Sense and Sensibility: A Latter-day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison (Review)

As if it wasn’t bad enough to be getting food from Church welfare, I had to meet one of the Ferreros—and a good-looking Ferrero, at that.

Elly Goodwin, a brilliant programmer, is so desperate for a job that she takes one from her ex-boyfriend—the same man who put her family out of business. Then she meets Ethan Ferrero, who seems too good to be true. But Elly is far too sensible to unexpectedly fall in love—especially with her ex’s brother-in-law.

But when Elly’s sister, Maren, dates the wrong guy, Elly must intercede before Maren’s passion clouds her common sense. Together, Elly and Maren must learn that a mixture of sense and sensibility is the perfect recipe for love.

Fans of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility will love this modern retelling of the classic romance novel.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

Meeting Mr. Right (E-mail Order Brides, #4) by Deb Kastner (Review)

When Mr. Wrong Is Mr. Right

A woman in a man's world, firefighter Vee Bishop has to be tough as nails. She's developed a hard shell that no one can penetrate. But Vee's online friend BJ sees her softer side. BJ seems so kind and caring just the opposite of Ben Atwood. Her annoying coworker has trampled expectations all over town, or so rumor has it. Turns out, once she agrees to give Ben a fair shot, he's surprisingly vulnerable. As Vee prepares to make a difficult choice, an unexpected twist shows that love is always one step ahead.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

Meeting Mr. Right was such a fun read. It reminded me, in a way, of the movies The Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail; but even though it reminded me of those movies it was still unique and very entertaining.

I could relate with the heroine and that always make a story so much more enjoyable. The hero of the story was such a nice guy and was handsome and very fit - which is always a nice thing. :)

The reason I picked this book up was because it's part of an email order bride series. I love the traditional mail-order bride stories and wanted to see how it would be with email. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, both of the main characters weren't looking for someone to marry but happened to meet online and formed a connection. This is the fourth book in the series, but I'll definitely be reading the others three sometime (hopefully this year). I definitely don't think it matters reading them out of order, I never felt lost or anything.

The only reason this book isn't receiving a five star rating is because, at times, it was a tad slow and that made it a little boring to read. But overall it was a very good read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading mail-order bride stories.

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Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney (Review)

All Amanda Bell Brown wanted for her 40th birthday was to watch CSI on television, but what she got was a couple of corpses, a hunk of a detective, and a drop-dead gorgeous red dress. What's a girl to do when a cult madman is on the loose? Save the day, of course, and maybe snag a good man.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man was a fun and quirky read that also covered a much deeper topic than I was expecting. It was much more a romance than a mystery, in my opinion.

I felt so terrible for all that Amanda went through in her younger years and what she still goes through because of it.

The relationship between Amanda and Jazz became intense very quickly, almost too quickly. They meet and within the same night they are kissing and saying that they love each other - semi in jest, yes, but mostly serious. This begins a lot of verbal sparring between the two that was a lot of fun to read :)

This book is categorized as Christian fiction, but it's not what I usually expect from that genre. What I expect from Christian fiction is a faith based message (or element), no cuss words and no suggestive scenes. This book did a great job of the first two, there was a lot of talk about God and the Bible and were absolutely no cuss words, however with the other not so much. One scene that stands out is when Amanda's sister says, somewhat seriously, "she could stand a good bodice ripping tonight" (p. 27), but there were a whole lot of other things. This seems to be more common among African American Christian fiction, not sure why that is. So I'm rating this book as though it were a mainstream novel. I'm much harsher on Christian fiction.

If you don't mind a little suggestive talking, nothing too bad, then I think you would enjoy this book.

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Angel Falls by Connie Mann (Review & Giveaway)

When her best friend is killed in an explosion, leaving Regina da Silva with her friend’s young child, she doesn’t realize that the child was as much a target as her friend. Brooks Anderson has been sent to find the child and bring it to the US. When circumstances bring them together in Brazil, they find themselves being pursued by a killer as they protect an orphaned baby.

As the danger heightens around them, so does the attraction between Regina and Brooks, despite their differences. Regina and Brooks have both been broken by their violent pasts, but while Regina relies on her faith to deal with her past, Brooks has turned away from God. Will their pasts stop them from realizing their true feelings for each other when their pursuer strives to keep them apart forever?

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

Angel Falls is a really enjoyable read and a good debut novel. I've haven't read much fiction that is set in Brazil and found that aspect of the story very interesting.

The suspense aspect of the novel was great. Though I did have an inkling who was behind it all much sooner than it was revealed, I still very much enjoyed it.

I personally didn't like how intimate Brooks was with Regina, especially with him constantly thinking how he wasn't the marrying kind and she was the type of woman that was wife material. I thought for a Christian novel all the scenes with them laying down together was the wrong message to be sending, if you are trying teach restraint I don't believe you should constantly be tempting yourself by making it so easy to fail. That being said, this was one of my only negatives with the book.

Overall, a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

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BOOK DETAILS:

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426756860
• ISBN-13: 978-1426756863
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Available to purchase at Amazon | B&N | CBD

Enter to a print copy of Angel Falls by using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will end April 20 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Open to the US only.

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The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris (Review)

In Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the Cobb—Lyme’s famous seawall—proved dangerous to a careless young woman. Now it proves deadly.

Following their recent intrigue at Highbury, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy visit the seaside village of Lyme on holiday. Family business also draws them there, to receive the personal effects of Mr. Darcy’s late cousin, a naval lieutenant who died in action.

Their retreat turns tragic when they come upon a body lying at the base of the Cobb. The victim is Mrs. Clay, a woman with a scandalous past that left her with child—a child whose existence threatened the inheritance of one of her paramours and the reputation of another. Did she lose her balance and fall from the slippery breakwater, or was she pushed?

Mrs. Clay’s death is not the only one that commands the Darcys’ attention. When Mr. Darcy discovers, among his cousin’s possessions, evidence that the young lieutenant’s death might have been murder, he allies with Captain Frederick Wentworth (hero of Jane Austen's Persuasion) to probe details of a battle that took place across the sea . . . but was influenced by a conspiracy much closer to home.

The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) is the delightful sixth installment in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery series by Carrie Bebris.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

The Deception at Lyme is the sixth book in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series. One would think that by the sixth book the story would become routine and maybe dull, but that is definitely not the case. I find myself enjoying each installment more than the last, and hope that there will be many more to come!

In The Deception at Lyme we see the Darcys on holiday in Lyme. No "Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery" would be complete without a mystery - and this is no exception! They discover a woman who had fallen from the Cobb. The woman is Mrs. Clay, who is unconscious and great with child.

Georgiana plays a more major role in this book than she has in the past ones and there are a couple of gentlemen who vie for her affections. It begins to seem as though there will be a happy event occurring for Georgiana and I was hopeful that there would be. I have always wanted this for her ever since the incident with Wickham.

The Deception at Lyme has aspects of Persuasion in it. I know this because of the synopsis, because I have never read Persuasion or even seen a movie version of it. Each chapter starts with a quote and many of the quotes are from Persuasion - they are marked as such otherwise I wouldn't have known that.

With the many twists and turns, this story kept me on my toes - never knowing who really was to blame. I LOVED reading The Deception at Lyme, and even though this book is part of a series, I believe that they can be read and enjoyed in any order. Of course to get the most out of them, and to not spoil any of the details you may want to read them in order. I highly recommend The Deception at Lyme!!!

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Daynight by Megan Thomason (Book Blast and Giveaway)

Tour Schedule

daynight by Megan Thomason

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is Megan Thomason’s debut young adult dystopian novel and first in the daynight series.

Purchase

Amazon

Praise

“Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story” —Kirkus Reviews
“Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

“The writing is impressive and the story is a real page-turner. So many twists and turns… I’m hooked… I can’t wait for the next installment to come out…4.5 out of 5 stars”—Self-Publishing Review

“Delicious humor, intelligence, and sparkling dialogue” —Amazon reviewer

“Strangely brilliant and imaginative”—Amazon reviewer

“Grips you from the first page and keeps you wanting more”—Amazon reviewer

“Plot twists kept me reading till late at night”—Amazon reviewer

“Every page a thrilling experience”—Amazon reviewer

“Hooked from the first chapter and could not put it down”—Amazon reviewer

“It's like a CW fantasy TV show in a book with a really interesting environment.”—Amazon reviewer

“I'm a little tired of dystopian novels, but Daynight has a unique and fresh story line that didn't have any trouble keeping my interest.”—Amazon reviewer



Author Megan Thomason

Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.

 Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook

Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card
Signed copy of Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Signed copy of daynight

Ends 2/7/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Book Blast & Giveaway!

Dead Running

Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.

With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.

Dying to Run

Cassidy Christensen wants to run.

Captured by the traffickers who killed her mother, her only hope is Dr. Tattoo, a man she loves but nobody trusts. When she finally gets a chance to run, someone else she cares about is taken. Running might be her only chance at survival, but she won’t allow another family member to be killed in her place.

This must-read sequel to Dead Running will have you laughing, biting your nails, and hoping for more.

Purchase

Dead Running * Dying to Run

Blog Tour Schedule

Author Cami Checketts

Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction.

Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. Cami teaches strength training classes at her local rec and shares healthy living tips on her fitness blog: http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com.

Cami and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.

Links

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Fitness Blog

#BookBlast Giveaway

Details

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

$50 Gift Card to Running Chics

Ends 1/31/12

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, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Touched by an Angel by Jonathan Morris (Review)

'The past is like a foreign country. Nice to visit, but you really wouldn’t want to live there.'

In 2003, Rebecca Whitaker died in a road accident. Her husband Mark is still grieving. Then he receives a battered envelope, posted eight years ago, containing a set of instructions and a letter with a simple message: "You can save her."

Later that night, while picking up a takeaway, Mark glances at a security monitor - to see himself, standing in the restaurant in grainy black and white. And behind him there's a stone statue of an angel. Covering its eyes, as though weeping... except, when Mark turns, there's nothing there. As Mark is given the chance to save Rebecca, it's up to the Doctor, Amy, and Rory to save the world. Because this time the Weeping Angels are using history itself as a weapon...

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
One of my favorite Doctor Who episodes is Blink, the Weeping Angels are the show's scariest villains, so when I saw this book I was really excited to read it! The Doctor, Amy and Rory all came across as themselves and I could easily visualize each of the actors saying the things in the book. I laughed several times with the things the Doctor said and did - I could picture Matt Smith doing those things and it was HILARIOUS!!! The ending was a bit dull, but overall the story moved along at a great pace and kept my attention throughout. I would definitely recommend this book to any Doctor Who fan - it was very enjoyable!

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BOOK DETAILS:

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Random House UK (August 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1849902348
• ISBN-13: 978-1849902342
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 8 inches
• Available to purchase at: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble