Blog Tour: Review & 10s list Dream Nights with the CEO by Kathy Lyons (+ Giveaway)

Dream Nights with the CEO by Kathy Lyons

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: Brazen

Publish Date: May 27, 2013

eBook, 276 pages
Fiction, Contemporary Romance
 ISBN: 9781622667802

Wow, what a steamy great book, but before we get to my review, let me let Kathy Lyons/Jade Lee share her Top Ten Reasons Dream Nights with a CEO is awesome.

TOP 10 REASONS Dream Nights with the CEO is AWESOME!

10.  Purple cover.  Who doesn’t love purple? It’s the color of royalty.

9. When you read this book, you aren’t thinking about doing the laundry, schleping anyone anywhere, or doing any of the thousands of other things you could be doing. You’re just in the book.

8. Kathy Lyons (aka Jade Lee) is known for writing hot sex.  And this book is...well, HOT!

7. Shared erotic dreams.  Yes, you read that right. One day I saw a hot guy step into the hotel room next door and my imagination took hold.  After all, I’m happily married, but what if my dreams took me someplace wholly inappropriate? That’s not my fault, right? Three delightful hours of fantasy later, I had the core of this new series – a B&B where strangers (or in this case boss/assistant) could hook up in their dreams. And voila, secret desires abound!

6. Comic books. Okay, so no, the book isn’t a graphic novel.  But the hero has a real love of comic books.  So when he starts dreaming, he lets fly with the superhero adventure.  My poor hero was most interested in his masked identity. After all, he’s lusting after his assistant.  Very unprofessional! And the heroine, of course, is very interested in stripping him of...well, everything!

5. It’s funny!  I’ve written over 40 books, and frankly, this is the funniest thing I’ve ever written.  I just let my imagination go.  Comic book situations, good banter, and hot sex.  Hmmm...maybe I should have made those items 5, 4, and 3!

4.  It’s cheap. $2.99. Less than a cup of coffee.  Well, the kind of coffee I buy. The kind with espresso, chocolate, and soy.  Yes, I drink soy lattes.  They help with the hot flashes.  More than you wanted to know?  Probably. Sorry.

3. If I made you laugh on #4, imagine how funny I can be when I’m actually thinking about what I’m writing.  And I have an editor who cuts out the stuff that isn’t good. Or rambles. Or is TMI.

2. You’re saving the Earth! Yes, by buying ebooks, you’re saving trees and resources. You’re getting hours of enjoyment with very little cost to the environment or your pocketbook. What a good person you are!

1. Have you met Kathy/Jade? Erotic dreams are fun enough, but the wacky stuff that comes out of her brain is guaranteed to entertain!  Don’t believe me? Just check out my reviews!

My Review:
First I have to say after reading Dream Nights with the CEO, all of the above statements are true.  Number 9 hit me the most because I wasn't thinking about anything but Wyatt, Megan and erotic dream sex while reading this.  Seriously, it sounds like the author tooting her own horn above, but I think she made my review for me!

The Characters:
Wyatt and Megan are relatable.  Megan is trying to make something of herself and already has.  She's the maid who almost didn't finish college, yet now she is assistant to a multi-millionaire and really his right hand woman.  I loved that.  Yet she deals with normal life (an annoying Mom who wants her to get married) and she deals with wanting more whether from her job or from her boss.  And that brings us to Wyatt, yes he's a multi-millionaire who buys B&B's and develops them into something more.  He has a business brain, but he has a block in the romance department, or at least he thinks he does.  It makes him so much more human.  And his lusting for Megan makes him just plain lovable.  And Kathy's use of comic books, just another way to really bring him down to earth.  I just love him and love him even more with Megan.

The Plot:
The plot is fun.  A haunted B&B with erotic shared dreams.  It doesn't get much more take-me-away from reality than that.  And honestly I needed that.  School is out, I had a hard time getting into another book this week and this one drew me right in.  I read half of the book in one sitting, got up fixed supper and then finished the book.  Loved it.  It moves at a very fast-paced and I either wanted to know what would happen next or where the dreams would lead next . . .

Summary:
I loved every aspect about Dream Nights with the CEO.  It's not deep but it sure is fun.  There is humor, there are erotic dreams, and there is hot chemistry between the two main characters.  It is a perfect mindless enjoyable read for the summer or anytime you need your nights steamed up.  The humor is a great touch as well, keeping things fun and flirty.  I loved Megan and Wyatt's story and can't wait to see what else Kathy has in store for us in this series!


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:

Hotel chain CEO and millionaire Wyatt Monroe is a stick in the mud. Sure, he's hot as sin, even with the tie, but free-spirited assistant Megan Bradford refuses to jeopardize their perfect
working relationship. Why mess that up with sex? She knows he's the love 'em and leave 'em type, and she's determined to find a family man.

Wyatt would never cross the line between boss and employee with Megan, no matter how hard it might be to resist the temptation. But when they visit a mysterious B&B in a bid to acquire the property, he starts having erotic dreams about the sexy brunette that make it hard to resist her in daylight.

Soon the line between reality and dreams further blurs when they learn they were sharing the same erotic dreams…

About the Author: 

A USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. And as a Taurus, she lives to pit aheadstrong woman against a tortured hero just to watch them butt heads on the way to true love.
Flesh wounds are rare, but the healing and laughter are real.

Now an author of more than 30 romance novels, she finally gets to set these couples in the bestgirl-heaven of all: a Bridal Salon! This way she gets to live out all her wedding fantasies, one byone. (Let’s be honest, what girl has only one idea for her dream wedding?)

And don’t forget Jade’s other name, KATHY LYONS. That’s Jade’s lighter, contemporary side she’s writing for Entangled Publishing and what Dream Nights is all about!  For more on Kathy
visit her on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Giveaway

Thanks to Entangled Publishing, make sure you enter the blog-tour giveaway!

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***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 Mini-Review & Tour Giveaway: The Waiting Game by Eve Devon

The Waiting Game by Eve Devon

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publish Date: May 27, 2013

eBook
Fiction, Romantic Suspense
ASIN: B00CK55RFG

Mini-Review:

Due to being bogged down by another book, taking up an exercise program and going to bed earlier, I became just a little behind on my reading.  So I read about half of The Waiting Game before I needed to post this.  So you will get my thoughts on the book so far and later this week I will post a full review.

If you love scary-good Romantic Suspense this is the book for you.  It has a great hero and heroine who have amazing chemistry.  It has a group of security experts looking to protect the heroine.  It has a hero falling for the heroine but swearing he can't get involved so he doesn't compromise her safety.  And finally it has a very evil villian.  This is exactly what I love in romantic suspense.  The Waiting Game has been very fast-paced so far.  I did most of my reading in a few hours and if my sleeping medicine had not kicked in I would have stayed up until it was finished.  As it is I cannot wait to get back to it later today.

Stay tuned for my full review, but make sure to check out the book and the tour giveaway!  Also click on the banner above for more info on the tour.

About the Book:

Five years ago a madman stalked her. Kidnapped her. Tattooed her.

When security expert Cameron Dexter—the man Brooke Bennett once loved—appears unexpectedly at her door with terrifying news, the former musician discovers she can no longer hide from her past. After five years, her vicious kidnapper is out of prison and on the hunt—for Brooke.

Now he’s returned to complete his art.

Cam failed to protect Brooke once before. Now he’d rather die than let her be captured. With her life at stake, Cam vows to keep her hidden and safe. Brooke, however, is done with running. Unlike Cam, she wants to stand and fight. Emotions both old and new roil between them, but addressing their heated past must wait. Together they set a trap in London to catch a killer. But they soon discover the enemy wears many faces...

And waiting is no longer an option.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 

Eve Devon writes sexy heroes, sassy heroines & happy ever afters...

Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venezuela gave Eve Devon a taste for adventure; her love for romances began when her mother shoved one into her hands in a desperate attempt to keep her quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals!

When Eve wasn't consuming books by the bucketload, she could be found pretending to be a damsel in distress or running around solving mysteries and writing down her adventures. As a teenager, Eve wrote countless episodes of TV detective dramas so the hero and heroine would end up together every week. As an adult, still hooked on romance and mysteries, she worked in a library to conveniently continue consuming books by the bucketload, until realizing she was destined to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense herself.
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Giveaway:
There will be a tour-wide giveaway for an Amazon gift card worth $20 or  (depending on where the winner lives) and  a handmade leather notebook.

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

Book Review: The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publish Date: June 4, 2013

Short Story
eBook, 35 pages
Fiction, Historical
 ISBN: 9781466839403

My Review:
The First Lie is an interesting first look into the world/history behind Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain that will release in September.  It's a quick short story, but poignant and it definitely has me intrigued and ready for another one of Diane's wonderful novels.

Character Development:
It's a short story, but in the few pages (~35) we get to know a little bit about Ivy and her family and also about some of the surrounding families.  Again since it's so short, it's not a lot of development, but Ms. Chamberlain does a lot with a short number of pages.  I want to know more about Ivy and Mary, but I get a good feeling for them in the short story.

Plot:
The plot starts off with a bang, where was Ivy and why is she sneaking in late and what is happening to Mary Ellen.  But Ms. Chamberlain quickly explains both things and moves the story along.  A lot happens in 35 pages.  It's a very quick enjoyable read.  I felt like things are setting up well for Necessary Lies, yet I read a nice complete story in The First Lie.

Final Thoughts:
If you enjoy books by Diane Chamberlain, then you will want to read The First Lie and it will have you clamoring for Necessary Lies.  If you haven't read Diane Chamberlain, what are you waiting for?  Dive right in with the short story and get a feel for the world she creates.  I love her fiction, such realistic and heartfelt stories and The First Lie does not disappoint.  Give it a read and let me know what you think!

My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
An e-original short story that sets the stage for bestselling author Diane Chamberlain’s upcoming novel Necessary Lies (September 2013).

The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the farm takes a turn when Ivy’s teenage sister gives birth—all the while maintaining her silence about the baby’s father. Soon Ivy finds herself navigating the space between adolescence and adulthood as she tries to unravel a dark web of family secrets and make sense of her ever-evolving life in the segregated South.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
I'm the author of 22 novels published in more than eleven languages. I like to write complex stories about relationships between men and women, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. Although the thematic focus of my books often revolves around family, love, compassion and forgiveness, my stories usually feature a combination of suspense, mystery and intrigue.

I live in North Carolina with my significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and my shelties, Keeper and Cole--the only non-reading members of the household!

Please visit my website and blog. I look forward to seeing you there!

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***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.  ***

Possession Series Scavenger Hunt: Come learn more about Elana & Get Your Clue!

Today, I'm one of the stops on the Possession series scavenger hunt! The third and final book, ABANDON, hit shelves June 4! I'm glad to interview author Elana Johnson on my blog today.

----------  
What 3 things do you need in order to write?
Hmm, this is tough. I can write under almost any conditions. I guess my best conditions would be headphones with loud music, mini chewy sweet tarts, and at the library so I can focus.

I saw you like reality TV, what’s your favorite show? Survivor! I love watching the challenges, and the social game is so intriguing.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? The White Cliffs of Dover. It’s pretty much the only thing on my bucket list. I will get there someday.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t start writing until late 2007, and I’d never wanted to be a writer previous to that.  

What's the first sentence of Possession?
The first sentence of Possession is: “Good girls don’t walk with boys.” (I have that one memorized – ha!) It’s in present tense, but the novel is narrated in past – except for the last chapter. That’s a style that’s carried through the series in Surrender and Abandon. First lines: Surrender: “Someone is always watching.” Abandon: “Secrets are hard to keep—especially if your girlfriend can read minds.”  

Dish, who’s your favorite character?
Jag Barque is my favorite. I know, maybe he shouldn’t be, but he is. He’s sort of broken, sort of hard-nosed, sort of a jerk, but also the most compassionate character. I like that he has many sides, and that he’s constantly battling himself for which one is going to show through.  

How did you feel when you finished the Possession series?
It’s probably the fourth best thing that’s ever happened to me – behind marrying my husband and having my two children. Seriously, finishing a trilogy is such a lot of work! I’m thrilled to have the whole thing out there.

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?
I have been writing over the years, don’t worry! I have a science fiction time travel novel that I hope readers will get to love. I have a fantasy novel that I love. And I wrote a contemporary novel-in-verse, and I hope they’ll all get to be on shelves!

Thanks Elana! 

Today's scavenger hunt can begin here! Somewhere on this map of the Association is the winning city. Elana has mentioned the city here in this interview, and you can find references to it in all of today's posts. (See complete blog tour here.)

When you know today's scavenger hunt city, enter it in this form for a chance to win one of six Possession series paperback packages and a $50 Amazon gift card! Continue the scavenger hunt at Shortie Says, where you'll find another clue for today’s city! As if that weren't enough, there will be a daily winner of Possession series swag! Enter in the Rafflecopter below.

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If you get lost, you can always go to Elana's blog to find your place.

Happy hunting!

Book Review: That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon

That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon

Publisher: Revell

Publish Date: June 2013

Paperback, 304 pages
Fiction, Christian, Women's Fiction
 ISBN: 9780800722494

My Review:
While I love Irene Hannon's romantic suspense novels, when I heard she was releasing a women's fiction/general fiction/romantic element novel I had to read it.  Over the years Ms. Hannon has become one of my favorite go-to Christian authors so I will read anything she puts out.  While romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres, I enjoyed her departure (which is not really a departure, she just published mostly romantic suspense of late) to the general fiction genre.  As Ms. Hannon mentions in her afterword for That Certain Summer her focus has always been characters and the characters truly shine in That Certain Summer.

Character Development:
I loved getting to know Karen and Val sisters who have never been really close, but this summer they are thrown together as their Mom is recovering from a stroke and Karen can't do everything in her life and take care of her Mom too.  Val is a teacher so she's off for the summer and heads home to take care of her Mom and some other things on her mind.  Both characters have quite a bit of growth in very different ways and it's very enjoyable to read about.  In addition to Karen and Val who are the central characters, there is also David and Scott who have had difficulties of their own, again very different. One is returning home to Washington, Missouri and the other is trying to make a new start.  Ms. Hannon makes the intersection with the sisters seamless and believable.  It's truly a novel of trusting the Lord and knowing He will place what you need in your life when you need it, at least according to His timing.  Some people would call it coincidence but as both sisters learn it's simply Divine providence.  Two more minor characters are Kristen, Karen's daughter and Steve who's life has also been tragically altered.  While they are much more minor, they offer another realistic look into characters and add the addition of teenagers to the book, without bogging the story down.  I also love the pastor in this book!  He is like a few pastors I have had, very down-to-earth, loving and understanding with a slight injection of humor as well.

Plot:
While the focus of the book is on the characters the plot is very enjoyable as well.  Karen is battling with body image and living up to her sister.  Val has a secret that has burdened her for years.  Scott has been injured in an accident and trying to figure out what to do in life and how to get through his circumstances.  And David just wants a good life for him and his young daughter.  How the four intersect builds the novel plot and makes the book hard to put down.  Since you become so involved with the characters, you can't help turning page after page to find out what will happen next and whether each character will be able to work through their own problems. 

Christianity and That Certain Summer:
The Christian-element of the book is there throughout but not in a preachy way.   Honestly if more people had experiences with pastor's like the one in this book (and I have had several so he is realistic) then I think Christianity would not be put down as much.  The love of Jesus shines through several of the characters and then the others as they find it themselves.  Again not a preachy book, it dwells on the love of Jesus, not judging for past mistakes.  It also does not paint the picture that when you are Christian everything goes perfect which is great, because it is oh so true.  I think anyone could read this book, not just those who love Christian fiction.


Final Thoughts:
That Certain Summer is a perfect feel-good beach read.  Though no character has an easy go of it, you go into the book knowing things will work out. From the wonderful character development to the very enjoyable plot, I rank this as a wonderful start to my summer reading season. 

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

“Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

About the Book:

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, celebrated author Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven and the complicated process of finding love.

Karen and Val are family - yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town – and had a secret to keep – so coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their own relationship and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each sister learn how to forgive, how to let go and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Saint Louis, Missouri.

For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.

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***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.  ***

Soul Taken Book Blast & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be able to participate in the book blast for Katlyn Duncan’s SOUL TAKEN which released this week on June 4th!

To help spread the word about this awesome first book in the author’s new series The Life After, I have a GUEST POST from Katlyn in which she shares Top 10 Fun Facts About SOUL TAKEN.

There is also a short EXCERPT included in this post which definitely makes me want to read on to find out just what happens next.

AND there’s also a GIVEAWAY included for an eBook Kindle copy of the book to three winners, so be sure to check it out below!

The cover is amazing, the book sounds incredibly exciting and the author is awesome, so I am more than excited to share a little bit about SOUL TAKEN with my blog’s readers.

***

About the Book

Title: SOUL TAKEN (The Life After #1)
Author: Katlyn Duncan
Publisher: Carina UK
Release date: June 4th
Formats: eBook

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AMAZON UK | CARINA UK

***

About the Author

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.

Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | GOODREADS

***

Top 10 Fun Facts About SOUL TAKEN

1. The inciting incident came about while I was walking into my local CVS about four years ago. And it took those long four years to get it where it is today.

2. Two of the characters are named after dogs that I've had. One is still alive and she is thrilled to be a part of my story.

3. I based the high school after the one I spent four years of my life in. But it had been rebuilt several years ago, now it only lives on in my memory and in the book.

4. Maggie and I share an affinity for cemeteries.

5. It wasn't pitched as a series, but now I get to linger in this world for two more books.

6. I have a crush on two of my male characters, for very different reasons. (And I hope you will too!)

7. Two of the characters (who will have a much bigger role in Books 2 & 3) were never in the original drafts, they came out of left field and I'm so glad they decided to stay.

8. Gate Seven came from much thought about how I would want my after life paradise to look like.

9. One of my family members plays a small role in the novel. I was a bit nervous to select that scene since it nearly made me cry while writing it, but my editor loved it so much it had to stay.

10. It has an amazing cover!

***

I knelt down again next to Ally and reached out to touch her skin. Even though the sensation was unpleasant, I could feel her pulse as it rapidly declined.

“No,” I moaned. I looked up again to see if any of the Guard could help, but no one was around.

I looked back down at Ally. Her face was paling by the second. My soul started to tingle. I leaned closer to her body, reaching my hand out to touch her face again, when her arm moved toward mine.

I jumped back.

Heather pushed through the crowd. “Did she just move? Did I see her move?” Streaks of black mascara ran down her cheeks.

A ringing sensation tickled my ear and I tuned in to the True Soul’s presence. I looked at each human. The True Soul was close, but who had it? They all seemed equally shocked at the tragedy.

An uncomfortable pressure in my chest drew me closer to her body. My soul slanted toward hers until I was practically on top of her. I helplessly watched my hand morph and stretch toward her body.

“What the—?” I tried to pull back but the strength of whatever was happening had other ideas.

My hand disappeared first, then my arm, then my torso.

But before I could call for help, my world went dark.

***

An eBook Kindle copy of SOUL TAKEN to THREE (3) winners!

• Must be 13 or older to enter
• Must be able to accept Amazon Kindle eBook gifts from the U.S.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below...
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Guest Blog and Review: Can't Stop Believing by Jodi Thomas

Can't Stop Believing by Jodi Thomas

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 4, 2013

Paperback, 320 pages
Fiction, Romance, Small Town
 ISBN: 9780425250679
Harmony, Texas #6

Today I welcome author Jodi Thomas author of the wonderful Harmony series that I enjoy so much.  I have enjoyed getting to know the people of Harmony, Texas during the first five books and I enjoyed book six just as much as any of the first books.  Ms. Thomas just has a gift for writing small town life and characters that you fall in love with.  But enough rambling, I'll do some more in my review, but for now, enjoy what Jodi Thomas has to say about Can't Stop Believing.

I love stepping into Harmony, Texas.  I’ve been there enough to know the town and most of the people.  In CAN’T STOP BELIEVING, I wrote about some old friends and a few new ones who live in Harmony.  I hope all my readers will come along with me in this visit and feel like they are coming home.

Like a real town, lives flow around one another, changing, influencing, and sometimes helping.   Ronny, a quiet woman who works at the post office, is asked to open her heart and forgive the only man she’s ever loved when he returns.  Martha Q muddles her way through trying to write and accidentally stumbles into a chance for love and Tyler Wright holds to his Kate, his love that came late to his life.

Amid them all, Cord McMillan tries to hang onto his farm in a town where no one will talk to him.  He made a mistake and hurt a deputy when he was 17, and now he believes everyone hates him.  When the first car in three years drives up to his place, he doesn’t trust his neighbor, Nevada Britain, or the bargain she offers him. He has nothing to offer in return, but he knows if he agrees he’ll step all into her plan, with no holding back.  If she doesn’t hold up her end of the agreement, he also knows she’ll break him completely like six years of prison never could.

As you read CAN’T STOP BELIEVING, you’ll find love so deep it’ll melt your heart.  So, come along with me to Harmony, Texas, a place where you’ll find a home.  I promise to keep you up late reading.

Welcome, step on in and meet the folks,
Jodi Thomas

www.jodithomas.com

www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor

www.twitter.com/jodithomas

 
My Review:
Another great installment in the Harmony series.  I am always eager to see who Ms. Thomas brings us next in Harmony and love the fact that while the story concentrates on one romance, there are always other plots going on as well. 

Every time I finish one of these books I always think the characters may be my favorite, and again I feel that way.  Cord and Nevada are two scarred individuals that enter a marriage of convenience, and while that is not one of my favorite tropes to read, I love it in this book.  Ms. Thomas makes it work and makes you believe these two could fall for each other.  It's not overnight either which I respect.  They get to know each other and slowly trust and fall for each other.  And trust doesn't come easy to either of them.  They've both been hurt in different ways and I liked the way Ms. Thomas let me slowly learn about the characters. Motives were unclear and suspicions are raised and this just adds to the drama and plot of the book.

The plot was very intriguing.  Not only is the romance going on, but there is also a suspense plot and several minor plots involving some old characters and some new.  I love how she is able to weave all of this in and make it very cohesive as a book.  You are just watching a span of time in the town.  And that is my favorite feeling about the novels.  I love still seeing townfolk I remember from previous books and ones that are threaded through a lot of the books.  I can't wait to see if some of them get their own romance.

Ms. Thomas has done it again, created a novel that is hard to put down and feels real-to-life while providing a happy outcome that leaves you feeling like there really are good people and love in the world.  I would say for a romance novel that she accomplishes her goals and as a romance reader I am thrilled and sad when I finish the book.  Thrilled because it was another wondrous Harmony book and sad because I have several months to wait until I get to visit Harmony again. If you've enjoyed the Harmony series so far you should enjoy Can't Stop Believing and if you haven't visited Harmony then this is your chance.

**Books do not have to be read in order, some couples are featured in following books, but their stories are never given away.  Though I have enjoyed reading the series in order.


My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Harmony Series (with links to my reviews):
Welcome to Harmony
Somewhere Along the Way
The Comforts of Home
Just Down the Road
Chance of a Lifetime

About the Book:

In New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas’s small town of Harmony, Texas, "there’s always something brewing" (Fallen Angel Reviews). Now, a generations-old feud is about to come to a head—and the stakes couldn’t be higher with two hearts on the line…

Cord McMillan gave up his freedom at eighteen when he went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, ten years later, he’s about to give it up again for a piece of land. Nevada Britain, his neighbor, has just made him an offer he can’t refuse: If he’ll marry her, she’ll sign over a section of property that their families have been fighting over for a hundred years. Nevada refuses to explain why, but Cord knows the bargain is in his favor. He just has one condition—she has to sleep in his bed every night for as long as their doomed marriage lasts. Nevada only wants to maintain her family’s legacy—and redeem herself for a wrong she did Cord years ago. But as she spends more time with her husband by necessity, she discovers something unexpected—a love so deep it takes her breath away.
About the Author: 
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 37 novels and 11 short story collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY, the first book in the Harmony series, won a RITA, the highest award for women’s fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

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