On Tour: Identity Break by Stifyn Emrys
Stifyn will be on tour May 13-27 with his novel Identity Break How far would you go to find yourself? Imagine everything you thought you…
Book Review: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods
I received a copy of Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods in exchange for an honest review.
Sand Castle Bay is the first in the Ocean Breeze trilogy which revolve around the Castle Sisters and their dear, sweet Grandmother, Cora Jane. Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The baby of the trio, she desperately wants to prove herself, even if that means leaving behind Boone, the man who stole her heart. But when fate steps in and takes her back home after a hurricane hits too close to home, she finds herself back right where she left off. She helps her sweet grandmother rebuild her restaurant but she doesn’t expect to run into Boone. Things aren’t quite what they seem though as things are complicated with Boone because he is a widower with a young son now and in-laws who will stop at nothing. Although things are tumultuous, Emily and Boone feel the spark between them, even after all of these years. But, will that be enough to see them through a second chance at love? Or is their relationship forever doomed?
Whoa! This book was a ton of fun and I instantly fell in love with the writing and the characters. Emily and Boone have so much chemistry and sexual tension that it practically jumps off the page. First of all, I love stories like this where the characters are granted a second chance at something and this love story is no exception. I absolutely loved Boone and thought that he was handed the rough end of the stick but I was rooting for him the whole time. I desperately wanted him to find his happily ever after. I must say that I have been a fan of Sherryl Woods for a while though, so I wasn’t surprised that I loved the book so much. But, needless to say, I am so very excited that I have the next two books sitting at home, waiting for me.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Blog Tour Sign Up: His Fantasy Maid by Susan Blexrud
On the eve of Jake Sinclair’s bachelor party, his best man surprises him with a fantasy maid named Amy. Clad in a bikini, she cleans his house and jump starts his heart. She’s beautiful, smart, and compassionate. Why is a woman like this working as a fantasy maid? A few days later, with thoughts still distracted by the enigmatic Amy, Jake crashes his car and wakes in the hospital emergency room where his fantasy maid is now wearing scrubs and wielding a stethoscope. Is she an hallucination, or is his fantasy maid a doctor?
Author Profile: Donna Joy Usher
Author Name: Donna Joy Usher
Website: http://donnajoyusher.com/
Bio: Born in Brisbane, I started my working life as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling I discovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now I drill by day and write by night.
When not doing either of those things I like spending time with my husband and two little dogs, fishing and camping, motorbike riding, traveling, drinking wine on my deck and eating chocolate. Last year I ran my first half marathon and took up paddle boarding.
I have lived in a myriad of places: Melbourne, Perth, England, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs, Sydney, Cairns and am now situated on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Titles: The Seven Steps to Closure
Visit Donna’s tour page!
See my 4.5 star review for The Seven Steps to Closure
CLP Blog Tours Book Review: Appetites by Karen Frankola
Karen Frankola is on tour now with Appetites and CLP Blog Tours. The novel follows the lives of Sarah and Max, two sisters leading very dysfunctional lives. Each are struggling with their own addiction – Sarah is a binge eater who is overweight, and Max is an alcoholic that can’t say to drinking or drugs. When Sarah hears from Harry, an ex-fiancé , she decides it’s time to change her life – and she needs to take drastic measures. The sisters sign an agreement stating Sarah will live in Max’s basement and follow a diet plan of delivered meals. But there’s more – Sarah will be locked in the basement and not allowed out for months, forcing her to stick with the diet plan and not binge eat. But Max’s drinking causes her to forget about Sarah and Sarah figures a way out of the basement. Not only does Sarah slip a few times when she is out on her own, but she also forms an obsession with Max’s on and off boyfriend. The sister’s relationship, already rocky, only worsens with their new living situation. Will Sarah and Max be able to get the help they need to live a healthy lifestyle?
This was a highly interesting to read. To be able to get into the mind of not only an over-eater but an alcoholic made me learn a lot about the diseases and how truly awful they can be. The dynamic between Sarah and Max was fascinating. Sometimes I truly wondered if they would come to blows, but in the next moment they seemed to genuinely care for one other. I think Frankola captured a real picture of sisterhood and how one can know exactly which buttons to push to get results, when you’ve gone too far, and how you know that no matter what, your sister will always be by your side. I will say this book is not for everyone, with strong language, drug use, and a lot of graphic sex scenes, but I thought it was a great read. This was a very well-written and thought-provoking novel, and I highly recommend.
4.5 stars
Future Tour: Tainted Love by Erin Cawood
Erin will be on tour June 17-28 with her novel Tainted Love For anyone in a relationship, the words ‘we need to talk’ can only…
In My Mailbox: Week of May 5
Title: Tales from the Laundry Pile
Author: Kathleen Kole
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: Claire Jamieson has moved back home to Boxwood Hills… And, she’s not alone. Trailing behind her overworked laundry basket is her husband and their energetic twin boys. Claire had always thought that once she’d left the nest, she’d never return. Now that she has, she’s wondering what type of bird that makes her… Cuckoo? When she has a moment to pause and catch her breath, she’ll let you know.
When GIrlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah PageTitle: When Girlfriends Chase Dreams
Author: Savannah Page
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story.
Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She’s got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?
The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can’t go wrong. Whether it’s wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire’s friends are there in a pinch.
But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she’s starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricy dream wedding planner isn’t turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that’s supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?
This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It’s a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn’t). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.
Love Rehab by Jo PiazzaTitle: Love Rehab
Author: Jo Piazza
Received: From Jo Piazza
Synopsis: For anyone who has ever overdosed on love—or planned the wedding before the second date—Jo Piazza’s dazzling debut novel is a must-read. Cyber-stalking, drive-bys, drunken text messaging, creating fake email accounts—you’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to love. Sophie isn’t dealing with her breakup well. Dumped by her boyfriend, Eric, for his sexting, D-cupped, young Floozy McSecretary, Sophie leaves Manhattan and lands back in her hometown, crushed and pajama-clad, blaming herself and begging her ex for a second chance. But when her best friend, Annie, gets in trouble for driving drunk and is forced to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, something clicks in Sophie’s strung-out mind. Women need love rehab, she realizes, to help fix the craziness that comes along with falling for someone. If you start it, they will come. When she opens up her home to the obsessed and lovelorn, Sophie finds a way to help women out there who have overdosed on the wrong men—and she saves herself in the process. Love is a drug and the only things that can save us are the steps, rules, and one another. Step one: Admit you have a problem, and keep the hell away from Facebook.
seaglassTitle: Sea Glass Island
Author: Sherryl Woods
Received: Amy Bromberg
Synopsis: Under summer skies, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods evokes family, friendship and heartfelt emotion
With her two younger sisters heading for the altar, will Samantha Castle exchange old dreams for new ones? Lately she’d rather be on the North Carolina coast with family than in New York with agents and actors. Though she vows not to let her teenage crush on Ethan Cole influence her decision, it’s hard to ignore her feelings for the local war hero.
Ethan lost more than his leg in Afghanistan. He lost his belief in love. Even being surrounded by couples intent on capturing happily-ever-after won’t open this jaded doctor’s heart. It’s going to take a sexy, determined woman—one who won’t take no for an answer.
On Tour: Cookies for Dinner by Pam Johnson-Bennett and Kae …
Pam & Kae will be on tour May 6-27 with their novel Cookies for Dinner Pam and Kae are good friends but total opposites. Pam…
CLP Blog Tours Promo Blast: Lori Verni-Fogarsi
Lori Verni-Fogarsi is currently on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Unexpecting, but that is not all this busy author has going on! In order…
