Friday, November 16, 2012

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: The Trouble With Cupcakes by Kristi Ahlers | Review & Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Tirgearr Publishing & Kristi Ahlers, with a review of Kristi's latest novel "The Trouble With Cupcakes," which is the 4th book in The Trouble Series!!

ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from November 5 - 16, 2012]



- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 154 KB | Expected Release Date: August 2012 | Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"The Trouble With Cupcakes" [The Trouble Series, Book 4] by Kristi Ahlers

My Book Summary : Heather has worked hard for all she has, yet she hopes that once she wins the coveted Krewe of Bacchus after-party contract it will turn her small thriving cupcakery into a hit. All she has to do is impress the leaders of the Krewe and she in. However, as soon as she finds out that one of the leaders is none other then her unrequited high school crush, Alec Carlisle, she's more nervous than ever.

Nevertheless, Alec has been keeping a secret of his own, Heather's crush wasn't unrequited at all their timing was just never right and now is his chance to prove it and make it up to her. If only he can keep his ex-girlfriend--Lila who's a bitchy socialite and is also in the running for the after-party contract--from ruining all of his plans...

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars! This novella is so sweet it'll give you a toothache! I enjoyed reading about these two characters. Heather is a bit scatterbrained but she seems cute and fun too, enough to keep you wanting to reading about her. Whereas Alec is strong and seems to be used to getting what he wants, which makes him even more determined when it comes to Heather, but it is all in a very hot and sweet kind of way.

I liked the plot, yet it did fall a bit short for me in that I felt it was a bit rushed in some scenes. With that being said though, I liked how it all turned out between Alec, Heather, and Lila in the end. I'm now just curious as to the whole "Where are they all now?" question when it comes to them.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading quick sweet contemporary romances that are just enough to put a smile on your face. =0)

Author's Series Extras : A new Life! | Tirgearr Publishing Gets Some Love | Coming Soon from Tirgearr! | IT'S OFFICIAL!!! | I've been a bad, bad author and I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog! | THE TROUBLE with CUPCAKES is available now...

Book Teaser(s) :
“Hi. Sorry, I’m a little early.”
Heather nervously wiped her hands on the dish towel she held in her hands. “It’s okay. I just took the cupcakes out of the oven, so they’ll be too warm yet to ice or eat.”
“That’s fine.” Alec moved further into the store looking around at the displays of assorted cupcake themed items. “Have you had dinner?”
“Ah, no.” Heather looked down at her flour covered jean shorts and lavender tank top. Her apron hadn’t protected her clothes very well. Why, oh, why couldn’t she look put together just once? ~ within Chapter 4
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Kristi, then please check out her website.



About the Author :

Kristi Ahlers is a California girl! She grew up in Northern California in a small city called Yuba City. Since then she's lived in Brussels, Belgium, and England along with a myriad of other locations. A former flight attendant, she was able to continue to feed her love of travel. This has greatly influenced her writing, allowing her to pen stories about places she's managed to visit and things she's experienced.

Kristi loves to hear from her readers.




About the Publisher :

Tirgearr Publishing is a small independently-owned publishing company of adult genre fiction, specializing in romance and erotica.

We offer full-circle services, working with authors on a one-on-one basis to ensure each book we publish is of the highest quality.

Using our expertise from nearly twenty years in the publishing business, we work side-by-side with our authors to develop effective marketing plans and promotional programs, advising on career choices and forward career planning, and assist in setting up the author's overall image.




Book Excerpt :

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“Yes, my name is Heather Ryan. I need to cancel the fire trucks that are on their way to 218 Royal Street—Cupcakes on Royal. It’s a false alarm.”

Heather waited for the space of a heartbeat while she wiped cake batter off her face before looking at the mess dripping from the wall and yes, she noted, the ceiling fan. Perhaps she was going to have to rethink this whole brilliant idea of her cupcakery.

Dark smoke billowed out of the industrial oven. She waved a potholder ineffectively, trying to clear the air. The pan of burnt cupcakes rested on the stainless steel counter, mocking her and once again proving she wasn’t a baker.

“You want to cancel the alarm?” The dispatcher asked, incredulous. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Once the trucks roll, we can’t cancel them.”

“Damn,” Heather muttered to herself as she walked through the black lacquered doors into the main room of the cupcakery, looking though the large windows into the predawn morning looking for the trucks. This was going to make the third time the fire department had come to her little shop and she really hoped the crew who showed up this time was not the same one from last time. The lieutenant had been old and cranky and swore he’d fine her the next time.

Was it her fault she got so caught up in something she lost track of all the other things needing to be done? “Well, duh, Heather, yeah it is,” she muttered to herself as the trucks pulled up.



Giveaways!! :

  • A $50 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour
  • A copy of their whole library, which includes the next six books which are publishing soon (one at the end of the month, the last five over five days the first week of December, including their year end special publication). Total retail value of $150 to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour

To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.

Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!



Find Kristi Ahlers :

Find Tirgearr Publishing :

24 comments :

  1. Thank you for hosting our author, Kristi Ahlers, today.

    And thanks to Jess for her lovely review. We've updated Kristi's book page with the review and a link back to this page for future readers.

    More information about Kristi can be found at --
    http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Ahlers_Kristi

    Please note that anyone commenting today on Kristi's page, and through the rest of our tour, will be entered into our grand prize drawing at the end of the tour, 16 November. Post on more than one author's hosted page and receive additional entries. Be sure to include your email address!

    Today, Krisit is giving away a $10 Amazon gc to one lucky winner. Tirgearr Publishing will also be giving away a spot prize to the most unique comment or question.

    The grand prize includes a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of our full book list, which includes the final six books being released before the end of the year. Total retail value of $150! The winner will be randomly drawn on the 17th and announced on our website and media sites.

    Additionally, Tirgearr Publishing is hosting a 50% off sale on all of our titles through the 18th. If you haven't been a spot prize winner or the grand prize winner, you'll still have time to grab some amazing stories at HALF OFF!

    >> Please note that today is the last day of our tour. The grand prize winner will be drawn over the weekend. Our book sale continues through Sunday the 18th.

    See our website for details --
    http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com

    Enjoy the tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, thanks so very much for having me here today! I'm very excited!

      Delete
  2. Hi Kristi. I love this new trend of cupcake shops. We have two here right in the downtown where I work. It sounds like Heather is having some initial problems with hers, though...LOL. I see that this book is set in New Orleans, as is The Trouble with Voodoo. Did you live in New Orleans, along with those other exotic locales where you've been? I've visited a few times and I think NOLA makes such a great setting for stories--whether it's a steamy romance, spooky paranormal, or nail-biting suspense. Thanks for being part of the Tirgearr Tour. It's been fun meeting so many new-to-me authors.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, so much for commenting, Catherine. Sadly, no I have never lived in NOLA, but...I visit all the time, I'm only a few hours down the road. Whenever I'm stuck creatively, I head on over and soak up the good vibes. I love a great cupcakery...in fact there's one in town, which is one of the things that prompted the idea! You never know where a great idea will come from.

      Delete
  3. I really liked the review. Sounds like a really fun story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, MomJane. It was a great story to write.

      Delete
  4. Great review, Kristi! I love this story. How can I refuse cupcakes mixing with romance? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Isabo! Coming from you a great complement. I know, cupcakes and romance seem like a natural fit! :)

      Delete
  5. I always love to read your reviews as it helps give me in inside to another book that I might not have selected to read. Keep up the good work!

    Judy M
    sirmugsy@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, for commenting, Judy. Hope this review prompted you to consider Cupcakes :)

      Delete
  6. Thanks for the review. I like the sound of this story and love these little shorties! I think it's a great way to sample the work of a new-to-me author.

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Karen. I've always felt a novella is an excellent way to "meet" a new author when I'm reading. Sadly, I don't get to read as often as I used to. Hope this prompts you to consider Cupcakes, or any of my other Trouble novellas. I have The Trouble with Mistletoe coming out in December...shifting gears and this is set in San Fran!

      Delete
  7. Good luck with this book, Kristi. Sounds like a fun one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Charlene! I actually laughed and smiled a bit when I wrote this one. Heather was so much fun to take the journey with! I love as a writer when you can really connect like that with the characters.

      Delete
  8. Thank you for the review and excerpt. Sounds like a good read.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely idea! Sweetness :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, so much for stopping by! :) I had a great time writing it, the research was a lot of fun! :)

      Delete
  10. You had me at cupcakes!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad! I think cupcakes are the best! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. Cupcakes are the best. I am sure the book matches that. Thanks
    debby236 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Debby! I agree, I love a great cupcake...and paired with romance it's the perfect combo!

      Delete
  12. I like the review because it gives me an idea of what to expect. I'm not normally a huge fan of novellas, but lets face it, unrequited love that isn't actually unrequited and finding out if they figure it out. I have to read it now. Lol thanks for boeing a part of this awesome giveway. Heather Heslip Alexander. heathermuzz@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking your time to comment!!

*The owner has the right to remove comments that she would consider spam*

This site is a participant in various affiliate advertising programs through Amazon.com, Rakuten Marketing, Commission Junction, IndieBound, Smashwords, Book Depository, and more that are designed to provide a means for Jess to earn minimal advertising fees by showcasing the areas you can purchase the corresponding products that Jess discusses within her blog posts. Basically Jess earns from qualifying purchases.
More specifically Jess partners those websites' programs and you should be aware that they may collect personal information when you interact with their sites. The collection and use of this information is subject to their own privacy policies.
You can check out Rakuten Marketing's privacy policy here: https://rakutenmarketing.com/legal-notices/services-privacy-policy/