Reviewer Lisa Lickel Raves about New Romance

No Other
By Shawna K Williams
c. 2010
ISBN – 978-1-936000-53-1
A Desert Breeze eBook
Genre: WWII Era Inspirational Romance


Reviewed by Lisa Lickel

From the Publisher:

In the aftermath of WWII all Jakob Wilheimer wants is to get over his pain, get on with life, and if at all possible, forgive those who've wronged his family -- including himself. But it's hard to do when there are constant reminders. One of them being his former schoolmate, now teacher, Meri Parker -- Miss Port Delamar Pearl, Mayor's daughter, Belle of the town -- Meri Parker.

After enduring the stigma and isolation associated with the internment camp, the awkwardness of going back to school should've been a cake walk. But Jakob didn't expect to find himself inexplicably drawn to Meri. Or to discover that the pain and loneliness of her life surpassed his own. She needed to be rescued from the wretched people seeking to control her life. And more than anything, he needed to be the one to save her.

Review:

And, wow. I haven’t enjoyed a read like this since I first picked up Tamera Alexander: one where I didn’t have to edit in my head as I read along; one where I wanted to finish the book in order, without skipping ahead. The couple of historical facts I felt compelled to look up were right on. Thank you, Shawna!

Shawna’s No Other is a fairly short read, but not a light story by any means. Immediately following World War II in Texas, Shawna doesn’t spare her readers the nastiness of the era, the suspicion that pervades our culture even today. Meri and Jakob fell in love, fell into temptation, but didn’t fall in to despair. And throughout their tangled romance, even when he allowed temptation to hold sway, Jakob kept his faith firmly fixed and wanted Meri know that his God was in charge like No Other.

Shawna’s writing technique is beautiful with well-rounded characters and well-established settings. I love unusual relationships, and although I tend to be a bit squeamish about teacher-student situations, in this case, Jakob returned to finish high school after the war years and was legally of age. The scene of Jakob caring for his baby neice is one that comes back to grab me often. Shawna’s theme of temptation, failure, and forgiveness wove a firm pattern across their lives.

I read this book in pdf format with no trouble.

~ Review first appeared on Goodreads.com, Barnes and Noble.com and on http://lisalickel.com/cgi-bin/blog

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Reviewer Calls Novel about Alcoholism Riveting

Title : Intoxic

Author : Angie Gallion

Genre : General Fiction/Coming of Age

ISBN : 978-1536904055

Reviewed by Ellie Midwood -- History. Romance. War. Bestselling Author of Girl from Berlin  originally for Amazon

What a powerful story! I rarely say this about a book but this one actually emotionally gutted me; it was so dark, disturbing and almost impossible to read at times due to all the events happening to the young protagonist Ali, yet so incredibly riveting and powerful, and I couldn’t help but admire Ali’s strength.

Told from a first person POV, it tells a story of a young girl whose mother is battling alcoholism. Or, not really battling but living it, completely ignoring the crumbling effects her lifestyle has on her only daughter’s life. Utter neglect and constant emotional torture are what comes to mind while reading about a fifteen-year-old teenager who, by some twisted turn of events, happens to become the only responsible adult in this dysfunctional family. The spectrum of emotions that replace each other in Ali’s mind with yet another disappointment, another loss of job, another forgotten birthday, another new man appearing in her mother’s life who is much worse than the previous one was, is truly heartbreaking. The icing on the cake for me was this little girl thinking - on Christmas Eve - that she would have rather lived with her mother’s very first boyfriend who sexually assaulted her constantly, solely because at least she knew what to expect from him.

Yet, despite all the emotional and physical abuse, Ali’s willpower and resilience are truly worth admiration. The persistence with which she set her mind on getting out of this swamp of a life sends an incredibly powerful message to the readers, and till the very end, I rooted for Ali to get her “happily ever after” that she undoubtedly deserved. Read this book; it’s one of those stories that should be on everyone’s must-read list.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Learn more at the author's website : angiegallion

angiegallion

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Find Ellie Midwood's website. She writes history, romance and is the bestselling author of The Girl from Berlin.

Ellie Midwood -- History. Romance. War. Bestselling Author of Girl from ...

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ). This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Romance Blogger Reviews New Romance by Trish Jackson

Way Out of Line
By Trish Jackson
Author's Web site:

http://www.trishjackson.com
Genre: romantic suspense
ISBN-13: 978-1475218343
ASIN: B0084FD84I

• Reviewed by  Juanita Keys originally for
  www.mission-romance.blogspot.com.au
  
  
  When raging hormones bring young lovers Hal and Trent together one steamy summer, neither would imagine the trouble their union will bring. Despite his inner warnings, Hal finds he can't resist his attraction to the beautiful young girl he meets on a private beach. She is young - perhaps too young. Spoilt, indulged Trent, however, knows exactly what she wants and she's not about to take 'no' as answer or let something as trivial as age keep them apart. The white lie that brings them together will drive them apart in a way that they least expect.
• Jackson sets an amazing scene in the lead up to events that will change these two young lives forever. Caught in the act by her distrustful father, Hal finds out that the girl of his dreams has mislead him in the worst possible way. When you mess with the rich who have connections in Congress, you can only expect trouble - a lot of trouble. He finds himself in jail for statutory rape and the only thing that keeps him sane, is the advice of a prison guard to 'never let go of his dreams'.
• While Hal serves his time and battles his demons in prison, we're taken on a tumultuous journey that alternates between Trent's emotional derailment and Hal's experiences in confinement. Despite their brush with drugs, cults, jailhouse bullying and other nasty, character-building experiences, they never forget each other nor do they give up hope of one day being reunited again.
• Again, Jackson brings about their reunion in a very unique and unexpected way. We're taken on a fast-paced, action-packed journey around the world to the wilds of Zimbabwe and Mozambique where finally, amidst brushes with death that threaten to tear them apart again, the two are once again reunited. Nothing in WAY OUT OF LINE is what you expect. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, Jackson whips you off in a whirlwind of action that takes you to places you never imagined.
• If you're looking for a book that has it all, then this is one you should not miss. Follow Hal and Trent's journey to hell and back as they learn hard, fast lessons in the real world, experience brainwashing, drugs and the terrors of a wild country and live through it to be reunited in a love designed by Fate.
  ~Trish Jackson blogs at  http://romanticreviewramble.blogspot.com/

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Amazon Top Reviewer Gives Romantic Comedy Five Stars

Title: Lucky Dawg Meets Lucky Lucy

Author: Edward Fox

Author's Blog: https://egfoxbooks.wordpress.com

Genre: Romantic Comedy with some Paranormal

Reviewer: cc2015 (Verified Purchaser) Gave this book a 5 Star Rating

Reviewer's Rating on Amazon: Top 1000 Reviewer

e-Book & AudioBook can be purchased at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014RU6S7W

Story Published on Amazon, part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

By cc2015 TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Romance readers are in for a real treat with this book! Lucky Dawg Meets Lucky Lucy is a fun, yet sexy romance read intended for adult readers. I found Lucky Dawg's narration to be very fun and interesting, from when he was explaining the origin to his name to how he's lucky--he's definitely got a lot of personality and I found that to be very unique about this book! Also, though this is part of a series, there's no cliff hanger at the end--though I DO want more from Lucky Dawg and Lucky Lucy, it's a very satisfying read. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a hot romance read.


MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Edward G. Fox (Ed) may be found at http://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardgfox
https://www.amazon.com/author/edwardfoxhttps://egfoxbooks.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/egfox123

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 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Romance Reader Recommends Lusty Novel

Jaded Hearts

By Olivia Linden 

Author's Web site link, http://Vialinden.com

Genre: Romance
Publisher: Amazon

Rating: 5 Star 

Reviewed by Patrice, originally for Amazon

 I simply adore this book. The author weaves love, lust, hard decisions, good times and bad into a literary tapestry that encompasses the essence of both "coming of age" and coming into womanhood.

Olivia Linden tackles hard topics and issues close to the heart of both men and women. Both John and Julian come together to create the single "perfect" man of many women's dreams. While Jade comes to terms with the demons of her past and must make the choice to move past them, and choose a love that is right for her.

This book is written with elaborate yet realistic detail, laughs, sensuality, suspense, intense romance, and realism.

I recommend it for all to read!
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Romantic Science Fiction from Christine Talley

The Girl in the Bird:
Subtitle: Romance and Alien Power in the Current Middle AgesAuthor: Christine TalleyAuthor's website: http://talleychristine.wix.com/christinemtalley Genre: Fiction: romance/science fictionCopyright: 2015ISBN: 1523496673
Available on Amazon

Extracted from Sandra Woodruff's 5-star review on Amazon

"Great Read! 
"I really enjoyed the whole story line with the weaving of romance, science fiction, the SCA [Society for Creative Anachronism], and Pennsic war. . . .  I am very much looking forward to her next book! . . .  I really hated to have it end."

ABOUT THE NEW BOOK REVIEW

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Rave Review for Hackensmith's First in a Series

Name of Book: Checkmate

Author: Jean Hackensmith
Author Website Link: http://www.jeanhackensmith.com/
Genre: Action/Thriller
ISBN 13: 9781592995479
YouTube Promotional Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf-JQ2nru_g

Reviewed by Poppy originally for Long and Short Reviews 

Wow. Okay... so just... wow.

This was one of the best suspense novels I’ve read in I don’t know how long. I’ll state right off that this is not so much a romance as a suspense. There are a H/H, but the romance is fairly fully developed. At the beginning of the story Caryn and Zach are living together and are very much in love. It seems everything is rosy, right up until Caryn gets a threatening note from her ex-husband, Dan, newly released from prison for almost killing Caryn and their two children eighteen years before.
I was nearly as nervous as Caryn! The reason behind the notes from Dan is simply to terrorize Caryn, Zach and the two (now-grown) children. Each note is accompanied by increasingly escalating and threatening activities leading to the inevitable murder of Caryn and everyone she loves.

Checkmate: Eleven moves left.

Zach does everything he can to protect the woman he loves. His best friend, Brian (who is also the police chief) helps as well. But Caryn’s ex-husband is also an ex-cop, and he knows how things work. Despite all the various protections, Dan still manages to get through, still manages to frighten them, still manages to get close enough they believe they are in danger of being murdered.
Caryn’s children move. Phone numbers are changed. Guards are placed at her work. And, yet, Dan still gets to her, time and again.

Checkmate: Four moves left.

Do NOT pick up this book unless you want to finish it in one sitting. This book is non-stop excitement. Even when things aren’t happening, you expect them to be, and it’s frightening to think of what these people are going through.

Is it a perfect book? Of course not, and that's why it's not a "Best Book", but it's darn close. The author head hops (though, it’s fairly seamless, to the point where even I – a POV purist – wasn’t thrown from the story), there are some bits of dialogue that sounded a little “off”. Sometimes I think character motivation didn’t ring entirely true. But despite these small glitches (and they ARE small), this was absolutely the most enthralling book I’ve read in months. If I were a Hollywood executive, I’d option this book for a movie immediately. It’s really that good.

If you’re a fan of non-stop action with enough romance to satisfy your heart, I highly recommend you give this book a chance.



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Meander Scar
By Lisa Lickel
Inspirational Romance/Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-934912-23-2


Reviewed by Shawna K. Williams, originally for Amazon

I truly loved and appreciated this book. Every bit of it -- story, plot, writing, setting, and characters! I'll be honest, sometimes I get tired of reading another romance with a formulaic feel. (Boy meets girl, they hate each other for some reason, but they can't stop thinking about each other. They get together and everything is great for a while, but either boy or girl has some dark secret that threatens to tear them apart. It does, but then they work it out and everybody lives happily ever after.)

Okay, it's not that there's anything wrong with that. There are plenty of entertaining stories that are molded around that setup. But since I do read so many, when I come across a well written book, where the story is molded around characters and events on several different levels, I'm hooked. I'm not just hooked, I'm enamored.

And I'm enamored with Meander Scar.

Everything about it was unique. And I don't mean weird. The story had its own individual mold and that's because the pacing and drama was completely controlled by the characters. This gave it a true to life feel with plenty of depth, complexity, and total believability. And it took me on an emotional journey -- which was heart-wrenching in places -- but also moved me on a deep level.

From the very beginning Lisa Lickel gives the reader something to think about by introducing Ann's situation, where her life is in a state of limbo. From there, we get to chew on the controversy of romance and age difference. There are lessons in grief, lessons in letting go, lessons in closure and forgiveness - lessons in faith. I just loved this book!

One of the most touching parts in the story is near the end, when Mark discovers a diary of Ann's. It's a journey of her feelings and insecurities from the moment he came back into her life, and when he read it, I wanted to cry.

If any of you have read Nicholas Sparks', A walk to Remember, you may recall that it ends with a single, powerful line. There's some speculation as to what actually happens, but that line offers the reader tremendous hope. The ending to Meander Scar has a similar feel. I thought it was perfect.

Reviewer Biography:

Shawna K. Williams - Grace-Inspired Fiction
No Other, May, 2010. Desert Breeze Publishing
In All Things, Nov., 2010. Desert Breeze Publishing
Orphaned Hearts, Dec., 2010. Desert Breeze Publishing
http://shawnakwilliams.com/
http://shawnawilliams-oldsmobile.blogspot.com/

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Editor Reviews Catherine MacDonald's New Romance

Book: Seasons of the Vineyard

By Catherine MacDonald

Genre: Romance

Website: www.supernovel.com
Blog: http://supernovel.com/blog
Rating: 5 stars

Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/cywffj3

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, Editor and Virtual Assistant for Authors, originally for Amazon.

I have read and written reviews for a few books. None have left me wanting more than this book, Seasons of the Vineyard by Catherine MacDonald. If you like a strong woman character, this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down. There are twists and turns throughout. I spoke out loud in a few places. Pleading or getting angry at some of the events. But that's a sign of a great book. You get involved. You can't help it.

If you love learning too, this book will take you to wine country where the author shows you how grapes are grown and how wine is made. You know that Ms. MacDonald has done her research. It's very educational as well as a great romance. I laughed in spots and got mad in others. That's the sign of a well-written book. Ms. MacDonald has a knack for pulling you in from the beginning and makes you want more when you are finished.

This book is for women and men. Men can learn about the wine making process and how a strong woman can achieve through hard work and determination. Women will love and identify with the main character, Francesca, as she is pulled in many different directions, but finally does what she is meant to do, run a successful vineyard. I don't want to give anything away, so get the book today. You'll be glad you did.

~More about Linda Barnett-Johnson, editor and virtual assistant may be found on her Web site at  Linda Barnett-Johnson Editing Services. She is an administrative director of  LSS School of Writing, assistant editor of  Long Story Short ezine . Find her

 Blog here.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Imagination on Board Author Reviews Avon Romance

An Artful Deception
By Karen Kogan
Avalon Books
Hardcover: 216 pages
ISBN-10: 0803499175
ISBN-13: 978-0803499171
$23.95


Reviewed by Connie Gotsch

Lady Katherine wants no part of marriage to Phillip, to whom she has been pledged since childhood. But as her carriage takes her farther and farther from her girlhood home, she realizes she must either accept Phillip as her husband, or Cedric, the cousin she detests.

When the carriage turns over on a rough road and her maid dies, Lady Katherine conceives a plan to avoid both Phillip and Cedric. She will pose as the maid until she can find her own husband But Phillip turns out to be handsome and much kinder than the bullyboy she remembers . Now what?

The absolutely delightful romance, An Artful Deception of course, by Karen Cogan, published by Avalon Books.

The story twists and turns as romances do, while Lady Katherine struggles to clear up the misunderstanding she has created. With the help of a jealous servant, Cedric finds her and closes in. Phillip becomes furious when he discovers her true identity and threatens to let Cedric have her.

Predictably, Lady Katharine straightens out her mess, as good romance heroines do, but the fun of An Artful Deception comes from watching her do it. Karen Cogan has an easy-to-read style and a good sense of pacing. She balances action with just the right amount of description and dialog.

An Artful Deception is a light, cheerful, and totally fun read. It’s great for a winter night by the fire, or a warm beach in some mid-February vacation spot.

The reviewer is the author of A Mouth Full of Shell and Snap Me a Future
Featured in "The Complete Writer's Journal" --www.redenginepress.com
Learn more at www.conniegotsch.com.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
And while you're at it, as a courtesy to the author, please retweet this post:

Former Journalist Pens 5 Star Mystery--Humor, Too!

Coda to Murder

Author: J.Q. Rose

Author's Web Site: http://www.JQRose.com
Genre: Christian romance and mystery
ISBN 978-1-77127-274-2

Reviewer: Sue Pernz 

Reviewer's Link: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com/

Buy Link: Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/ap376tb

bn.com and major online booksellers.

 

 

Reviewed by Sue Pernz  originally published on amazon.com

5 star review

This review is from: Coda to Murder (Kindle Edition)

At first this seems like an ordinary murder with romance, but J.Q. Rose has brought in her usual (or should I say unusual) sense of humor. A cat, pig and kangaroo also take major parts in the story. Christine gets into all sorts of situations, both dangerous and funny, when she tries to solve the murder mystery.

I have read J.Q. Rose's books before and this is another good one. The author has that uncanny knack of putting together a serious situation with a touch of humor. Not too much, just enough to lighten the thread, without being insulting to the deceased. J.Q. Rose managed to make romance and murder a believable possibility and for this I commend her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which says a lot as I don't usually read inspirational books, but this is a definite "can't put it down" book. Well done Ms Rose, can't wait for the next book from your writing desk.

About J.Q. Rose

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction writing with her first published novella, Sunshine Boulevard, released by MuseItUp Publishing in 2011. Her latest mystery, Coda to Murder, was released in February. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. Spending winters in Florida with her husband allows Janet the opportunity to enjoy the life of a snowbird. Summer finds her camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Accidental Angel by Tess Thompson -- Romance!

Title Accidental Angel
Authors Tess Thompson (Sisters Charlene Tess and Judy Thompson)
Publisher Independently Published
Publisher Address Denver, CO

Publisher Email Address novelsbytessthompson@gmail.com

ISBN-10: 1986033988

ISBN-13: 978-1986033985

ASIN: B004WSPXVM

Price $4.99 Kindle
Page Count 309 Pages
Formats (Kindle)

Accidental Angel by Tess Thompson  (the pen name for two writing sisters, Charlene Tess and Judi Thompson) is a true romance novel in every sense of the word. Almost engaged, Dr. Shane Madden finally meets a new right girl and things develop quickly. Although he ends the superficial and materialistic relationship with Elizabeth, he doesn’t inform his new true love, Dena.

Elizabeth was the caviar and martini type who grew up in a family concerned with appearances. Shane grew up in a happy family, and was the blue jeans and outdoors type. Their relationship wasn’t meant to be, but requires quite a bit of disentanglement as Elizabeth’s father, Dr. Fitzpatrick, is the head of the hospital. Will Shane be able to continue working there if he breaks up with Elizabeth? He is threatened with his job unless she marries Elizabeth.

With her divorce almost final, Dena has moved to a small town in Colorado without giving her controlling and abusive ex the address. She begins a job as a pediatric nurse and loves to help her patients. Being a stay-at-home without children only to meet the needs of a demanding man was not what she had wanted. She is worried she may only meet abusive men.

As events unfold, she thinks Shane might be trouble. She grew up with dysfunction and abuse. Shane has a car accident and Dena pulls him out of the car before it explodes. People think Shane falls for her only because she saved his life. He knows better as he never had truly been in love before, but is not able to convince anyone, especially Dena.

Shane moves home to California. His mother, Hollywood Madden, has an at-home kennel to care for animals. His visit home provides a backdrop to know Shane is a caring and responsible person. He becomes a contract doctor to allow Dena time to think. What will she decide? 

Carolyn Wilhelm Reviewer
MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Redheads Unite! Read Upon Your Honor!

Title:  Upon Your Honor
Author:  Marie Lavender
Author's Web site link:  http://marielavender.webs.com/
Genre:  Historical Romance
ISBN:  1625260423
Name of Reviewer:  Kayla West 
Amazon Reviewer's Rating:  5 Stars
Book Publisher:  Summer Solstice Publishing
Universal Purchase Link:  http://smarturl.it/uponyourhonor

 

Reviewed by Kayla West Originally for BookLikes.com

I loved this book so much! SO MUCH!!!

I know that I have probably mentioned this before in a previous review of mine, maybe not, but ever since I was a little girl I have had this love for ships. Sailing ships. I love the terms for everything. I love the idea of being able to traverse oceans and leading a band of miscreants, and just the camaraderie that happens when you sail for months at a time. Sure. there are bad days too when it comes to the sea, but I just absolutely  it. (Okay, so my kinds of ships are normally only in books, and the groups I'm talking about are mostly pirates, not those on a trading ship like the men on La Voyageur, but it's kind of the same principle, right?) Anywho...that was one of the things I absolutely adored about this story. The fact that most of it takes place on a vessel of the seas.

I also loved the characters, mostly the supporting characters, my favorite being Gabriel's father. He just seemed like such a sweet man, and his daughter Adrienne was a bit of a firecracker in comparison. Gabriel's mother was also very sweet when it came to Chloe, and you could definitely tell she was a strong woman, considering what she herself went through for true love.

It also doesn't hurt that she was a redhead...REDHEADS UNITE!! *ahem* Sorry, kinda slipped out. And Gabriel was a redhea....AUBURN. Sorry, his and his mother's hair is auburn. The characters are kind of berating me for not getting that right. Now...where was I... Oh, yeah. I loved that I could sort of relate to those two because of hair color.

While Chloe was an integral part of the story - without her running away from her fiancé there would be no story - she definitely wasn't one of my favorite characters I have ever read. I liked her, don't get me wrong, I just sometimes felt a bit annoyed by the fact that she was SO proper, SO well brought up. At one point I just wanted her to spit on a bad guy or her fiance, just once. I was completely rooting for that to happen. That would have made my day. But other than that, she was a good character.

All in all, this was really great story. I freaked out a bunch of times while reading it, especially near the end, where...well, you'll have to read to find out. This reaction always indicates to me that whatever I am reading has to be good. At first I couldn't figure out how the other books were connected to this one, since this is the first I have read from the series, but it made me smile when I was able to connect all three with characters that I was pretty much introduced to in this second book. It reads very well on its own, but the other books are definitely on my to read list for the future.

MORE ABOUT THE AUHTOR

Learn more about Marie Lavender, Romance Author, at:  

http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/UponYourReturn
https://www.facebook.com/MagickMoonlight
https://www.facebook.com/UponYourHonor
https://www.facebook.com/WritingintheModernAge
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104926404745289477307/postshttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10ahttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavenderhttp://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00JTKTODGhttp://bookgoodies.com/a/B00IRKN5P2
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00I0D9LQ8
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos
“A true man does not need to romance a different girl every night, a true man romances the same girl for the rest of her life.” -Ana Alas

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Romance Features Alpha Male of Authors' Dreams

Title: Hex upon Me
Author: Beth Mikell
Author’s Website: http://bethmikell.wordpress.com/
Link to buy: Hex upon Me on Amazon
ISBN: 9781301159970
Genre: Fiction, romance, contemporary

Synopsis:

Savannah Deason made her workaholic status a life choice, opting out of anything resembling a relationship. Aside from the occasional bed warmer, the feisty, sarcastic executive enjoys her Gucci dreams with a champagne chaser. Until a night out on the town lands her hung over in bed with a tattooed, biker god of sin or so she labels him, anyway. But a twist of fate introduces Savannah to an ‘oh my’ god faster than her nail polish can dry.

Hexon James Montgomery is anything but normal—sexy with just enough lickable qualities to beg a saint to riot. As the third generation CEO of MK Steel, he has everything, including a piss-poor attitude upon women. Love ’em--enjoy ‘em—and then walk. Having been burned by his ex-fiancé, Hex isn’t looking for a repeat performance. Yet, Savannah aka his sarcasm princess, obliterates his single life credo until trust burns on the edge of sanity.

Excerpt:

“You know,” he whispered, “had I known last night what I know now, I could have persuaded you to stay this morning.”

She drew a sharp breath, thrown off-balance by his closeness and his sexy male scent filling more than the office. “Um…excuse me?”

He chuckled, his hand reaching out to smooth over her hip. “You heard me, princess--nothing like schmoozing the boss lady to get ahead...or at least a late slip excusing my tardiness.”

Savannah turned her dark eyes on him, attempting her death glare, but only succeeded in drowning in his playful blue eyes. The warmth of his hand on her body made her heart skip, traitor. “I know you did not just go there. You must either be incredibly arrogant or completely stupid, Mr. James. Besides, last night was a mistake, plain and simple. It’s best left forgotten, know what I mean?”

She heard herself say the words, but somehow her body wasn’t listening to the facts. Her pulse leaped through her chest and up her into throat until her parched mouth felt dryer than the Sahara Desert. Worse still, her two-timing body wanted to jump into his arms. The verdict was in…she was definitely a hussy where he was concerned.

He stood, towering over her, his hand sliding around her waist, hauling her up against his body.

Again…she fit perfectly.

He leaned his head just inches from her lips. “Tell me something, princess, if I make a liar out of you…will you forgive me?”

 About the Author:

My roots are in Florida, born and raised and I’m as American as the apple pie I learned to make about ten years ago. At thirteen, my family moved to Alabama and as the years turned into several, I traveled to many countries around the world, including the Middle East.

I fell 'in love' with love at a young age and continue to believe that love really does conquer all…or at least leave me blessedly happy by the end of a book. I adore alpha males…the my-way-or-the-highway-take-no-prisoners kind of heroes, especially when they screw up and land themselves in ‘hot water’ with the heroines. It’s what makes me read another romance. It’s the moment when the Hero comes to save the damsel in distress by assessing, fighting, and then saving. Tilting the romantic ink is my passion and sharing it, my desire.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Blog Tour and Foody Contest: Simple Sexy Foods to Stir Your Libido

Title – Simple Sexy Food - 101 Tasty Aphrodisiac Recipes and Sensual Tips to

Stir Your Libido and Feed Your Love
Author – Linda De Villers, PhD
Author's website link –  http://simplesexyfood.com/
Publisher - Aphrodite Media; 1st edition
Genre or category – Cookbooks, Food, Recipes, Relationship
ISBN-10: 097095655X
ISBN-13: 978-0970956552
Amazon Link - http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Sexy-Food-Linda-Villers/dp/097095655X
 

Do aphrodisiacs work? What exactly are they? How can I use them? We answer these questions and many more during the Simple Sexy Food virtual tour with clinical sex therapist and foodie – Linda De Villers, PhD. There are many ordinary foods that can have aphrodisiac effects – and we’re going to help you understand them.

A Message From Linda De Villers PhD

I created this book to help you enjoy the remarkable relationship between food and sex. These two themes run brightly through my own life both personally and professionally, and are inseparable from my sense of who I am. Having counseled and taught thousands of people on the loving arts, and having fed nearly as many in my kitchens over the years, I find myself in a state of barely contained excitement over the opportunity to share what I know with you. I am the only author in this field to be credentialed in both sexual health and food, having worked and presented internationally and conducted research on the joint topic over the course of my career.

Midwest Book Review –

Every culture has had its own ideas on the aphrodisiac qualities of certain foods. The abilities of some foods to enhance or stimulate human sexuality and sexual responses. Simple Sexy Food is a 247-page compendium showcasing 101 dishes to enhance the libido, spice up bedroom performance, and augment a healthy relations with a loved one. In addition to the recipes, Simple Sexy Food also provides a delineated history of aphrodisiacs, including their use and myths. Unique and thoroughly ‘user friendly’, Simple Sexy Food will prove to be a welcome addition to personal and family cookbook collections, and an ideal gift for newlyweds and the amorously adventurous!

About Simple Sexy Food –

Simple Sexy Food is an aphrodisiac cookbook like no other. Honest and direct, detailed and informative, it’s packed with exclusive recipes, food and sex tips, descriptions and histories of ingredients and even survey data about what food people find sexy. And it’s the only aphrodisiac cookbook written by a clinical sex therapist who also happens to be a foodie!

Cassanova relished the food and meals that accompanied and enhanced his love affairs: he recorded the sensual delight of special meals with his conquests; for him, food was the food of love. Why should it be different for the rest of us? Food and love, two things that sustain us physically and spiritually, have long been associated, and most of us, have a delicious memory or two of when the combination produced a moment that was nothing less than magical. With the right person, preparing and sharing a meal can be a turn-on: intimate, caring, and sensual. The rituals of cooking and dining together can cook up erotic possibilities and create intimacy and romance for all of us. Linda De Villers is a passionate cook who has traveled the world. In Simple Sexy Food, she combines her culinary knowledge with 20 years of experience as a sex and relationship expert to create a sensual self-help guide to help all couples have more magical moments in—and out—of the kitchen.

What are the essential ingredients for a romantic, sensual meal? Food that is luscious and that is especially appealing to all the senses is important; meals are truly “aphrodisiac” when they are experienced as a feast of sensual delights. But for many couples, time—not exotic ingredients—is the ultimate luxury. Getting in the mood for love requires relaxation and setting aside a moment when we can leave workday concerns aside; a little intention—whether it’s a saucy surprise or a seductive invitation—coupled with the pleasure of a special meal that appeals to all the senses can spark moments of intimacy that create all the excitement of spontaneous ones. For couples who have been together for some time, those moments can create even more intimacy, sensuality, and fun.

In its approach and philosophy, Simple Sexy Food is surprisingly simple: Eating together regularly is one factor that significantly contributes to the emotional closeness lovers experience with each other. And in today’s economy, romantic dining-out budgets are shrinking; there’s no better time to get couples in the kitchen, cooking up romance at home. In Simple Sexy Food, Dr. De Villers gives readers simple, fresh, modern recipes for seductive meals, small bites, and drinks, as well as fun, imaginative, and non-intimidating suggestions that will give even shy cooks and would-be seducers more confidence in the kitchen and the bedroom.

Simple Sexy Food redefines aphrodisiacs. In her work as a sex therapist and professor, Dr. De Villers has conducted extensive studies of current attitudes towards aphrodisiacs and the kinds of foods and meals that put modern readers in the mood. While classic aphrodisiac ingredients like oysters, pomegranates, and artichokes are provocative to the palate and the imagination, the most highly-rated romantic foods are simply delectable “passions”—luscious, suggestive foods for romance like chocolate-covered strawberries. Sushi and pasta rate highly, too, and for good reason: sushi may not be a traditional aphrodisiac, but it’s light, sensual, and undeniably sexy. In Simple Sexy Food, timeless aphrodisiac ingredients are highlighted and employed in modern recipes, but what sets Simple Sexy Food apart from other aphrodisiac cookbooks is an equal emphasis on simply delicious foods and meals that will please your partner.

Simple Sexy Food is a first: an aphrodisiac cookbook written by a relationship expert. It will provide ideas and recipes for both weeknight cooking and special occasions. On the recipe pages, it will serve up tantalizing anecdotes from her extensive surveys on how a sensual meal created a romantic moment between lovers and offer sexy serving suggestions. Because Dr. De Villers is a well-known sex therapist, it will also provide a little hand-holding—empowering advice from an expert on how to kick up your confidence a notch in the kitchen and the bedroom. Simple Sexy Food will educate and inspire readers by offering tips for making readers feel sexy before they begin, give serving tips for spicing things up romantically, and give inspiring scene and scenario setting ideas for creating truly delicious moments.

About Linda DeVillers PhD –

Linda De Villers, PhD is an internationally recognized authority on human sexuality and relationships with an emphasis on the role of exercise and diet in improving sexual function. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, and more. For a year, she wrote a monthly column in Health magazine; prior to that she was a weekly Q&A Columnist for Playboy.com. Dr. De Villers’ private practice helps individuals and couples replace sexual concerns with confidence in themselves for a richly satisfying sex life. She carries her sex-positive focus into her popular human sexuality courses offered at several major universities and colleges. A lifelong gourmet foodie and avid tennis player, she makes her home in coastal Los Angeles.

Recipe Photo Contest –

We are holding a recipe photo contest as part of the virtual tour. Details can be found at - http://www.lovecoachjourney.com/recipe-photo-contest/ . We supply the recipes, you prepare the aphrodisiac food and submit a picture of the finished recipe – for the contest. The grand prize winner will get a one-on-one aphrodisiac consultation and five runner ups will receive a digital copy of Love Skills by Linda De Villers.  Contact nikki@nikkileigh.com with questions. We show the ingredients - now show us what you can do.

Linda De Viller, PhD, Clinical Sex Therapist and Foodie, shares her knowledge about the myths and truth about aphrodisiacs. She also share over 80 recipes and a wealth of love and sex tips. Get your copy at - http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Sexy-Food-Linda-Villers/dp/097095655X/. We invite you to participate in the Simple Sexy Food Recipe Photo Contest - http://www.lovecoachjourney.com/recipe-photo-contest - the grand prize winner will get a one on one aphrodisiac consultation and five runner ups will receive a digital copy of Love Skills by Linda De Villers.

Submitted by Blog Tour Specialist Nikki Leigh:

 

Visit my new Website - http://www.nikkileighauthor.com 
Social Media Promotional Services - www.bookpromotionservices.com
Follow My Love Coaching Journey - http://lovecoachjourney.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :