Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Blog Tour - Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford | Character Interview, Spreading the Word & Jane Ashford Book Bundle Giveaway

Today I'm showing off Jane Ashford's "Heir to the Duke," which happens to be the FIRST BOOK in her The Duke’s Sons series and comes out this January! Also, to celebrate, we invite you to get to know James Gresham, one of the six sons of the Duke of Langford, and to check out an excerpt from the book!

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 & Giveaway will run from December 27, 2015 - January 24, 2016]



My Q&A with a character from "Heir to the Duke" :

Character's Name : James
Character's Age : 26
Character's Occupation : Officer in the Royal Navy
Character's Appearance : Height: 6’ 0” | Hair Color: Auburn | Eye Color: Blue

How would you describe yourself? (100 words or less)
    I’m always wondering what’s over the horizon, what I’ll find at the next landfall. I was born a rover.

If your brothers had to describe you, what would they say?
    I think they might have difficulty doing that. I left home at sixteen and have been mostly at sea since then.

What is your favorite way to spend your time?
    On the water – lake, river, or ocean.

What’s one piece of advice you would give the newlyweds (Nathaniel and Violet)?
    Without hurting others, do as you please, not what people tell you to do.

If money was no object and you had no commitments for the next two weeks, what would you do?
    Get hold of a fine yacht and sail down to Cornwall, around Land’s End, and back up again.



"Heir to the Duke"
[The Duke’s Sons Series, Book 1] by Jane Ashford

Author's Book Description :
    Book 1 of The Duke’s Sons series

    From bestselling author Jane Ashford comes a brand new series of sparkling Regency Romance

    Life is predictable for a Duke’s first son

    As eldest son of the Duke of Langford, Nathaniel Gresham sees his arranged marriage to Lady Violet Devere as just another obligation to fulfill—highly suitable, if unexciting. But as Violet sets out to transform herself from dowdy wallflower to dazzling young duchess-to-be, proper Nathaniel sets out to prove he’s a match for his new bride’s vivacity and daring.

    Or so he once thought…
    Oppressed by her family all her life, Lady Violet can’t wait to enjoy the freedom of being a married woman. But then Violet learns her family’s sordid secret, and she’s faced with an impossible choice—does she tell Nathaniel and risk losing him, or does she hide it and live a lie?

This book is available to order on :

Amazon (e-Book) | Amazon (Paperback) | IndieBound (Paperback) | Kobo (e-Book)

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! **



About the Author :

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Her historical and contemporary romances have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Twenty-six of her new and backlist Regency romances are being published by Sourcebooks. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. She is currently rather nomadic.

My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Married to a Perfect Stranger



Book Excerpt :

Nathaniel Gresham, Viscount Hightower, stirred in his sleep. His hands groped for bedclothes, found nothing. Sensing wrongness, his consciousness rose through layers of befuddlement and wisps of dreams. He opened his eyes to find a gaping maw of three-inch fangs inches from his throat.
“Aah!”
Nathaniel threw up his arms to shield his face and twisted to the side. The convulsive movement brought him right to the edge of a large four-poster bed, and he scrambled to avoid falling three feet to the floor. He twisted in the opposite direction and struck out at the sharp, yellowed teeth. They did not snap shut on his forearm or lunge into his face once more. Indeed, they did not move at all, except sideways under his blow. There was no snarl or slaver, no spark of rage in the shiny eye behind the fangs. Nathaniel shoved them farther away and sat up.
He was stark naked, on a large bed stripped bare of linens, covered only by a moth-eaten gray wolf skin. The wretched thing’s head had been carefully placed on his chest, to ensure the rude awakening. His hips still rested under its hindquarters. Molting fur peppered the bed. The mere sight of the ancient pelt made his skin itch. Revolted, he pushed it all the way off and moved to the foot of the bed, struggling to get his bearings. This wasn’t his bedchamber. The blue-striped wallpaper was alien, the furnishings unfamiliar; the windows with their slant of early morning light were in the wrong place. Then he remembered. He was staying at the Earl of Moreley’s country house, because tomorrow—no, today—he was to marry the earl’s daughter at their local parish church.
Nathaniel glared at the wolf skin, then rubbed his hands over his face. This was what it meant to have five brothers—five younger brothers—on one’s wedding day. Or rather, on one’s wedding eve, a night they’d insisted upon marking with bowls of rack punch. Had it been three? Or had he lost count? No wonder they’d kept filling his glass, if they had this prank planned. Where the devil had they found a wolf skin in a strange house? And hadn’t he told his father, when Robert was born in his sixth year, that four sons were quite enough? Even for a duke, six sons were excessive. At this particular moment, Nathaniel thought that his parents might have been content with just one.
He rose, stretching stiff limbs and marveling that he had only a mild headache. Revenge on his brothers would have to wait for another day. Today, he was getting married. He was doing his duty to his name and his line, pledging himself to a woman who would be an admirable duchess when their turn came—may it be far in the future. The match was eminently suitable. All society acknowledged its rightness. And despite Violet’s irascible grandmother, the occasional bane of his existence, he could have no complaints.
Indeed, why had the word even occurred to him? No one had rushed him into marriage. He had enjoyed a plenitude of seasons in London and a number of agreeable flirtations and liaisons with delightful females. Though they had never spoken of it, he was aware that his parents had given him every opportunity to fall in love. But the passion that had overtaken them in their young days had not befallen him. He wasn’t sure why, but once he’d passed thirty he concluded it never would. He’d had more than enough time to observe that such a bond was rare in the circles of the haut ton.
Nathaniel stretched again, his bare limbs a bit chilly. This marriage was certainly not a penance. He liked Violet very much. They’d been acquainted for years. He did not know whether she’d had other offers, but he supposed that she too had waited for love to find her. They had that in common. They were also well suited by background, had similar tastes, and enjoyed the same even temperament. When he’d decided that the time for marriage had come, he’d simply known that she was the proper candidate. He expected their union to be gracious, harmonious, and ideal for the significant position they would someday be called upon to fulfill. And now it was time to stop wool- gathering, put on his dressing gown, and begin this momentous day.
Nathaniel walked over to the oaken wardrobe on the far wall and opened it.
It was empty. All his clothes had disappeared.
He stared at the bare hooks. This part of the prank would be Sebastian’s doing, he imagined. It had his next younger brother’s touch. Nathaniel met his own gaze in the mirror set into the wardrobe door, and acknowledged the spark of amused annoyance in his eyes. His brothers had a fiendish facility for complicated jests.
The figure in the glass shook its head. All the sons of the Duke of Langford were tall, handsome, broad-shouldered men with auburn hair and blue eyes. Sebastian was the tallest. Robert the wittiest. Randolph was acknowledged as the handsomest, James the most adventurous, and Alan the smartest. But he was the eldest, and the heir.
For as long as he could remember, Nathaniel had felt the weight of his destiny. The others said it was a burden to have everything done ahead of them, but he’d felt the onus of being the pattern, setting up the expectations, being the son visitors scrutinized the most. He would be the next duke; he must show he was worthy. Thus, he kept a tight rein on his wilder impulses. Instead, he was the one who came to the rescue when one of his brothers went too far, kicking up a lark.
And so now, he did not slam the empty wardrobe shut, but simply closed it. He would leave it to his valet to straighten this out. He wanted hot water for washing, and then clothes, and then breakfast. He went to ring for Cates, and discovered that the bell rope had been removed. He could see the wire to which it had been connected, near the ceiling, twelve feet up. It must have taken two or three of his brothers to reach so high.
For a moment he just stood there, staring at it. This final touch would be Robert’s idea, no doubt. He’d always been the most ingenious, the brother who added the crowning climax to a prank. Robert would be the one to set the others guffawing—describing their elder brother slinking through the corridors of the Earl of Moreley’s house wrapped in a wolf skin, like some sort of demented ancient Celt. Even Nathaniel had to smile at the picture. How would Violet’s fierce stickler of a grandmother like that? And all the other near and distant relations visiting for the wedding? He’d barely met most of them. Perhaps he’d twine some ivy from outside the window in his hair and attempt a Gaelic war cry.
Nathaniel laughed. Truth to tell, it was a splendid prank, unfolding like a puzzle box upon its hapless victim. All that remained was for him to wiggle out of the trap so cunningly set.
He eyed the windows and considered pulling down some of his almost-mother-in-law’s elaborate draperies to wrap about himself. But one panel would trail behind him like a coronation robe. The picture was little better than the wolf skin. Perhaps he would just wait until Cates arrived on his own. It couldn’t be too much longer. In fact, judging by the sunlight, his valet ought to have appeared well before now. Where the devil was he?
As if in answer to this thought, there was a knock at the door.
“Nathaniel?”
The voice was the last he expected. “Violet?”
“Are you all right? James said you needed to speak to me most urgent—” The door opened, and Nathaniel’s promised bride looked around the panels. “Oh!” Her mouth dropped open.
Nathaniel—stark naked, next to a bed sporting only a rumpled wolf skin—braced for a shriek, a shocked retreat, babbled apologies. But Violet just looked at him. Indeed, it seemed as if she couldn’t tear her eyes away. He could almost feel her gaze traveling along his skin, as if it left trails of warmth. He saw something stir in those gray eyes, something he’d never observed before, and his body began to respond to the possibility of much more than he’d expected from his suitable marriage. Respond all too eagerly.
Nathaniel moved over behind the bed. “My brothers’ idea of a joke,” he said with a gesture toward the wolf skin.
Violet blinked. Color flooded her cheeks, and she looked away. “How did they...?” Her voice was rather choked.
“They are endlessly inventive. They stole my clothes as well. Would you have someone send Cates to me? I would ring but”—he pointed to the bell wire—“they were quite thorough.”
Violet glanced at the denuded wire, swallowed, and gave a quick nod. “Of course.” In the next instant, she was gone.
“Well, well,” murmured Nathaniel to the wolf. “That was interesting.”
His days of being capable of interest long past, the wolf made no reply.



Giveaways!! :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soo .... COMMENT on this post and/or TWEET about it!! And you could WIN!! =0)



Find Jane Ashford :

Monday, December 28, 2015

Made the Grade: Hot & Nerdy Series, Book 5

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition - File Size: 869 KB | Expected Release Date: November 24, 2015 | Publisher: Kensington Books : Lyrical Press | Obtained: NetGalley

"His New Jam" [Hot & Nerdy Series, Book 5] by Shannyn Schroeder

Author's Book Description : Sydney Peters can’t wait to finally drop the cymbals in marching band and devote time to her true love: drums. With the semester coming to a close, she’s blocking out the cacophony during practice, especially sax serenades from Hunter Reed. But when Hunter offers her a paid gig as a drummer in his band, Sydney quickly changes her tune. The two favor different styles, but they make beautiful music together…in more ways than one.

Hunter is fascinated by Sydney’s distant allure. He might be a ladies’ man on campus, but the sarcastic cymbalist is impervious to his advances. When Hunter sees how passionate Sydney is behind the drums, he orchestrates a plan to find out if she kisses like she plays. What he doesn’t anticipate, however, is falling so hard. But will the repercussions of his past crash down on his chance at something real?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, Sydney has dealt with a difficult dating experience and knows that she never wants to be with a man who will treat her that way again. So, when Hunter, a college senior and lead saxophonist in the marching band, singles her out and majorly flirts with her it makes her leery. She thinks he's hot and as they get to know one another better through their love of music she trusts him better, yet Hunter seems too much like her ex-boyfriend. And Hunter will do whatever it takes to prove to her that he is the man for her!

This sweetly erotic novel keeps you on your toes with its quirky characters and fast paced plotline. I was intrigued with Hunter with how he goes about winning over Sydney’s affection one serenade at a time. In addition, I liked how they came together as a couple. Nevertheless, I wish Sydney’s POV wasn’t portrayed as harsh as it was and that the ending had an epilogue.

Overall, I do recommend this novel to those looking for a quirky New Year’s Celebration New Adult contemporary romance!


Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Kobo (e-Book) : Her Best Shot (Book 1) | Kobo (e-Book) : Her Perfect Game (Book 2) | Kobo (e-Book) : Her Winning Formula (Book 3) | Kobo (e-Book) : Hot @nd Nerdy | Kobo (e-Book) : His Work of Art (Book 4) | Kobo (e-Book) : His Dream Role (Book 6) | Amazon (e-Book) : Her Best Shot (Book 1) | Amazon (e-Book) : Her Perfect Game (Book 2) | Amazon (e-Book) : Her Winning Formula (Book 3) | Amazon (e-Book) : Hot @nd Nerdy | Amazon (e-Book) : His Work of Art (Book 4) | Amazon (e-Book) : His Dream Role (Book 6)


Kobo (e-Book) : His New Jam (Book 5)

My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Second Sentence Saturday: His New Jam

Author's Novel Extras : His New Jam - Overview & Excerpt | His New Jam – Release Day

His New Jam - released yesterday:
Posted by Shannyn Schroeder on Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Author's Series Extras : Her Best Shot - Overview & Excerpt | Her Perfect Game - Overview & Excerpt | Her Winning Formula - Overview & Excerpt | Hot @nd Nerdy - Overview | His Work of Art - Overview & Excerpt | His Dream Role - Overview & Excerpt

Book Teaser(s) :

HIS NEW JAM by Shannyn Schroeder -- Read my #bookreview here:...
Posted by From Me to You - Video, Photography, & Book Reviews on Monday, December 28, 2015

Book Preview :
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Shannyn, then please check out her Amazon Acct.

Spreading the Word: FARTS: A SPOTTER'S GUIDE by Crai S. Bower

Today I'm playing around by showing off Crai S. Bower's "Farts: A Spotter's Guide," which is the FIRST in its Farts: The Spotter's Guides Series, that I found at Target with my son who LOVED pushing the buttons!!




"Farts: A Spotter's Guide"
[Farts: The Spotter's Guides Series, Book 1] by Crai S. Bower

Author's Book Description :
    Sure, everyone does it; but everyone tries to hide it a little differently. "Farts: A Spotter's Guide" will help you pinpoint he (or she) who dealt it every time. This hilarious book identifies the habitat, range, voice, and "field marks" of ten common wind breakers, from the gentle hiss of the Silent-but-Deadly to the rip-roaring flatulation of the Seismic Blast. The attached battery powered fart machine reproduces each emanation in accurate sound. Grossly hip illustrations by the Fudge Factory's yes, you read that right Travis Millard depict the offenders and offendees in brilliant detail. Printed on durable card stock, this is pure, unbridled entertainment for the giggling child in all of us. Let 'er rip!

This book is available to order on :

Amazon (Hardcover) | IndieBound (Hardcover) | Alibris (Hardcover)

** Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! **




Find Crai S. Bower :



This was put together by myself (From Me to You ... Video, Photography & Book Reviews) please contact me if you'd like your own promo post.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Second Sentence Saturday: His New Jam


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 :

"His New Jam" [Hot & Nerdy Series, Book 5] by Shannyn Schroeder

Two weeks.



LOL ... sorry this one was very underwhelming. =0)

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!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Feasted On: Sons of Chance Series, Book 17

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon: Paperback - Pages: 219; Kindle Edition - File Size: 514 KB | Expected Release Date: December 1, 2014 | Publisher: Harlequin Blaze | Obtained: NetGalley

"A Last Chance Christmas" [Sons of Chance Series, Book 17] by Vicki Lewis Thompson (aka Cory Kenyon)

Author's Book Description : A Christmas kiss from a cowboy…

Ben Radcliffe reckons it'll be a cold day in hell before he considers a serious relationship or family of his own—with good reason. When he delivers a "secret" present to the Last Chance Ranch, however, Ben catches a glimpse of what family could be. And suddenly this lone cowboy finds himself under the mistletoe…planting one heck of a kiss on a stunning woman!

Genealogist and academic Molly Gallagher is all about family. And even if Ben's secrets make him as skittish as a wild mustang, there's nothing Molly loves more than an enigma. Especially a ridiculously sexy one! But the magic of Christmas—and the Last Chance Ranch—might not be enough to wrangle a cowboy who can't trust himself…

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! Molly is visiting her distant cousins about a week before Christmas so she can meet them and put her genealogist skills to use. While visiting Molly meets Ben, a saddle maker, who was invited to join in the celebration and stay with Molly’s relatives as a way to deliver his one-of-a-kind saddle as a birthday present to the family matriarch. They find that their instant connection is electric and plan to spend as much of their visit together as they can. However, that all depends on if Molly’s relatives won’t stand between their brewing relationship.

This intensely creative novel steps up its game when a nerdish petite woman “ropes” a cowboy for herself! I will say this plot was unique because I have never read about a heroine who physically describes me more; Molly is a petitely built brunette who is also genealogist (someone who likes to keep records on her family tree) and likes the holiday season with all the traditions that the holidays include. So, to have Molly also be a genuinely nice character made me want to root for her all the more. Then when Ms. Thompson throws in Ben, who is a hunk with a dark past that he needs to overcome, into the mix I found myself swooning for this novel! I appreciated the steps it took to bring Molly and Ben together for good.

In addition, even though I wish there was an epilogue about Ben & Molly, I do recommend this novel to those looking for a steamy Christmas contemporary romance!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : IndieBound (Paperback) : Should've Been a Cowboy and Cowboy Up (Book 4 & Book 5) | IndieBound (Paperback) : Long Road Home (Book 7) | IndieBound (Paperback) : The Heart Won't Lie (Book 12) | IndieBound (Paperback) : Riding High (Book 14) | IndieBound (Paperback) : Riding Hard (Book 15) | IndieBound (Paperback) : Riding Home (Book 16) | Kobo (e-Book) : Wanted! (Book 1) | Kobo (e-Book) : Ambushed! (Book 2) | Kobo (e-Book) : Claimed! (Book 3) | Kobo (e-Book) : Should've Been a Cowboy (Book 4) | Kobo (e-Book) : Should've Been a Cowboy and Cowboy Up (Book 4 & Book 5) | Kobo (e-Book) : Cowboy Up (Book 5) | Kobo (e-Book) : Cowboys Like Us: Cowboys Like Us\Notorious (Book 6) | Kobo (e-Book) : Already Home (Book 6.2) | Kobo (e-Book) : Long Road Home (Book 7) | Kobo (e-Book) : Lead Me Home (Book 8) | Kobo (e-Book) : Feels Like Home (Book 9) | Kobo (e-Book) : Riding High (Book 14) | Kobo (e-Book) : Riding Hard (Book 15) | Kobo (e-Book) : Riding Home (Book 16) | Kobo (e-Book) : Harlequin Blaze December 2014 Box Set | Vicki Lewis Thompson's Amazon Acct


IndieBound (Paperback) : A Last Chance Christmas (Book 17)

Kobo (e-Book) : A Last Chance Christmas (Book 17)

My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Second Sentence Saturday: A Last Chance Christmas

Author's Novel Extras :
Out in print on Monday! Here's what my heroine Molly has to say about Ben: "She adored his mouth. A harmonica player...
Posted by Vicki Lewis Thompson on Saturday, November 15, 2014

Author's Series Extras :
The real Nelsie and Archie! I named the Chance grandparents Archie and Nelsie for my grandparents, Archie and Nelsie...
Posted by Vicki Lewis Thompson on Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Book Teaser(s) :
What a lovely sound. He really was talented. She moved a few steps closer and then a few steps more. He played with heart, and she could almost imagine his as the Beast longing for his Beauty to show up. That was plain silly, of course. The way her luck went, he'd be old as the hills, or middle-aged and balding. ~ within Chapter 2

Book Preview :
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Vicki, then please check out her Amazon Acct.
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