Review: The Officer Says "I Do" by Jeanette Murray

The Officer Says "I Do"
Jeanette Murray
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: July 1, 2012
Mass Market Paperback {p.338}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Contemporary
Skye McDermott, Timothy O'Shay
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Captain Timothy O'Shay is on pre-deployment leave in Las Vegas when he meets Skye McDermott. For once, Tim lets loose and the two hook up. But in the morning, Tim wakes up to discover he's married to a woman who's the polar opposite of what he always envisioned in a wife.

But Skye is sure that this is fate, and that they are destined to be together. Can she convince him to stay with her before he's deployed?

After one too many drinks on a trip to Vegas, Tim discovers he's married. Not your typical start to happily ever after, but the author makes it work.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Skye and Tim. She was truly what he needed in his vanilla life. With Skye's unconventional upbringing and Tim's by the book ways, it's bound to make for some interesting reading. I had my doubts about Skye at first because I thought she might be too far out there, but she wasn't at all.

Both characters were great with and without the other. Skye really won me over with her interaction with Tim's best friend Jeremy. All the characters in this novel are very real and believable. The struggle Skye went through to try to be the good little wife for her officer in and of itself is enough to keep you engrossed to see how it would all turn out.

The subplot with Jeremy and Tim's sister Madison was an extra bonus. Although at times I didn't really care for his behavior or attitude toward Madison. Even with that issue, I'm so looking forward to reading their story. Plus, I'm intrigued by Skye's cousin Veronica. I want to see what the deal is with her.

#Giveaway: #GoneMissing by Linda Castillo

Linda Castillo’s bestselling series has been called “gripping” [People] and “impossible to put down” [Bookpage] and the “teeth chattering suspense” [USA Today] continues with GONE MISSING—a deeply chilling novel about a rite of passage gone horribly wrong.

Rumspringa is the time when Amish teens are allowed to experience life without the rules. It’s an exciting time of personal discovery and growth before committing to the church. But when a young teen disappears without a trace, the carefree fun comes to an abrupt and sinister end, and fear spreads through the community like a contagion.

A missing child is a nightmare to all parents, and never more so than in the Amish community, where family ties run deep. When the search for the presumed runaway turns up a dead body, the case quickly becomes a murder investigation. And chief of Police Kate Burkholder knows that in order to solve this case she will have to call upon everything she has to give not only as a cop, but as a woman whose own Amish roots run deep.

Kate and state agent, John Tomasetti, delve into the lives of the missing teen and discover links to cold cases that may go back years. But will Kate piece together all the parts of this sinister puzzle in time to save the missing teen and the Amish community from a devastating fate? Or will she find herself locked in a fight to the death with a merciless killer?

https://www.facebook.com/lindacastilloauthor/app_121459367938405

http://us.macmillan.com/gonemissing/LindaCastillo

New York Times bestselling author LINDA CASTILLO lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book in this series, also set in Amish Country and featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder. Visit http://www.lindacastillo.com to learn more.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{June 27 - July 9, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copy will be sent directly to winner from the publisher
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Guest Post & #Giveaway: Linda Lael Miller, author of Big Sky Country

“I have my reasons,” Joslyn said. “I’m counting on you to trust me, Kendra—at least for the next few months. When I can explain, I will.”

“People have been getting mysterious checks in the mail lately,” Kendra said speculatively, “from some big law firm in Denver. And I know you sold your software company…”

Joslyn bolted to her feet, hurried over to the square foot of counter space where the coffee machine stood, turned on the water in the sink and hurriedly rinsed the two plain mugs she’d purchased the day before. “I sold the company,” she admitted, feeling a wrench of loss as she said the words, even though it had been a done deal for weeks now. “But I don’t see what that has to do with people getting unexpected checks.”

“The recipients of the checks have one thing in common,” Kendra persisted. She hadn’t gotten where she was by being slow on the uptake. “They’d all invested in your stepfather’s—business.”

How do you continue to find inspiration after writing so many novels?

That’s a very good question. The answer, I suppose, is that I’m always and forever reading and shamelessly eavesdropping on other people’s conversations. Everything is grist for my mill, so to speak. I might read about a situation and think, “what if--?” and then I’m off and running. My Clare and Tony mysteries, commonly called the Look Books, are a good example—I used to see this guy on TV all the time, when I lived down in Arizona, a lawyer advertising for business. His hair was slicked back and his suit was fancy and I remember thinking he was the ultimate ambulance-chaser, with a clear message: no matter what awful thing you’ve done, we can get you off. I knew that attitude was bound to really tick off, say, a homicide detective, who would have a vested interested in seeing the culprit sent to prison. Voila! Clare Westbrook was my defense attorney heroine, and she was involved with Tony Sonterra, a homicide detective, of course. I’ve been writing for a long time, and I use many techniques to prime the pump—mixed media art is my hobby, and I find that I get some of my best ideas when I’m snipping, gluing, painting, etc. I keep an art journal and make artist trading cards. Trips are always good, too—a change of scene and environment is very stimulating. I need a lot of visual stimulation, I find. I spent a lot of time just looking at things, and imagining things that could happen. I spent a lot of time in Europe, years ago, and oddly enough that was what clued me in that I needed to focus on westerns, since that’s basically my life. You know the old saw, write about what you know.

http://booktrib.com/blog-tour-big-sky-country-by-nyt-bestselling-author-linda-lael-miller/

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{June 25 - July 9, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copy will be sent directly to winner from the publisher
• 1 Winner will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
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In My Mailbox {101}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Publisher

Night Watch by Linda Fairstein

Better Than Chocolate by Sheila Roberts (no cover)

Books via Paperback Swap

Thunderbird Chosen by Jory Strong

Review: Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller

Big Sky Country
Linda Lael Miller
Series: Big Sky #1
Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: May 29, 2012
Mass Market Paperback {p.384}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Contemporary, Western
Joslyn Kirk, Slade Barlow
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father…until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn't sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody—including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen, whom Slade has never forgotten.

But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect, plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she's responsible only for her own actions—such as her effect on this lawman's guarded heart.

Joslyn returns to Parable after many years to try to make amends for something her stepfather did. Slade has just come into an inheritance that he was never expecting. The two of them grew up together in Parable but in to separate worlds there.

As always Miller writes a very hot cowboy. Slade and Joslyn have a lot of cute and funny encounters before they got together. The romance was a bit slower to start than with other Miller novels. You can clearly see the chemistry between the two of them, but they never acted on it until the very end. Even with that being the case, the overall story definitely kept me engaged.

Shea, Slade’s stepdaughter, was always talking up a storm. This girl never stopped talking. Opal, Slade’s housekeeper, was another delightful surprise. She was like a mother to everyone she encountered.

This is the start to another great cowboy series to rival the McKettrick’s and the Creed’s. Slade and his half-brother Hutch make for some very interesting reading.

Follow the tour: http://bit.ly/JbfoPh

Author Interview: Gwendolyn Heasley, author of A Long Way from You

Please join me in welcoming Gwendolyn Heasley, author of A LONG WAY FROM YOU, as she provides us with an author interview today.

What are some of your favorite or most loved things/moments about writing A LONG WAY FROM YOU?

As difficult as editing can be, I always loved reading my editor’s letter and seeing her thoughts about how to make the story even better. Editors don’t get enough credit! They work super hard and push authors to make a good book great. I love working with my editor. But my favorite moment is when the book is done and I can talk about writing it in past tense. I love this phase because the book is actually being read and I start to get to hear reader feedback.

Both WHERE I BELONG and A LONG WAY FROM YOU have NYC and Texas as part of the scenery, what draws you to these two very different locations?

My mom is from the Bronx, and my dad is from Long Island. New York City is in my blood, and it’s where I now live. I love writing about New York City. After four years, it’s starting to feel like home. I really enjoyed writing about New York from two vastly different perspectives: Corrinne, a New York native, and Kitsy, a first-time visitor.

I have a lot of Texan friends and have visited many times. I love Texan pride and culture, so I found it very fun to write about.

How do you go about researching for your novels?

I use the Internet to its fullest. I YouTube, I Google maps, I read dozens of Wikipedia entries looking for gems. For A LONG WAY FROM YOU, I also got to go to the places Kitsy visits, so I got to see as she would see rather than have to imagine.

What do you think makes a good story?

I like stories where the characters struggle, but by the end, there’s some resolution. I also like breaking the typical romance mold and having the focus be on the character’s growth rather than a romantic relationship. (But of course, there is still romance too!)

What message in A LONG WAY FROM YOU are you hoping the readers will grasp?

Explore your passion and the world but make sure you’re not just running away.

What are some other jobs/careers you had before becoming an author?

I’ve been a student for most my life! My most rewarding summer job was the two summers I spent as a camp counselor. One day, I’d love to write a camp book.

Immediately after college, I designed and sold greeting cards, which was a blast. I no longer sell them, but perhaps I’ll do a giveaway with them some time!

I went to graduate journalism school although I’ve never officially used that degree. (It has immensely influenced by my fiction writing though!) . I also briefly worked in the literary agency business, and I also teach college in the fall in New Jersey.

Which books are on your reading pile for the summer?

I’m in grad school right now. I’m in a low-res MFA program, so I have a lot of required reading. Recently, I’ve been reading dozens of picture books. I’ve also been reading craft books, which is new for me!
That said, I’ll be spending a lot of time this summer reading beach books, which are my ultimate favorite! If there’s a beach on the cover, I’ll be reading it.

Are there any other projects you’re working on? If so, can you share a little teaser?

My next book will be neither a city girl in the country or a country girl in the city, but it will have a similar tone to WHERE I BELONG and A LONG WAY FROM YOU.

In My Mailbox {100}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Half Price Books

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Guilty Wives by James Patterson

Books via Paperback Swap

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

The Feather by Red Garnier

Books via Publisher

A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

Books via Reader Service

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods

Summer Nights by Susan Mallery

Temptation & Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone

The Wrangler by Lindsay McKenna

 

Lovestruck #Giveaway Hop {US}

Hosted by Under the Covers and Bona Fide Reflections

"Snowbound with the Billionaire" by Carole Mortimer
The last person Caro Montgomery expects at Christmas is her estranged sexy, super-wealthy husband. But this is no accidental meeting.... Jake is back for good--to win back his wife and baby Caro is determined to refuse...but a heavy snowstorm on Christmas Eve may change her plans

"Twins for Christmas" by Alison Roberts
Dr. Rory McCulloch returned to St. Bethal's Hospital to discover a truly special gift--twins Pregnant, Kate has come to terms with being a single mom, until the man she loves walks through her E.R. doors. Now she and Rory are snowbound together, on one of their toughest cases yet.

"The Millionaire's Mistletoe Mistress" by Natalie Anderson
Imogen's new boss, Ryan Taylor, is demanding, infuriating and gorgeous. But she's been burnt by a colleague before, and she's not about to commit the same mistake...no matter how tempted. However, making Imogen his mistress by Christmas is at the top of Ryan's list

 Russell Corbett was all cowboy and wasn't about to let a lady lasso him But Dulcie Hughes had him tied up in knots from the moment she nearly collided with his combine. She rode into town with her fancy rental car and city clothes to claim her secret inheritance. And neither tall tale nor handsome rancher would deter her from exposing a years-old cover-up at the Beaumont property. She expected to find answers, not fall in love. But like the threatening thunderhead on the horizon, the truth would come fast and fierce, and there would be no escaping the consequences.

""Have we met?""

Answer: a right hook Because Bryony Morgan pulls no punches. Even when she's very pregnant and facing down the father of her unborn child. She fell for wealthy hotelier Rafael de Luca when he courted her for her beachfront real estate. Then he disappeared. Now, she's in New York for answers--and she won't accept a brush-off.

But selective amnesia after a crash has Rafael puzzled. How could he ever forget a combustible beauty like Bryony? Solution: return to the island where they met, and relive the unforgettable nights in question--until he remembers everything...

Just back from a tour of duty, all Major Brant Western wanted was a hot meal and a warm bed. What he "didn't" need was the stunning socialite in disguise who'd just shown up at his family's Cold Creek ranch. Scandal trailed bad girl Mimi Van Hoyt--aka "Maura"--everywhere she went. But once Brant discovered her secret, how could he turn her away?

Being stranded in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard was not Mimi's idea of a fun time in the Tetons. Then why was she starting to think this sexy soldier could be more than her shelter from the storm? And the more determined Brant was to protect her and her unborn child, the more she believed that this honorable, irresistible military man was the only man for her.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{June 15-22, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
• Winner will be randomly selected randomly and contacted via email

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Mandatory Entries:

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Review: A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

A Midsummer's Nightmare
Kody Keplinger
Publisher: Poppy
Publish Date: June 5, 2012
Hardcover {p.291}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Whitley Johnson
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger's most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about.

Whitley has a bit of a reputation for being an easy party girl, and it doesn't seem to bother her. After a night of too much drinking she wakes up to a one-night stand she hopes to never see again, and he hopes becomes more than the one night. Only they find out they are to be future step-siblings.

Whitley was a bit difficult to warm up to at first because I was put off by her "loose" behavior. But looking past that, I did like her the majority of the time. The only time I truly did not like her was when she took her 13 year old soon-to-be stepsister to a house party and got her wasted.

Her relationship with her parents is a whole other story. Both parents were pretty selfish and hardly ever knew Whitley existed. Her mother just complains to her about her father, and her father completely ignores her when he's not using her as a drinking buddy. Plus her brother was always too busy with his new family to really have anything to do with her either. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I felt at first that her stepmother was trying too hard by always checking up on her. As I got more into it, it became clear that her stepmother was the only real adult/parent in the book.

Nathan, her one-night stand stepbrother, was a great influence on Whitley. I feel he played a large part, along with his mother and sister, in Whitley getting her act together. It felt like those three plus her new BFF Harrison were the only people who truly cared about her.

This book will have you feeling a wide range of emotions throughout. It has it all and if you loved The DUFF, then you won't be disappointed. Plus there's an appearance from Wesley and Bianca.

In My Mailbox {99}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Publisher/Publicist

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter

Review: Never Enough by Lauren Dane

Never Enough
Lauren Dane
Series: Brown Siblings #4
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Publish Date: November 6, 2011
Trade Paperback {p.310}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica
Gillian Forrester, Adrian Brown
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

ALL THE RIGHT NOTES…

Gillian Forrester spent most of her life running from who and what she came from. Until Miles came along. From the moment she held the tiny newborn her older sister didn't want, Gillian stopped running and began to build a life for herself and her adopted son. Now, thirteen years later, as Gillian's sister lay dying, she reveals the father's identity and makes Gillian promise to find him.

Adrian Brown is the epitome of the successful rock star. He's seen and done it all, with few regrets. It takes a lot to shock him but the bombshell that he has a thirteen-year-old son rocks his world. And Adrian is even more surprised when the buttoned-up, elegant woman who's raising Miles snags his erotic and romantic attention.

The last thing Gillian expected was to find herself getting hot and heavy with a person like Adrian. But as much as she wants to open up and give herself fully to this amazing man, she's afraid the secrets of her past and Adrian's problems with trusting people may keep them apart for good. If love isn't enough can they find the trust they need?

Never Enough takes you on the journey of an adoptive mother reuniting her son with his biological father. Of course the two of them fall in love along the way.

Adrian and Gillian's relationship was great on the surface, but I didn't feel it had any real depth. Sure, in the words of Adrian, they burned it up between the sheets, but that's about the only place. I never felt that they ever really got to know each other out of the bedroom.

The relationship Adrian was building with his son seemed to be going well, although as the reader you only get glimpses of it. Adrian's family is around a lot in this one, which is a great bonus. They were needed to get the full impact of Adrian making his son a part of his family. One thing that tended to bother me was how everyone seemed to overtalk every little thing. I found myself saying, "Really? Guys talk like this to each other?" Especially during some of the conversations Adrian was having with Cope and Todd.

Gillian and Adrian have their conflict in the end with her inability to open up and need to keep secrets. With Adrian's place in the entertainment business I can understand why he's wary of people who aren't truthful and upfront with him. Although they make up in the end, I still felt nothing was resolved. It just felt incomplete to me.

Waiting on Wednesday {94}: The Great Escape

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It is showcases upcoming releases of books that I'm looking forward to. It is somewhat similar to one of my previous posts, Anxiously Awaiting. {Button courtesy of Bewitched Bookworms}

The Great Escape
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
July 10, 2012

Meet the mysteriously sinister man named...Panda.

He had too long black hair that curled past his collar, cold blue eyes set above high cheekbones, and sadistic lips. After so many years of Secret Service protection, Lucy had grown used to taking her safety for granted, but she didn't feel safe now, and the fact that she dimly recognized the biker as a guest at last night's rehearsal dinner—one of Ted's odd assortment of friends—didn't exactly reassure her. Even semi-cleaned up in a dark suit that didn't fit well, a rumpled white shirt open at the collar, and motorcycle boots that appeared to have received nothing more than a dusting, he didn't look like anybody she wanted to meet in an alley. Exactly where she happened to be...