The Protective One by Cami Checketts - Spotlight

The Protective One, A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance is now available. 


Betrayed by an FBI agent while in protective custody, MacKenzie Gunthrie escapes a crime lord and is left hiding from the authorities and her enemies. She finds solace in the peaceful mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. With help from a longtime girl's camp friend and a new identity, she's starting to feel safe. The only problem is the overconfident and much too good-looking Isaac Turnbow. Protecting identity has become second nature, but Isaac poses a threat to her heart.
Isaac Turnbow has an undeniable need to convince MacKenzie he’s someone she can trust and kiss, but when well-armed men arrive to disturb their budding relationship, he must prove to her and himself that he can protect her.

Find The Protective One - Amazon * Goodreads

To celebrate the release, The Feisty One, will be on sale for only $.99 until September 10th. 
Thank you for all the support!

Excerpt from The Protective One:
The only way she’d be safe to go home again was when she heard that Solomon Squire had been booked into a maximum security prison where he belonged. She sighed, hoping that day would come soon, but forcing herself to acknowledge it might never come.
“You keep pulling that face and it’ll stick that way.” The slow drawl of Haley’s older brother, Isaac, from the open doorway made her stomach smolder, and that ticked her off almost as much as the insult, but at least she didn’t jump in fear at a man’s voice.
“Maybe I like my face this way.” She stood to face him and wished his looks were as off-putting as his sarcastic personality. But no, his face was perfect—olive skin, manly lines, and those green eyes that drew her in. Of course he had to have dark hair with just the right amount of curl and beefy muscles in all the right places.
Isaac reached up and touched the skin next to her mouth. She tingled and tried to back away, but ran into the shelf. His hand dropped to his side.
“You look stressed.”
“Thanks. Such a compliment.”
“I’m sorry.” He shoved a hand through his curls. “Haley would kick me in the pants if she knew you were unhappy. Take a break. I’ll watch the shop for a while.”
MacKenzie’s eyebrows rose. “When did you decide to play nice?”
Isaac scowled. “You still mad at me because I called you one of the gold diggers?”
“Oh, big surprise that I would take offense to that.” They’d met for the second time in over ten years when Haley had brought MacKenzie into the store to train her. The only downside of this escape plan was she’d been so excited to see Isaac again. He was her first—not to mention most amazing—kiss at the very mature age of fourteen. He hadn’t remembered her or the kiss and that alone had about taken her under. His first line to her was, “Oh, another one of Haley’s gold digger friends looking for a billionaire.” What a jerk. A heartbreaking, much-too-good-looking jerk.
“Hey, I’m sorry, all right?” He glanced at the display over her shoulder. “Don’t get all offended.”
“Don’t get all offended?” MacKenzie pushed around him, but unfortunately brushed against his muscular arm. She felt the connection all the way down to her toes and it frustrated her even more.

Always You by Ruth Roberts -- Spotlight/Giveaway

Always You by Ruth Roberts

After tragedy strikes, Diana Mathison finds herself back in her home town of Magnolia Falls, sharing custody of her baby sister with her step sister. Reeling from the death of their parents, the three sisters have to learn how to lean on each other and live life without their two pillars of strength. Diana is full of doubts in her ability to raise a little girl and run her father’s law firm. The last thing she needs is to have Zack Connelly back in her life. The last time she let him in she ended up hurt and broken hearted.

Zack has given up on true love. It’s not for him and it’s certainly not with Diana Mathison. He came back to Magnolia Falls to heal after losing his sweet wife and their unborn child at the hands of a drunk driver. Hannah never had a chance at the love and happiness she deserved, therefore neither should he. His life plan is to take care of his sister and niece for as long as they need him, and to be the best veterinarian the town has ever had. That’s enough for him…or is it?

Excerpt:

He handed her a glass of red wine then busied himself at the stove with dinner. Diana watched him as she slowly sipped the wine. She enjoyed watching the muscles on his back stretch the fabric of his shirt when he bent over. A perusal of the view further down was even better.

He closed the oven, turned, and looked at her. A smile played on his lips as he slowly walked to her. He had caught her staring at his very sexy backside. “Miss Mathison, I do believe you were checking me out,” he said.

She held his piercing gaze. “And what if I was?”

He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. “I have absolutely no objections. However, I’d say that entitles me to at least a kiss.”

“That sounds like a fair trade.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down and captured her lips in a slow, teasing kiss meant to set her on fire. She was certain that was his goal because she felt herself being slowly consumed by heat only Zack could evoke in her. If he could do this to her with a kiss, she was afraid of what would happen if he made love to her. She’d probably go up in flames leaving a pile of ashes in his bed. That thought made her smile, almost making her laugh.

“Do you find my kisses laughable?” He asked.

“Not even remotely,” she said.

“Dare I ask why you were smiling when I was kissing you?”

She shook her head. “Believe me, you don’t want to know—well, maybe you would. But I’m not telling.”

“Ah, so it was something good. A fantasy that included me perhaps?”

Just then the timer on the oven began beeping. “Saved by the bell,” she said, lifting her glass of wine to her lips.

He shut off the timer and pulled dinner out of the oven and set it on the counter. “You aren’t getting off that easy. I’ll find out. Question is, should I use bribery or coercion?” He asked.

“Go for bribery,” she replied, outrageously.

“In that case—” He lifted a small bite of filet mignon to her lips with his fingers. She took the bite he offered, it tasted better than anything she ever had, possibly because it also had a taste of Zack.

“That is delicious. Anymore of that and you’ll soon have me revealing all my thoughts to you.”

“I want to know your thoughts, especially if they include me. I want to know what’s in your heart, particularly if there is a place for me. Because my thoughts and my heart are filled with you. Only you. Always you.”

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Author Ruth Roberts

Romance novelist Ruth Roberts lives in the Big D, where city life abounds but the wide open spaces Texas is famous for are within easy reach. Her books transport readers to the glittering life of high-society, while making the characters normal, fun people we would all like to have as friends. She loves reading, writing and Gilmore Girls. She and her teenage daughter call themselves the real life Gilmore Girls. Her very own romantic hero of twenty years is her greatest inspiration and support.

Website

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/30/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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A Place for Miss Snow by Jennifer Moore -- Blog Tour

A Place for Miss Snow

Author: Jennifer Moore

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: September 2016

ISBN13: 9781524400361

Paperback: 224 pages

FTC FYI: I received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Miss Diana Snow is everything a British chaperone should be—she finds satisfaction in order and depends wholly upon the rules of decorum as she negotiates the isle of Greece with her young charge. But Miss Snow's prim and proper exterior masks a disquieting past: orphaned and alone in the world, she has only her stiff upper lip to rely on. When a brief encounter with a handsome stranger challenges her rules of propriety, Diana is unwittingly drawn into an adventure that will turn her ordered world upside down.

Alexandros Metaxas is a Greek spy working to recruit individuals to the cause of revolution. His mission seems to be going perfectly until he encounters Diana Snow, a captivating—if slightly cold—beauty. When their paths cross again, the ill-fated reunion threatens all Alex has been fighting for. But more importantly, it places Diana's life in jeopardy. There is only one way to save her: they must put themselves at the mercy of the most powerful pirate family in the Mediterranean. Soon, Diana is plunged into a fantastic world of gypsy curses, blood feuds, and unexpected romance. But when a bitter vendetta places her in mortal danger, will she have the courage to fight for life and love?

My Review

A PLACE FOR MISS SNOW is a sweet story with great characters, and a beautiful setting.  I thought Jennifer did a great job in capturing the time period and events.  Diana was fascinating, at times too stubborn, but after finding out why, it was understandable.  Alex also had a tragic back story, but I loved his "cause" and what a great character he was.  Determined, yet playful.   The supporting characters were wonderfully written too.  I loved Elena, Sophia, and the pirates.  There are many scenes that stood out to me as "favorites" but I especially loved Alex's haircut and Diana's preparations for a town wedding, it was nice having her see herself (and things) in a positive way.  I loved how Diana found a happy life in the small simple town and how it changed her for the better.  Jennifer's author note at the end was great too.  I love to see an author invested in their books and research.  One thing I would have appreciated was a pronunciation guide as some of the Greek words were, to me, a little trickier to read.  That being said, Diana really grew a during the course of the book and I loved how she triumphed at the end. 

5 out of 5 stars.  I will read any book from this talented author. 

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter 

Purchase Links

Amazon / Deseret Book 

*Sept.5th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/ 

*Sept. 6th: https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, https://atransparentmom.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

*Sept.7th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*Sept.8th: http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/

*Sept.9th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/ 

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Slave Queen by H. B. Moore -- Book Blast

Slave Queen by H. B. Moore

Special Agent Omar Zagouri’s latest case is his most dangerous—and his most personal yet. The discovery of secret sixteenth-century letters unveils a plot between the sultan Suleyman and his chief wife, Roxelane, to change the course of the Ottoman Empire. A descendent of Roxelane, Zagouri learns he has an enemy whose revenge has been centuries in the making.

Targeted by an antiquities collector who’s also descended from a chief rival for the ancient throne, Zagouri soon uncovers a modern-day conspiracy that threatens the lives of his family and the security of a nation.

To expose the plot, Zagouri must team up with Naim, the son of his nemesis, who heads an international black-market operation that may have ties to the killings. From ancient Constantinople to the present-day Middle East, Zagouri is on a collision course with history. Time is running out to solve a royal mystery and stop a ruthless killer—one who has Zagouri’s name on his hit list.

Excerpt
Chapter One
Al Karak, Jordan

Rashed Sayid picked up his cell phone and selected his most trustworthy contact. The phone call would take only moments, but the result would teach the entire Sayid tribe what honor meant. He shut his third-floor office window, blocking out the rising heat of the Jordanian desert’s summer morning. He and his only brother owned the bank in the city of Al Karak, having started the bank three decades before, and now they were among the wealthiest in town.
“Yes?” Yamil answered.
“We have proof,” Rashed said into the phone.
“Four male witnesses?” Yamil asked.
Rashed blew out a breath. Yamil was a stickler for rules. An execution couldn’t be ordered unless there were four respected male witnesses to the crime. There were actually no witnesses, but Rashed knew his daughter was guilty. He had plenty of video footage of her leaving her university apartment more than once after midnight, and he also had other, less legal evidence. There was only one reason for his daughter’s midnight forays. Worst case scenario, Aamira was no longer a virgin. Next case scenario, she’d been tainted in some way by having a relationship with a man other than her fiancé. Rashed was still working on trying to find out whom she was meeting. But it was time to put the execution order into motion.

Praise for Slave Queen

“Moore does an excellent job of setting the scene of international intrigue, and although this novel is part of a series, it also works well as a stand-alone. The story jumps back and forth between the present and the past as Moore tells the story of Roxelane’s capture by the Turkish army and her subsequent love affair with Suleiman. Roxelane is an excellent, strong female character, and Moore brings some obscure players from the Ottoman Empire vividly to life. She even quotes from Suleiman’s actual poetry . . . to conjure a complex portrait of this larger-than-life figure. A satisfying historical thriller.” –Kirkus Reviews

“From sultans and hierarchies that separate men and women from Poland to Constantinople and beyond to new lives in great cities where mosques and sultans rule, these vivid past and present scenarios contribute to a story fueled by cultural revelations and the long-standing threat a series of letters reveals. The result is a fast-paced, complex, and absorbing adventure saga that crosses time and place to give Omar, Mia (and readers) a run for their money. Warning: once begun, it’s nearly impossible to put down the full-flavored, multi-faceted Slave Queen, which reveals many insights about the Ottoman Empire, Süleyman the Magnificent, and the slave girl foreigner who turned out to be his favorite wife.” –D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Author H. B. Moore
H. B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers, written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women’s fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook

Until Summer Ends by Elana Johnson -- Spotlight/Paperwhite Giveaway

UNTIL SUMMER ENDS by Elana Johnson

About UNTIL SUMMER ENDS: Sophie Newton is determined to prove herself to her father, who insists she could never run a successful business. She opens a beachside taco stand called The Sandy Tortilla and plans to make her own way, one burrito at a time.

When she loses her summer help, Sophie rushes to find somebody to help take orders. She finds that somebody in Montgomery Winters, a struggling actor from LA. Mont takes the job; the money's useful, though he finds that his curvy boss is what really keeps him around.

As Sophie and Mont work together, they discover an intense attraction between them. But when Mont's agent calls him about a career-making audition, he decides he must pursue the opportunity, even though he can't get Sophie out of his head. Now, Sophie must choose between chasing after the man she's falling in love with and the business she's fought so hard to build.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://getBook.at/SummerEnds

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/until-summer-ends-elana-johnson/1123170967?ean=9781627781855

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/until-summer-ends-2

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/until-summer-ends/id1130600209?mt=11

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28190237-until-summer-ends

Paperback comes out on May 9, 2017.

About Elana Johnson: Elana's work includes the young adult dystopian romance seriesPossession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster). Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available, as well as a young adult dystopian short story in the Possession world, Resist.

  

Her newest release is the beginning of a new adult fantasy series. ECHOES OF SILENCE came out with Amazon Publishing on May 3, 2016. See all of her books here.

  

Elana also writes inspirational western romances under the pen name Liz Isaacson. Check out all 5 books in the Amazon #1 Bestselling Three Rivers Ranch Romance series, and get ready for the rest of the series by the end of 2016.

Her newest release is UNTIL SUMMER ENDS, a contemporary romance novel from Cleis Press/Start Media.

Find her online:

Blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/

Website: http://elanajohnson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorelanajohnson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElanaJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/elanajohnson

Join her romance-only newsletter: http://eepurl.com/b9f1vv (get a free novella when you do!)

Giveaway for blog tour: Kindle Paperwhite. http://elanajohnson.com/giveaways/paperwhite

Accidentally Me by Kim Karras -- Blog Tour

Accidentally Me

Author: Kim Karras

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: August 2016

ISBN13: 9781462118670

Paperback: 256 pages

FTC FYI: Received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

WANTED: Pretend stalker. No experience required. Tall, dark, and quirky preferred. Sabrina is desperate to go to her dream college, but her parents want her to stay close to home. If she wants to maintain her perfect child image, Sabrina must break rules that even her rebel sister keeps . . .

My Review

Accidentally Me is very a funny and an all around great story that young people (and adults) can relate to and enjoy.  The book is told from the point of view of Sabrina, who feels she is an "accident", so she is always trying to be the perfect daughter.  I loved the life lessons in the story and the lesson of  "things aren't always what you think they are".  I appreciated all that Sabrina went through and smiled through lots of her adventures. Kim wrote Sabrina very well and I actually laughed out loud a lot.  One thing I thought happened too quickly was how much she "liked" a certain character, I felt that happened too fast.  I did like what came about of that though, and how that particular relationship changed other relationships Sabrina had for the better.  (Vague I know, but when you read it, you will understand:)

4 out of 5 stars. This is the author's first book and I think she did a fabulous job! A quick read with humor and heart. I look forward to more from this debut author.

Author Links

Twitter / Amazon page

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books and Things

Exodus by H. B. Moore -- Blog Tour

Exodus

Author: H. B. Moore

Publisher: Covenant  Communications

Published: August 1, 2016

ISBN13: 978-1524400347

Paperback: 240 pages

FTC FYI: I received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchanged for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Let my people go ...

A plea has been made in behalf of the children of Israel. Now comes the epic climax years in the making—the final showdown between two of the most powerful men in history—one fueled by pride, the other guided by the world of God. Moses has received an extraordinary call from the Lord: he is to lead the exodus of the Hebrew people out of Egypt, ending generations of bondage. And he must return to the land of his birth to boldly petition a man he does not want to challenge ... or lose to: Ramses—pharaoh of Egypt. Ramses, harboring years of feeling betrayed by his best friend, is determined to stop Moses no matter the cost. He will not yield, even as a dark veil of plaques and pestilence descends over the land of Egypt.

What follows is a powerful chronicle of the struggles of the children of Israel as they traverse uncharted territory, both physically and spiritually. Amid the horrific catastrophes devastating their land and through the dramatic evens that follow, the Hebrews must face their fears and their faltering faith. For even in the darkest of times, there are manifestations of the Lord's constant care to inspire their hope for a bright future. 

My Review

I enjoyed many things about EXODUS, and what I appreciated most was the point of view changes.  I felt it really helped the story progress and I was able to get to know each character even better.  Heather has an amazing talent in bringing her characters to life.  Each character was expertly written with care and detail. Even though there was a lot of going back and forth (of course that was Ramses' doing:), Heather was able to add excitement and suspense to the story.  As much as I liked each character (especially Bithiah), I enjoyed getting to know Aaron more and how we were able to see the experiences through his eyes too.   I can tell there was a great amount of research involved and Heather pulled it off perfectly.  

5 out of 5 stars.

Author Links

Website / Amazon author page / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

Aug.15th: http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/,http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

Aug. 16th: http://empowermoms.net/,http://www.iamareader.com/ 

Aug.17th:https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/,http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Aug. 18th:http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/,http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

Aug. 19th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/ 

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