Where I've Been and Direction of the Blog

Wow, it had been awhile before I published the review earlier today.  There are multiple reasons for my absence.  One I haven't been reading as much.  Two, life has been really busy this summer.  And finally three, I think I'm just burned out with blogging. 

So what's next?  I plan on keeping the blog and will do tours/books I really, really want to read but for awhile I am going to read what I want to read and get back to the spirit of my blog when I started it.  I think most reviewers go through this and I may be back in less than a month reviewing books like crazy but for now, it will just be the books I read. 

I have stacks of books now where I couldn't get to half of what was sent to me.  I have my own bookshelves that are full, a Kindle that is full and I have a wonderful library full of books that I want to read and can never get to anymore.  So it's time to read for me, catch up on some old reviews, do a few select reviews and just find the joy in reading again.  I'm sure some of you have felt the same way.

And summer may pass and time at our beloved Cape will come to a close and cool nights will ensue and I am sure I will be voraciously reading again.  But for now I'm trying to refeed my passion with Goblet of Fire and finish working my way through the Harry Potter books.  As I started the book last night I remembered why I love this series and I was sad I didn't have time to finish it.  Now I will.  And hopefully that will rekindle the love and I'll be back full-time.

If you have comments on how you have gotten out of a reading/blogging slump, please feel free to leave them.  I would love to hear from you as I always do.

I may also pick up some memes again just to get the blogging mojo going again so don't count me out yet.  As I am writing this I am feeling some of the mojo returning.  I have loved this blog for four years and hope to continue it more.

Have a great week everyone!

Book Review: Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin

Lie Still by Julia Heaberlin
Publisher: Bantam
Publish Date: July 2, 2013
Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN:  9780345527042





My Review:

I really enjoyed this book to a certain extent. It was exciting, it had interesting characters in the way of Desperate Housewives and it had a good suspense plot going for it. But one thing let me down, the ending. So let me explain.

I liked Emily and I cared about her and her husband. The book jumps right into her association with Caroline and the members of her group and the small southern town dynamic. Full of disfunctional women, the book was amusing in a dark way. And then bam there is the mystery, which I enjoyed. Enter pregnant Emily trying to get to the bottom of things when she herself is being harassed. Is it the same person perpetrating the crime of the book or is it someone else. Ms. Heaberlin does an excellent job of weaving the plot together, going back and forth in time some to fill in the blanks. Emily feels like an unreliable narrator, as do any of the women she is involved with, but is she? That was the fun of the book, getting to know Emily and trying to figure out truth from lies. I love books like this.

And then came the ending, and maybe not the ending, but the last few pages of the book. Things tied up nicely, I was surprised as I hoped I would be but then the last few pages left me feeling like "what the heck?" I honestly think I missed something or need to go back and read it again. It's not a major thing because like I said everything was tied up well. I was just a little lost with what I believe was the Epilogue.

But overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to people who like southern novels where all is not what it seems. It's very enjoyable, moves at a fast pace and has characters that were interesting and had me continually turning the page. So give it a try and if you figure out the ending please message me. :)

My  Rating: 4.0/5.0

About the Book:
 In the tradition of Lisa Unger’s Beautiful Lies and Nancy Pickard’s The Scent of Rain and Lightning comes a twisting, riveting novel of shifting trust and shattered lives. Lie Still delves deep into the heart of an opulent Southern town, where gossip is currency and secrets kill.

When Emily Page and her husband move from Manhattan to the wealthy enclave of Clairmont, Texas, she hopes she can finally escape her haunted past—and outrun the nameless stalker who has been taunting her for years. Pregnant with her first child, Emily just wants to start over. But as she is drawn into a nest of secretive Texas women—and into the unnerving company of their queen, Caroline Warwick—Emily finds that acceptance is a very dangerous game.

It isn’t long before Caroline mysteriously disappears and Emily is facing a rash of anonymous threats. Are they linked to the missing Caroline? Or to Emily’s terrifying encounter in college, years earlier? As the dark truth about Caroline emerges, Emily realizes that some secrets are impossible to hide—and that whoever came for Caroline is now coming for her.

***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.  ***

Paper, ebook or Audio? by Cindi Myers (The Wedding Gamble Blog Tour)

  
Today I welcome Cindi Myers, author of The Wedding Gamble.  She has a great post for you to read.  Then be sure and check out the information about her wonderful new book!   So grab your favorite cuppa and sit and enjoy Cindi's post on the advantages and disadvantages to the many ways we can now enjoy books.  Welcome Cindi!

Paper, ebook or Audio?

I love books. I've been an avid reader since I was in first grade. Over the years, books have always been my go-to entertainment. So now that we have so many choices when it comes to the format we choose for books, I thought it would be fun to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

First, I guess, is hardcover. Though I read some hard cover books, it's not my favorite format. The books are beautiful, but they're big and heavy (a handicap for lying on the sofa and reading). They aren't very portable (I'll take a paperback to the beach or pool, but won't risk a hard cover.) And they're expensive. Still, I have my share of hard covers on my shelves.

Next -- paperback. Perfect for tucking into a purse and taking along (okay, you need a big purse for trade paper, but still. ) Less expensive than hardcover. Widely available. I love looking at the beautiful covers while I'm reading.  I still read a lot of paperbacks, especially romance. But there's still the problem of running out of bookshelf space. And while paperbacks are portable, they still take up room. I can remember going on vacation with a suitcase that was half full of books -- because I didn't want to risk running out of reading material while I was away.

Ebooks -- I was an early adopter of e-readers -- primarily because the e-book reader allowed me to carry a whole library of books with me anywhere. No more suitcases full of books. But once I had the reader, I discovered all kinds of advantages to this format. Ebooks are so easy to buy that when I read an author I enjoy, I can go online right away and buy more books! Anytime, anywhere. 

Ebooks are almost always less expensive than paperbacks -- though I end up spending more money, because I buy more books. If I'm reading something and can't get into it, it's easy to switch to something else

My husband was very resistant to ebooks, declaring that he preferred "real" books. Then he got a tablet. With a Kindle app. He tried one book and was hooked!  Now he's buying new books to read all the time. I love it!

Which leaves audio books -- another love of mine. I listen to audio books while I'm driving, walking the dogs or doing housework. A book makes the miles fly by and takes the drudgery out of mundane tasks. Time to weed the garden? No problem, because it gives me an excuse to get back to that book. And audiobooks can give me a whole new perspective on a story. A good narrator can bring a book to life.

For me, I choose all formats for devouring books. I'm all about finding ways to enjoy more stories. So how about you -- do you have a favorite format for books?

To follow the tour, click on the banner at the top of the post or go here.



About the book:

Preschool teacher Laura Nichols is celebrating her birthday and sister's bachelorette party in Vegas. Being in Sin City is thrilling and she intends on tapping in to her wild side. Laura can't resist the added excitement that comes with saying yes when a hunky man off the street proposes...
FBI agent David Abruzzo has been working undercover as a thug to bring down the Zacolli crime family, but his cover depends on convincing the mob he came to Vegas for a quickie wedding. If they catch on to his plan, his cover's blown, and he's as good as dead. 

Over the course of 48 hours, David and Laura use rollercoasters, glowing condoms, and exotic male dancers to stay alive and bring the crime family down. But it will take more than Lady Luck, one night of passion, and a little Vegas magic to turn their fake marriage into something real.



 About the Author (from her website):

Cindi Myers worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She's written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles. Cindi thinks writers have the best job in the world.

Former president of San Antonio Romance Authors, Cindi is a member of Romance Writers of America, Novelists Inc., and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

She and her husband and their two dogs live in the mountains Southwest of Denver. When she's not caught up in creating new characters and stories, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, skiing and hiking. She's also in demand as a speaker, teaching workshops and making presentations to both local and national writing groups.

Author Website
Blog


 

Brazen Bash: Help Brazen celebrate it's one-year anniversary and enjoy the fun!

Brazen Books, who brought us Wrong Bed Right Guy, Officer Off Limits, Seducing Cinderella, and Tempting the Player - to name just a few - is turning 1 this month, and they’re celebrating in a big way. They’ve got a ton of great things going on this week, including Twitter parties, FB events, and even a huge sale!  Full deets below:

• Epic Giveaways - Don’t miss the Brazen Bash on Thursday, July 25th from 7 to 10 pm EST where you can comment to win a $50 prize pack, $75 prize pack, or $125 prize pack.  Prize packs will be a combination of Gift cards from Amazon/B&N, Adam & Eve, and Sephora! You can find out more details on the Brazen Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/BrazenBooks
  
  
• Q&A’s with NYT bestselling authors - Twitter Chat with Laura Kaye @laurakayeauthor Tuesday, July 23rd from 9 to 10 pm EST. Twitter Chat with Katee Robert @katee_robert Wednesday, July 24th from 6 to 7 pm PST. They’ll be using the hashtag #BrazenBash so you can easily join in the conversation.
  
  
• Photo contest - Be sure to check out Brazen’s Tumblr page to share your favourite pictures of swoon-worthy men that remind you of the heroes in Brazen books! Either post your picture to your own tumblr using the tag “brazenbash” Or you can submit your photo directly to the Brazen tumblr page here http://brazenbooks.tumblr.com/submit. Make sure to tweet your tumblr posts as well using #BrazenBash
  
  
• Surprise 99 cent sale! - They’ve dropped the price of 8 of their top-selling titles for 1 week only - and it could happen at any moment this week. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled! Tell your mom, your sisters, your co-workers!  
• Seducing Cinderella by Gina Maxwell
• Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert
• Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey
• Private Practice by Samanthe Beck
• Tempting the Best Man by Jennifer Armentrout
• One Night with a Hero by Laura Kaye
• No Flowers Required by Cari Quinn
• Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson
  
  
  
  

Author Interview: Sara Daniel (Love Him or Leave Him) + Giveaway

  
Today I welcome Sara Daniel, author of Love Him or Leave Him, a wonderful small-town romance. So grab your favorite cuppa and sit and enjoy the interview with Sara and be sure and enter the tour-wide giveaway as well.  .  

What three things do you need in order to write?

Coffee. Laptop. Silence. (Preferably in that order.)

What's your favorite season?

Summer. I love the warmth of the sun on my skin, taking an evening stroll in shorts and a t-shirt, and sitting on a hot beach while dipping my toes in a cold lake/river/ocean.

Flip Flops or Sneakers?

Sneakers. I need a shoe that offers good support when I walk, and flip flops always give me blisters.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Hawaii’s at the top of my bucket list, but I wouldn’t turn down tickets to Italy!

What's the first sentence of Love Him or Leave Him?

Becca Sanders had spent two years studiously ignoring Connor O’Malley’s return to Kortville, Illinois. No small feat considering he was the police chief of their town of two thousand and she had to ring him through the grocery lane twice a week.

Tell us what is Love Him or Leave Him is about.

Love Him or Leave Him is a reunion story, a story of healing and trust, and a story about following your dreams and being true to yourself.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

Oh no, you’re going to make me play favorites! LOL! Honestly, Connor is my favorite character, mostly because I adore a tortured hero and watching him heal with a help of a good, loving woman.

I love high school sweethearts separated and brought back together so I’m curious how you came to decide to use it?

I love it too! High school is such a pressure-filled, emotionally-charged environment. I don’t know anyone who’s come out of it completely unscathed. So many times years later those memories are still raw and painful, and I’m a sucker for needing to give a happily ever after to those unresolved situations.

What can we expect next from you?

I’m currently working on a novella set in Kortville with one of the characters briefly introduced in Love Him or Leave Him, and as soon as I finish that story, I plan to write another “Small Town, Big Dreams” book for the Bliss line. I’m really excited about these stories, so I need to get busy and write them so I can tell you more details!

Thanks Sara!

THANK YOU!

To follow the tour, click on the banner at the top of the post or go here.

About the book:

Sometimes dreams are where you least expect them.

Connor O’Malley and Becca Sanders were once high school sweethearts, ripped apart by rumors in the small town of Kortville, Illinois. Connor left to join the military, and Becca stayed, waiting for her younger brother to graduate so she could live her dreams of traveling the world. But now that Connor's back as the town sheriff, Becca finds herself struggling to resist the too-handsome man who once broke her heart.

Connor loves Kortville—its quaintness keeps at bay the painful memories of Afghanistan he’s sure make him unworthy of any woman, particularly the beautiful brunette he’s always secretly dreamed of a future with. But when a scandal rocks the town, suddenly Connor and Becca must trust in each other if they want to weather this storm…and come out on the other side of it together.

 

Buy links:

Amazon | B&N | iBookstore | Kobo

About the Sara:

I write what I love—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, I'm a frazzled maid, chauffeur, and slave to my children. I was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. (The children's book The Bravest Squirrel Ever by my alter-ego Sara Shafer is the squirrel's fictionalized version of that experience!) I'm crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. And I have my very own happily-ever-after romance with my hero husband.

Follow my blog, like me on Facebook or email me for the latest updates on my books and writing projects or to debate the best race car drivers!

Sara online:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway:
Tour Wide $25 Amazon Gift Card


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