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In My Mailbox: Week of November 3

Title: Driving Me to You
Author: Julie Farrell
Received: CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: When Sam meets her sister’s sexy mechanic, Verlaine, she instantly falls for those gorgeous brown eyes and rugged charms, and a secret romance begins. Unfortunately, there’s unfinished business between Sam and her monstrous childhood nemesis. No, not her sister Gemma, but her late-father’s beloved Bentley.
Gemma is struggling to save the family vintage-car business, and it doesn’t help that little sis has just swanned back home, with no intention of helping. Gemma knows the only solution is to involve Sam’s old flame, the charismatic venture capitalist, Marcus Priestley. But Marcus is compelled to win Sam back, and he certainly won’t let the hired help muscle-in.
Verlaine is Gemma’s sexy mechanic, who’s trying to blag it as a chauffeur. But he’s so bad at tying his necktie, he looks like a stripper at a hen night. Working with Gemma’s vintage cars is his dream job, but things get complicated when he falls for the boss’s sister and sets himself up as rival to Marcus. Then the road trip adventure from London to Brighton beach begins!
Who will Sam choose in the love triangle? The penniless new love or the wealthy ex? And how will she tame the Bentley, to become the strong and powerful woman that she’s always known she could be?
This charming comedy covers modern issues for modern women, such as dating, relationships, careers, friendship, and, of course, love.

Title: White Lies
Author: Emily Harper
Received: Emily Harper
Synopsis: Imagine standing in line at Harvey Nichols waiting to buy the most gorgeous silk Gucci dress. The only minor problem? You can’t afford it, it’s a size smaller than you are, and you have absolutely no place to wear it.
Meet Natalie Flemming: a twenty-something woman working in London for a fabulous shoe-designing firm, but the only thing they let her touch is the company’s tax forms. She has decided to give fate a vacation and takes the task of finding the man of her dreams (or Johnny Depp if he would just return her calls…) into her own hands.
She craves adventure, spontaneity, passion- or will just settle for a decent date.

Title: Love & Limoncello
Author: Alexandra Sage
Received: Alexandra Sage
Synopsis: Disgruntled City lawyer Alessia Vincenzi is bullied at work by the boss from hell and increasingly frustrated with her volatile love life revolving around commitment-phobe Matt and reserved workaholic Josh.

When Alessia is made redundant following a drunken email rant at her bosses, she quickly takes up her cousin Luca’s offer to spend the summer at his luxury villa in Sorrento, and attend the high-profile opening of his new restaurant, ‘Decadenza’.

Disappointed when work prevents Josh from spending a week at the villa with three other friends – Sophie, Charles and Giles – Alessia soon meets hard-up but hunky gardener Antonio, and handsome but intense artist Giancarlo, and tries her hand at making limoncello as a money-making scheme to help Antonio.

Following a disastrous date with Giancarlo, things get increasingly complicated when Josh unexpectedly flies out to Sorrento, and it soon becomes clear that a disturbing secret ties Alessia’s family with Giancarlo’s, threatening Alessia’s chances with Josh, and leading to potentially fatal consequences.

Title: Broken
Author: CJ Lyons
Received: Sourcebooks
Synopsis: For Scarlet Killian, every day is a game of Russian roulette—she has a 1 in 5 chance of dying…

New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons makes her YA debut with a fast-paced thriller sure to keep readers guessing to the very last page.

Fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has one chance for a normal life. Only problem? It just might kill her. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, Scarlet has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. Scarlet has come to terms with the fact that despite the best efforts of her doctors and parents, she’s going to die. Literally of a broken heart. So when her parents offer her a week to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now… or never.

Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But for the first time in her life she makes real friends. She also makes new discoveries about the truth behind her illness… a truth that might just kill her before her heart does.

Title: Dangled Carat
Author: Hilary Grossman
Received: Hilary Grossman
Synopsis: Hilary had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship—why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn’t ready—and their friends’ meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year’s Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

In this relatable, lighthearted, and playful memoir, Hilary reminisces about her life before Marc—from the insecure and awkward teenage years she spent in a back brace and dealing with the loss of her father, to her early relationships and, finally, to the day she met Marc and realized that she really wanted to see him again. Through their first date—even though Hilary was technically seeing someone else at the time—and the ease of their early time together until Marc first decided that they were moving too quickly, up until that fateful New Year’s Eve, Hilary shares the details of their relationship and how Marc’s inability to commit led her to find an inner strength and confidence she didn’t know she possessed.

For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary’s humorous and honest story will hit home.

Title: Christmas Bliss
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Received: Tandem Literary
Synopsis: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Savannah was breezy
But there’s trouble afoot – and it’s heading toward Weezie.
Seems BeBe’s been holding a big secret back
that would make Santa’s reindeer stop dead in their tracks.
Can these two best friends wriggle out of these twists?
Will they do it in time to ensure CHRISTMAS BLISS?

Return to the wonderful world of Mary Kay Andrews’ Savannah with Christmas Bliss.

Book Review: Spirits of Christmas by Nicky Wells

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction.

Unwitting at first, Jude has progressively alienated his band and driven away the love of his life. Tonight, the night before Christmas Eve, he has broken the final taboo during a disastrous gig. Yet Jude doesn’t see how badly his life has derailed, not until a ghostly procession of legends passes through his bedroom with a series of vivid and powerful wake-up calls.

Will the Spirits help Jude put the friendship, love, and rock music back into his Christmas?

Spirits of Christmas is a modern-day rock’n’roll adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. This novella will enchant romance readers, rock lovers, fans of ghost stories, and everybody who adores the festive season.
Review:
I’m just a big ole fan of Nicky Wells, and her latest story is a short and sweet treat. It’s also a classic Wells book, with the main man being in a band and hoping to reach rockstar-dom. I loved the addition of Dan Hunter popping up, and if you haven’t read the Rock Star Romance trilogy novels, you really should! I loved the modern take on a classic tale, and this cute novella took me just a day to read and really got me in the Christmas spirit. If you’re looking for something quick and festive, check this one out!
4 stars
Buy the Book!
Amazon.co.uk Kindle | Amazon.co.uk Paperback
Amazon.com Kindle | Amazon.com Paperback
About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Hi! I’m Nicky Wells, your ultimate rock chick author. My books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity ~ rock, pop, movie or other ~ you’ll connect with my heroes and my leading ladies!

Like my first leading lady, Sophie, I love listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When I’m not writing, I’m a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!

My books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

Join me: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest
EXCERPT

‘Hiya, Jude!’
The voice emerged from the door, and Jude’s head whipped round as if drawn by a string.
‘Hiya, Jude,’ the voice repeated cheerfully. Unexpectedly, it launched into the first line of one of Jude’s most favourite songs. Jude once again sank onto the bed, his legs refusing to carry him with the shock of this second apparition.
‘Is this really you?’
For a moment, Jude’s second otherworldly visitor abandoned his song and remained silent, motionless, allowing Jude to take a good, long look. The sideburns, the nose, the defined chin, the round glasses were clearly visible despite the spirit’s transparent appearance. Everything about this figure was familiar, yet nothing was quite as it should have been. It was as though Jude was looking at a hologram, a distorted, stretched vision where nothing quite fitted together.
Nonetheless, Jude found his voice. ‘Oh my God, it is you!’
Excitement made his exclamation strong and clear. The figure flinched at the sudden burst of noise, but Jude ploughed on. ‘This is…this is totally unreal. I mean, imagine this—here’s me in my bedroom, and there’s you, come to visit me.’
‘I’m not who you think you see,’ the apparition interrupted. ‘I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past.’
Connect with Nicky!
http://nickywells.com/

https://twitter.com/WellsNicky

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Wells-Author/240322162658246

http://www.amazon.com/Nicky-Wells/e/B005CGMAY6/

http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/index.php/about/author/nicky_wells

http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/nickywells

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047973.Nicky_Wells

http://pinterest.com/nickywellsrocks/

Blog Tour Sign Up: Life in Plan B by Jennifer …

When twenty-eight year old Haley Simpson, a sales associate for her best friend’s clothing boutique in Columbus, Ohio, begins a secret affair with the boutique’s potential New York City business partner, she digs a cavernous hole of deception that not only threatens to end her blossoming career, but to destroy a life-long friendship.

Jennifer Vessells’s debut novel, LIFE IN PLAN B, encompasses everything classic chick lit should: the dynamics of friendship, the nuances of high-reaching career aspirations, and the struggles – both usual and unique – presented by romantic and familial relationships. An entertaining story at every turn, LIFE IN PLAN B is identifiable for readers of any age. In short, Ms. Vessells hits her debut novel out of the park!

On Tour: Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr

Meredith will be on tour November 4-25 with her novel Blogger Girl What happens when your high school nemesis becomes the shining star in a universe…

On Tour: Won’t Last Long by Heidi Joy Tretheway

Heidi will be on tour November 4-22 with her novel Won’t Last Long Can two people who are totally wrong for each other ever be right? …

Book Review: Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda …

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
How far would you go to make a new start? Heart-warming and romantic, Take a Look at Me Now will make you laugh, cry and cheer Nell on from start to finish.
What a difference a day makes…
Nell Sullivan has always been known as ‘Miss Five-Year Plan’. But when she finds herself jobless and newly single on the same day, Nell decides it is time to stop planning and start taking chances.
Nell blows her redundancy cheque on a trip of lifetime to a place where anything is possible – San Francisco. There she meets a host of colourful characters, including the intriguing and gorgeous Max. Very soon the city begins to feel like Nell’s second home.
But when it’s time to return to London, will she leave the ‘new Nell’ behind? And can the magic of San Francisco continue to sparkle thousands of miles away?
Review:
I quite enjoyed this book, though the plot twist left me with mixed feelings. But let me tell you what I really loved about this book first. The San Francisco descriptions have left me begging my husband to let us book a trip there. Really nice work by the author setting the scene and giving us a taste of the wonderful city. It was so great to read about the relationship between cousins. It reminded a bit of my relationship with one of my cousins, someone who has been there for me so many times throughout our lives and I know I can turn to when I need advice or an ear. I did like the plot twist because I really didn’t see it coming, and it gave a good shakeup to what I thought would be a predictable ending. What I didn’t like so much was after the plot twist and the predictability that followed there. It was quite obvious what the reasoning was behind Max’s secret, so Nell came off pretty silly after that. One other thing – I understand the author is British and it would make sense for Nell and even her cousin to use British slang and terms, but everyone did in the book, including those living in San Fran who should not. That bothered me a bit and made it feel a little less realistic. But there was still so much I liked about the book that I can’t help but give it 4 stars!
4 stars

In My Mailbox: Week of October 27

Title: The Art of Being Rebekkah
Author: Karoline Barrett
Received: Via CLP Blog Tours
Synopsis: When Rebekkah Gelles suspects her husband, Avram of not only lying to her, but also contriving not to have the children she so desperately wants and embezzling money from his business, she wants out of their marriage. Her life gets complicated when she falls in love with detective Nick Rossi. Convinced Nick’s wrong for her—he’s not Jewish for one thing—she walks away after they share a night of passion. Nick warns her even though he loves her, he won’t beg. Their budding relationship seems to have ended. When Rebekkah finds herself staring at a positive pregnancy test, she wavers between joy and sadness. Motherhood wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

Title: The Sister Season
Author: Jennifer Scott
Received: Penguin Group
Synopsis: Sometimes coming home for the holidays isn’t as easy as it seems….

It’s December 21, and the Yancey sisters have been called home. When the girls were young, holidays at their family farm meant a tinsel-garnished tree, the scent of simmering food, and laughter ringing through the house. But as the years unfolded, family bonds fractured, and the three sisters scattered and settled into separate lives. Until now. The Yancey sisters are coming to spend the holidays with their mother. They’re also coming to bury their father.

Claire, the youngest, a free spirit who journeyed to California, returns first. Then comes Julia, the eldest, a college professor with a teenage son of her own. And finally there’s Maya, the middle child, who works so hard to be the perfect mother and wife.

During the sisters’ week together, old conflicts surface, new secrets emerge, and the limits and definitions of family are tested. And as the longest night of the year slips by and brightening days beckon, the sisters will have to answer one question: When you’re a sister, aren’t you a sister forever?

Title: Where the Pink Houses Are
Author: Rebekah Ruth
Received: Rebekah Ruth
Synopsis: When unthinkable tragedy strikes, will Brenna and her mother-in-law, Anna, find healing half a world away amid the green Irish hills? Brenna begins to think she may be able to build a new life in a new land when Anna’s eccentric family welcomes her with open arms. But it’s in the arms of the town heartbreaker, Luke Dillon, that she begins to wonder if she can truly fall in love again.

Luke is a handsome charmer who’s used to getting what he wants. Just talking to him ties Brenna’s stomach in knots and sets her cheeks ablaze. He’s persistent too. She tells him she’s not interested but he doesn’t listen. Secretly, she loves his attention but something tells her to be careful. Is he good for her or will a relationship with him lead her straight into more heartbreak?

As if one confusing relationship isn’t enough, when Brenna meets Ryan Kelly she’s instantly drawn to him. He’s like no guy she’s ever met. While every guy in town has been asking her out, Ryan doesn’t seem to have any romantic interest in her at all. He’s much older than she is and he’s only interested in friendship–yet she can’t stop thinking about him.

Brenna questions her sanity when she finds herself falling for two very different men at the same time. As always, Anna has comforting and wise advice but Brenna needs to decide for herself as she struggles to understand God’s plan for her life. Should she give in to Luke’s attentions? Will her new friendship with Ryan become something more? Or will events that none of them can foresee take her life down a frightening new path?

Title: Suburban Underbelly
Author: Michele Theron
Received: Michele Theron
Synopsis: For suburban moms Quinn, Jill, and Lucy, freedom from motherhood as a competitive sport starts innocently enough: three hours a week without kids. And what could be the harm in indulging a fantasy or two? Before they know it, things are careening way out of control. Sexy, snarky, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny, SUBURBAN UNDERBELLY takes you on the ride of a lifetime with the best friends we all wish we had.

Title: Because of You
Author: Kathryn Starke
Received: Kathryn Starke
Synopsis: Lilly, the main character, never wanted to settle, not in her education, her career, and especially not in her relationships. She observes the countless number of couples in her circle of family and friends, but is unsure if marriage is actually for her. At thirty-one, she is convinced she has finally found the man of her dreams. It is not until her actual wedding day, when she shares a conversation with a mysterious stranger in a hotel elevator, that she begins to question her “happily ever after.” An instant connection with this new male leads her to doubt what and who she believes in. She recalls flashbacks of her courtship with fiance Patrick Wellington and begins to wonder if she is indeed settiling for the first time in her life, which scares her to no end. Lilly struggles internally with her decision and begins debating between two lifestyles. Will Lilly marry Patrick or will she ultimately start her search for love all over again?

United Authors of Chick Lit

What a fun and clever idea United Authors of Chick Lit is! The event was happening all this week and ends today, and I’ve been following…

Book Review: Coming Home For Christmas by Jenny Hale

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet story centered around Christmas time…the time of miracles, sometimes a miracle is something as simple as someone getting a broken family to heal and remember how much they love each other. Sometimes the miracle is disguised as a strong headed woman that doesn’t understand why a family that obviously loves each other so much can’t seem to mend broken fences. Allie is the miracle in the story and her part in their story was refreshing.
This was also a sweet love story, one that throughout the book it is hard to tell which brother Allie will end up falling in love with. In the end, it is of course the one meant to be.
This was a great read and refreshing from so many that I often read that are listed as romance. There was true romance in this story and it was a refreshing innocent one that you can help but fall in love with.