MUST BE CRAZY (Darling Cove Book 3) by Deborah Garland is the third contemporary romance book in the Darling Cove series. The last single Mallory is about to be saved by her perfect match, the hot single dad volunteer fire chief/architect of Darling Cove. This book can be read as a standalone, but the family is very close and there are crossover references to the first two romance books.
Skye Mallory loves her family above all else, but she has
also felt the need to excel to be noticed as the middle child. As an attorney,
she always works hard to win no matter how big or small the case. When a fire
destroys her office and apartment, she is saved by the Darling Cove fire chief.
Edward Mendelson has noticed Skye around Darling Cove. He has little time for dating though while working as an architect, volunteering for the fire department and raising his son, Julian alone. When called to a fire, he rescues Skye and realizes that he wants more than her appreciation.
Skye and Edward quickly realize that their desire is mutual,
but both of their pasts are about to interfere. Skye accepts a case involving
her ex-boyfriend to help pay to rebuild her business and too late finds out
Edward is the person he is suing. If that does not split them apart, Julian’s
mother reappears and wants custody and to move him to another state. Also, Skye
has a secret she has been keeping that may change the way Edward feels about a
future with her.
There are a lot of realistic ups-and-downs in this romance.
Skye and Edward both have pasts that interfere with their present. Ms. Garland
had me emotionally involved with all of the characters in this story. I felt
for Skye deeply as she dealt with her secret while being surrounded by pregnant
family. I also loved how much Edward worked to be a great single dad. I did
have a problem with how easily at one point Edward was willing to let Julian go
with his birth mother, even though it worked out in the end. Edward and Skye’s
sex scenes were explicit and hot, but not gratuitous. This was a romance that
kept me turning the pages and left me very satisfied by HEA.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
This is the Feature Post for Christi Caldwell and her new title THE BLUESTOCKING (Wicked Wallflowers Book 4). Below you will find a guest post from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and a Rafflecopter giveaway.
I am a proud Bluestocking, are you?
As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
You Might Be a Bluestocking If… with Author
Christi Caldwell
In my newest novel, The Bluestocking,
Gertrude, the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being
underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a
kitten, but given the chance she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted
brother Stephen has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be
damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the
Mad Marquess.
Still haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him
publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds only hatred for the Killorans—the people he
believes kidnapped his son. And not one of them will ever see the boy again.
But when Gertrude forces her way into the household and stubbornly insists that
she remain as Stephen’s governess, Edwin believes he may have found someone
madder than himself.
With every moment he shares with the
tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration . . . and more.
It is possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal
his broken soul?
Gertrude was such a wonderful character to
write. She’s the eldest of her siblings and firmly on the shelf. She’s
incredibly diverse in her strengths and in her interests and in the knowledge
she possesses: it’s a knowledge that really is all-encompassing, spanning
furniture-making to the care of animals to skills for surviving on the streets.
In addition, she’s been responsible for educating the children in her family’s
care, and what I found so fascinating is that she knows the value of education
and what she’s been providing has been so important, and yet so many have
failed to appreciate the power of her contributions.
In honor of Gertrude, an intelligent, interesting,
and ultimately irresistible heroine, I have written a short game of “You
Might Be A Bluestocking If…” so you can test yourself to see what you
have in common with Gertrude.
You might be a bluestocking if…you have
more than one cat.
You might be a bluestocking if…your hands
are permanently ink stained from your writing.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you have an in-depth knowledge of ancient
furniture design.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you prefer lectures to balls.
You
might be a bluestocking if…you would rather have a book in your
hands than needlework.
The Bluestocking Excerpt
Who was this . . .
daughter of Diggory? The one few spoke of and about whom little was known.
Edwin pushed himself away
from the door, and folding his arms at his chest, he took slow, predatory steps
closer, walking a path around her. His earlier assessment in the darkened foyer
of the woman had proven correct. Drab brown hair. Nondescript brown eyes. Of
medium height, and in possession of a slender frame that left her cloak hanging
unflatteringly upon her, there was nothing extraordinary about the last unwed
Killoran. Which was no doubt why she’d not snagged herself a wealthy or
powerful husband as her sisters had already done. At his lengthy scrutiny, she
dared him with her eyes. And yet for her . . . ordinariness, there was a
strength of spirit that radiated, casting a soft blush upon cream-white cheeks,
that marked her as . . . interesting. She was interesting. He
stopped abruptly. Seeing this woman in any light except the darkened one was a
betrayal to his late wife and his children, both living and dead . . . and
himself.
“I was clear with my
demands. Get out now, Miss Diggory.”
The stubborn chit pursed
her slightly too-full lips. “As I said earlier, you were less clear than you
give yourself credit for,” she challenged, ignoring the latter part of his
directive. My God, she is an insolent bit of baggage. “And my name
is Killoran.”
The names were synonymous
and interchangeable.
Edwin stopped before her
so only a pace divided them. “And tell me, where was I not clear?” he purred.
“Was it the part about making sure Broderick Diggory hangs, as he deserves,
that was not clear?” The color bled from her cheeks. “Or was it my stated
intentions for your sisters . . . what are their names? Ophelia? Cleopatra?”
he asked, mocking that Shakespearean queen’s name, and the woman in front of
him frowned deeper. “How . . . unfortunate it would be if their business
ventures were both to fail.”
The young woman curled and
uncurled her coarse hands at her sides. “Do not threaten my
family,” she said coolly.
He’d hand it to her. She
remained undaunted.
“Or what, Miss
Diggory?” A muscle ticked at the corner of her right eye, but she did not rise
to the bait, either. “Will you set my townhouse afire and attempt to steal my
son . . . again?”
Her features leached even
more of their color, leaving those previously blushing cheeks a ghastly
grey-white. And for her earlier brave show, it was her turn to falter. “I
didn’t . . .” And he celebrated that triumph over his enemy.
“What was that?” he
barked, cupping a hand around his ear. “You didn’t what?” Destroy my
life? Shatter my family? “Kidnap my son?” he settled for, refusing to
voice aloud his greatest agonies before this of all women.
She flinched.
“Now leave, and tell
your real brother if he violates our arrangement once more,
using you or another one of your . . . sisters or his henchmen to do his work
for him, I’ll take you all down.” His in-laws’ earlier recriminations flooded
forward. It was just something else they’d been right about.
Edwin had stomped over to
his desk when he registered the absolute silence—more specifically, the lack of
retreating footfalls.
He turned back.
Miss Diggory jutted her
chin up defiantly. “No one sent me, my lord. I am here of my
own volition.”
He chuckled, that rusty,
ill-used laugh more a growl than anything that could ever be confused with a
real expression of mirth. No one came here of their own volition. As a rule,
the world avoided him.
Shifting direction, he
returned to the stubborn chit’s side, and leaning down, he placed his mouth
close to her temple once more and fought the maddening pull of whatever damned
perfume she dabbed behind her ears. “Do you think I’m foolish enough all these
years later to believe a lie dripping off a Diggory’s lips?”
The young woman’s back
moved up and down, an indication of her rapid breath. Of her fear. A lifetime
ago, he’d have sooner chopped off his left hand than deliberately taunt a woman
and take pleasure in her fear. No longer. That pathetic excuse of a man who’d
gotten his wife and babe killed, and the other son snatched, reveled in this
woman’s unease. “Hmm?” he prodded, and she jumped.
“I have no reason to lie
to you, my lord,” she said calmly, and as she spoke, her breath, containing a
whispery trace of honey, filtered from her lips and fanned his mouth. Another
unexpectedly sweet scent, at odds with her past and name and sins. It enticed,
drawing his gaze to her mouth and holding his focus there, mesmerized. “There
is nothing I want, need, or desire.” She darted her tongue out and traced the
plump seam of her lips. And God forgive him, his gut clenched. For even as
self-loathing spiraled through him, something far worse, far more perilous and
viler and more treacherous, held him in its snare: desire. “The
only reason I’ve come . . . the only worry I had . . . was for Stephen.”
Stephen.
That single name, spoken
aloud, snapped whatever siren’s trap she’d sucked him momentarily into.
“August.” Had there ever been a doubt as to his insanity, this quixotic
fascination with the woman’s slightly too-full mouth as she spoke was evidence
enough of it.
She tipped her head, and
one of the few brown strands that had managed a curl bounced at her shoulder.
Edwin flared his nostrils.
“His name is August Rudolph Thadeus Stephen Warren, the Earl of Greyley.” He
flicked a stare over her face. “You’ve no relation to him. He is His Lordship
to you.” Stalking over to the front of the room, he pulled the door open. “Now
that you’ve seen him”—he peeled his lip in a mocking sneer—“safely delivered to
his rightful home, you are dismissed. You may leave now.”
Gertrude Killoran drew in
a breath. “I am afraid I cannot do that.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And
whyever not?”
“I’m not leaving.”
“I beg your pardon?” What
more could she possibly want or expect of him?
The young woman clasped
her palms before her, like a nun at the abbey. “I’m staying.”
Confusion rooted around
his mind. “Staying?” he repeated. “Staying where?”
“Here.” She settled her
features into a serene expression he’d have believed impossible for a Diggory.
“Indefinitely,” she clarified.
Edwin rocked back on his
heels.
My God, I’ve finally found someone madder than myself.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE BLUESTOCKING (Wicked Wallflowers Book 4) by Christi
Caldwell is the historical romance I have been waiting for in this series. The
Mad Marquess is about to meet his match in more ways than one and it comes from
an unlikely source. This romance is a part of the Wallflowers series and the
romance plot can standalone, but there is a background storyline in all of the
books that I feel makes these books even more enjoyable if they are read in
order of publication.
Lord Edwin Warwick is known as the Mad Marquess to all in
the ton. He is accused in whispers of having started the fire that killed his
wife, son and unborn child. He discovers his son, Stephen was not killed in the
fire, but kidnapped.
Stephen is taken in by Broderick Killoran and his band of ‘siblings’
that have survived as a gang in the worst part of London. They were all abused
by the man, MacDiggory who ran the family and had Stephen kidnapped. MacDiggory
is now dead and Stephen is about to be returned to his true father and returned
to his place in refined society. Edwin demands that none of Stephen’s current ‘family’
may come with him to his new home or ever visit him again.
Gertrude Killoran has taken care of Stephen since he joined
the family. She refuses to follow the orders of the Marquess and send Stephen to
a new, unfamiliar place and life without her supervision. She pushes her way
into the Marquess’ home and refuses to let him bully her. She will be Stephen’s
governess no matter Edwin’s dislike.
As the days progress, both Gertrude and Edwin learn about
the misconceptions both harbor in regards to the other. Can these two find a
way to deal with their mistrust and pain and learn to trust the other with
their hearts?
Gertrude and Edwin come alive in this book! Ms. Caldwell’s
writing once again had me feeling every emotion on each page of this romance. Gertrude
came out of the shadows and blossomed in this book as she found her own strength
and found the power to help Edwin and Stephen heal as well. I loved Edwin’s
love for his son and cried during the scenes from their pasts. This is one of
those books and series that immerse you in the past and characters so that when
you put the book down, you have to take a minute to reorient yourself.
I can highly recommend this addition to the series. Keep the tissues handy and get ready to go on an emotional roller coaster ride to this HEA!
***
About the Book
Title: The Bluestocking
Author: Christi Caldwell
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Gertrude,
the eldest Killoran sister, has spent a lifetime being
underestimated—especially by her own family. She may seem as vulnerable as a
kitten, but given the chance, she can be as fierce as a tiger. Her adopted
brother, Stephen, has just been snatched back by his true father, and she’ll be
damned if she relinquishes the boy to the man reviled throughout London as the
Mad Marquess.
Still
haunted by a deadly tragedy that left him publicly despised, Lord Edwin holds
only hatred for the Killorans—the people he believes kidnapped his son. And not
one of them will ever see the boy again. But when Gertrude forces her way into
the household and stubbornly insists that she remain as Stephen’s governess,
Edwin believes he may have found someone madder than himself.
With every moment he shares with the tenderhearted Gertrude, Edwin’s anger softens into admiration . . . and more. Is it possible that the woman he loathed may be the only person who can heal his broken soul?
***
Author Bio
USA
Today bestselling,
RITA-nominated author Christi Caldwell blames authors Julie Garwood and Judith
McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. When Christi was
at the University of Connecticut, she began writing her own tales of love. She
believes that the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she
rather enjoys torturing her couples before crafting them a well-deserved
happily ever after.
The
author of the Wicked Wallflowers series, which includes The Governess,
The Hellion, and The Vixen, Christi lives in southern
Connecticut, where she spends her time writing, chasing after her son, and
taking care of her twin princesses-in-training. Fans who want to keep up with
the latest news and information can sign up for Christi’s newsletter at www.ChristiCaldwell.com or
follow her on Facebook (AuthorChristiCaldwell) or Twitter (@ChristiCaldwell).
I am so excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for Meghan Quinn’s new book release THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1). Below is an interview from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and info about the author. I loved this romance and all of the characters!
At the end of this post, you will see a Rafflecopter giveaway. Take a chance and good luck!
***
Get To Know Author Meghan Quinn
1. In the past few
years you have written dozens of novels! First off, how do you find the time?
And second, how has becoming a bestselling author changed your life?
I have the best partner in life ever that helps out with
everything around the house, including the kids. I also have a very overactive
imagination so when I get into a scene, my fingers fly, giving me high word
counts in a short amount of time. Even though it looks like I’m working all the
time, I make sure to make time for my family, ending every day at five at
night. And hitting the USA Today bestselling list was a huge goal of mine I had
ever since I started writing. It meant everything to me.
2. What can you
tell us about the first time you sat down to write with the goal of completing
a novel?
I was a maniac. I wrote the book in a week. Yes, a week. It
was insane. I had so much to say because I was thinking about it consistently
while commuting an hour and twenty minutes one way to work. When my fingers hit
the keyboard, it al flew out of me.
3. What is the
best part about being a romance author? What is the most difficult part?
The best part is constantly being able to create, break it
up, and then find it again. It’s such an old, classic formula, but it’s my
favorite of all time. The most difficult is trying not to gross people out with
terminology during sex scenes. There are only so many words that are on the
OKAY list. Sometimes it can be restricting.
4. What draws you
to writing romance novels? Specifically why is it important that your
characters have happily-ever-afters?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved love. Instead of going
out in high school, I would stay at home and watch romantic comedies. I was
fascinated with falling in love and the heartbreak, and then the make up. I
love everything about it. I think we all deserve a HEA, why not give it to our
characters too?
5. Even though you
include realism and heartbreak in your books, the thing readers really takeaway
is sense of fun you pack into the novels. How is it you (and your characters)
are able to find humor in everyday things?
I’ve always found myself to live in the clouds, in a land of
cupcakes and fun, it’s just my personality so whenever I’m in a situation, I
usually can find the fun in it and of course, I’m really good at
embellishing.
6. Give us a quick
snapshot of your newest novel That Second Chance.
Four brothers, small town romance, all single, all cursed.
Will they be able to find love, even though they’re the most eligible yet
untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine?
7. What makes Ren
and Griff’s story special to you?
Their meet cute is probably one of my most favorite of all
time. Wayward moose, volunteer firefighter, a crazed woman new to town, looking
for help. It’s all charming, funny, and perfect.
8. What’s next for
this series?
Rogan!!! AND OH MY GOD!!! His story is . . . gah! I can’t even tell you how in love with it I am. There is mystery, intrigue, questions that need to be answered and so much swoon you might just fall off your chair while reading.
***
That Second Chance Excerpt
I’m counting out our register drawer,
trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s
difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the
paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.
“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks,
sounding annoyed.
“No. I’m counting.”
“Well, I’m talking about you, so you
might want to lend me your ear for a second.”
Huffing, I set the cash on the
counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my
full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”
Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask
her out.”
“Ask who out?”
“Ren.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
“No.”
I go back to counting, but Reid starts
snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him,
not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was
looking at you today. I think she likes you.”
“You’re confused. She was probably
just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car
after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s
no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”
“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the
same time.
Christ. My two most nagging siblings
are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.
“Can we not make this into a
dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get
this done so I can go home.”
“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and
she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says
just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in,
grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.
Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why
he’d be smirking at me that way.
“What are we talking about?” He rubs
his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s
about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”
“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask
her out.”
Brig slow claps his appreciation.
“Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”
“I’m not asking her out,” I huff,
giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed.
There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are
yapping in my ear.
“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for
you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no,
you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow
your truck while her car is in the shop.”
I count to five before answering,
tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t
tamp it down enough.
“Uh, because she lives three houses
down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this
conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help
out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a
feel; get some for once.”
“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going
back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.
“And why not?” Jen asks.
“Because I’m not interested in
starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now,
and I don’t need anything complicating it.”
“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig
says like a jackass.
“Don’t worry; there are plenty of
Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.
“Come on, Griff, how fun can going
home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in
her voice.
I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I
like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Silence falls between us, an awkward
air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.
“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid
finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes
on me, waiting for an answer.
Why is this a thing whenever we talk
about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I
don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my
future.
Claire was the love of my life, and I
lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again.
Not ever.
Shaking my head, I turn away from my
family. This conversation is over.
And with that, I take the cash to the
back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.
Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not
going to happen.
And she’s not going to drive my truck
either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between
two trees.
Can’t blame a guy there.
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1) by Meghan Quinn is
a new contemporary romance set in quaint, small town Port Snow, Maine. This is
the first book, hopefully of four, featuring the Knightly brothers and their
search for true love after being cursed by a fortune teller in NOLA.
Ren Winters is lucky to be alive. After surviving a chain
reaction crash on an L.A. freeway and a year of recovery, she is ready to move
on with her life and out from under the constant excessive worry from her
mother. She accepts a new job teaching algebra clear across the country in a small
town in Maine. A moose vs. car encounter on her first day is not what she was
expecting, but it puts her right where she needs to be, in the arms of a
handsome volunteer firefighter.
Griffin Knightly has always been the responsible oldest
brother of the four Knightly brothers. They are four of the hottest bachelors
in town, but small town gossip has left them untouchable. Coming home with a
curse from New Orleans, Griffin suffers a loss that makes him a believer and
women stay away. He fills his life with the family business, volunteering on
the fire department and many other civic groups. When called out for a car
crash, he rescues a hysterical Ren.
Ren cannot believe that this handsome man lives right down the street from her new home and is willing to introduce her to her new hometown. Griffin is trying to stay away from the new teacher, who is funny, quirky and sweet, but his family keeps throwing them together. The chemistry between Ren and Griffin is strong, but is it strong enough to defeat Griffin’s fears?
I absolutely loved this romance and all of the Knightly boys! Ms. Quinn captured my heart with this family and small town. The dialogue is spot on between the siblings with just the right amount of love and snark. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and believable. The sex in this romance is explicit and hot and the slow build-up to it made me as anxious as the characters. This is one of those books that you read quickly to get to the HEA and are completely engrossed in the romance and yet when it is over, you want more.
I highly recommend this romance and I cannot wait to read
the other Knightly boys’ stories!
***
About the Book
Title: That Second Chance
Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
It
was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday.
Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after
all . . .
But
it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One
unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed
relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love
curse. Ha!”
Boy,
was I wrong.
Word
spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the
most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of
endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It
would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed
into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh
start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?
***
Author Biography
USA Today bestselling
author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. An author of romantic
comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect
combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
Tuesday Knowls is done. Once burned, twice shy. Twice burned? Game over.
On the outside Tuesday has it all. She comes from money, she’s a beautiful runway model, her smile comes easy, and she’s quick to laugh. But looks can be deceiving. Inside, she’s lost and lonely. So when the smokin’ hot firefighter swoops in with his sweet talk and promises, she decides to be the one who uses, for once.
Jackson Clark is a man who knows what he wants. And he wants Tuesday. He sees past the beautiful façade she shows the world straight to the pain she hides. When Tuesday offers him a friends with benefits arrangement—minus the friendship—he has no choice but to accept her offer. He’s willing to do anything to get close to the elusive woman and show her he’s worth the risk.
When Tuesday starts getting presents from a secret admirer, she goes into a tailspin. She’s been down this ugly road before and she knows how it can destroy her life.
Can she really trust that Jackson is the good guy in this mess? And, if he is, will she realize in time that not only will he protect her heart, but he might just save her life?
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
I anxiously await each Next Generation series book because I
know I am going to get an honorable, sexy, alpha hero and a smart, intelligent
heroine who makes me laugh, sigh and cry. I fall right into each story and I hate
when they end.
CLAIMING TUESDAY
(The Next Generation #4) by Riley Edwards is the new romantic suspense in the
series. Like all of the other Next Generation books, I feel they are more
focused on the romance in each with the suspense as a subplot rather than equal
to the romance.
Jackson Clark knows what he wants and will not stop until he gets it. He knew at the age of five he wanted to be a fireman and he worked to make it happen. At a family barbeque, he spotted Mercy’s friend, Tuesday and knew she was the woman for him. He knows this is going to be a challenge, not just because Tuesday is older than him, but also because Tuesday does not let men get close.
Tuesday Knowls has grown-up in the modeling world. She knows
many people see only her beauty on the outside, but she has emotional baggage
that she does not want to share. After a life-changing and emotionally devastating
relationship that destroyed all of her trust in men, Tuesday does not let
people in. She finds it exasperating that Jackson refuses to believe she does
not want him for anything other than sex.
When flowers and threatening letters begin to appear at
Tuesday’s door, she breaks down as the past is starting to repeat itself.
Jackson and his family consider Tuesday one of their own and work to find and
eliminate the threat. Can Tuesday open up, share her past and rely on Jackson
to protect her body as well as her heart?
Ms. Edward’s characters always seem so real to me. I felt
sad and mad for Tuesday’s past experiences every time one was revealed. Thank
goodness she had her grandparents. Jackson was the perfect match for her with
his persistence and ability to see beyond her outer protective shell. Ms. Riley’s
dialogue is realistic, entertaining and had me laughing out loud at times. In
all of the books in this series, the sex scenes are smokin’ hot and explicit. Each
book contains a complete romance, but they also have some crossover between
them due to the closeness of the extended family.
I can highly recommend this book and series.
And now I have to wait again.
About Riley:
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.
Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley’s favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.
Below you will find the Feature Post and Book Review for S.C. Stephens’ new release UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also included is a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review and info and social media for the author.
At the end of the message, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book. Good luck!
***
Guest Post:
Cabin Fever – Finding Love in the Wilderness
My latest book, Under
the Northern Lights, is about Mallory Reynolds, a driven, passionate woman
who is pursuing her dream of photographing wild animals in remote locations. On
the way to her favorite spot in the Alaskan wilderness, the unthinkable
happens—the engine on her plane stalls and she crashes. Mallory survives the
crash only to find herself injured with limited supplies and no hope of
returning home. Just when all seems lost, Michael Bradley, a mysterious
mountain man, comes to her rescue.
Planning on being in the wild for just a couple of weeks, Mallory only brings a few important items with her into the wilderness—a gun for protection, survival gear, a limited amount of food, her cross necklace for her faith, and her most prized possession, her camera. After realizing that she’s going to be spending the entire winter in a secluded cabin with a stranger, she probably wishes she’d brought a few more items along with her. Things like a high-powered rifle, a chainsaw, a snow mobile, a lot more food, and even better—a satellite phone.
***
Excerpt: Under
the Northern Lights
We both heard a loud clatter outside.
Michael instantly snapped to his feet, his face intently focused as he listened
for further sounds of trouble; he had no human neighbors to speak of, so things
were generally silent here.
Fearful curiosity was killing me, and
I was dying to ask him if he knew what was out there, but I didn’t want to
disrupt his concentration. And it turned out I didn’t need to ask. Seconds
later, I heard the deep, resonant, unmistakable growl of a bear.
Michael turned my way, his expression
serious. “Stay here.”
He grabbed his high-powered hunting
rifle, and my heart started thudding. Was he nuts? If there was a hungry bear
out there, we should be barricading the cabin, not going out into the
wilderness. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Lips twisted in a frown, he told me,
“All our food is out there, our meat. If I let the bear destroy it, we’ll have
nothing to get us through the winter.”
I knew he was right, but still, I was
terrified. “Okay … I’ll help.” I grabbed my gun and checked it for bullets. It
wasn’t as powerful a rifle as Michael’s, but it might hurt the bear enough that
it would change its mind about gorging on our food stash. Or it might just piss
it off.
Studying my gun, Michael shook his
head. “No, stay in here—guard the cabin.”
His answer made me frown. “The bulk of
the food isn’t in here. There’s nothing to guard.”
His eyes softened then. “Yes … there
is something to guard.”
My cheeks heated when I realized he
meant me. “Be careful,” I whispered.
“Always am,” he stated; then he darted
out the door.
Racing to the window, I peered
outside, searching in vain for some sign of Michael or the bear. The moonlight
wasn’t strong enough to illuminate much, and even though only candles were lit
in the cabin, it was enough to wreck my night vision; I couldn’t see a damn
thing out there. My nerves spiked, and my heart started racing. I felt like I
was out there in the woods, possibly about to get mauled, and following
Michael’s orders and staying put grew harder and harder with every second.
I strained my ears, listening for the
bear since I couldn’t see it. Sounds of lumbering steps crashing through brush
met my ear. Then I heard the dreadful sound of sharp claws raking down wood.
With no electricity, freezers weren’t an option here. Michael stored his food
the old-fashioned way, either drying it into jerky or curing it with salt. The
prepared food was kept in his enclosed workshop, and while Michael had bear
proofed the shop as much as possible, hungry bears were tenacious. With food
being so close to its reach, the grizzly might not stop until it had ripped the
door to shreds.
Knowing where the bear was outside
calmed my nerves somewhat. I fingered my rifle, debating whether running out
there would help Michael or hurt both of us. It was dark, and if Michael
thought I was inside, he could shoot me just as easily as the bear. And
verbally warning him would get the bear’s attention—attention I’d rather not
have. No, it would be best to stay put and let Michael handle it. But still … that
was hard to do.
I heard Michael shout then, yelling at
the bear to leave. A gunshot rang through the night, startling small nocturnal
animals and rattling the windowpanes. Another one followed shortly after, and
fear trickled down my spine. Was that a warning shot? Or was the bear
attacking?
Michael wasn’t shouting anymore, and
the night was still, silent. Oh God, no … The ball of dread in my belly was too
great to ignore, and I nearly tripped in my haste to get to the door.
“Michael!” I screeched into the night as I flung the door wide.
A dark shape was suddenly right in
front of me, and as I stared in shock, a gaping mouth of thick, sharp teeth
opened, and a powerful roar pushed me back a step. I’d never been so close to a
bear before, and my legs felt like water. I couldn’t move them, couldn’t move
anything. My mind was trying to avoid the here and now by drifting off to
happier times with my family, my friends. Death was once again staring me in
the face, but even still, the part of me that was still cognizant of the
present was awed and amazed by the ferocious beauty of the beast before me.
There was a reason these creatures ruled the forest.
The bear rose up on its hind legs,
visually warning me that it was bigger, stronger, and most likely hungrier. My
eyes flashed to the various weapons it could use in an instant to end
me—talonlike claws, ice pick–like teeth, or just its massive weight. All I had
was a gun.
Thinking of my own weapon jostled me
from my state of panic. Raising the barrel, I chambered a bullet and yelled at
the bear to back off. It seemed a poor tactic at this point, but I didn’t
really want to kill the animal. If I could scare it into submission, I’d take
that as a win.
The bear, however, was unimpressed by
my shouting. Landing heavily on its front feet, it began lumbering toward me.
Damn it, I was going to have to shoot. And hope my gun did more than anger it.
With shaking fingers, I lined up my shot. “Please go away,” I murmured, putting
light pressure on the trigger.
Like it heard me, the bear suddenly
looked to its left. It growled again and took a step back, away from the cabin.
I heard Michael’s voice, and then a gunshot rang out in the night. The bear
roared again, then seemed to realize it was outmatched. It turned and ran, its
winter bulk vibrating with each thundering step.
I was still shaking as Michael stepped
into view. Disengaging the gun, I dropped it on the ground and flew over to
him. Before I knew it, my arms were around his neck, and I was pulling his firm
body into mine. Thank God he was okay. Thank God I was okay.
“Oh my God, Michael,” I murmured into
his shoulder, inhaling his woodsy scent. “That was terrifying. I thought for
sure…”
Once I fully comprehended that I was
squeezing the life out of him, I froze, every limb rigid with tension. I wasn’t
sure if Michael would push me away or not, but then he surprised me by wrapping
an arm around my waist and pulling me into him just as hard as I was holding
him, maybe harder. As we held each other, the anxiety and fear started easing,
and I was flooded with warmth; I’d never felt more at peace.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars
UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS by S.C. Stephens is a sweet contemporary
romance set in the Alaskan wilderness. This romance is a very slow burn with a
reclusive hero who rescues a heroine trapped and injured in the wilderness by
her small plane crash. (Depending on your personal preferences, I believe it
should be disclosed that this story has dialogue about Christian faith and
values.)
Mallory Reynolds has a passion for photography. She
especially loves a remote location in the Alaskan wilderness. Every year she
takes off from her small home town in Idaho to spend two weeks camping and photographing
the wild Alaskan animals. Even with all of her careful planning and checks, her
plane stalls out and then crashes on the way to her camp site in a storm.
Surviving the crash with multiple injuries, Mallory must
find a way to gather the supplies that are still useful to protect her from the
elements. As she rests, the very animals she loves to photograph threaten her life.
She is saved at the very last minute by a mysterious mountain man.
Michael Bradley has lived a solitary life in the Alaskan
wilderness for the last five years. When he investigates the plane crash site,
he is surprised to find Mallory has survived. He helps Mallory to his secluded
cabin, but he has no way to communicate with the outside world until spring.
As Mallory heals, the two learn to help each other with the
difficult task of surviving in the wilderness and continue to grow closer.
Mallory opens her heart to Michael, but he is still unable or unwilling to move
on. Can Mallory’s love and prayers be enough to help Michael heal by the time
they are set to separate in the spring?
I found the author’s writing continually made me feel the
edge-of-the-knife balance between survival and one small mistake being the disaster
that could kill you. The description of their everyday life was very
interesting to this modern city girl. For a large portion of the story the
romance is one-sided. Mallory works to find the reason for Michael’s preferred
isolation and then hopes to find a way to heal him. This romance emphasizes the
growing trust and feelings of love between the two with no sex until almost the
last chapter.
I loved the adventure and suspense in the wilderness. I was
not expecting the several religious passages. I loved that these two found each
other, but it took longer than I was hoping for. This is definitely one of
those books that everyone will have to make up their own minds about.
***
About the Book
Title: Under the Northern Lights
Author: S.C. Stephens
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Mallory Reynolds is a driven woman fueled by her passion for photographing wild animals in remote locations. Every year she makes a trek deep into Alaska, but this time the unthinkable happens: she crash-lands after her plane stalls out in a storm. Injured, vulnerable, and threatened by the very creatures she loves, Mallory fears the worst—until she’s rescued by Michael Bradley, a mysterious mountain man living in self-imposed exile. Mallory is grateful for Michael’s help but desperate to return home to let her family know she’s alive. Unfortunately, neither of them can leave Michael’s secluded cabin until spring. Mallory’s stuck with a stranger for months. As Mallory recovers, a deep bond begins to form between the pair. Mallory is convinced that fate brought them together, but Michael is buried in his past, unable to move forward. Undaunted, Mallory tends to Michael’s heart as tenderly as he cared for her wounds—but will her love be enough to heal him?
***
Author Biography
S. C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every
free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love story featuring
insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the world of romance
by storm in 2009. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since. In addition to
writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous
novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block–reducing music, heading out to
the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She
currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally
beautiful children.
Today the Feature Post and Book Review is for Mary Burton’s upcoming release HIDE ANDSEEK (Criminal Profiler #1). Below you will find a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review, a bio about the author and social media links for the author. At the end of the post, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book.
It was hard to put this book down and I was on the edge of my seat at the climax. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Profiling FBI Profiler Macy Crow
Special Agent Macy Crow is 33-years-old and is
an accomplished FBI Agent. She’s worked a series of high profile cases
across the United States and isn’t afraid to take chances. When her father was
murdered, she headed to Texas to investigate the crime. Following clues left
behind by her father, she was closing in on the killer when she became the
victim of a hit and run accident.
Most would have died from the injuries Macy
sustained or would have been permanently disabled. However, Macy channeled her
extreme ability to focus into her recovery. Though her fit muscles have
softened during her recovery, she is regaining strength each day and is now
laser-focused on returning to the FBI as a field agent. Before her
accident, she had shoulder length blond hair but the brain surgeons who saved
her life cut off all her hair. She now proudly sports a pixie cut.
When Macy returned to Texas, she learned a
startling fact about herself. She has an identical twin—medical examiner Dr.
Faith McIntyre. Though adopted by different families, the sisters already have
a strong connection.
Macy’s adoptive parents split when she was two
and she moved from Texas to Alexandria, Virginia located outside of Washington,
D.C. Over the years she remained close with her father and spent many summers
with him helping repair old cars on his auto salvage lot. In Alexandria, she
and her mother lived in a large apartment complex. When she was young, a
neighborhood girl was murdered. That tragedy had a very profound affect on
Macy, who discovered she wasn’t afraid of the police and FBI agents swarming
the apartment complex. Instead, she was fascinated by their work and not only
watched law enforcement in action but also walked the actual crime scene
herself in search of clues.
Macy has never been married and has no children. For a long time, she considered herself married to her job and it wasn’t until she met FBI Special Agent Mike Nevada that she reconsidered her single status. However, her accident cut short their romance. Nevada is now the sheriff in a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley. He understands Macy’s need to reclaim the FBI job she has always loved so much. In the last year, he has never forgotten her and is committed to helping regain her old life. When the two are paired on a cold case murder investigation in Nevada’s district, they become an unstoppable team.
***
Excerpt: Hide and Seek by Mary
Burton
Vivid blue
sky, white clouds, and golden fall leaves blanketed the Blue Ridge and
Allegheny mountains and created a picture-perfect day in the valley. In Macy’s
book, the beauty was wasted. If she had God’s ear, today would have been cold,
overcast, and damp. Save the pretty days until she caught this killer.
As she drove south down I-81, Macy mentally
replayed her ten minutes of regional research. In the last couple of decades,
the Shenandoah Valley’s population had ballooned thanks to a growing
university, its proximity to Washington, DC, and a thriving tourism trade
peddling vineyards, Civil War battlefields, and railroad museums. Filling in
the economic gaps were warehouse distribution centers, chain hotels, and strip
malls.
The voice of Macy’s GPS cut through AC/DC’s Back in Black blasting from her
playlist and instructed her to take the upcoming exit toward Deep Run. As she
rolled onto Route 250, a sign for her go-to fast-food eatery gave her an excuse
to stretch her legs before driving the remaining ten miles to the crime scene.
Parking, she gingerly rose up out of the car.
Her leg hurt. Stretches weren’t optional any more. She grabbed her ankle and
pulled until the bunched muscles in her thigh released. After a quick walk
around the lot, she made a beeline for the restaurant bathroom.
She glanced into the mirror as she washed her
hands. Even after five months, she still didn’t recognize the woman with the
short hair and thin face.
Nevada was in for a rude awakening.
She wiped her face with a paper towel. “Macy
Crow, you’re above ground and headed in the right direction. That’s what
counts.”
At the counter, she ordered a supersize bucket
of fries and a large soda. It wasn’t that she loved the food—okay, maybe she
did love the fries—but the chain restaurant’s predictability and sameness was
comforting after so many life changes.
A few fries later, she was in her car and
backing out of her space when her phone rang. Nevada’s number appeared. She
cleared her throat and sat a little taller.
“Agent Macy Crow,” she said.
“Ramsey tells me you’re on your way. Where are
you?”
He was direct, rarely charming, and she always
knew where she stood with him. “Fifteen minutes from the barn.”
“I’m here now.”
The transition back into a working relationship
appeared effortless. Whatever they had was over and done. No hard feelings.
“See you soon,” she said.
En route on the interstate, she ate her fries
and drained her soda. There were no guarantees on when the next meal would be.
The last few miles took her down smaller roads
until she spotted the driveway marked by stacked stones. Gravel crunched under
her tires as she passed a freshly cleared field. Over the rise of a hill, she
saw the old barn encircled by yellow crime scene tape.
When she had been researching the area, slogans
such as “Best Quality of Life” and “Raise Your Family in Deep Run” popped up on
her computer screen. As she had read about the area, she had kept glancing
toward her open case file filled with images of Tobi Turner’s scattered bones.
Recent pictures had captured the barn surrounded by dozens of state and local
law enforcement vehicles crammed side by side in the grassy field.
Now as Macy parked, she noted that all the
vehicles were gone expect for a lone black SUV. She grabbed her Glock from the
glove box, holstered it, and stepped out of her car. Her worn hiking boots
sloshed in the damp muddy soil. She tugged on an FBI windbreaker and draped her
FBI credentials around her neck. As a stiff breeze blew a lingering chill and
autumn scents, she checked her pockets for latex gloves, sunglasses, a small
pocketknife, and pendant light.
Edginess and excitement fused as she strode
toward the stretch of yellow tape and searched for Nevada. She ducked under the
tape and stepped inside the barn.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
HIDE AND SEEK (Criminal Profiler #1) by Mary Burton is a romantic suspense with a stronger emphasis on the suspense/thriller plot line than the romance. The two main characters have been involved in the past, both professionally and romantically, which allows the author to amp up the suspense without the reader feeling cheated on the romance. This is a new series, but there is overlapping of characters from Ms. Burton’s previous books.
FBI Special Agent Macy Crow has an innate ability to connect
seemingly unconnected pieces of a crime together to solve big cases. She is
attempting to get on the FBI’s elite profiling team so she can get back out
into the field. After being almost killed by a hit-and-run tied to her last
case in Texas, she knows she is not yet one-hundred percent, but she is tired
of sitting behind a desk.
Mike Nevada has returned home after resigning from the FBI.
He was a profiler and had had enough of the death and depravity. He is elected
sheriff after discovering multiple rape kits that the current sheriff purposely
never had processed. When the bones and backpack of a fifteen-year-old missing
person case of a high school girl are discovered, Mike requests Macy’s assistance
on the case.
Macy and Nevada work together as seamlessly as before, but
they are up against a killer who has evolved and honed his skills over many
years. In 2004, he started with rapes and then worked his way up to kidnapping
and murder. He is bold enough to have left his DNA at every scene and he is
still free. He is watching as Macy starts to put the pieces together and he has
decided she needs to be stopped – permanently.
I read this book in one sitting. The investigation was so intriguing
and the killer so depraved that I just had to find out who the killer was. The
climax had me on the edge of my seat. Macy and Nevada are a great couple who
each understand what drives the other. Macy is extremely strong and resilient and
yet vulnerable due to her physical changes since the accident. Nevada is
strong, smart and the perfect man to support Macy. The sex scenes are not too
explicit or long. All of the secondary characters are fully fleshed out and I
will be looking forward to following them in future books, too.
I can highly recommend this book and I will be waiting
anxiously for the next book in this series!
***
About the Book
Title: Hide and Seek
Author: Mary Burton
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Special Agent Macy Crow is a survivor. After a vicious hit-and-run nearly kills her, she gets right back to work, and now she’s gunning for a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. As an audition, she offers to investigate the recently discovered bones of Tobi Turner, a high school girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.
While investigating with local sheriff Mike Nevada, a former colleague and onetime lover, Macy discovers a link between Tobi’s case and several others that occurred around the same time as her disappearance. As Macy interviews victims and examines old cases, she uncovers a sinister picture of a stalker who graduated to sexual assault—and then murder.
Macy and Nevada race to put this monster behind bars before he can come out of hiding. But the murderer’s had years to hone his skills, and soon Macy herself becomes a target. She’s no stranger to pain and terror, but will Macy’s first profiling case be her last?
***
Author Biography
New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Mary Burton is the highly praised author of twenty-six romance and suspense novels and five novellas. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three miniature dachshunds.
