A Place Called Harmony by Jodi Thomas – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Desperate to escape his overbearing father, Patrick McAllen disappears with his bride, heading north to build a new town—discovering strength, honor and true love along the way. After drinking away the grief from his family’s death, Clint Truman avoids jail by taking a job in North Texas and settling down with a woman he vows to protect but never love—until her quiet compassion slowly breaks his hardened heart wide open… All Gillian Matheson has ever known is Army life, leaving his true love to be a part-time spouse. But when a wounded Gillian returns home to find her desperately fighting to save their marriage, he’s determined to become the husband she deserves. Amidst storms, outlaws, and unwelcome relatives, the three couples band together to build a town—and form a bond that breathes life into the place that will forever be called Harmony.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

In A PLACE CALLED HARMONY readers will be looking at Harmony for the first time.  I enjoyed writing about the three men who were brave enough to travel half of Texas to build a town.  All three men came to me full and strong as did the women who loved them.  From the opening I was running full gallop with a plot.  With my great-grandmother’s chest sitting in front of my desk, I felt like I was loading up the wagon and heading for a new life.

 

Many times during the writing of this story I felt all three men standing behind me telling me their lives.  Patrick McAllen, young and full of dreams, thought of it as an adventure and believed love came easy.  Clint Truman felt old at thirty and didn’t believe in love.  When he heard he had to have a wife to get the job, he went to the prison gate and picked the first woman walking out.  And then there was Captain Gillian Matheson who loved his wife but also loved adventure.

 

All three men were prepared for the challenge of building a town but unprepared for the depth of love they found as they build their families.

 

I loved writing these men and I hope the readers will follow me into this historical romance.  If you’ve read a Harmony book, you’ll feel like you already know the characters.  If you’ve never read one this book would be a great place to start.  So, step into Harmony for the first time as the three families build a town while they form bonds and loves that last a lifetime.

 

Enjoy the adventure,

Jodi Thomas

~~~*~~~*~~~

For more information, including preorder links, visit www.jodithomas.com. And for a chance to win a copy of A Place Called Harmony, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

Read Full Post »

Then Came You by Jill Shalvis – Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway

Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

 

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans…

***

 

Exclusive Excerpt

She, the woman who had to interview dentists before choosing one, she who couldn’t buy a new pair of shoes or outfit without thinking about it at least overnight, had slept with a perfect stranger.  Except now he wasn’t going to be a stranger at all.

 

Karma was such a bitch.

 

Behind her, the bathroom door opened.  With a surprised squeak, she quickly whirled around.  “I’m in here—“

 

“I know,” Wyatt said.  The room was so small that his body bumped into hers when he closed the door.  The last time this had happened, she’d ended up in his bed.  Naked.

 

“Step back,” she said in a voice that wasn’t nearly strong enough.

 

He didn’t step back.  To be fair to him, he couldn’t.  But he didn’t have to get closer – which is exactly what he did.  So much closer that she could have taken his pulse.  With her mouth.

 

He was wearing glasses and though she’d never given it an ounce of thought before, a guy in glasses was sexy as hell.

 

Or maybe it was just this guy.

 

He dropped his birthing gloves in the trash, and then washed and dried his hands, his gaze holding hers prisoner in the mirror the entire time.  Then he turned to face her and backed her into the wall.  One of his hands settled beside her head, the other by her hip, trapping her in.  “It’s really you.”

 

She gave him a little push, but did the big lug move?  No.  “I’m using the facilities here, Wyatt.”

 

“Good to know.”

 

“That I’m using the facilities?”

 

“That you remember my name.”

 

Buy Links

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1ktMReU

Barnes and Noble – http://bit.ly/1i1YFPW

Books-A-Million – http://bit.ly/1mbbCrZ

iTunes – http://bit.ly/1obNrhm

Author Biography

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Networking Links

Website – http://www.JillShalvis.com    

Facebook – http://www.Facebook.com/jillshalvis    

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JillShalvis

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22370.Jill_Shalvis

***

 

GIVEAWAY

 

For a chance to win a book from Jill’s Animal Magnetism series backlist, just leave a comment below. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!

Read Full Post »

When Day Breaks by Maya Banks – Giveaway!

It’s finally release day for When Day Breaks by Maya Banks! And in celebration of all things Swanny, we’re having a giveaway 😀

Eden is said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her face has graced countless magazines and her body has sold millions of dollars of clothing. But her fame and beauty has earned her more than she ever imagined. Evil is stalking her, determined to extinguish the ethereal beauty forever.

Swanson or “Swanny” as his teammates call him is always up for the next mission. He came back from Afghanistan wounded and scarred. Hardly the kind of man who even belongs in the same room with Eden. And yet there’s something about the quiet beauty that stirs his blood and makes him dream of the impossible. Because Beauty loving the beast only happens in fairy tales and KGI doesn’t deal in fairy tales. Ever.

 

 

GIVEAWAY

We’ll be gifting five winners a kindle copy of When Day Breaks from Amazon. Winners will be announced on Sunday so please remember to check back!

* Amazon’s geo restrictions do apply
* Giveaway is sponsored by Novel Thoughts

Read Full Post »

Guest Reveiw – Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review…and I’m going to try really, really hard to keep this post spoiler free.

Cover and Blurb:

Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to suffocate her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…

Review:

SHIELD OF WINTER + ME = ECSTATIC HAPPY DANCE

I cannot put into words how much I loved Nalini Singh’s Shield of Winter. I wasn’t a big Vasic fan going into the novel. He seemed like a classic tortured hero with a “dark past” – I much prefer the “I own my darkness” vibe that Kaleb gave off or “alpha” vibe of Lucas. But as I started reading this novel, I realized I might have – okay, definitely – stereotyped Vasic based on his appearances in previous novels. There are so many new facets we learn about Vasic in this novel that, by the end of it, Ms. Singh has created a character that is complex and hard to categorize.

“There was a man standing on the path between the snow-kissed trees. No, not a man. A soldier. Over six feet tall with broad shoulders, his posture was unyielding, his stillness absolute, his eyes a chill gray, and his hair black.”

Vasic isn’t your classic alpha, but he does have some similarities to Lucas and Hawke from Slave to Sensation and Kiss of Snow, respectively. However, while Lucas and Hawke live for their packs, Vasic is more of a lone wolf.

But as the case with most lone wolves, he eventually has to learn to work with someone. In this case, that someone is Ivy Jane – E-Psy (empathic) and heroine of our novel. Vasic is sent to keep Ivy safe, and through at first he’s reluctant, he slowly learns to interact with her. Ivy is a very warm and sweet character – personally, I found it hard to dislike her – so it didn’t really surprise me when Vasic learned to trust her and open up.

But undeniably, the best part of this novel had to be Judd (Caressed by Ice) acting as sex-ed councillor/advisor.

Overall, this was one of my favourite books of the year so far! And if my review has made you curious enough to check it out, or if you were already going to get it despite my rambling, Shield of Winter releases on June 3, 2014.

Enjoy,

Rika Ashton

Read Full Post »

Jodi Thomas – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Sisters Abby and Dusti Delaney have spent their entire lives on Rainbow Lane, but they dream of something bigger. So when a poker tournament comes to town, Dusti is determined to win enough money to leave. Enlisting expert Kieron O’Brian to teach her the game, sparks begin to fly as they play their hands. But Kieron refuses to stand in the way of her dream, even if it means losing her forever…

After a year of traveling, Ronny Logan is settling into a home on Rainbow Lane, but that’s all the settling she’ll be doing. Ronny refuses to fall for anyone, regardless of the chemistry she has with her neighbor Austin Hawk. Yet something undeniable begins to grow between the two loners—if only they can let their barriers fall and open their hearts…

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Believe it or not, my next book is officially released April 1, 2014. No Fooling!

 

I had such fun writing this book in the Harmony series and hope everyone will love it as much as I do. Of course, you’ll have the usual characters walking through Harmony.  Martha Q Patterson, Tyler Wright and his Kate, Alex Matheson and her husband Hank.  You’ll also have a character coming home.  For all of you who love Ronny Logan, you’ll be happy to know her story isn’t over.

 

This novel plays out three great love stories on a small lake a few miles from Harmony, Texas.  One true love shines between a couple who met in high school and their building story has walked through several books.  This time Reagan and Noah are old enough to know their mind, but can love find them after they’ve grown apart?  She’s become a successful business woman and he’s a big time rodeo star.  Two people with such different lives have to figure out what is truly important.

 

Ronny Logan comes home looking for peace after dealing with the loss of her first love.  Thanks to the mysterious man next door, she discovers what passion is all about.  Only does passion equal a forever love?

 

Dusti Delaney’s  farm on the small lake off Rainbow Lane makes the third house.  She and her sister had to give up on their dreams when their mother fell ill, but Dusti is determined to try one more time.  If she can beat out a hundred cowboys in a charity poker game and get to Vegas, all she has to do is place in the money and her sister can go back to finish school.  Only problem is, she has to learn to play the game in two weeks and the only man who is good enough to teach her has flown in from Ireland to win.

 

Not everything in life turns out as planned.  We can’t control all the ups and down or the good and bad things that come our way.  But just like poker, you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt.

 

I’m betting you’ll walk away happy when you finish reading BETTING THE RAINBOW.

 

Jodi Thomas

www.jodithomas.com

Twitter.com/jodithomas

www.facebook.com/ JodiThomasAuthor

~~~*~~~*~~~

For a chance to win a copy of Betting the Rainbow, just leave a comment below.

Read Full Post »

Vivian Arend – Guest Blog and Giveaway!

I love reunited stories. In HIGH SEDUCTION, the hero and heroine have a troubled past, and getting them to their happily-ever-after future is the goal. Along with helping them survive dangerous Search & Rescue situations, and the addition of unexpected troublemakers.

 

But the moments of juggling the past? So much fun.

 

~~**~~

 

Out of nowhere a sense of complete dread struck. What were the odds? How was it possible? But Erin was nearly positive before she’d seen the proof.

Her bar stool was slowly rotated until she looked into the deepest of sky-blue eyes matched by the sexiest smile.

“Of all the gin joints, right?” Tim drawled. “You’re looking lovely, kitten.”

A shiver rolled up her arm as he took her hand and delicately lifted it to his lips. When he paused, waiting for per- mission, she knew what she had to say. What she had to do.

Get the hell out of there. Run. Hide. Do anything but dip her chin slightly and give the man permission.

She should have known he couldn’t simply arrive and throw her world into a whirlwind. The dark blue dress shirt he wore lay open at the collar, the colour complementing his deep tan. The scruff that had covered his chin earlier in the day was shaved clean, so clean she wanted to rub against his skin to test the satiny smoothness. His hair was slightly unruly as if he’d recently dragged a hand through it, or crawled out of bed after hours of sweaty sex…

…and this was not where she wanted her brain to go. Not really. Tim didn’t help her stick to platonic thoughts, though, as he slowly rotated her hand until her palm lay upward. Then he gently kissed the inside of her wrist.

There was no way anyone could have missed her reaction. The entire damn bar might have shaken along with her body.

“I take it you two know each other?” Phillip didn’t try to hide his amusement.

Tim didn’t let her go, but simply answered the question without taking his gaze from where it was fixed on Erin’s face. “We’ve met a time or two.”

~~**~~

 

You can find their story in HIGH SEDUCTION, available today in digital and mass market paperback.

High Seduction


Adrenaline Search & Rescue, Book 3

LIFELINE: an elite search-and-rescue squad based out of Banff, Alberta. Specializing in high-risk rescue missions,
this team goes wherever the job takes them… 

As the chopper pilot for the elite Lifeline search-and-rescue team, Erin Tate is used to handling power. Calling the shots in the air is one thing—in the bedroom it leaves her cold. What she wants is a man strong enough to strip away her control.

Paramedic Timothy Dextor has a wild card reputation, and the dark appetites to prove it. The only thing missing is a woman he can share them with. Landing a position on the Lifeline squad puts his old flame back within reach. He already knows what Erin needs, and this time he’s not letting her go.

But when an emergency throws Erin and Timothy together in unanticipated ways, the stakes are raised—on the job and off. Now they’ll both discover the real meaning of control…and the risks that come from falling in love.

~~**~~

 

Digital

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Mass Market Paperback

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository  | Booksamillion | Powells

~~**~~

GIVEAWAY!

For the chance to win a print of High Seduction by Vivian Arend just leave a comment below. Good luck!

Read Full Post »

Giveaway – After the Storm by Maya Banks

Over the years, Donovan Kelly has fought relentlessly for justice, women and children always holding a special place in his heart. Working side by side with his brothers, Donovan has witnessed firsthand the toll it’s taken—physically, mentally, and emotionally—on his loved ones, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire. What he never expects is for his next mission to happen right on his home turf—or for it to take a very personal turn.

Picturesque Kentucky Lake is the perfect place for a soul in search of safe harbor. A beautiful stranger has arrived—desperate, breathless, and on the run from a dark past closing in on her and the younger siblings she has vowed to protect. Donovan must now draw on every resource at his disposal—if he wants to save a woman and the children who may prove to be his destiny.

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended and all winners have been notified.

GIVEAWAY RULES!

We’ll be giving away print copies of After the Storm by Maya Banks. For a chance to win, just leave a comment below. These will be gifted from Amazon so any of their restrictions do apply. Please make sure the email address you use to comment is correct or you have the email address in the body of the comment. This is how we will contact you. This is a quickie giveaway. We will notify winners on Friday. We will also post a list of the winners here. The winners have until Saturday morning to reply.

Good luck! 😀

Read Full Post »

Genevieve Graham – Guest blog

The Cherokee call her Shadow Girl. A white woman adopted by Indians, Adelaide is haunted by the dark dreams she hides—of her murdered family, of the men she fears, and most of all, of the ones that foretell the future. After her visions cause her to make a terrible mistake, she renounces her power and buries her dreams deep in her soul.
 
Until Jesse Black is captured by the tribe. His life is spared because the Cherokee believe his warrior spirit belongs to their fallen brother. Though he hates all Indians, Adelaide illuminates their way of life for him, just as he shines light into her shadowed heart. But when her dreams return, Jesse must help her face them…or die trying…

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

Do You Dream?

 

Do you dream? According to articles I’ve read, we all do, and we do it every night, though we may not remember what we experienced. I’m terrible at remembering my dreams most of the time, though ironically, if they’re really violent I can’t stop seeing them. My daughters can recount every dream they’ve had for a week, including all sorts of details which they promise they’re not making up. My husband only admits to them once in a while.

 

Some scientists claim that dreams are a release of the subconscious. We have so many things going on in our heads during the day that we can’t sort through it all, so at night the most pressing concerns are aired out, given room to breathe. That means dreams are a good thing—even nightmares.

 

Different dream images and themes represent specific emotions in the sleeper. Like flying. Flying could mean a variety of different things, depending on how the flight goes. For example, if you’re having the time of your life up there, it represents the idea that you’re moving forward, overcoming obstacles or difficult people. If the flying’s not going so well, it might indicate doubt or lack of confidence.

 

Adelaide, my character in “Somewhere to Dream,” was born with the ability to dream of the future, but because she’s such a timid girl she has done everything in her power to deny herself the use of that gift. When she can’t escape a dream, she panics and wakes herself up in the middle of it. An effective way to protect herself, but it means that whatever she’s been foreseeing, well, she doesn’t learn the ending. It’s like ripping out the last bunch of pages from a book and burning them so she’ll never know. And since she doesn’t know what she’s blocking, when she guesses, she ends up causing more trouble than ever.

 

In order to make things right, Adelaide will have to go against everything in her nature. She’ll have to force herself to see the endings to those dreams, and she’ll have to make things happen in real life as well. It seems an impossible task for her.

 

Then Jesse Black comes along, cocky and unafraid, with restless golden eyes she’s seen in her dreams. He should be the most undependable person alive, but she is drawn to him, and it is the power of her trust that enables Jesse to do the same.

 

Do you dream? Can you guide your dreams or do you wake yourself up when they get too scary?

 

What if your dreams could tell the future? Would you want to know what’s going to happen … even if you can’t change it?

 

~~~*~~~*~~~

For more information about Genevieve and her books, visit www.genevievegraham.com. And to enter a giveaway with books, candles, and more, click HERE.

Read Full Post »

Drawn Together by Lauren Dane – ARC giveaway

Beauty is more than skin-deep…

Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually—but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all her rules—including her no-monogamy rule.

But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

 

October 1, 2013

www.laurendane.com

 

GIVEAWAY!

Raven! It’s finally time for Raven! I’ve read this one and not only is it my favorite of all Lauren Dane books,  it’s one of my favorite books of the year. I absolutely adored Raven and was thrilled with the way her story played out. And we have gotten our hands on TWO advance reading copies. For a chance to win, just leave a comment below. Winners will be drawn on Sunday. Be sure to check back to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

Read Full Post »

High Passion by Vivian Arend – ARC Giveaway!

High Passion

Adrenaline Search & Rescue, Book 2

LIFELINE: an elite search-and-rescue squad based out of Banff, Alberta. Specializing in high-risk rescue missions, this team goes wherever the job takes them…

Alisha Bailey left a life of privilege for the dangerous but thrilling world of search and rescue. Denying the lure of attraction to her teammate is another sacrifice she’s made to prove to everyone—including her family— that she’s more than a pretty face or a business commodity.

Since their training days, Devon Leblanc has used the competitive fire between them to hide his fascination with the petite beauty. When a natural disaster forces their rivalry aside, heated passion finally flares between them. Sexual pleasure slowly gives way to a new appreciation for each other’s skills—on the field and in the bedroom.

But when unexplained accidents begin happening to the Lifeline team, their newfound unity may be their only hope for survival…

www.vivianarend.com

September 2013

We have a print ARC (advance reading copy) of High Passion by Vivian Arend to give away to one lucky reader. For a chance to win, just leave a comment below. The winner will be posted on Sunday. Good luck! 😀

Read Full Post »