Wednesday, March 31, 2021

New Release for Mustang Belle by Eva Haining

 

Title: Mustang Belle
Series: Mustang Ranch
Author: Eva Haining
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 30, 2021


Thomas Knox is a hometown boy.

Ever since a high school football injury took his chance at a college scholarship, Knox has been learning the family business in Kingsbury Falls. After having his heart broken by his lifelong friend and the town's newest movie star, Knox has taken on the mantle of the town bad boy, until singer Mirabelle catches his eye.

Mirabelle has been touring the country with her band, and is about to ride the highs of stardom. When tragedy strikes and fate brings her to Kingsbury Falls once more, she can't help but find herself falling for hometown heartthrob, Knox. The strong silent type, he's a tough guy to get to know.

Can Mirabelle crack Knox's shell, or will he push her away in an attempt to guard his heart?

Mustang Belle is a small town, rock star, cowboy romance.











I'm happiest when wandering through the uncharted territory of my imagination. You'll find me curled up with my laptop, browsing the books at the local library, or enjoying the smell of a new book, taking great delight in cracking the spine and writing in the margins!

Eva is a native Scot but lives in Texas with her husband, two kids, and a whizzy little fur baby with the most ridiculous ears. She first fell in love with British literature while majoring in Linguistics, 17th Century Poetry, and Shakespeare at University. She is an avid reader and lifelong notebook hoarder. In 2014, she finally put her extensive collection to good use and started writing her first novel. Now writing in three sub-genres of romance, Eva is currently working on some exciting new projects for 2021.



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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Review for The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

 

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by  Stephanie Dray 

Kindle Edition

publication: March 30th 2021

Genre:  Historical Fiction, France, 18th Century, World War II



An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy.

Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...

1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...

1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...

1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us. 

 

My Thoughts…Three women all tied together by Chateau Lafayette, all living during wars, and all phenomenal.  I was enthralled from the very first page. 

To pick my favorite character would be impossible.   I initially chose the book to read about Adrienne Lafayette and found that I was just as intrigued by Beatrice Astor Chanler and Marthe Simone. Each woman has a strength and perseverance that is amazing.    The lives they lived were extraordinary.    They had to have a special power to survive during war, to protect the others that were in their lives, and to live the lives so powerfully. 

I loved the three timelines.  I found it extremely easy to follow and enjoyed how the stories were tied together with the location. I was blown away with the attention to the details of the different eras, the different wars, and the situations of the time.   Stephanie Dray, author, took her time to give the reader the detail and knowledge to understand the women and the lives they were living and the lives of the people important to them.  

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a long book but it is an amazing book.   Take your time, read every word, enjoy the story, and learn some amazing history.  

**Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads


 


Meet Stephanie Dray…
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books. Newsletter |  Facebook 

 







Review for The Path to Sunshine Cove by RaeAnne Thayne

The Path to Sunshine Cove by  RaeAnne Thayne 

ebook, 384 pages

Expected publication: March 30th 2021 by HQN Books

Genre: Womens Fiction, Chick Lit, HQN, Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction

 


With the emotional pull of Debbie Macomber, Barbara Delinsky and Susan Wiggs, RaeAnne Thayne brings readers an uplifting, brand new story told with her trademark charm and heart.


She knows what's best for everyone but herself...

With a past like hers, Jessica Clayton feels safer in a life spent on the road. She's made a career out of helping others downsize--because she's learned the hard way that the less "stuff," the better, a policy she applies equally to her relationships. But a new client is taking Jess back to Cape Sanctuary, a town she once called home...and that her little sister, Rachel, still does. The years apart haven't made a dent in the guilt Jess still carries after a handgun took the lives of both their parents and changed everything between them.

While Jess couldn't wait to put the miles between her and Cape Sanctuary, Rachel put down roots, content for the world--and her sister--to think she has a picture-perfect life. But with the demands of her youngest child's disability, Rachel's marriage has begun to fray at the seams. She needs her sister now more than ever, yet she's learned from painful experience that Jessica doesn't do family, and she shouldn't count on her now.

Against her judgment, Jess finds herself becoming attached--to her sister and her family, even to her client's interfering son, Nate--and it's time to put everything on the line. Does she continue running from her painful past, or stay put and make room for the love and joy that come along with it? 

My Thoughts…The perfect RaeAnne Thayne book.   Every time I pick up one of her books I know that I will meet some amazing characters in a beautiful setting with a wonderful story to tell.   Nate is an amazing character raising his teenage daughter while working hard and living on the property he grew up on to be near his widowed mother.   Jess arrives on the property to help Eleanor, Nate’s mother, clean out the house that has been in the family for many generations.  The catch is that Jess’ sister lives close by and while they use to be close things have not been easy.   Jess wants a relationship with her sister again and puts herself out there to get it. 

I love learning about Jess and Rachel.   There is no doubt that as younger sisters their bond was unbreakable but then things changed, their lives ended up on different paths, and their relationship was tested.    Rachel is dealing with her own struggles in her “perfect” family and has put so much stress on herself that her life is not as perfect as she pretends it to be.  Jess has never let herself settle down and be close to anyone, so the quick visits are perfect for her.   I hoped for them to become the sisters they each needed but knew that it would not be easy. 

Everything about The Path to Sunshine Cove is wonderful.   I read it on a cold winter day but could feel the sun shining, the waves crashing on the beach, and the love between the characters. 

**Thank you Ann-Marie Nieves at GetRedPR for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

 


Meet RaeAnne Thayne…
I’m not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.

Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.

After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.

Through it all — through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor — I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.

I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try — their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 60 books later, I’ve come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the “that’s—it!” feeling I get when a story is flowing.

I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.

Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can’t imagine my life any other way.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Review for Changing the Rules by Catherine Bybee with a Giveaway

 

About the Title

Title: Changing the Rules

Author: Catherine Bybee

Release Date: March 23, 2021

Publisher: Montlake 

Genre: Romantic Suspence



Summary 

As an employee of MacBain Security and Solutions, Claire Kelly can certainly hold her own. Armed with an impressive set of covert skills, she’s more than prepared to tackle any job that comes her way…except one involving Cooper Lockman.

Cooper and Claire used to work together before his feelings for her sent him packing to Europe for six long years. But now he’s back and determined to ignore the still-smoldering heat that lingers between them.

Their current mission: go undercover together at a California high school to root out the mastermind behind a prostitution ring targeting young girls. The closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, however, the deadlier their task becomes. As Claire and Cooper risk their lives to bring down their target, will their hearts be the final casualties?

 

My Thoughts…I am a fan of Catherine Bybee.   When I heard she started a new series, a romantic suspense series, I knew that I would be reading it.  I enjoyed that the story was realistic in that prostitution of children is something that is happening in Any Town USA.  The topic is not something most people discuss but it is in the news weekly.   Catherine Bybee did a great job in not covering over the hard facts and making her story pretty but she in telling the truth of living the life and the horrible people who forced children into the life. 

 

The sparks between Cooper and Claire made the story fun to read.  I liked how they circled, teased, flirted, and enjoyed each other.  The way that Neil made sure Cooper behaved had me smiling, the friends that encouraged the two of them had me envious, and the work they did had me thinking of them as heroes. 

 

Changing the Rules is a quick and fun book.  I read it in just a couple days and already have told my friends that they should buy their own copies.  

 

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

  

Excerpt from Changing the Rules by Catherine Bybee

Claire collapsed onto the living room sofa the second she walked in the door. Not only had she suffered a headache the entire day, Cooper ran her like a trainer working an Iron Man competitor. 

“That sounds like a bad day,” Jax said as she walked around the corner of the kitchen. 

“You don’t want to know.” 

Claire flung an arm over her eyes to block out the sun. 

She heard Jax walk in the room and then exhale as she sat down. “You’re right. I don’t give a crap what happened in school, unless it involved Cooper. What I want is the details of last night after I got out of the car.” 

Before Cooper picked them up, Claire and Jax had agreed that Jax would give them a few minutes to have a private conversation. Now Claire regretted that plan. 

“The long story, or the short story?” Claire asked. 

“Whatever one you want to deliver.” 

Claire’s arms slid off her head, and she pushed herself into a sitting position. 

“Cooper has a thing for me.” 

Jax sat silent, blinked a few times. “Okay, and?” 

“What do you mean, ‘okay, and?’” 

“Sorry, Claire, but that’s obvious. I think you’d have to be an idiot to not see it. Even the guys on the team see it.”

“What? Are they talking about—” 

Jax stopped her with a shake of the head. “Of course not. But you can tell by how they look at the two of you that they know there’s an attraction.” 

Claire pointed to her chest. “I’m not doing anything, it’s him.” 

“Maybe it’s more him.” 

She kept shaking her head. “No, it’s all him. I’m not instigating anything.” 

“You flirt with him all the time.” 

“I do not,” Claire huffed. 

One look from Jax and she rescinded her statement. “Okay, we banter. But it’s always been like that. I have the pool stick, he makes some kind of phallic joke. It’s banter. Not flirting.” 

Jax sat back, crossed her arms over her chest. Claire couldn’t believe her best friend was calling her out. “We’re friends. And last night he ruined that by telling me he’s had a thing for me since we met. Told me he left sunny California for dreary London because I was too young and naive to handle him when I first got here.” 

Jax narrowed her eyes. “Is that really how he said that?” 

Claire’s headache was coming back. “No. He said I was a child.” 

“A child?” 

Claire stood up from the couch, started for the kitchen. “He kept repeating that I was eighteen back then.” 

Jax followed behind. “Which is true.” 

Claire yanked open the fridge, pulled out a beer. “Whose side are you on?” 

“Yours. Always. But I just don’t see where all the fire is about this. Cooper owns up to the flirting comments and puppy-dog looks he gives you, and you’re pissed because he walked away six years ago.”

Like picking a lock, the pieces slid into place and finally started to click. “But he’s my friend.” 

“Trying to say you’ve never thought of him as more?” 

“No.” Her denial was quick. 

Jax started to smile. “You’ve never checked out his ass? The guy can fill out a pair of jeans.” 

Some of the anger she’d harbored all day eased. “That’s true.” 

“And that smile. When he’s belly laughing he has the tiniest dimples.” 

Claire closed her eyes, pictured his smile. She hadn’t noticed the dimples, but now that she thought about it . . . She opened her eyes to find Jax staring at her. 

“Sounds like you have a thing for him,” Claire said.

“Wouldn’t matter if I did, and I don’t, by the way, but it wouldn’t matter. The guy can’t stop looking at you.” 

“God, what am I going to do with him?” 

“I don’t think you have to do anything. It’s not like he asked you out and you said no and now it’s awkward.” 

“You’re right. It’s worse than that.” 

“You’re overthinking it.” Jax pushed off the counter. “You know what, let’s gussy up a little and hit a proper happy hour. We’ll talk in German and pretend we don’t speak English and shamelessly flirt.” 

Claire abandoned her beer. “Now that is exactly what I need to do and get my mind off of boys.” 

 


About the Author

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than five million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite Series, the Weekday Brides Series, the Most Likely To Series, and the First Wives Series.



Social Media Links

Website: http://www.catherinebybee.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee 

 

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