Tag Archives: contemporary and literary fiction
Giveaway – Three Day Fiancee by Marissa Clarke @MaryL_MarissaC @XpressoReads
One Sentence Review – A Very Unknown Mysterious Story by Salman Aziz @OfficialMrAkash
Giveaway – Losing Adam by Adrienne Clarke @clarkeadrienne @XpressoReads
Horror Shorts – Hardened Hearts by Gwendolyn Kiste @gwendolynkiste
What Is Your Definition of Art – Work of Art by Ken La Salle @KenLaSalle
I Am Happily Surprised with Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery @susanmallery
.
Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery is one of those books that makes me glad I cross all genres when reading. I never know where that hidden gem will come from.
And this was definitely a gem.
MY REVIEW
I am always amazed when I love a “romance” so much, but great writing is great writing, no matter the subject or the genre.
Three sisters, each with their own distinct personality, each harboring their own secret.
The writing is fabulous and their world was so easy to visualize. I loved so much of the verbal banter between Courtney and Quinn. I laughed out loud when Rachel was ‘cramping’ in the kitchen. Come on Sienna. Listen to your instincts. They are speaking loud and clear.
Even with a predictable story, Susan Mallery can weave a story with some heat and bite, that had me laughing, smiling, oohing and aahing.
She wasn’t sure what was more eye catching – the convertible with the top down, the handsome man driving it, or the blonde poodle sitting next to him in the passenger seat.
Basically, he was catnip and she just wanted to purr and rub all over him.
I had seen Daughter of the Bridge by Susan Mallery on another blog and mentioned that I don’t think I had read any of her work before. Then, surprise, surprise, I get the beautiful signed hardcover with a gorgeous bookmark arriving at my door. No review asked for, but I try to review all the physical books I receive, so no request necessary.
At the end of the book are discussion questions, perfect for your book club, and some “sweet” recipes in honor of the Drunken Red Nosed Honeybee.
This is one of those books I feel could be on everyone’s reading list
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother’s
Courtney
~ The Misfit ~
As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom’s wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family’s view of her—and how she views herself—forever.
Sienna
~ The Free Spirit ~
When Sienna’s boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say “I do” even if she’s not sure she does?
Rachel
~ The Cynic ~
Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom’s wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she’s forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she’ll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.
sus
HotHouse Flower by Taylor Dean Giveaway
BOOK THREE IN THE SOUND OF SILENCE SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
Did you miss Book One, STONE SILENCE?
No worries. It’s FREE for five days, Jan. 1-5!!!
Grab it on AMAZON
HOTHOUSE FLOWER
by
TAYLOR DEAN
Hothouse Flower by Taylor Dean
I loved Jace Faraday with all my heart.
I loved everything about him, from his huge smile to his fabulous laugh. Another man never caught my eye. It was always Jace and Shay, together forever.
Until it wasn’t.
He devastated me, he ruined me. I’ve never gotten over it.
But, I’m a survivor. I’m not a precious flower that can only thrive if kept safe from the perils of the outside world.
Except now Jace has returned home. He’s just across the street from me, so close I swear I can actually feel his presence.
I can’t avoid him forever. At some point I have to face him. And when I do, I know sparks will fly.
To redeem himself for his past actions, I need major remorse. I need a profuse apology and maybe even a little begging for forgiveness. I won’t settle for anything less.
However, when the truth behind our break-up is revealed, I’m stunned. It leaves me reeling—and yearning for the six years that have been lost to us.
The thing is, once the truth is known, there’s nothing to keep us apart.
Absolutely nothing.
Dear Reader: This book deals with a sensitive issue.
The Sound of Silence Series is a three book series.
Book One: Stone Silence, Spencer’s Story
Book Two: Jailbird, Mia’s Story
Book Three: Hothouse Flower, Shay’s Story
Each book has a happy ending and there are no cliffhangers. They are not standalones and should be read in order.
Read an excerpt from HOTHOUSE FLOWER
I’LL BE RIGHT down to help with dinner, Mom,” I holler. It will just be a few minutes because I’m busy staring out the window at the man I’ve loved nearly all my life.
He’s home. He’s actually home—just across the street from me, only yards away. I swear I can physically feel his presence and it’s killing me.
Jace Faraday. The love of my youth.
He just arrived at his mother’s house across the street. It’s early evening and I’m watching from my upstairs bedroom window just like I used to do as a teenager. All those old feelings I had for him are rushing over me just as strong as ever. Except now I’m a twenty-six year old woman and, sadly, I feel as though I’m too old to feel giddy over a man.
He is the one man in my life that I have ever truly loved. I loved everything about him from his huge smile to his soft voice to his fabulous laugh. I loved his brawny physique, yet the fact that he had such a gentle touch.
I loved his sense of humor the most of all. When we first started to say I love you to each other, they were serious moments and I knew he meant it as much as I did. As time went by, I would whisper I love you to him and he’d respond in a silly voice, “And I’ve grown fond of you.” It reduced me to a writhing mass of giggles every time.
I was young when I first met him. His family moved in across the street when I was in kindergarten. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was sure he was the man I would marry. I was just a little girl with stars in her eyes, someone who was in love with love. By then Jace was in the eighth grade and seemed larger than life to me.
That feeling of hero worship I felt as a little girl has never left me.
Stone Silence by Taylor Dean
Great big beautiful love.
Does it really exist?
Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”
I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.
I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.
Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.
That’s when I meet Stony by chance.
He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.
That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.
But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.
I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
My only hope is . . . he does.
Catch Book Two, JAILBIRD.
Jailbird by Taylor Dean
My hometown decided to rename me Jailbird.
Every day I silently scream out, “My name is Mia Faraday!” My time in jail does not define me. I am so much more than one heated mistake.
And yet, my slip-up weighs on me. There’s so much more to the story than anyone realizes. I must face Stony, my ex, and confess everything.
I don’t want to. I’d rather have five teeth pulled. While I’m awake. Without anesthesia.
But this is something I have to do, something I need to do. Not just for Stony. I need to do it for me. Especially for me. I can’t move forward with my life until I gain closure from the past.
When I meet Grayson Elliott, I am easily pulled into his orbit and it’s exactly where I’d love to stay. He makes me laugh and not take life so seriously. He makes me want to live again.
But I don’t love me right now, and that healing needs to come first. I’m not relationship-ready or marriage material. My mind is focused on redemption. I want it. I need it.
Besides, when Grayson hears about my colorful past, I’m sure he’ll be gone before I have time to utter the word goodbye.
After all, who could ever love a jailbird?
Praise for JAILBIRD:
Mia’s story about forgiveness and redemption is packed with emotion and will leave you wanting more! -Jana, Amazon Review
An adventure from start to finish, a wonderful sequel to Stone Silence. -atvtnv, Amazon Review
Once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop! It has been a LONG time since a book has kept me up WAY past my bedtime! -KJ’s Book Nook
Author Taylor Dean
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Newsletter
Blast Giveaway Details
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash. Ends 1/21/18
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.
Monday Mini – Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty #LianeMoriarty
.
A mind blowing surprise. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty surpassed all my expectations!
I won a print copy and the Blu Ray DVD of the HBO series from Beth Fish Reads and HBO. Thanks so much for the great giveaway.
MY REVIEW
I won a print copy and a Blu Ray DVD of the HBO series of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I haven’t watched the DVD yet, but I can hardly wait.
I was totally blown away by Big Little Lies. I thought I would enjoy reading it, but I had no idea I would laugh my way through my anticipation of who will die and who will be the one who did it.
The characters run the gamut, from overpowering to meek. Their personalities are big, even those who try to stay in the background. The women could be my friends and by the time I got done reading I felt like they were.
Big Little Lies is really about the ladies, and I use that term loosely. I must say that Madeline is my favorite. If you ever need a friend who is loyal and true, Madeline fits the bill. Her mouth is big, but so is her heart, and she backs down to no one.
I was quickly drawn in and flipped the pages as fast as I could read them.
All I can say about Liane Moriarty is…she is now on my radar and I will be looking for more of her work.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.
New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
Giveaway – Forevermore by Cristiane Serruya @CrisSerruya @XpressoReads
Forevermore
Cristiane Serruya
(Ever More, #2)
Publication date: December 7th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A father desperate to save his little girl. A doctor fighting for a cure. And two broken hearts that can only be healed together.Ava Larsen is too busy finishing her pediatric oncology residency to find love… and she knows what it feels like to have a broken heart. She assures herself that kissing the gorgeous alpha stranger the night before was nothing more than a dangerous yet delicious mistake— one she won’t repeat.
Widower billionaire Aleksander Maximilian is one of the most powerful men alive, but he’s helpless to save his daughter Olivia from cancer. Doctors have assured him it would be best to enjoy her last days at home. To make Olivia’s wish to spend her last Christmas on Lake Tahoe come true, he hires the best home care team in the business.
It turns out the head of the team is the breathtaking woman he shared an unexpected kiss which ignited sparks. But this is the worst time for Aleksander to have finally have passionate feelings for someone, not to mention it’s strictly forbidden to Ava to get involved with her patient’s father.
Tragedy brought them together. A miracle might rip them apart.
An emotional gripping love story of hope, redemption, and never giving up, Forevermore is the second book in USA Today bestselling author Cristiane Serruya’s EVER MORE Series. If you enjoy romances by Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Sylvia Day, and Maya Banks, then you will cherish this heartwarming, steamy contemporary erotic novel.
Sequel to So Much More, FOREVERMORE stands on its own, but reading in order guarantees a more enjoyable time.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
—
4 reasons why I LOVE to write romances!
Guest post by Cristiane Serruya
Hello and thanks for hosting me. I’m so happy to be here with you and your readers today.
Since 2011, I’ve been immersed in the written word—penning romance novels, to be exact. The process of crafting and getting a work through the publishing machine—especially the indie world—can be a lonely and hard path but when my new imaginary friends walk out of my romances, they’re worth all of grueling pain I submit my wrists and fingers to. Here are four reasons why I have been hooked by love stories.
1. The characters
The men! Handsome or scarred, funny or brooding, overbearing or supportive. Dark-haired, blond, paled skin, tanned and everything in between! Now put them together with blondes, brunettes or red-heads; thin or curved or toned; opinionated and bold or delicate and shy! Oh, my! To make it even better, throw in a couple of kids—I love stories with smart kids! Of course, makes it even funnier if we have a few criminals in the story, too. There, I have a bunch of new friends—and enemies—for me to play with for a while.
2. I get to create stories
Imagine those said characters meeting over a business meeting, as in The Complete TRUST Series; or fighting for a cure for a sick child, as in Forevermore, and the sparks flying over a heated argument or a nice gesture.
And then imagine them doing it. Yeah! And some revengeful ex-partner or dark secret, which threatens their relationship. I decide who loves and hates; who lives and dies! I can totally transform a person I know in a good or a horrible character. I can even take my revenge on the ones I don’t like much and create a whole new ending for a situation gone wrong. It’s freeing!
3. The research
Learning is a passion of mine. In order to create believable characters, research is necessary. For example, Tavish Uilleam MacCraig, the lead male character of Love Painted in Red, who appeared on my first release Entwined Fates, TRUST Series #1 and was supposed to be a secondary character, grew so much as a character during TRUST Series that he demanded his story to be told. As it unfolded, and from it I have already Damaged Love, which features Tavish’s best friend, Lord Richard Smith, and after comes the story of Richard’s older brother, Lord Hugh Smith.
All the three of them are veterans of war—I am always in awe of those men and women who sacrifice themselves to make this world safer.
We don’t have a strong military here in Brazil and I wanted them to be believable veteran dealing with PTSD, living with disabilities, having invisible scars, for the readers to feel their pains. So I interviewed many veterans online. It was an enlightening and heartbreaking experience and it helped me make Tavish and Richard come out beautifully—or so I like to think—with their physical and psychological scars and yet full of life strength and vigor.
4. The happily ever after
With all the horrible things happening in the world, unnecessary killings, religious and racial strife, it’s great to be able to escape to a world where my characters have survived bad things and are still able to find a fulfilling and healing relationship with a happy ending—and don’t forget the steamy sex I got to create. But sometimes, I get out of a story emotionally tired; so tired, I need a break.
It was exactly the case of Forevermore, Olivia, Alek, and Ava’s heart-wrenching and heart-warming story that I needed a break before I jump into the skin of Benedict, who is blind, and Natalya, from Evermore. Ah, what did I do during my break? I wrote a light, funny and suspenseful romance. So, pre-order already Royal Love, Last Royals Series #1.
Last, I want to share some good news. Almost all my books are on KindleUnlimited, so visit Cristiane Serruya’s Amazon Page and read them for free!
I love to connect with readers, so feel free to stalk me online: Facebook Author Page, Twitter, Instagram, Instagram. And follow me on BookBub, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Those who want to receive my very, very sporadic emails about new releases and promotions can sign-up here: Cristiane Serruya Website and win a free romance, free cookbooks, and so much more!
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts here and helping me promote my work.
Love,
Cris, author
Author Bio:
USA TODAY and AMAZON best-selling romance author, Cristiane Serruya lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with her six-foot-six husband, two teenage daughters, and Loki, her Shetland sheepdog. Cris is a writer, a lawyer, a reader; a woman, a mother, and a wife. Not necessarily in this order. Or in any order…
She has a Master’s in Business Law and a BA in Fine Arts. In 2012, after twenty-two years of practicing law, Cris decided to give writing a go. And–amazingly–it was just the piece that was missing in the puzzle of her life.
She loves to hear from readers so fell free to stalk her online and visit www.crisserruya.com to win a freebie left there only for you.
Those who want to receive Cris’s very sporadic emails about new releases, giveaways, and promotions can sign-up on http://bit.ly/CS-VIPlist
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
