Saturday, August 1, 2015

Second Sentence Saturday: One Night with the Cowboy


SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab the novel/novella your currently reading or previously read
  • Open to the first page of Chapter 1 or its Prologue
  • Share the SECOND sentence from that page
  • Share the novel/novella's title & its author, so that other participants can add that novel to their TBR Lists if they want



MY Second Sentence Saturday :

"One Night with the Cowboy" [Whiskey River Series, Book 2] by Eve Gaddy

The bombshell Ryder Ford, the Kelly family lawyer, had dropped at the reading of the will was almost impossible to believe.



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT to share either the link to your own SECOND SENTENCE SATURDAY post or share the sentence in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thank You!

Friday, July 31, 2015

Disappointmentville: Flower Fae Series, Book 2

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 973 KB | Expected Release Date: March 14, 2015 | Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing | Obtained: Secret Cravings Publishing

"Awakening Power and Passion" [Flower Fae Series, Book 2] by Nicole Campbell

Author's Book Description : Jasmine Moonflower is an Earth Fae only interested in exploring her talents and developing her gifts. Upon reaching adulthood, she comes into her power and is urged to start looking for a mate. The Elders have said her heart would tell her who her mate is, but none of the males in her village speak to her heart.

Duke Halton Steel knows all about the Fae. Many of his people in Essex are at least part Fae, and he protects them from a dark sorcerer. He is pleasantly shocked when Jasmine literally falls into his arms one day in the woods. She and the Fae she saved from the dark sorcerer return to his keep for safety.

Can the duke, an ally in the form of a Sorcerer of Light, and Jasmine keep them all safe? Will their love be enough to boost Jasmine’s power enough to help the Sorcerer of Light destroy the Dark One?

My Book Review : 2.5 out of 5 stars. Just as Jasmine gets into what is considered the Fae adulthood, she gets herself into a bind by being caught by a powerful dark sorcerer called Tristen the Dark One. Tristen plans to force her to willingly marry him so he can then take her power as his own. However, Jasmine is stronger than even Tristen could have imagined and finds a way (along with others who were captured) to escape. Once escaped she meets Halton (Duke Roger Halton Steel the Second) who brings out a side of herself she never knew. Will she be able to really escape from Tristen and move on with her life for good?

This fast-paced fantasy romance brings new ideas to what the “typical fae life” could be while throwing the readers right into the nitty-gritty of it all. For me this novel was a little too fast-paced to be as enjoyable as I had liked. In addition, although I found Jasmine to be an entertaining character, and I enjoyed learning about her ways of doing things, by the time she meets Halton I found their relationship a bit forced. Also, while I admit that they have some enchanting chemistry and it was quite cool what her power does when they are together, I never got a chance to really appreciate them as a couple because of how the plot plays out.

Nevertheless, I WOULD still recommend to those looking for an intensely quick fantasy romance and/or to fans of this series!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Smashwords (e-Book) : Warriors of the Veil (Book 1) | Amazon.com (e-Book) : Warriors of the Veil (Book 1) | Kobo (e-Book) : Warriors of the Veil (Book 1)


Author's Novel Extras :

Book Teaser(s) :

AWAKENING POWER AND PASSION by Nicole Campbell -- Read my #bookreview here:...
Posted by From Me to You - Video, Photography, & Book Reviews on Friday, July 31, 2015
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Nicole, then please check out her Twitter Acct.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Made the Grade: A Time for Everything by Mysti Parker

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 2602 KB | Expected Release Date: July 7, 2015 | Publisher: esKape Press | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"A Time for Everything" by Mysti Parker (aka Misty Baker)

Author's Book Description : After losing her husband and only child to the ravages of the Civil War, twenty-five-year-old Portia McAllister is drowning in grief. When she sees an ad for a live-in tutor in another town, she leaves everything behind in hopes of making a fresh start. But as a Confederate widow in a Union household, she is met with resentment from her new charge and her employer, war veteran Beau Stanford.

Despite their differences, she and Beau find common ground and the stirrings of a second chance at love until his late wife’s cousin, Lydia, arrives with her sights set on him. Burdened with a farm on the brink of bankruptcy, Beau is tempted by Lydia’s hefty dowry, though Portia has captured his heart.

In another time and another place, his choice would be easy. But love seems impossible amid the simmering chaos of Reconstruction that could boil over at any moment into an all-out battle for survival. Will Beau and Portia find their way into each other’s arms, or will they be swept away by raging forces beyond their control?

****

What readers are saying:

“The book truly encapsulated the situation of the time – a Confederate living in Union territory. The mere difference of opinion between Union and Confederate…the vestiges of the war…the consequences of one’s actions…the choice of who you love and how you show it.” ~Girl of 1000 Wonders Book Blog

*****

“If you enjoy stories from the Civil War then you will definitely enjoy this one. Don’t forget to grab the tissues before you start.” ~Heather, Goodreads Reviewer

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, Portia’s (Po) life was ravaged because of the American Civil War. With both her husband and baby daughter now dead and not wanting to suffer the ramifications of depression any longer, she has decided to move on by putting her credentials to use and becoming a tutor for a young boy. However, the boy’s father Beau (Beauregard) came home from fighting in the war to find his wife dead and his farm falling apart, and isn’t ready to move on with his life. Both start off on rocky footing but just as they soon find their way to common ground and get a nice friendship going people from Beau past interfere into his life. Everything changes. Will Beau be able to create a life that he’ll be happy with? Can Po find a way to get over her grief while helping the boy in her care get over his own grief too? When unexpected love hits will both Beau and Po, can they be able to accept it or will others interfere enough to mess up both of their lives for good?

Not the lighthearted historical romance that I expected; yet it grips the reader with its dynamic characters and an intriguing plot from the very beginning. Basically, it was darker than I anticipated but it’s based in a more realistic setting then the typical historical romances that I’ve read before for this time-period. Nevertheless, I’m so happy with how this novel turns out, even though some of the twists that happened shocked me and at times, some of the characters choices upset me.

Portia and Beau deal with a lot more than their spouses’ deaths from the start of this novel and because of that hardship; it brings them closer than either of them ever expected. Reading about their harsh banter turning into calm friendship that grows into a strong bond was quite extraordinary and beautiful. They made a great couple! In addition, I LOVED their epilogue.

I recommend this novel to those looking for an intense historical romance!

Purchase This Book and/or the ones from its Connected Series Here : Kobo (e-Book) : A Time for Everything


My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Blog Tour - A Time for Everything by Mysti Parker | Spreading the Word & Gift Card Giveaway

Author's Novel Extras : Let's Get Scientifical #18: From Widow to Wife | On Hiatus, and here's why...

**Brentwood, TN, 1865** On a frigid Christmas morning, a young widow decided to join the husband and daughter she had...
Posted by Mysti Parker on Friday, June 19, 2015

Coming July 7: Portia had never seen the man Beau was before the war, but one day she caught a glimpse...Pre-Order...
Posted by Mysti Parker on Tuesday, June 16, 2015

"Her ongoing duty in life was writing news of death."No matter where Portia goes, death seems to follow. Will she get...
Posted by Mysti Parker on Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Cowboy take me away! I could imagine Beau like this with his horse, Scout. Can you? Here's another song from the A Time for Everything playlist: https://youtu.be/MdkIJm65ytM
Posted by Mysti Parker on Friday, July 10, 2015

Book Teaser(s) :
COME MID-MORNING, he was trimming the newest filly’s hooves. Harry occupied the next stall, doing the same with Crazy Girl. And it wasn’t going so well, much to Beau’s amusement and satisfaction.
“Ow!” That was the third “ow” of the morning.
“What now?”
“She bit my ass!”
Beau laughed. “She’s your girl, Harry. Be a good daddy now.”
“Ha, ha, you’re hilarious.”
“Just tie her head tighter and steer clear of those teeth.”
Ezra hollered from outside, “Looks like we’ve got company!”
Beau let the horse’s foot down gently, and with one hand on his aching back, he stood up straight and hollered back, “Be right there!”
Leaving the stable, he squinted into the sunlight and peered down the drive. A coach and two large carriages full of luggage rolled along toward the house. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his face and hands. Probably should have taken the time to wash up before they got there, but it was too late now.
Ezra gave him a one-armed bear hug. “Excited?”
“I can hardly contain my joy.”
“Be nice, Beauregard.”
The closer their company came, the harder it became to breathe. He didn’t really know how to feel. Never once had he considered remarriage in the two years since Claire had passed, but that possibility now rolled up their drive on four expensive wheels. Worse yet, he couldn’t deny the obvious. He’d be marrying for money, if he married her at all, and knowing that made him feel like a whore. ~ within Chapter 12

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Mysti Parker -- Read my #bookreview here:...
Posted by From Me to You - Video, Photography, & Book Reviews on Thursday, July 30, 2015
For more information on this book and/or any other books by Mysti, then please check out her website.
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