chameleon and doing the jobs that can’t be done in the light of day. Now, on the verge of taking down a notorious drug lord and rescuing a captured Chameleon agent, Cat is targeted for assassination…from within. But who’s making the call, and why?

As she attempts to uncover answers and stay alive, Cat finds herself working alongside Cody Kingsley, the mysterious senator who broke her heart and betrayed her long ago. Along with an inner circle of fellow agents, Cat and Cody must untangle the web of lies that surrounds them before it’s too late.

From the sultry streets of New Orleans to a secluded plantation in Ecuador to Washington, DC, Cat must elude an agent hell-bent on her destruction while figuring out how high up the ladder the conspiracy reaches. At the same time, she must work through her tumultuous and conflicting emotions where both Cody and fellow agent Galloway—who may or may not have her best interests at heart—are concerned.

A thrill ride of emotions, suspense, and action, Fool’s Game intertwines matters of the heart and survival …and the only thing certain is that Cat will never be the same.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Caitlyn,” Cody started softly. “There was a reason I first approached you.”

“You were captured by my bewitching charms?” she teased.

“I’m serious. This is important.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Someone very important noticed you that day I first saw you. What I’m about to tell you is top secret; you can’t tell anyone what we discuss here.”

Caitlyn nodded and he continued. “I think you know the legislation we’re passing isn’t even putting a dent in the flow of drugs into our country. There is a special task force being assembled. The members of this team will have to sever all ties to their lives as they know them. They will forever be living undercover. No family, no significant other.”

“And you’re telling me this because…” Caitlyn prompted.

“I’ve been asked to recruit you. There is already one operative who’s been undercover for years now. You would be the second. You’ve impressed some pretty high-up people. They’re willing to give you carte blanche on choosing the other two members of your team.”

“When were you asked?” Caitlyn asked quietly.

“The day of the field maneuvers,” he answered barely above a whisper.

“So that was why you found me?” She willed the tears away.

“Yes.” His gaze dropped.

Caitlyn recoiled as if slapped. “I need to think about this.”

“I’ll need your answer soon,” he told her.

“Tomorrow. You’ll have my answer tomorrow.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Heather Huffman calls the beautiful Missouri Ozarks home. When not writing, this homesteading mother is cheering one of her three sons on at a sporting event, making dandelion fritters, or tending the family’s myriad of animals, which includes alpacas, goats, chickens and ducks. Heather’s optimistic and sometimes quirky view of life often finds its way into her novels.

Heather is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Suddenly a Spy, Ring of Fire, Tumbleweed, Devil in Disguise and Roses in Ecuador. You can find out more about her family’s adventures as they strive to live off the land on a small farm, as well as her writing and charitable work, on www.heatherhuffman.net.

Booktrope:  http://booktrope.com/book/fools-game/

Fool's Game Amazon Buy Link

Bikers and Pearls By Vicki Wilkerson ~ A Summerbrook Novel ~ Review ~

First of all I just have to say WOW! This book is a wonderful sweet romance with a lot of emotion. I'm so pleased I was given an opportunity to read Bikers and Pearls in order to share my thoughts with you.

April Church is a young woman who has been through some VERY traumatic events that have shaped her life. She has tried to make her life as safe as she possibly can. She's also holds some giant fears about Bikers and their Bikes. When she meets Bull (a proud Biker) she thinks there is no way she can handle working with him and his friends to help Ben.  However she has vowed to do whatever it takes to help her little friend Ben get better. The more she gets to know Bull the more she does want to work with him. There is a strong connection between these two that they fight hard. 

Bullworth Clayton lost a brother to cancer in childhood and has had to fight his own demons from the past. When he meets April he thinks she is nothing but an uptight snot. The more he gets to know her the more discovers he was wrong and wants to get to know her better.

This truly is a story of how if love is strong enough it can truly overcome any obstacle or fear placed in it's path. Nothing can come between two people who love and need each other so much. I loved how Bull is exactly what April needs to pull her out of her comfort zone and to be able to forgive, forget, and lead a full life.

April is what Bull needs to complete his life and help him deal with his past and show him that he does have a place he belongs. 

This is one of those wonderful stories that has left me speechless, I want to tell you how fabulous this story is but I just don't know if I have the words to describe all my feelings when I finished this book.

Vicki Wilkerson has created characters so touching, charismatic, compassionate, caring, and loyal, that I would love to sit down with them and maybe have one of those chili dogs at the bait shop. I adored all the characters but  I felt the deepest connection with April. I just adored her and so felt for her in so many of the situations she was in. Bull of course, who could not possibly love Bull, I know I sure did. That fellow is one wonderful biker,  he's hotter than hot, and has huge heart. I also liked Jenna (April's best friend) she soon found out that you have to look beyond the outside package to see what is on the inside. 

If you enjoy a book with a lot of emotional scenes, some sweet romance, with a little humor thrown in here and there, I think you will enjoy this book. I know I certainly did. I believe I see that this has a series name and number one after it. Ohhh I do hope that means that Ms. Wilkerson is working on another fabulous book. I will be anxious to see what she has in store for us readers next.

If you get a chance to read this book, please come to my blog and let me know what your thoughts are.

Vengeful Gaines by Camryn Rhys ~ Review ~ Bridging the Gap Blog Tour

Vengeful Gaines is the second book I have had the chance to read by Camryn Rhys. Ms. Rhys has written a very nice reunion of first loves short story. Mattie Gaines is helping her daughter and son-in-law to be at a cooking contest. Little does she know her highschool love is back in town and there at the cook off. Will Jordan has came back to town for a fresh start. He's very pleased when he runs into Mattie. When they first meet again sparks fly, it takes them a little while to work things out together and when they do oh my! Things get steamy very quickly. I love reunion stories because the characters already have a past together and are finally going to get that second chance at a first love.

I liked Mattie, she is a strong independant woman that is running the family ranch. She has a few problems with her brother and I will be anxious to see if  the resolution happens in the next book Gaines and Losses. I have Gaines and Losses in my to be read pile, I'm anxious to see what happens with this family next. They all are a very likable bunch.

This is a nice short story, with a few steamy scenes along with some nice family moments.  I enjoyed catching up with the characters from Misbegotten Gaines in this story. I have a special fondness for series that let me revisit characters I have met about before.

I received a copy of Vengeful Gaines to read and review. As always it has been my pleasure to read this book and share my thought with you.

You may find my review of Misbegotten Gaines here.

The Protected by Shiloh Walker ~SpotLight Blog Tour ~ Giveaway ~

The Protected 

by Shiloh Walker

One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card (Amazon or B&N, winner’s choice) during the tour. Please be sure to use the Rafflecopter below to enter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buy Links:

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks | Indiebound | The Book Depository

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN ASSIGNMENT SHE CAN’T REFUSE

Agent Vaughnne MacMeans would do anything to avoid setting foot in Orlando again. But her new assignment, keeping tabs on a psychic kid who may or may not be in danger, is forcing her right back to the city where her sister was murdered. And the Special Agent in Charge isn’t taking no for an answer.

AN ATTRACTION HE CAN’T DENY

Protecting the boy Alex is a priority for Gus. Gus may not understand the boy’s “gift” but he just knows that some people would kill for it. When a beautiful stranger moves in next door, his impulse is to take the kid and run. But Gus has learned never to flee without a plan, and besides…she doesn’t exactly look like an assassin.

A GAME THEY’LL PLAY FOR KEEPS

When some dangerous people from Gus’s past catch up to him and Alex, it’s too late to run. His cute neighbor is the last person he thought he could turn to, but Vaughnne isn’t just cute. She’s fearless. And she’s the only chance Gus and Alex have left

Read an excerpt HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little about Shiloh: 

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more…ah…serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.  She writes romantic suspense and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy under the name J.C. Daniels.

Website: http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorShilohWalker

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shilohwalker

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/96909.Shiloh_Walker

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tour Stops:

08/25   The Reading Addict

08/26   SSLY Smile Somebody Loves You 

08/27   Bad Barbs Place 

08/28  United by Books  

08/29  Open

08/30  Open

08/31   I am a book addict…and proud of it 

09/01   Reviews by Crystal 

09/02    Under the Covers

09/03   SmexyFabFour 

09/04   Cocktails and Books 

09/05   Queen of the Night Reviews 

09/06   Harlie’s Books

09/07   Book Loving Pixie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

EEK! I'm a Woman By Dee Dawning ~ Review ~

I was intrigued by the name of this book, EEK! I'm a Woman. This story has such an interesting storyline. I have to say that once I had a chance to sit down and read this book I finished it in one setting. I was completely intrigued to see what was going to happen next. There were so many twist and turns that I was anxiously anticipating each new twist.

All the characters involved were so interesting. I enjoyed Brad and Ginger story. I have to say I was completely entertained by the story line. Brad and Ginger switch bodies. However they have a good time exploring their new bodies. There are some REALLY hot, hot scenes between these two. Not only is this a REALLY hot story but there is some mystery included, it involves a few people that I certainly did not see coming. 

I enjoyed the relationship between Ginger, Brad, & Ginger's best friend Amber. Amber adds some nice content to the storyline as well. She truly is a REAL best friend.

On the whole I really enjoyed this story. I don't want to give you to many details because that's part of the fun of reading the story for yourself. There is a lot going on in this story and I was completely absorbed all the way through. There was plenty of really hot scenes and drama that kept me flipping pages quite quickly. 

This is the first time I have read any of Dee Dawning's work but I would be interested in reading more. 

I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for sharing my thoughts with you.