Book Review: No Hero by Mallory Kane

No Hero by Mallory Kane

New Orleans Finest - Book Two - by Mallory Kane

Author: Mallory Kane
Genre: Category – Romantic Suspense
Length: 309 pages
Release Date: June 2012
Imprint: Dead Sexy
ISBN: 978-1-62266-939-4

My rating: 5.0/5.0

My Review:

From the first page until the last No Hero provided me with the taut suspense that I love in a romantic suspense book. The emphasis in this book is on the suspense, but don't let that fool you, there is definitely heat between Reghan and Dev and you feel it page after page. But what I felt most was the driving need to find out who the bad guy was and how the book would turn out. That is what kept me turning the pages.

Dev and Reghan are great characters. Dev had a flawed childhood and he's trying to make up for it now. Reghan's view of the world is skewed and she believes that there can be no heroes and everyone has something to hide. Add to this interesting chemistry the fact that these two have kissed in the past so there is some definite sparks going between them and you definitely have the romance heating up. But I liked each character on their own. Dev wants to do what is right and he cares. Reghan is trying to do what she thinks is right but learns through experience about caring for people. It makes a great story right there with just their experiences, but it's not limited to that.

Then Ms. Kane adds in the extraordinarily plotted suspense storyline. Who is killing the boys that Dev is getting off the streets. You think it's obvious who is pulling the strings, but who is actually doing it? That is the question that haunted me through the reading. And wow, Ms. Kane can take you on quite a ride in a little less than 200 pages. A lot is packed into this book and it is very hard to put down. The thrills and chills keep coming until almost the very last page where things are tied up nicely. No complaints here at all with how the suspense was handled, especially for a shorter book. Ms. Kane doesn't waste time, she jumps right in and then gives backstory when it's necessary and it works really well.

Suspense that is spine-tingling mixed with romance that sparks is a great mix and No Hero has it in spades. I loved this book and can't say enough. As one of the books launching the Dead Sexy imprint for Entangled Publishing I know I will be checking out more of this line and I will also be checking out more of Ms. Kane's work. I'm not sure how I missed her in the past, but I will make sure to rectify that situation soon.

About No Hero:

A darkly handsome New Orleans detective who insists he’s no hero is blindsided by his one-time lover, a sexy investigative TV reporter who exposes his secret troubled past to the whole world…and nearly costs him his job. When the at-risk teens he mentors start turning up dead, his vow to protect the other kids hits a major snag…his only clue to finding the determined killer is held by the one woman he never wants to see again. Compelled to work together to solve the vicious murders before another child dies, their passion reluctantly reignites, and their mutual mistrust slowly turns to respect as she realizes there’s much more to being a hero than outward appearances, and his deeply wounded heart gradually opens to the possibility of love.

Contact or visit Mallory any of the following ways:
mallory@mallorykane.com
http://www.mallorykane.com
http://www.facebook.com/mallorykane
https://twitter.com/#!/mallorykane
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/no-hero/

***I received this book from the Entangled Publishing for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Author Interview: Mallory Kane (No Hero)

Today I welcome Mallory Kane, author of No Hero, a new ebook from Entangled Publishing's Dead Sexy imprint.  I had the pleasure of reading No Hero and it's a great book full of suspense and romance just what I love. My review will be coming later today, but first come get to know Mallory a little better and find out a little more about No Hero.

Describe the area you write in.
I usually write in our guest room, which has a comfortable chair and ottoman and a comfortable bed. Our house is a split-level, and the view out the guest room windows looks like the view from a treehouse. It's lovely in every season.

What's your favorite season?
Fall. I adore watching the leaves change and feeling the cool, crisp weather. The days are beautiful and the nights are chilly and perfect for cuddling.

Describe your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).
My idea reading space is a second story room in an old house in the South of France. It has a small balcony that looks over a lovely town square with a stone fountain and old olive trees. On the other side of the square is a boulangerie where I can buy bread every morning to eat with my coffee. Pretty vinyards and lavendar fields can be seen in the distance.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
This summer we went to the South of France, as described above, and to Italy. I would love to go back there and spend an entire summer.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote my first poem, Miss Mousie Had A Tea Party, at around age eight and my first short story, a romantic suspense about a girl who visited a dude ranch, met a bad boy, falsely accused, solved a mystery and experienced her first kiss, at around age thirteen.

What's the first sentence of No Hero?
The fog off the river swirled around the lone figure as he stepped onto the abandoned wharf.

Do you have a favorite line in No Hero?
Actually I have a bunch of favorite lines. One of them is my hero Dev, in answer to a question he's asked by the heroine, Reghan Connor.
(Reghan)     "I thought you didn't watch my show."
(Dev)          "I don't. I'm a detective. I have people watch for me and report back."

Tell us what is No Hero about.
Teenagers are being murdered in New Orleans. Not just any teens, teens from Detective Devereux Gautier's Johnson Center for Homeless Teens. Dev is determined to catch the killer before any more kids are killed, but he has no leads. Then Reghan Connor shows up, telling him she knows who the killer is. He'd be more inclined to believe her if she hadn't exposed the past he'd worked for 20 years to hide on her TV news show. But when another teen is murdered, Dev begins to realize that Connor may have the key to catching the killer. But she nearly destroyed his career and his life once. If he works with her on this case, what will stop her from doing it again?

Dish, who’s your favorite character?
Oh, my favorite character is Dev. He's my favorite hero ever! He's been in my head for a long time. Now at last he's getting his own book.

How did you feel when you finished No Hero?
Relieved, exhausted, excited, wrung-out, satisfied, and really really proud of myself for getting it done.

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?
Thanks for asking. Right now, in addition to No Hero from Entangled, I have a Harlequin Intrigue on the shelves in June. It's called Death of a Beauty Queen. My next releases from Harlequin will be an anthology called Bayou Justice in March of 2013, The Prosecutor's Star Witness in April and Special Forces Father in May of 2013. My next book from Entangled Publishing will be (tentative title) No Saint, As yet, we don't have a publication date.

Thanks Mallory!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed by you. These questions have been really fun.

Contact or visit Mallory any of the following ways:
mallory@mallorykane.com
http://www.mallorykane.com
http://www.facebook.com/mallorykane
https://twitter.com/#!/mallorykane
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/no-hero/

No Hero

New Orleans Finest - Book Two - by Mallory Kane

Author: Mallory Kane
Genre: Category – Romantic Suspense
Length: 309 pages
Release Date: June 2012
Imprint: Dead Sexy
ISBN: 978-1-62266-939-4



A darkly handsome New Orleans detective who insists he’s no hero is blindsided by his one-time lover, a sexy investigative TV reporter who exposes his secret troubled past to the whole world…and nearly costs him his job. When the at-risk teens he mentors start turning up dead, his vow to protect the other kids hits a major snag…his only clue to finding the determined killer is held by the one woman he never wants to see again. Compelled to work together to solve the vicious murders before another child dies, their passion reluctantly reignites, and their mutual mistrust slowly turns to respect as she realizes there’s much more to being a hero than outward appearances, and his deeply wounded heart gradually opens to the possibility of love.

Waiting On Wednesday (28)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's selection comes from one of my favorite suspense authors.  I found her a few years ago and now I can't get enough of her so of course I am eagerly waiting for her newest:

Criminal by Karin Slaughter (Georgia #4)

Release Date:  July 3, 2012

Karin Slaughter’s new novel is an epic tale of love, loyalty, and murder that encompasses forty years, two chillingly similar murder cases, and a good man’s deepest secrets.

Will Trent is a brilliant agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Newly in love, he is beginning to put a difficult past behind him. Then a local college student goes missing, and Will is inexplicably kept off the case by his supervisor and mentor, deputy director Amanda Wagner. Will cannot fathom Amanda’s motivation until the two of them literally collide in an abandoned orphanage they have both been drawn to for different reasons. Decades before—when Will’s father was imprisoned for murder—this was his home. . . .

Flash back nearly forty years. In the summer Will Trent was born, Amanda Wagner is going to college, making Sunday dinners for her father, taking her first steps in the boys’ club that is the Atlanta Police Department. One of her first cases is to investigate a brutal crime in one of the city’s worst neighborhoods. Amanda and her partner, Evelyn, are the only ones who seem to care if an arrest is ever made.

Now the case that launched Amanda’s career has suddenly come back to life, intertwined with the long-held mystery of Will’s birth and parentage. And these two dauntless investigators will each need to face down demons from the past if they are to prevent an even greater terror from being unleashed

What are you waiting on this week? 

Author This or That: Kristina McBride (One Moment)

Today I welcome Kristina McBride to My Reading Room.  She's here to answer This or That.  Welcome Kristina!

Breakfast or Brunch? Breakfast
Sedan or Sports Car? With 2 kids? Definitely a sedan.
Laptop or Ipad? Laptop – specifically my MacBook Air.
High Heels or Flip Flops? Flip Flops!
Trip around the world or trip to the moon? To the moon, please.
M&Ms: Peanut or Plain? Plain! Peanuts and chocolate? Not a good match. (I know a majority of the world would disagree with that statement, but I’m not afraid to go against the flow.)
Hair: Short or Long? Long.
Necklace or Bracelet? Neither.
Take a walk or go to the gym? Depends on if it’s raining. I’d prefer to go for a hike in the woods, but I’m always up for the gym.
Out to Eat or Take Out? Eat in.
Sunrise or Sunset? Either.
Math or English? Ha! English. Without a doubt. (I still remember walking – or should I say skipping – away from my last math class in college. Oh, happy day!)
Dogs or Cats? Dogs. I have a cat allergy :/
Spring or Fall? I can’t answer that. If I say spring, I’ll feel like I’m cheating on fall. If I say fall, I’ll feel like I’m cheating on Spring. And what about summer? Totally left out! There’s winter, too, ya know?

Book Review: The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd

My Review

The Secret Keeper is another very enjoyable historical novel by Sandra Byrd.  After enjoying To Die For so much last year I could not wait to get my hands on this one.  And I'm thankful to say I was able to read this one in air-conditioned comfort (I read To Die For after Hurricane Irene came through and our power was out for several days and anyone that has been through a hurricane knows it's always horribly hot and humid after one).

I must say I knew Henry VIII had many wives and I knew about Anne Boleyn who To Die For was peripherally about.  But I did not know about Kateryn Parr.  The Secret Keeper is about Kateryn Parr, or more about one of her ladies, Juliana St. John.  I love this series of books and getting to know how the court works.  I mean Ms. Byrd could have told the story from the point-of-view of the wife, but she chose to tell it from one of the ladies-in-waiting in each book and I really like it.  The intrigue, the fashion, the secrets, the scandal, the rules.  It's all in there and makes a fascinating book.  So this is about Kateryn, Henry's last wife.  I love her as a character, furthering the reformation work and trying to stay alive, but also she was a sweet mothering lady.  I also really loved Juliana.  She just wants to do right by Kateryn and those around her.  She is looking for love and approval and finds it from Kateryn.  She also finds love in a member of the court who comes and goes in her life, but is he the right one for her?  You'll have to read the story to find out.

The plot was a little looser in this book than in To Die For, or maybe I just had more going on, I'm not sure.  I felt a little lost at times.  A lot of people with the same names or similar names and I was a little confused at times.  But I kept going and it was well worth it. There is a lot of intrigue and suspense in this book.  I found it fascinating so even if it seems a little confusing at times, keep going, it will be well worth it.  Through the book Ms. Byrd was able to tie it all back together and make it interesting to me.  And wow, I can't believe how much went on in one book.

The Secret Keeper has great characters and an interesting plot that will keep you reading through the day and night.  If you love reading about this time period then Ms. Byrd is an excellent author to add to your list.  I can't wait until the next book in this series.  And though I refer to it as a series.  You do not need to read it in order, they do not rely on each other.  Each book is a stand-alone, but each book is about a lady-in-waiting to an important woman, for the first two books, it's two wives of Henry VIII.  I believe the next book will be about Elizabeth I who does make an appearance in this book as well.

My Rating: 4.25/5.0

About The Secret Keeper:  A Novel of Kateryn Parr

The author of To Die For returns to the court of Henry VIII as a young woman is caught between love and honor.  Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father's business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.

Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his concerns with Juliana's father's estate and sees instantly that Juliana would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in Parr's household for "finishing" and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly.

For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king's daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.

As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII's court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will undo everything she holds dear.

About Sandra Byrd

Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn.  Her second book, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, illuminates the mysteries in the life of Henry's last wife.

For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children. For more Tudor tidbits, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com. 

Giveaway

I have one copy of The Secret Keeper to give away to a reader in the US/Canada. Ends 7/2.  It will be mailed from the publisher.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

***I received this book through Historical Fiction Book Tours for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: June 12, 2012

Hardcover, 303 pages

ISBN: 9780385742016

 

My rating: 4.5/5.0

My Review:
I can't remember reading a book about merpeople before so this was a first for me. And it was a very good first. I was enthralled by the story that Ms. Brown creates in Lies Beneath and the backstory to the White family of mermaids and Calder the merman. I love that she interwove the backstory into the story so it wasn't all thrown at you at once, it unwound itself through the story and kept me interested through the whole book.

Calder was a great character. Torn between what he is supposed to be and how he feels, he is a great tortured hero. But he's not too tortured. He comes across a little more clueless at times, and that makes him a little more cute. But the truth is he know what he is and he knows he's not Disney's idea of a mermaid like Lily is thinking. And Lily. I love Lily, such an antithesis herself. She dresses like she thinks a poet should dress, she rebels in ways, but she adores her parents and would do anything for them. I love her. And her ideals are beautiful. There is a quote towards the end that I would love to share. I highlighted it as I read the book on my Kindle, but I don't want to share because I don't want to give anything away. But it shows the beauty of Lily's thinking. She's such a pure spirit to Calder's tortured soul. And she's happy so that's nice for a change. She's an interesting character that makes the book very enjoyable.

The characters do a great job pushing the story along, but the plot also does a great job. At the center of the plot is Calder and his three sisters who are the ultimate in bad guys. But you get the feeling there are varying degrees of badness in the sisters. I'll let you be the judge of that. The plot moves along swiftly and made it hard for me to put the book down after about 100 pages. The first 100 pages were interesting, don't get me wrong, but it really took off after that point. And by the end it moves so fast your head is spinning. But it's not a bad spin. It wasn't one of those, why did the author wait until the last minute spins, because she didn't, she wraps everything up nicely, but there is an opening for the book(s) that follow. I cannot wait to see where Ms. Brown takes this series next.

With fascinating characters and a fast-moving plot, Lies Beneath made the merpeople angle very interesting to me. Intense, interesting and hard-to-put-down are ways that I would describe this book. I don't want to give anything away because it's just one of those books you have to read to understand. And I suggest if you like YA with a darker side that you read this one. It's different, it's intense and it's a great read.

About the Book:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

***I received this book through Netgalley for The Teen Book Scene for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Author Interview and Book Spotlight: Alma Katsu, The Reckoning

Today I welcome Alma Katsu, author of The Reckoning which came out this week and is the followup to the The Taker.  I have The Taker on my shelf and I need to read because it sounds so very amazing and I am dying to read The Reckoning as well.  So sit back, have a cuppa and enjoy this visit with Alma Katsu and then learn a little more about the new book, The Reckoning.

What's the first sentence of The Reckoning?

“We were nearly at the Victoria and Albert Museum when we saw the crowds spilling out of the entrance and across Cromwell Street, forcing our taxi to stop in the middle of the road.”

The “we” in this case is the heroine, immortal Lanore “Lanny” McIlvrae and her lover, Luke Findley. They’ve come to (secretly) see an exhibit of treasures Lanny collected over her lifetimes, now donated to the V&A as in an attempt to put her past to rest and start a new life.

  

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a writer from when I was twelve. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I grew up in a small town, in a crazy family and books were my escape. Since books were my world, it only made sense to try to create a niche of my own, right? I took it all very, very seriously, writing short stories in high school for my friends to read, and stringing for local newspapers. Everything changed when I graduate from college and ended up going to work in intelligence—yup, CIA and the National Security Agency. I came back to writing fiction later in life, and was lucky, lucky, lucky to sell The Taker and two more books to Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster. Just goes to show that you should never give up on your dreams.

  

If you had to pick a character who really spoke to you in The Reckoning who would it be?

That’s hard! I tried to bring in as many new characters (if in minor roles) as characters returning from The Taker… Obviously, I got to be very close to Adair and ended up feeling pretty sorry for him—he goes through such an incredible transformation! It’s probably pretty evident that The Reckoning is based on Beauty and the Beast and Adair gets to be the poor confused Beast, tormented in his own right, a monster helpless in the face of love.

 

How did you feel when you finished The Reckoning?

Relieved! They say the second book is the hardest to write, what with expectations (mostly in the writer’s head) and fears. Plus, you don’t really know how to write novels—you know how you wrote one novel, your first one. Luckily, I have an excellent editor and she kept my nose to the grindstone and made sure The Reckoning is every bit as magical and twisty as The Taker.

 

What do you have in the works right now?

I’m finishing the third book in the trilogy, The Descent, right now. I’ve been anticipating bringing the story to its conclusion and have to say it’s been tremendously satisfying writing this book! Then there’s something I’ve been calling a spin-off book: it’s not part of The Taker story but picks up a thread in the Reckoning about a group of heretical monks who stumble across a piece of real magic—and how it corrupts them. Lastly, I hope to finish up a YA novel I started recently. I got the idea to try YA from Melissa Marr. She is so incredible brilliant you’d be a fool not to take her advice!

Thanks Alma for taking the time to join us for an interview today!


Alma Katsu's website


About The Reckoning
Publisher: Gallery Books
Hardcover, 352 pages
ISBN-13: 9781451651805

SECOND IN ALMA KATSU’S GRIPPING SUPERNATURAL TRILOGY THAT BEGAN WITH THE TAKER
 
Lanore McIlvrae is the kind of woman who will do anything for love. Including imprisoning the man who loves her behind a wall of brick and stone.

She had no choice but to entomb Adair, her nemesis, to save Jonathan, the boy she grew up with in a remote Maine town in the early 1800s and the man she thought she would be with forever. But Adair had other plans for her. He used his mysterious, otherworldly powers to give her eternal life, but Lanore learned too late that there was a price for this gift: to spend eternity with him. And though he is handsome and charming, behind Adair’s seductive façade is the stuff of nightmares. He is a monster in the flesh, and he wants Lanore to love him for all of time.

Now, two hundred years after imprisoning Adair, Lanore is trying to atone for her sins. She has given away the treasures she’s collected over her many lifetimes in order to purge her past and clear the way for a future with her new lover, Luke Findley. But, while viewing these items at an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Lanore suddenly is aware that the thing she’s been dreading for two hundred years has caught up to her: Adair has escaped from his prison. He’s free— and he will come looking for her. And she has no idea how she will save herself.

With the stunningly imaginative storytelling and rich characterizations that fascinated readers worldwide and made The Taker a singular and memorable literary debut and an international sensation, Alma Katsu once again delivers “a powerful evocation of the dark side of romantic love” (Publishers Weekly) in her breathtaking new novel.

Book Excerpt & Giveaway: Love is Murder Anthology - Wed to Death by Vicki Hinze

Today is the stop of Vicki Hinze and her story Wed To Death on the Love is Murder anthology tour.  I love Vicki Hinze and picked her as my author and I loved this story.  It's short, sweet, has great suspense and great romance.  Everything you come to expect from Vicki Hinze in a very small package.  So enjoy a small excerpt and make sure you follow along with the blog tour.  Also make sure you enter my giveaway below and come back later for my review of the whole anthology.

Vicki Hinze – Wed to Death

Her mother screamed.

Startled, Sara English paused in the middle of refilling her maid of honor’s champagne flute. She shushed her mother and followed her horrified gaze around the table past her groom-to-be, Matthew, to his uncle Paul. Why was he listing in his chair? Paul’s skin was as gray as winter sleet. Chills streaked up her spine. “Matthew, what’s wrong?”

“I –I don’t know—“

Paul crumpled, fell nose down onto his plate.

                       

Bio:
Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-five novels, four nonfiction books and hundreds of articles published in as many as sixty-three countries. She’s recognized by Who’s Who in America and in the world as an author and an educator. Her first published novel, a romantic suspense, was a bestseller that sold in nearly a dozen foreign countries. Since then, she’s shifted writing focus several times. After cocreating the first single-title open-ended continuity series, she turned to military life and has been credited with a Career Achievement Award for being one of the first to write military romantic suspense, military  romantic intrigue and military romantic thrillers. Three years ago, she shifted her focus to Christian fiction, blending romantic thrillers with spiritual elements. Her willingness to take risks and blaze trails has won her many prestigious nominations and awards, though she does it because she loves the adventure of stretching boundaries. Learn more about Vicki at www.vickihinze.com and visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Vicki.Hinze.Author.

Giveaway:

BookTrib is giving away one copy of Love is Murder to a reader of my blog.  Fill out the Rafflecopter below, the only entry is a free entry, all other entries are optional.  Open to US/Canada only, the book will be mailed by the publicist.  Ends 7/3/12.










a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Spotlight: Windswept by Cynthia Racette

	Windswept Cynthia Racette

 

Windswept is a romantic novel of redemption and family values and fighting for what is important. Sailing Windswept has always been a family affair and many of Caroline and David Hartford’s fondest memories have taken place on Chesapeake Bay sailing in all kinds of conditions and exploring the bay. 

When husband David is unfaithful and commits the ultimate betrayal by bringing his mistress aboard Windswept, Caroline’s world is shattered. He leaves her and she is forced to rely solely on herself for the first time in her life. She has to be a single parent to her daughter, Lily, and to decide if she can forgive David for tearing her family apart. 

As David and Caroline work to put their marriage back together, events and other people conspire against them, over and over.  Their relationship begins to heal, but the couple is caught in a horrific storm and waterspout on the bay, heading straight for Windswept. They want a chance to love again but Mother Nature might have other ideas.

Cynthia has been writing all her life, as a newspaper reporter, editor and novelist. She even asked for (and received) a play typewriter for Christmas when she was about ten.

To be near her children and granddaughters, she and her newly retired hubby, moved to the Buffalo, NY area. Through her daughter, who is also a writer, she got hooked up with RWA (Romance Writers of America) and good things started to happen.

She is now writing more novels, taking lots of trips and relaxing by the pool on gorgeous summer days in Western, NY.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Book Review: Finding Home by Lacey Wolfe

Finding Home by Lacey Wolfe
Publisher: Ruby Lioness Press
Pub Date: May 11, 2012
ebook
ISBN:  9781938397103


My rating: 5.0/5.0

My Review:
Finding Home is a lovely romance novella. I love that it can be read quickly yet it's a fully satisfying romantic read. I enjoyed getting to know Julie and Mark in the setting of Clearwater. The small town made a great backdrop for the story (I'm a sucker for small towns with nosy and good people).

Even though this is short in length, I still felt like I got a good feel for both of the main characters. The background built slowly so I could get to know them and they could get to know each other (well slow for a novella). Nothing between them ever felt forced or hurried. I felt the author paced the friendship and romance between Mark and Julie very well and made it very believable. She also created a great antithesis to Mark with Jeremy.

Great romance, a few spicy scenes, and a warm lovey feeling is what I felt left with when I finished Finding Home and that's exactly what I wanted going into the book. Ms. Wolfe has written a delightful novella that will satisfy any romance readers heart and make them sigh with longing and love at the end of the book. I'm also excited to hear there will be another book set in Clearwater later and we'll get to see more of Julie and Mark. Please hurry up and write Ms. Wolfe!

About Finding Home:
Julie Miller has returned to her home in Clearwater, Wyoming after discovering she is pregnant. All she wants is her mother to comfort her after her boyfriend told her to either have an abortion or leave. The only problem is, when she gets to her mother’s house, she doesn’t find her mom—she finds a half-naked man cooking breakfast.

Mark Thomas has moved to Clearwater to escape his past. He needs a fresh start to try and forget the things that haunt him, and Clearwater seems like the perfect place.

As if it isn’t bad enough that Julie doesn’t find her mother, a blizzard buries the town, and she is snowed in with Mark. Leaving them no choice, they begin a friendship while trying to resist the attraction they feel for one another.

Once the snow melts, Julie is free to leave. Will she choose to start a life in Clearwater or run back to New York? Meanwhile, Mark struggles to let go of his past and, if he does, is Julie his future?

Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / Smashwords / Ruby Lioness Press / All Romance

Excerpt:

The sun shined brightly through the windows. Julie wished now she had noticed the blinds were open last night. Pulling the sheets over her face, she closed her eyes for a few more minutes as she tried to wake up.

Finally, after battling with herself, she climbed out of the bed. She put her jeans back on and then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. A sudden urge to use the restroom took over, and she rushed toward the bathroom. This was something new—no bladder control. She didn’t expect to already have to pee so much.

She quickly brushed her teeth then made sure everything was tidy as though she hadn’t been there. Grabbing her suitcase, she left the room. She expected to find Chloe up front, but she was nowhere to be seen. So she stopped by the front desk and scribbled a note, thanking Chloe for the stay and saying they would talk soon. After all, she was going to need someone during this process. As young girls, she and Chloe had always gotten along.

Outside, the sun was bright. There was a chill to the air, however. The few clouds in the sky were thick and fluffy. She bet there would be a light snow shower before the day was over. In fact, she was surprised to not see any snow on the ground yet. It would be anytime now.

The drive to her mother’s house was short. She lived on the older side of town, and it was unchanged except that the trees had gotten taller.

Julie was excited to see her mom. It had been almost a year since she’d seen her.  Julie had flown her out last Christmas to visit her in New York City. She’d taken her mother everywhere, showing her every tourist spot there was to see. Her mother had loved it and said it had always been a dream of hers to travel. Julie hoped one day her mother would get to. Her father had died about ten years ago, and her mother had never remarried. She had a few close friends, though, and maybe one day they would all get together and travel.  But for now, Julie needed her mom. She couldn’t wait to have her mother embrace her and hold her tight, telling her it would all work out.

She pulled up to the house. It looked the same. A small ranch-style home painted a light blue color. It was time for a fresh coat of paint, that was sure. Perhaps she could get someone out here in the spring to spruce the place up. Her mother’s car wasn’t in its usual spot but instead pulled over near the picket fence. A pick-up truck sat where the car was usually parked. Maybe something was wrong with the vehicle, and she was borrowing the truck.

Climbing out of the car, Julie could smell bacon. A smiled crossed her face. Her mom was cooking breakfast. Shutting the car door quickly, she went up the front steps two at a time. As she turned the doorknob, she found it locked. Groaning, she dug through her purse until she found the key to the house and let herself in.

Loud music blared through the house. It was set to a local country station. This was so unlike her mother. In fact, as Julie looked around the living room and saw how untidy it was, she wondered if she was in the right house. Following the smell of food, she stepped into the kitchen. Julie froze. A half-naked man stood at the stove, flipping pancakes. It was as if he sensed he was no longer alone. He turned, and Julie thought she was going to faint.

“Hi,” the man said.

“Who the hell are you, and where is my mother?” Julie demanded.

***I received this book from the author through Sizzling PR for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Author Interview: Lacey Wolfe (Finding Home)

Today I welcome Lacey Wolfe, author of the novella Finding Home which I am featuring today.  I will start today with an interview and come later today will post the review of Finding Home, a wonderful love story. The tagline in the banner really does describe it best, "A little dash of sweet with a whole lot of spice."


Thanks for joining us today Lacey.

Describe the area you write in.

Currently, it’s wherever I can find a quiet corner. But, we are closing on our new home soon and I plan to set up an office in my bedroom. We have a cut out with a big window that I think it will be the perfect place for me and inspiration as I watch the people in the neighborhood.

What's your favorite season?

Fall. I’m a GA girl so that means temperatures in the 70’s.

Describe your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).

A big comfy chair with a blanket and one of my kitties. I want to be somewhere that if I doze off, it really doesn’t matter.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I’d love to visit where the amish live as well as go west. I’ve never really left the south except to visit family in the north.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Its something I always wanted to do, but was too scared of the Big Six houses and all the traveling that might follow. My kids are young and I don’t want to be away from them. When I discovered the world of ebooks, I thought I’d give it a try. And so far, I’ve been very happy. I love writing and telling stories and I like that I can get stories to my readers quickly this way.

How would you describe yourself?

If you know me, I’m talkative. Otherwise I’m pretty quiet.

What's the first sentence in Finding Home?

The first one is a little boring. So here are the first three.

Welcome to Clearwater, Wyoming. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Julie Miller rolled her eyes as she passed the sign that welcomed her back to her hometown

Tell us what is Finding Home about.

Finding Home is about a woman who basically needs her mom. She finds out she is pregnant and returns to her hometown to get the advice from her mom after her boyfriend dumps her. Only, I had to make it much more complicated. She doesn’t find her mom. She instead finds a half-naked man in the kitchen instead.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

I loved Mark, the hero of the story. He is full of pain from his past and Julie changes everything in his life.

Mark is amazing, I really enjoyed how you wrote him.  Sometimes the heroes of romance novels seem to take a backseat, but not Mark, he's strong, he's good-looking and he's just what every woman wants in a man.

How did you feel when you finished Finding Home?

I know I wrote this story, but this is one of those ones I love. I think this story is sweet, full of love, as well as pain. I cried some while I wrote it. And when it finished, I didn’t want it to end. Luckily, I have another sweet romance that will follow this one and its called Bare Necessities. Readers will see Julie and Mark again when Julie’s cousin Ava moves to Clearwater to open a lingerie shop.

Oh good - I didn't want it to end, so I'm glad I'll see more of Clearwater and Julie and Mark!

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?

The third book Accidental Love, in my Hot Bods erotic series just released. And I have a BDSM novella, Bound By Pleasure releasing in August. Finding Home is a sweet romance and I believe Bare Necessities will be releasing in October.

Thanks Lacey for joining us today!

About Finding Home:

Julie Miller has returned to her home in Clearwater, Wyoming after discovering she is pregnant. All she wants is her mother to comfort her after her boyfriend told her to either have an abortion or leave. The only problem is, when she gets to her mother’s house, she doesn’t find her mom—she finds a half-naked man cooking breakfast.

Mark Thomas has moved to Clearwater to escape his past. He needs a fresh
start to try and forget the things that haunt him, and Clearwater seems like
the perfect place. 

As if it isn’t bad enough that Julie doesn’t find her mother, a blizzard buries the town, and she is snowed in with Mark. Leaving them no choice, they begin a friendship while trying to resist the attraction they feel for one another.

Once the snow melts, Julie is free to leave. Will she choose to start a life in Clearwater or run back to New York? Meanwhile, Mark struggles to let go of his past and, if he does, is Julie his future?