Read-Love-Blog

Book Promotion & Review

Apr 19

Worth it All by Claudia Connor…ARC Review

by Jilly


April 2016 Contemporary Romance Four Loves

3 Comments »
Apr 4

All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

ACU Banner

ACU

ABOUT ALL CHAINED UP:
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.

Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .

 

My review:

All Chained Up is the first book in author Sophie Jordan’s Devil’s Rock series.  From the cover alone I was excited to read this book and it was a great read filled with heat, emotion, and action.  I loved it.

From the moment they met, Knox and Briar’s relationship was complicated.  He was a prisoner in the jail she was working in and even though she knew he was completely of limits and wouldn’t dream of acting on this unexpected and taboo attraction she felt for him, she couldn’t help herself from wondering what it would be like if they had met under different circumstances. Sure he was gruff, cold, and obviously dangerous, but there was something under his hard exterior that called to her…almost a kindness.  That kindness would show itself when Briar found herself in a life or death situation and Knox goes from inmate to hero.  That act gets him paroled and now, all those “what-ifs” become possibilities.  Would she ever see him again?  The better question is, what would she do if she did…

I love when an author has the ability to make me fall in love with a character who hardly even speaks for the first few chapters.  Know was one of those characters.  Ms. Jordan wrote him in such an amazing light and even though he clearly had done something bad in his past, I wanted redemption for him.  I wanted to know there was a heart in there somewhere.  Oh, and there is.  It takes him a little while to let it show but when he did, it was awesome.  I loved him and Briar together.  Talk about two opposites attracting!  But despite their differences, they meshed so well together and the heat and attraction between them is intense and smoking hot.  I will certainly never look at Cherry Garcia ice cream the same way again 😉

I am so excited to see where this series goes.  Ms. Jordan sets up for one helluva story in the next installment and I’m dying to know how it all plays out.

Thank you, Ms. Jordan, for an amazing read!

 

 

J signature

 

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

 

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

 

 

ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN:

Sophie JordanSophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as i
nteresting as literature – teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her firstbook, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller’s List.

 

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

 

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:
3/21: Krista’s Dust Jacket – Review
3/22: Live to Read – Character Casting
3/23: Take Me Away to a Great Read – Review
3/24: Fiction Fare – Q&A
3/25: My Secret Romance Book Reviews – Review
 
Week 2:
3/28: The Irish Banana Review – Review
3/29: Resch Reads & Reviews – Playlist
3/30: Behind Closed Covers – Review
3/31: The Book Cellar – Top 10 Reasons Sophie Jordan Rocks
4/1: Stuck In Books – Review
 
Week 3:
4/4: Read-Love-Blog – Review
4/5: Reading Is Better With Cupcakes – Pocket Letter
4/7: Eater of Books – Swoon Thursday
4/8: The Cover Contessa – Review

 

Giveaway:

3 Finished Copies of ALL CHAINED UP (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April 2016 Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Four Loves

5 Comments »
Mar 29

The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich….Blog Tour & Review

by Jilly

The Total Package coverAbout The Total Package

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (March 15, 2016)

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about love, redemption, and second chances.

Heartthrob star quarterback Tyson Palmer has it all: a million-dollar arm, a winning season and the promise of a Superbowl ring. But more importantly, footballís biggest star is the ultimate comeback kid. After an addiction to painkillers nearly derailed his career, Tyson got sober and went from zero to hero in the eyes of the public.

But one person remains unconvinced: Dani Carr, a sports commentator with high ratings and following of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget a single passionate night with him back in college. To make things worse, Tyson doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute co-ed whose heart he once broke.

But can a sports journalist trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson riding high now that he’s revived his career realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he use his million-dollar moves to get past her defenses or will she sideline him for good?

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park and the New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot.

 

My Review:

The Total Package is the first work of author Stephanie Evanovich that I’ve read and I gotta say, I loved it! So much so that I went onto Amazon and picked up her other two titles listed above.

This was a great story with a wonderful flow and characters I truly enjoyed.  Tyson is a hot mess in the beginning and works his sexy tush off to get better.  Better at his job.  Better at his health. Better at his entire being. It wasn’t an easy road and he took all the challenges with a sense of humility I really enjoyed.  Dani has also reinvented herself since her college years and is enjoying the rewards of her hard work…until she has to see Tyson again.  You see, their past was a bit of a touchy subject with them.  Those darn college years.  Tyson, because he always felt terrible about how things ended between them and for being a strung out jerk and Dani because, even though that last night left her with an incredible gift, Tyson had still been a donkey’s arse and she wouldn’t be forgetting it anytime soon.  The problem is, once they are back into each other’s daily lives, Tyson proves he’s changed and Dani’s resistance wears down.  That old spark is back with a vengeance and they both know they should take this second change as the gift it was.  But would their past threaten to ruin things just as it begins?

With so much to love about this book, it’s hard to know where to start. These two characters go through hell and back.  Emotions run high and feelings run deep.  I loved both Dani and Tyson from the start and was cheering on from the sidelines for them to get a happy ever after.  Together.  The push and pull and road to redemption for Tyson was a rough one but very needed.  He has no trouble rising to the challenge and, in a book world with a lot of jerks in it, he was a refreshing and positive character to read.  Dani was equally amazing at seeing her feelings for what they were, and keeping Tyson at arm’s length until he really proved he had changed.  Permanently.  For the good.  I was also a nervous wreck for them as there was a pretty big secret that needed to be revealed.  Luckily, Ms. Evanovich wrote one hell of an amazing ending that had me laughing and crying happy tears!

I also have to mention the secondary characters were equally awesome and a joy to read.  Oh, and living in the Philly suburbs, I loved where Dani grew up!

Thank you, Ms. Evanovich, for a fabulous read!

4andahalfloves

Four-and-a-Half Loves

J signature

Add to Goodreads badge

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stephanie EvanovichAbout Stephanie Evanovich

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl who attended New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, performed with several improvisational troupes, and acted in a few small-budget movies, all in preparation for the greatest job she ever had: raising her two sons. Now a full-time writer, sheís an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.

Find out more about Stephanie at her website and connect with her†on†Facebook.

Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Four Loves

4 Comments »
Mar 28

Love Never Dies by Christina Dodd….ARC Review

by Jilly

Love Never Dies is out today!

29100908

Synopsis:

A murder committed. A love lost. A ghost haunted by the past.
Only one woman can right the wrongs…
If she can survive the night…

From this “master of the genre,” Christina Dodd, comes a suspenseful short story of this “remarkable, mesmerizing series” (Library Journal starred review) set in the
quaint — and deadly — coastal town of Virtue Falls…

 

My Review:

This was *gasp* the first book of author Christina Dodd that I’ve read and all I can say is I’m hooked!

This was a great short read filled with mystery and suspense.  A young intern new to town stumbles across a ghost while walking through the local park one evening.  He knows there’s danger lurking in these trees and a murderer is loose…on the hunt for new victims.  Although most people don’t see the ghost, she does, and he knows he must warn her to stay away and to stay safe.  But before he can give that warning, they become friends in a way, and they both sense a connection.  A connection that can solve a mystery which has lingered in her family for decades.  Could he be the key to keeping her alive and bringing her family closure?

Honestly, from start to finish, this story kept me glued to each page.  There was so much emotion and suspense poured into these pages. It was a great place for a new fan to start and I will certainly be scooping up all of Ms. Dodd’s other works.

I always love finding new authors and thank you, Ms. Dodd, for giving this blogger a few new series to dive into!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

 

Book Links:

Amazon  |  B&N  |  Goodreads

To learn more about the author, visit http://www.christinadodd.com/

Contemporary Romance Four Loves March 2016

1 Comment »
Mar 24

Saved by the Seal by Diana Gardin….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Title: Saved By The SEAL  (STANDALONE Battle Scars novel)
Author : Diana Gardin 
Genre: Romance 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He saved her life. She showed him how to live it . . .
When he sees a woman drowning, Grisham Abbot immediately leaps into action. The Navy SEAL forgets his training, his past, and the explosion that forever scarred his body and his mind. He can only remember what he was born to do. But saving Greta Owen is a complication Grisham is definitely not ready for. She’s stunning and gorgeous—like sunlight after months of darkness. Yep, Grisham is so, so screwed.
Greta knows that the smart thing to do would be to run from Grisham. He’s a wounded warrior, and his head is a big-time mess. The problem is that Greta wants to make him her mess. One kiss and she’s completely in over her head. And if this SEAL risked himself to save her, then she must find a way to bring him back to life . . .

My Review:

Saved by the Seal is the second book in author Diana Gardin’s Battle Scar series and can be read as a standalone although, I loved the first book in the series so I vote to read both.  I was so excited to read this newest installment and I have to say, Diana delivered again.  I loved this book.
Greta Owen and Grisham Abbot have known each other for years.  She’s also had a crush on him for just as long.   With a mutual group of friends, they always crossed paths.  But that was before Grisham left for the SEALs and a lot has happened since then.  Now fate has a plan to have their paths cross once more when Grisham, now home, comes to Greta’s rescue and saves her life after a bit of a surfing mishap.  They both soon realize they’ve been brought back into each others lives for a reason and that they really shouldn’t let it go…no matter how much baggage Grisham carries, how many emotions run high, or what danger lies ahead.
Diana Gardin is an author I always enjoy reading.  She delivers wonderful characters, steamy romance, and an interesting plot.  Grisham and Greta’s story delivers all that and more.  I loved seeing Grisham again and that he got his story.  Things were a bit precarious with him after the last book and I was worried he wouldn’t find his own happy ending.  He’s got a jerk of a father, a life altering injury to deal with, and an uncertain future.  He’s an honorable, loyal, and sexy warrior I just loved and my heart hurt for him.  Enter Greta.  She’s exactly what the doctor ordered from him.  She’s bright and funny, sweet and sassy.  She gives Grisham a bright spot to look toward in his darkness and they are wonderful as a couple.  I won’t spoil anything but I will say Diana wrote a movie worthy ending for these two!
The other layer to this story I really enjoyed is the drama surrounding a possible stalker Greta is dealing with.  That added element of suspense was awesome and Diana did a great job at keeping us guessing until the end.  Pieces started falling into place and I had no idea it would end the way it did! 
Of course, getting to see more of the gang we were introduced to in the first book was also a treat.  I loved Dare and Berkeley and I can’t wait to see what’s up with Mea.  Hopefully her book is next!
Overall, this was a great read filled with heat, emotion, and a dab of suspense.  Thank you, Diana, for a wonderful book!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

 

Amazon US Amazon CA   Amazon UK
B&N Kobo G. Play iBooks
 
 
 
 


 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
Diana Gardin was born and raised combing the coasts of Southeastern Virginia. She is now a happy resident of South Carolina as she married into an enormous Carolina-rooted family. She loves the beach, and even more than that she loves to read while sitting on the beach.
While writing was always a passion of Diana’s, she enrolled in college to become an elementary-school teacher. After eight years of teaching in both Virginia and South Carolina, she decided to stay at home with her first child. This decision is what opened her eyes to the fact that she still very much loved to write, and her first novel was born. Diana is the author of several works of New Adult Romance, including The Ashes Series, The Nelson Island Series, and the Battle Scars Series.

Tweet me: @DianalynnGardin
 


Blog Tour Four Loves March 2016

1 Comment »
Mar 22

Felony Ever After…Release Day Event and Review

by Jilly

Profile portrait of businessman working on laptop in black suit at studio

Summary:

Verity Michaels is new to New York City, but even she knows riding in a stolen a cab is not a normal way to meet someone. Damn it if that tattoo-covered would-be felon isn’t everywhere now, and lighting everything on fire under her skirt.

His name is Hudson Fenn, and he’s frustratingly impossible to pin down. He works as a bike messenger, but has the manners of a prince—along with a strange tendency toward breaking and entering. As much as Verity knows he’s not her type, and likely to land her in jail, she can’t help but find her truest self when they’re together.

Can she be brave enough to give Hudson a real chance? Will he be bold enough to reveal the man beneath the ink, or will his secrecy doom their connection? Also, WTF is the deal with Verity’s boss? No less than thirteen of your favorite romance writers have teamed up to tell this sexy, wacky, snort-inducing tale. With them you’ll visit the world’s most irritating office, a VIP room of questionable cleanliness, and the fanciest apartment a bike messenger has ever inhabited, but you’ll still never see this ending coming.

FEA2

My Review:

Ok, so I’ll admit when I read that 13 individual authors were writing one story, I was a tad nervous.  I mean how could they make that work?  Each author has their own voice and puts their individual flavor into their characters, so how could 13 people write two main characters and two secondary characters?  Well, I’m not sure of the how but I can tell you they freaking nailed it! This book was so damn good and the characters were amazing.  I loved it all from start to finish and I’m so sad I’ve already finished it.

This group of authors, many I’ve read and am a huge fan of, created a hero and heroine I just adore.  Hudson is such a dichotomy and the layers that make up his being are complex and amazing.  Sure he’s hot, sexy, tattooed, and charming but he’s also got a huge heart and a hidden side I swooned over.  The authors did an amazing job at revealing what makes Hudson Hudson.  We were introduced to so much but kept in the dark about a few key parts of his life and I loved the pace in which we get to find out what makes him tick.  SO good! Verity is equally fabulous.  She’s funny as hell and is also wonderfully multifaceted.  I loved her relationship with her friend and co-worker and her insane work situation.  She had me laughing too many times to count and I loved it.  Together these two are off the charts smoking hot.  But where they really shine is in the quiet and tender moments.  When they’re getting to know each other.  Those times are both sweet and at times funny but make up a twenty-first century fairy tale like nothing I’ve ever read.

The extra added touch was the twitter convo between Verity and Hudson that end each chapter.  I loved it so much and it totally gave this book and extra oomph that made it even more special.  But the best part about that?  Getting to the end of the book and seeing that I can actually follow them on Twitter and enjoy more interactions even after finishing the book!  So amazing and so much fun!

From beginning to end this was a unique and enjoyable reading experience. The collaboration went off without a hitch and I highly recommend this book to any romance fan!  Thank you, ladies, for one hell of a read!

4andahalfloves

Four-and-a-Half Loves

J signature

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29514879-felony-ever-after

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LmYseF
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1V7qJb6
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/250Cg07
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1UtVTsH
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/1MiYj6R
Amazon DE: amzn.to/1QYEX8S
iBooks:  http://apple.co/1U8Vpd8

B&N:  http://bit.ly/1UfIiWS

KOBO: http://bit.ly/1UbZnB5

FEA1

FEA3

Contemporary Romance Four Loves March 2016

5 Comments »
Mar 17

Rose by Marata Eros….Release Day Event & Review

by Jilly

Rose Banner

Rose

Goodreads

77003-synopsis

Drake Corbin, aka Diablo, has plans for Rose Christo that reach far beyond getting his property back.

He wants another woman to abuse.

Rose is determined to save Charlie, but when the final verdict is read, her spirit is crushed by the outcome.

After two encounters with Drake, she knows she will not survive a third.

Has Rose misplaced her trust in Noose? Is he nothing more than the callous user of women he appears to be—or is he the very thing she needs to survive her life and maybe, find love….

Hope

Sean King, aka Noose, doesn’t need a woman—he never has.

Then Rose Christo earns something no other woman has ever managed—his trust. Noose’s careful facade begins to slip, and he must admit what she means to him:

More than property.

More than novelty tail.

More than anyone has ever meant to him before.

The woman he loves.

Is Noose ready to sacrifice everything to tie a knot so permanent, no one will recover? Road Kill, him—Rose?

Can she stand what he will have to do to keep her safe?

My Review:

Rose is the third novella in author Marata Eros’ Road Kill MC series.  After finding Ms. Eros’ work a little while back, I am always interesting in reading more from her and this is certainly a series I am enjoying.

While this may not be a series for everyone (there is violence, sexual assault, and plenty of MC club normal activities) I really enjoy the gritty and raw writing in these novellas.

Rose is fighting to keep her nephew in her life.  She’s fighting to keep him safe.  And at times, she’s fighting for her life.  Luckily she has Noose.  The big, bad, biker and former Navy Seal would do anything to keep her, and her nephew,  safe from ever meeting harm again.  There’s plenty of turmoil in their lives right now and emotions are running high but sometimes the best things can come from the worst situations…in this case: love.  Few things are better than a big bad biker falling in love and showing the soft heart he have for his woman and we get to see that side of Noose in this novella…and oh man, it’s awesome.  These two are the epitome of opposites attracting and I love them together.  Oh, and the ending? Perfect.

If you love a good MC read, this is a series you should definitely pick up.  Thank you, Ms. Eros, for a kick ass story!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

Rose Teaser 2.jpg

The Series

Noose

AMAZON * AMAZON UK * AMAZON CA * AMAZON AU

Knot

AMAZON * AMAZON UK * AMAZON CA * AMAZON AU

Buy Links

AMAZON * AMAZON UK

AMAZON CA * AMAZON AU

Rose Teaser.jpg

f4cbe-about2bthe2bauthor

Marata

Marata Eros is the author of over seventy titles, including her NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novel, A TERRIBLE LOVE, and the #1 international bestselling erotic Interracial and African-American TOKEN serial. Marata writes a variety of dark fiction in the genres of erotica, fantasy, romance, suspense and sci-fi. She and her husband live in the midwest with their four sons and three disrespectful dogs. Marata’s #1 hobby is reading; she loves interacting with her readers.

NEW RELEASE ALERT

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Hosted By:

Logo PNG (1)

Four Loves March 2016 MC Series Release Day Event

1 Comment »
Mar 15

The Sutherlands Collection…Spotlight & Review

by Jilly

28248050

 

Synopsis:

Meet the Sutherlands, a Texas oil family that doesn’t break the rules…they make their own. This box set of sizzling hot, never before published full-length novels and novellas about the Sutherland family alpha heroes and kickass heroines that is sure to melt your e-reader and help you find your next book boyfriend. But act fast–this set will only be available until April 15, so pre-order yours today! Inside The Sutherlands you’ll find:

Shadow Ranch by USA Today best selling author Robin Covington – Passion and secrets thrive in the dark…
Screwed by USA Today best selling author Kelly Jamieson – The only time losing is more fun than winning is when you’re fighting temptation…
Wrecked by Wall Street Journal best selling author Terri Osburn – Revenge is always personal…
Foolish Expectations by Alison Bliss – Forever is the last thing they expected…
Under the Evening Star by Shyla Colt – They must choose between the past that hunts and a love that can heal…
Brazen by Avery Flynn – This bad boy boxer just met his match…
Stripped by Abby Niles – She’s going to strip him bare…
Not the Marrying Kind by Julie Particka – Faking it never felt so good…
One Forbidden Virgin by Joya Ryan – Sometimes the wrong man is the perfect kind of right…
Sweet Surrender by Naima Simone – The price of surrender is passion…

Twenty percent of the royalties earned from each copy of The Sutherlands sold will go to help Reach Out and Read, which gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

 

1914666_1323027697713799_4059585740484715643_n

My Review:

What a great concept this is!  All ten stories related on some way but can all be read separately…talk about awesome!

While I admit that I didn’t read all ten stories yet, I did read the stories by Avery Flynn and Robin Covington and oh my…they were both off the charts sexy and both having an element of danger, kept me on the edge of my seat! Robin’s M/M story was delicious, with a Texas Ranger and sculptor making one hell of a delicious couple.  Avery’s story gives an action packed look at a fave couple of mine from a project she did with Liliana Hart and I loved reading more of them.  I adore these two authors and always look forward to reading anything they put out and these two short stories were no exception.

And, with a percentage of the sales donated to a great cause, this really is a collection worth picking up (especially at the intro price of only 99 pennies!)!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

Book links:

Amazon  |  Goodreads

12814753_10206684119796545_4363642558157354169_n

 

Anthology Contemporary Romance Four Loves March 2016

1 Comment »
Mar 15

Not a Mistake by Amber Belldene…ARC Review

by Jilly

Not a Mistake releases today! 

NAM cover

Synopsis:

Sometimes a scandal isn’t a sin…

On the night she graduates from seminary, Jordan Sykes finds herself in bed with Dominic Lawrence, the ethics professor she’s crushed on for years. Two months later, she discovers she’s pregnant and is determined to hide it to protect his career. Maybe, if she loves her new church like hell, they won’t fire her for being a single mother.

Dominic knows the difference between right and wrong, and he’s filled with remorse after sleeping with his favorite student. He’s offered the job of his dreams, but he’d be a hypocrite to accept without making things right with Jordan first.

Dominic proposes marriage to save their careers, never expecting they will prove a perfect—and passionate—match. But can Jordan give her heart to a man who still believes the first night they spent together was a mistake?

My Review:

Not a Mistake is the first book in author Amber Belldene’s newest series, the Hot Under The Collar series. I have been a big fan of Ms. Belldene’s since first reading her years earlier and I always look forward to more from her.  This book was fabulous and kicks off what I know is going to be a great series.

Not only is this s story about a one night stand turned serious when the gal finds out she’s pregnant but there are more than just a few lines crossed when it happened…one being a former student/professor relationship and the other being both he and she are priests.  Talk about a doozy!

From the very start I felt for both Jordan and Dominic. Both had their personal take on why their one night was wrong and why it shouldn’t have happened.  Both were all caught up in knots about this pregnancy and what it would mean for their futures. personally and professionally.  Both couldn’t deny the attraction and admiration they felt for each other.  Both know they are going to try to do what’s right…and hopefully they’ll find a happy ever after along the way. The turmoil they feel is palpable and I was so invested in this couple.  I always enjoy the emotion Ms. Belldene brings into her characters and this was no exception.  Jordan is smart and strong and admirable in her journey.  Dominic broke my heart with the guilt he felt in being wrong to have feelings for Jordan.  Man, their story is definitely rocky and has plenty of ups and downs but it is such a beautiful one and I just loved it.  Oh, and the ending? Totally perfect!

One of the other things I really enjoyed was Ms. Belldene bringing her other expertise into this book.  Being a Christian minister in her daily life, it turned this story from not just a regular romance, but instead a look into what life as a minister is like.  I personally learned a lot and I really appreciated it! I’m so glad Ms. Belldene decided to write a story combining both of her worlds: write and minister.

Thank you. Ms. Belldene, for another wonderful read!  I can’t wit to see what you have in store next!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

Book links:

Amazon  |  Goodreads

NAM2

NAM#

 

About the author:

I grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when I could pull myself away from a book.  As a child, I hid my Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on me when I preach these days.

I’m an Episcopal Priest and student of the worlds’ religions.  I believe stories are the best way to explore human truths, and I’m passionate about the deep ties between spirituality and sexuality. Some people think it’s strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to me, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire.

I write paranormal, historical and contemporary romance and live with my husband and two children in San Francisco.

My literary agent is the fabulous Becca Stumpf of the Prospect Agency.

Website

 

 

Contemporary Romance Four Loves March 2016

1 Comment »
Mar 8

Risking it All by Christi Barth…Release Day Event & Review

by Jilly
–
Title: Risking It All
Series: Naked Men #1  
Author: Christi Barth
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release
Date: March 8, 2016

Synopsis:

Who doesn’t love Naked Men? In Christi Barth’s irresistible series, a group of close-knit friends talk out their problems with naked honesty on a popular blog. Bonded by a high-school tragedy, they’re moving on from the past—and fighting for the future with strong and sassy women.

Griffin Montgomery helps people. As a teenager, he kept his best friends alive after their soccer team’s bus crashed in the Alps. Now, as a Coast Guard search and rescue pilot, he saves lives with reckless abandon—until he goes too far and earns a lengthy suspension. Working on the Naked Men projects keeps his mind busy, but Griff’s itching to get back in the action. That’s when he finds his latest rescue mission: a pretty wallflower who’s stuck in her comfort zone.

Chloe Widmore doesn’t take risks. As a professional letter writer, she gets enough excitement out of expressing other people’s emotions. So when the hottest man she’s ever seen invades her coffee shop, Chloe surprises herself with how much she wants to be with him. Routines make her feel safe. Griff makes her deliciously unsafe, in so many ways. But falling for him is one risk she might just have to take . . . whether she’s ready or not.

My Review:

Risking it All is the first in a new series from an author I adore reading, Christi Barth.  This series kicks off with a wonderful start and I loved every minute of this sweet and sassy romance!

One of things I love most about Ms. Barth’s writing is her ability to deliver multi-faceted characters with a beautiful amount of depth, making them feel as if they were actual people you would hang out with.  This particular book really showcased that ability.  Griffin and Chloe’s is entertaining from the very first page and had me hooked until the very end.  Griffin is a wonderful hero with a lot of wonderful layers to his personality that had me swooning too many times to count.  Chloe is beyond interesting with a fun career and unique way of looking at things and saying what she means.  I loved the circumstances on how they meet and how their relationship grows at a slow and steady build with a very real life feel.  Nothing went too fast and nothing took too long.  It was the perfect balance.

I also loved meeting the rest of Griffin’s friends which I assume will be the other men in this series.  They are all so interesting and hold a string bond that makes the group as a whole really special.

Overall, this is a well-rounded, well written book I have no doubt any romance fan will love as mush as I did!  Thank you. Ms. Barth, for once again delivering a fabulous read!

4andahalfloves

Four-and-a-Half Loves

J signature

 

ADD TO GOODREADS
Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK
B&N / iBOOKS / KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
BOOKS A MILLION

 

Author Bio
Christi Barth earned a master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. Barth lives in Maryland with her husband. 

Author Links
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
WEBSITE

Contemporary Romance Four Loves March 2016

2 Comments »
Feb 23

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (The Taliban Shuffle) by Kim Baker…Review

by Jilly

Picture1

 

“Part war memoir, part tale of self-discovery that, thanks to Barker’s biting honesty and wry wit, manages to be both hilarious and heartbreaking.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Remarkable. . . . [Barker] has written an account of her experiences covering Afghanistan and Pakistan that manages to be hilarious and harrowing, witty and illuminating, all at the same time.”
—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“Brilliant, tender, and unexpectedly hilarious.”
—Marie Claire
9581417

Synopsis:

Soon to be a major film by Paramount Pictures, WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT, starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton and Alfred Molina, is based on Kim Barker’s memoir.  Previously published as The Taliban Shuffle, Barker uses her wry, incisive voice to expose the absurdities and tragedies of the “forgotten war,” finding humor and humanity amid the rubble and heartbreak.

Kim first arrived in Kabul as a journalist in 2002.  At the time she barely owned a passport, spoke only English and had little idea how to do the “Taliban Shuffle” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Her stories about Islamic militants and shaky reconstruction were soon overshadowed by the bigger news in Iraq.  The more she delved deeper into Pakistan and Afghanistan, the more her love for the hapless countries grew, along with her fear for their future stability.  Read this darkly comic and unsparing memoir before you watch the movie.

 

My Review:

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this book.  I have been seeing the trailer for the movie based off of this story and when I can, I always love to read the book before seeing the film.  I had a wide range of emotions while reading and I truly enjoyed Ms. Baker’s story.

While it was not a funny as I had thought it would be, it was witty, gritty, and really gave an in-depth and unique view into a world and culture we have been hearing about for years, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was a fascinating view into what living in the war-torn areas of the Middle East is like and it was both heartbreaking and at times uplifting when you saw glimpses of the promise the future can hold for the people of these countries.  Kim, herself, is one hell of a woman and one I really admired.  She dove right into this very foreign world with a bravery I don’t think she realized she had at the time.  Her experiences and adventures were, at times, difficult and tedious but she always went in with an outlook I think very few people would have been able to have while working and living in such dark times.   I also really enjoyed her stories of our U.S. troops serving over there.  It was a real and candid look at what the mindset was at that time and when Kim would give little hints that something had happened to one of them, I was a nervous wreck. Emotions ran from running very high to dipping very low and it was humbling to read how morale with our troops fluctuated. But while emotional as it was to read, I’m glad Kim gave us that view.

To read the toll this war is taking on everyone involved, from the children, to the shopkeepers, the people covering the war, to the people fighting it…it was a reality check and one that reminded me just how grateful I am to live where I live and to appreciate all of the things I take for granted every day.

From start to finish, this was a book that kept me glued to the pages wondering what was next for Kim and the friends she had made over there.  I highly recommend giving this book a read, whether you’re planning on seeing the movie or not. It was fantastic.  Thank you, Kim, for sharing your story with us!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

J signature

 

Book links:

Amazon  |  B&N  |  iBooks  |  Goodreads

About the author:

Kim Barker was the South Asia bureau chief for The Chicago Tribune from 2004 to 2009, based in New Delhi and Islamabad. Her book about those years, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” a dark comedic take on her time in South Asia, was published by Doubleday in 2011. The movie version, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” will be released in March 2016, starring Tina Fey, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Margot Robbie and Billy Bob Thornton. Barker has covered natural disasters such as the tsunami in Asia and the earthquake in Kashmir, as well as tracked manmade disasters — the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the corruption in Afghanistan, and the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Before going overseas, Barker worked at The Seattle Times and the Spokane Spokesman-Review. After coming back in 2009, she was the Edward R. Murrow press fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where she freelanced for Foreign Affairs, Reader’s Digest and The Atlantic. In 2010, she joined ProPublica, where she wrote about campaign finance and the fallout of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

Barker, who grew up in Montana and Wyoming, now lives in Brooklyn and works as a New York Times metro reporter specializing in investigative reporting and narrative writing.

 

 

 

February 2016 Four Loves Memoir

1 Comment »
«Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Brand New Day Theme by Caroline Moore | Copyright 2026 Read-Love-Blog | Powered by WordPress