"The Memory Jar" [Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series, Book 1] by Tricia Goyer
Book Teaser:
Through the open front door, Sarah spotted what she'd been looking for. Her jar. It sat there covered with what looked like tin foil and...
Sarah stepped forward. A snake was inside! Her brother had dumped out her things to keep an ugly ole brown garter snake?
She picked up the jar, crumpled the foil, and slipped her hand inside the jar.
"Well, I'll be." The man's voice caused Sarah to start, and she nearly dropped the jar.
There, striding up the wooded path leading from the road, was Amos Byler with another of the bachelors by his side.
Sarah looked at the jar in her hand and, with a quip grip of her fingers and a flip of her wrist, tossed the snake into the yard. It bounced slightly and then slithered away into the tall grass.
The two men stood staring. Amos ran a hand down his smooth face.
Then she remembered. My kapp. ~ within Chapter 1
While Nuzaifa -- just won a kindle version of "Bargain in Bronze" [Flirting to Win Anthology, Novella 1] by Natalie Anderson! You should be receiving an email from me and Amazon.com soon!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway and checked out my review for "Flirting To Win!" Please keep up-to-date with my blog tours by checking out my event calendar so you'll know when you really want to stop by From Me to You.... Or you could just friend/follow the blog too!!
Thanks again!! I hope everyone will have a great day!
Now the hotel is blowing her off saying since it hasn't been turned in they'll let her know if and when it does. Yet she doesn't want Magnus to find out about the lost ring so she needs to think of a number they can inform her on while she's dwelling on that worry she finds the answer to her prayers .... a WORKING CELL PHONE was dropped into the trashcan!! Therefore, since it doesn't seem like anyone calls her out when she takes it out of the trash can, she takes it for herself.
Nevertheless, Poppy soon finds that taking a used phone isn't as easy as it seems, especially if Sam Roxton has anything to say about it. Since that phone was his PA's phone who just quit that day and it has his business life on it (as his PA's and his emails go to that phone).
Poppy won't take no for an answer, which makes the both of them to fall into each other’s lives in ways they never expected and derailing the plans they had for their lives. Yet will they find the changes in their lives are a good or bad thing before everything gets even more complicated for and between them?
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars!! Ms. Kinsella does it again with this fun & quirky novel!! Poppy seemed like a great mix of Emma from "Can You Keep a Secret?" & Samantha from "The Undomestic Goddess," making her the typical-quirky-heroine type that Ms. Kinsella puts out and we all love while still having the enjoyable humor that keeps the books lively. Plus, I could not get enough of Sam! He is a stoic yet sexy man who develops into being a great guy in this novel. Sam and Poppy are so cute and sweet together that you just want to root for them and their dreams!!
However, this novel will definitely keep you on your toes throughout this fast-paced comedy, especially with all of the sudden twists that arrive in the last few chapters! Some of the twists will shock you and some are ones you probably were hoping for (like me), but all of them make this novel into one that you won't forget about anytime soon!
I recommend this novel to those who are fans of Sophie Kinsella, as well as, anyone who enjoys contemporary comedic romances!!
- On a side note -
I liked the varied footnotes throughout this novel since I thought it was a cute way to enhance the plot. Also, for those who've read Dayla from Confessions of a Book Addict's review of "I've Got Your Number" I'm just going to say don't worry about the binding your books since I got my copy at a local book store and it was able to put up with my one year old's antics (like dropping it on the floor repeatedly but accidentally) and still is in one piece looking very good! =0)
OK. I know it was cheating. I know it was a bad thing to do. To be honest, I kept expecting someone to catch me out. But I put the ring tone on silent and no one realized I was texting Sam all the way through. 43
And, yes, of course I feel guilty. Halfway through, I felt even worse when I texted Sam in admiration, How do you know all these words? and he replied, I don't. The internet does.
The internet?
For a moment I felt too shocked to reply. I thought he was thinking of the words, not finding them on Scrabble words.com or whatever. That's CHEATING!!!! I typed.
43Haven't both Antony and Wanda ever invigilated exams as part of their jobs? Just saying.~ within Chapter 5
"We spoke about it last night."
"Well, I wanted to thank you," he says earnestly. "I know this was your influence. You two guys will add so much heft to the cause. Oh, and thanks for the donation. We really appreciate it."
I stare in astonishment. Sam gave a donation to the Guatemala trip? He gave a donation?
Now Matt is beaming at me. "Hello again. Are you interested in the Guatemala trip?"
Oh my God, I would love to go to Guatemala.
"Well---" I begin enthusiastically, before Sam cuts me off firmly:
"No. She's not."
Honestly. What a spoilsport. ~ within Chapter 10
For more information on this book and/or any other books by Sophie, then please check out her website.
My Book Summary : Elle has been a girly girl for as long as she can remember. Being the youngest of four boys and their annoying affiliation for playing sports or enjoying sporting games can do that to a girl. Therefore, she is still trying to find a guy who is able to straddle the line between liking/possibly playing sports to enjoying the symphony and other cultural things too. However, she definitely does not believe that Max (also known as "The Beast" and is the enforcer for the San Diego Thunder hockey team) could ever be her "Prince Charming."
Nevertheless, they will find out if the chemistry that they sparked a year ago is still there or not during their forced time together while, Elle helps Max get custody of his son, Troy. While they are together, will Elle decide to protect her heart by distancing herself from them as much as she’s able or is she willing to break her job’s rules to be with Max and Troy as a family? Maybe beauty just found her beast...
My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, this fast-paced novel is a sweet and fun story about two unlikely people coming together! I liked how Elle handled herself throughout this whole novel. She was smart, decisive, kind, and feisty, definitely keeping Max on his toes. Max, Elle, and Troy made a great trio that I enjoyed reading about!
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes contemporary romances!
Book Teaser(s) :
"She wasn't a hellion," Dad defended her. "She was my pretty little princess."
Elle grinned and turning the other way she kissed her dad on the cheek. "I love you, too."
"It says something, doesn't it---" hope filled Becca's voice "---that he trusts you with his son."
Elle gave a long-suffering laugh. "Good try, Mom. Not going to happen."
"Okay." Her mom sighed. "But it's a shame."
"Why is that?" Elle was almost afraid to ask.
"As Dad says, you were his pretty little princess. As a little girl you spent hours playing Belle. I can just see the two of you together, Beauty and The Beast."
Elle nearly choked on the moisture stick she was using on her lips. People really had to stop saying that. ~ within Chapter 8
For more information on this book, and/or any other books by Teresa, then please check her out on the Goodreads' website.
Today I'm turning my blog over to Crista McHugh, who I interviewed about her latest novel "Tangled Web," which is the 1st book in The Deizian Empire Series!!
ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY!! [Blog Tour will run from October 11 - 17, 2012]
My Q&A with Crista McHugh :
Jess : Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Crista : In real life, I’m a doctor and a mother of 2 small children (which may explain some of my insanity). I refer to writing as “therapy”. In the past, I’ve some odd jobs like being a morgue attendant and autopsy assistant. I’ve also been a contestant on Jeopardy!
Jess : What books did you enjoy reading while growing up?
Crista : I had the entire series of the Babysitters Club. I also enjoyed reading Sunfire books (historical romance for teens looong before it was known as YA historical). And I loved Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series.
Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least to invite to dinner, from which book and why?
Crista : The answer to both questions would be Loku, the disembodied chaos god from my Soulbearer series. He’s fun, snarky, and bit unpredictable, which would either mean a lively dinner or a complete disaster.
Jess : Please describe your hero, from "Tangled Web," in one to two sentences.
Crista : Titus is an idealist, a man of philosophy and letters rather than swords and warcraft, but don’t underestimate him. Underneath those deep thought thoughts is a man with an iron will and the strength to make his dreams a reality.
Jess : What sparked the idea for The Deizian Empire series?
Crista : A switch of the channel. I watching Stargate and changed the channel to a documentary on the emperors of Ancient Rome (I happened to catch them just as they were transitioning to the reign of Caligula). I thought it would be cool to create a world loosely based on Ancient Rome where an alien race with “magic” (technology) enslaved the sentient races, and thus, the Deizien Empire was born.
Jess : If "Tangled Web" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?
Crista : I’d love to see Freida Pinto playing Azurha.
Jess : Out of all of the secondary characters within your The Deizian Empire series, do you have one or two favorites so far? If so, who are they and can you tell us why?
Crista : Actually, I was so intrigued with Galerius and Claudia that I’ve already given them a story (it’ll be out next year). They are both characters with tortured pasts and seem to be slaves to their roles in society. Marcus is another character I’m toying with. He’s got it really bad for a woman named Sexta, and I’m still trying to give them a good story worthy of a HEA.
Jess : When writing "Tangled Web" did you listen to a certain song list/playlist that you could share with us?
Crista : I hate to admit it, but I didn’t have any musical inspiration with this book. Usually, there’s a song that fits a scene or two in something I’m writing, but not this time.
Jess : In regards to "Tangled Web," if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?
Crista : There was a scene I was forced to delete because it didn’t fit the character arcs for Azurha and Titus. I’d love to find a way to incorporate it into the story, but maybe I’ll save it for another book.
Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?
Crista : It’s almost always characters. I get a glimpse of a person or hear the sound of their voice, and I’m furiously trying to take notes on all the ideas running through my mind.
Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?
Crista : Which is your favorite and why? I’ve written 10 novels (3 that will never see the light of day and 1 that needs some serious reworking), 6 of which have already been published or contracted, along with a handful of novellas and short stories. "Tangled Web" is one of my favorites because of the complexity of the characters, closely followed by "A Soul For Chaos."
Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?
Crista : I’m taking a break from writing for a month after writing two books (and having a baby) so far this year. "A Soul For Vengeance" is next on my plate, which will wrap up the Soulbearer Trilogy. After that, I’ll be working on the sequel to "The Tears of Elios" (or Marcus’s story, if I can ever get that hammered out to something I like).
Jess : Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
Crista : Usually, there’s no point because the hubby is still sleeping in it. He’s nocturnal, so he’s rarely out of bed before noon.
Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Crista : LOL – probably, "I Dare You To..." since most of the important things in my life are the result of a dare or challenge.
Jess : What book are you reading now or have recently finished? How do/did you like it?
Crista : Right now, I’m reading "Fortune’s Hero" by Jenna Bennett and loving it!
Thanks for having me over!
-C.
Jess : YOU'RE WELCOME!! Thanks being here!! =0)
About the Author :
Crista McHugh is a multiple award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Her latest book, "A SOUL FOR TROUBLE," received 4 1/2 STARS (a keeper rating) from RT Book Reviews.
Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained.
She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and daughter, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she's had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.
And she's also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)
To be the first to know about her latest releases or to be entered into exclusive contests, please sign up for her newsletter using the contact form on her webpage, www.cristamchugh.com.
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 317 | Expected Release Date: October 9, 2012 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing : Select | Obtained: Entangled Publishing
"Tangled Web" [The Deizian Empire Series, Book 1] by Crista McHugh
My Book Summary : Within the past seven years, Azurha has become a freed slave but also a deadly assassin known as the Rabbit. She has built a reputation for herself. In addition, she hopes that after she completes, and gets the payment for, her latest job she will have solidified her reputation and made enough money for her to retire and live a peaceful life. However, as soon as her latest job begins, killing Titus Sergius Flavus (Titus)--the newest emperor, she realizes that it'll be harder to achieve then any assassinations in her past. This is because not only is Titus the most attractive man she has ever met and the nicest, he also seems to have a thoroughly planned out agenda to redeem his ancestors and bring the empire into a new and better age for everyone.
Therefore, as Azurha's time with Titus turns from days into a week and longer she knows her time with him to either kill him or just spend time in his arms is coming to an end soon. Will she be able to follow through with her original plans? Or will she protect Titus against the ones who hired her? Furthermore, will she be able to admit the truth of herself to Titus before everything becomes too late for both of them?
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars!! This one intriguing sci-fi-ish novel will keep you tangled in its web until the very end! It's like an alien-type of ancient Rome mixed with the political agendas of the "Game of Thrones" which is what creates the backdrop for this fascinating new series!! I LOVED the characters, especially Titus & Azurha!! So much so, that I wish this novel had an epilogue so I could find out what happened not long after the last scene. However, since it doesn't I'm hoping that book 2 of this series will be able to keep us readers updated with their antics!
The only flaw I found in this novel was how long Azurha pushed off informing Titus of who she was. I mean I understand why she did it, and I liked the way everything played out within the novel. Nevertheless, it made me not like Azurha a bit, because of how she acted. But oh wells ... everything turns out for the best. =0)
I recommend this series and novel to anyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy romances!
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Why would I lie about something like that?”
Disgust filled his eyes, and her own stung. Yes, that’s right. Think of me as a common whore. Used goods. Sullied to the point where you never want to touch me again. It will make killing you that much easier.
Instead of shoving her to the floor and ordering her out of his presence, he flipped her hand over and delicately traced the lines on her palm. Then he covered her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I know you said you were bound to no one,” he said quietly, “but as long as you reside in my palace, I will never share you with another man.”
When he possessively squeezed her hand, a gasp broke free from her. Her mouth went dry. Could he possibly mean what he said? ~ within Chapter 8
“If you wanted that kind of entertainment, I would have happily supplied it.”
It would be all too easy to snap his neck. In any other situation, she would have made him pay for his insult. Instead, she bit her tongue and focused on appearing demure while she let his words roll off her like water on glass.
“Be careful what you say, Rutilius.” Titus moved between her and their host. “Insulting her means you insult me.”
Part of her wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to come to her defense, but her heart melted at the sight of the muscle rippling along his jaw and the rigid way his body shielded her. ~ within Chapter 14
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Cari, then please check out her website.
My Giveaway!! :
An ARC e-book copy of "Tangled Web" to one randomly drawn person from Rafflecopter
The Fine Print -- To Enter :
This contest ends on October 17th 2012.
This contest is International!!
You must be 18 years-old or older!!
It's the author/publisher's responsibility to ensure that the winner gets "Tangled Web," not mine.
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Book Teaser:
