Book Review & Giveaway: From Here to Eternity by Paige Cuccaro

From Here to Eternity by Paige Cuccaro

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publish Date: February 12, 2012

eBook, 79 pages
Fiction, Futuristic, Science Fiction, Romance
 ISBN: 9781622660629

My Review:
I found myself engrossed in From Here to Eternity from the first page.  Ms. Cuccaro manages to weave a very interesting story into a very small package and it feels complete.  I felt I was able to enjoy the story from start to finish and while I wanted more when it was over, it was in the way I often want more in books.

The characters, Rachel and Nate are developed on the way and in a way I found interesting.  Even though they are married, their romance has to redevelop because of what has happened to Rachel.  But also because they are married, it makes the quick romance easier to believe.  I enjoyed getting to know Rachel and Nate and felt they were well-developed within the constraints of a novella.

The plot unfolds over the span of about a day so it's quick as well.  But it works.  There is romance, there is action and it all works.  The characters have to think fast.  There is also world building, this is the future, some things are very different.

I think Ms. Cuccaro did an amazing job to fit this all into a short format.  I wish it could have been longer, but that was just so I could have enjoyed more of the story, but I think everything fit in the novella format.  The characters, the plot and the setting all worked for me.  So if you are looking for a good science fiction romance then this is just the one to whet your appetite.  I'm hoping there is more to come, but not sure.  Either way, From Here to Eternity gave me an hour or two of good reading enjoyment and that is all I ask for :)


My Rating: 5.0/5.0

See more stops on the blog tour here.

About the Book:


Love never dies…but apparently Rachel has.

Waking up one day to her obituary in the news and no recollection of the past few weeks, Rachel calls her husband, Nate, in a panic, at the research facility where he works. Nate is the inventor of CYANAs, Cybernetic Anthropoid Automatons, vessels that look exactly like humans and can store a person’s memories…and maybe even his or her soul.

When Nate arrives home, Rachel doesn’t recognize the man who claims to be her husband. Can Nate convince Rachel to fall in love with him all over again? Especially once she realizes what he’s done…and what it means for their future?



About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Wife, Mother, tax payer, writer.

I live in Ohio, with my husband, three daughters, three dogs, and three cats, in an ever shrinking house. When I'm not writing I'm doing the mom thing with a book in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other. Ideas come without warning and for me, the best way to stimulate my imagination is to enjoy the imagination of someone else.

Paige's webpage
Paige on Twitter
Paige on Facebook

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 Tour & Review: A Little Bit Cupid by Jennifer Shirk

A Little Bit Cupid by Jennifer Shirk

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Publish Date: January 13, 2013

eBook, 84 pages
Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Novela
 ISBN: 9781622660049

My Review:
A Little Bit Cupid is a really cute novella. It's short and sweet and if you are looking for just a taste of romance to remind you there can be love at first sight then this is just the book for you.

I thought the setup was cute. A girl who believes in love yet feels love has passed her by suddenly has the weight of the world on her and has to find true love by Valentine's Day, for more details, read the novella.  One man is supposed to be Mr. Right, but heaven help her, she really likes the other man.  Enter the other man who of course doesn't even believe in love, yet he's drawn to Phoebe.  Cal is fun and easy to like even when being a jerk because you understand why he is a jerk.

The plot is fast and a little jerky, but it is a novella.  I thought the story was cute and ultimately works out the way it should.  It left me with a smile on my face and that is really all I ask for in a story.  I want to like the characters, enjoy the romance and leave with a smile.  A Little Bit Cupid did that for me.  It's Valentine's Candy you can enjoy any time of the year :)


My Rating: 4.0/5.0


About the Book:
Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Pheobe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love
might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.

Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.


About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy--which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, The Role of a Lifetime.

Lately she's been on a serious exercise kick. But don't hold that against her.

Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.

Social Media Links:
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Blog
Goodreads

Buy the book by clicking on any of these links:
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iTunes Bookstore

A LITTLE BIT CUPID on Goodreads

***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.  ***

Blog Tour: Interview & Review: Private Practice by Samanthe Beck

  
Today I welcome Samanthe Beck, author of Private Practice, which is an amazingly hot and sweet book that I really enjoyed reading.  So it's time to grab your favorite cuppa and sit and learn a little more about Samanthe and check out my review .  

What three things do you need in order to write?

I will work for food…or, make that, beverages. In the morning, I need a big mug of coffee (I’ve
got one called “The D Cup”) loaded with enough hazelnut creamer to make Juan Valdez cringe.
By noon I’ve traded in the coffee for Diet Dr. Pepper and, by five o’clock, (okay, four-thirty,
sticklers), I’ve upgraded to a big glass of red wine.


Crystal: Now that sounds like my kind of day!

What's your favorite season?

Summer, definitely. The other seasons have their charms, but I likes me some sun!


Crystal: I have to agree, I use to be a spring girl, but spring is so crazy around here lately that I just want warm summer sun and to go out on the boat!  Saturday I was out in a tank top getting some sun, today I'm bundled up in a coat and scarf and I live in NC so bring on summer!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Endless summer, baby! Six months of the year here in the ‘Bu, and six months in Bora Bora.

What's the first sentence of Private Practice?

“Call me Ishmeal.” (Just kidding. That would be Moby Dick, which stuck with me since 9th grade
for some reason). The first line of Private Practice is: “To be honest, I’m relieved Roger and I
called off our engagement.”

Tell us what is Private Practice about.

Dr. Ellie Swann returns to her tiny hometown of Bluelick, KY to open her general practice, but,
before the ink dries on her “The Doctor Is In” sign, she learns the object of her secret—and
completely unrequited—adoration, Roger Reynolds is newly single. According to his ex-fiance,
Melody, he’s in the market for a wild, sexually adventurous woman. Ellie’s wondering how she
can turn herself into his perfect sexy soul-mate when local bad-boy Tyler Longfoot shows up
on her doorstep at 2:00 a.m. with a jealous drunk’s bullet in his ass and a question on his lips.
What can he do to convince her not to report the incident to the authorities? Tyler’s a walking,
talking wealth of sexual know-how, packed into six-feet, two-inches of mouthwatering man. All
of the sudden, Ellie’s ready to negotiate the price of her silence!

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

I had a ton of fun with Tyler. How could I not appreciate having a big, strapping stud who pretty
much had to do whatever I told him to do? But I have a real soft spot for Melody. She’s been
through a tough break-up, but she handles herself with class and never plays the victim. Plus,
she was full of surprises. Who knew under her polished prom queen veneer lurked a sexy vixen
waiting for a certain fire chief to set her free (or tie her up, as the case may be).


Crystal: I was surprised to like Melody too, I figured from the start of the book she would be the one I wouldn't like but now I want a book about her!

What was your inspiration for Private Practice?

My husband hails from a small town in Northern Kentucky, near Blue Licks Battlefield State
Park. His entire family still lives there. Visiting them gave me, (a nomadic city girl), my first
experience being in a place where everybody knows everybody and secrets are harder to keep
than a stash of Makers Mark. I started to wonder what it would be like to undertake radical self-
change in that kind of environment.

Somewhere along the line I also got into a “Hart of Dixie” habit, and thought, why shouldn’t my
small town be populated with incredibly HOT people?

How did you come up with the title for the book? Is it yours or did someone help you with it?

I called this story “Private Practice” from the beginning, and it stuck! I liked that it touched on
the medical angle—Ellie being a doctor and all—but also hinted about the whole private lesson
arrangement she reaches with Tyler.

What can we expect next from you?

My second novel, “Lover Undercover,” comes out in late April from Entangled’s super-smexy
Brazen line! A hot homicide detective, a woman with a secret, some dirty-dancing…and
murder. :0


Crystal: Oooh, I like it and I can't wait to read it!

Thanks Samanthe!

Thank you for having me!
To follow the tour, click on the banner at the top of the post or go here.

About the book:

Title: Private Practice

Author: Samanthe Beck

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 263

Release Date: February 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62266-788-8

Imprint: Brazen

He’ll teach her how to bring a man to his knees…

Dr. Ellie Swan has a plan: open her practice in tiny Bluelick, Kentucky, so she can keep an eye on her diabetic father, and make hometown golden-boy Roger Reynolds fall in love with her. But Ellie has a problem. Roger seeks a skilled, sexually adventurous partner, and bookish Ellie doesn’t qualify.

Tyler Longfoot only cares about three things: shaking his bad boy image, qualifying for the loan his company needs to rehab a piece of Bluelick’s history, and convincing Ellie to keep quiet about the “incident” that lands him on her doorstep at two a.m. with a bullet in his behind.

The adorable Dr. Swan drives a mean bargain, though. If sex-on-a-stick Tyler will teach Ellie how
to bring a man to his knees, she’ll forget about the bullet. Armed with The Wild Woman’s Guide to
Sex and Tyler’s lessons, Ellie is confident she can become what Roger needs…if she doesn’t fall for
Tyler first.


Read an excerpt here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/private-practice/

Praise for Private Practice: “Passionate and laugh out loud funny with a super sexy hero
who gets all As between the sheets.”
- USA TODAY Bestselling Author Cari Quinn

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About the Author:

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer. 

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.


Connect with Samanthe Beck:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
My Review:
I can't even begin to explain  how fun this book was to read.  The characters, the plot, the town, all worked so well together that I just sat down, started reading and couldn't stop and I think I kept a smile on my face the entire time.  There is conflict but it's not as stressful as some books, and there are serious parts, but for some reason I felt this book was more fun and enjoyable than anything else and it really helped my mood.

Ellie has returned and she's all grown up and doesn't quite look like the nerd she was when she left, but she's still self-conscious, she still has family issues and she still has a crush on golden boy Roger.  So when she hears he's on the market and wants an adventurous partner, she decides that she will make herself more adventurous in the bedroom.  Enter Tyler who has a problem, more specifically a bullet in his butt.  I mean who can't laugh at that.  A hot guy with a bullet in his butt.  Ellie then makes a deal with him.  Teach her in the bedroom and she'll keep his bullet wound a secret.  Except there are no secrets in a small town.  Can I just say how much I loved both characters.  You expect Tyler to be all wild bad boy, he got shot, he was in a bar and he drives a motorcycle, but you learn about him and he's so different than what is painted about him.  Then there is Ellie who is quite buttoned up and wants to change that and Tyler can bring out the best in her.  Of course they start to fall for each other, one knows it, the other doesn't really realize it.  It's typical. 

As far as the plot goes, it is predictable, but that's not a problem, I loved watching it unfold.  Where it's going its predictable, but how it gets there and how the characters develop is not.  And I loved the secondary characters and plots that are introduced.  They added depth to the story without bogging it down.  I think they made it more interesting and really added to Tyler and Ellie.  Not that you need to add to Tyler and Ellie because they can  heat up the pages all on their own.

One other thing I really liked, you read the description and you think the book is all sex, but it's not.  There is real chemistry and despite what you think, they don't jump right into bed, there is wooing and I love Tyler for it.  You have to read it to understand and I don't want to give more away.  Another thing I love, the construction worker angle.  She did a great job with that without making him the typical dumb guy just there for looks.  Tyler is smart which a lot of construction workers are (I'm married to one).  I saw a lot of my husband in him and his comments about job sight and how he acted so I think she nailed the character spot on.  Great job Ms. Beck!  

If you are looking for a great romance with depth but yet it stays light then Private Practice is just the book for  you.  I read it in just a few hours one evening.  My eyes were about to close, but I had to finish, had to see how things worked out.  It was a completely enjoyable read and I know I say it often but I really do mean it here, I cannot wait to read more by Ms. Beck, she knows romance and writes it perfectly. 

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

 

FTC Notice: I received a copy of Private Practice from Entangled Publishing for review.  I was not compensated in any other way besides receiving a copy for review.  All opinions are my own.

Unbroken by Melody Grace Sneak Peak + Giveaway Blast

Sneak Peek...

“So, you own the bar now?” I say, “That’s great. Why didn’t you say?”

Emerson gives me a measured look. “You didn’t ask.”

I stop. How is this my fault? “Yeah, well I didn’t exactly have time, what with you pummeling a guy, pretending like you were going to make out with me, then judging every one of my life choices.”

My reply whips out before I can stop it. I clamp my hand over my mouth, and stare at the shocked expression on Emerson’s face. He so wasn’t expecting that! But why the hell shouldn’t I say it? It’s the truth, after all. I let out a giggle, unable to stop myself.

His expression changes.

“You’re drunk.” He says shortly.

I shrug, defensive. “So what if I am?”

“You never could hold your liquor.” He shakes his head, and takes another gulp of his beer. “I wonder, what else has changed…?” Emerson’s mouth curves into a lascivious smile. “You still make that breathy noise when you come?”

I gasp, shocked. “F*** you!”

“Already been there, darlin’.”

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About Melody Grace
 

Melody is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time to try writing one for herself. She loves bad boys, steamy romances, and (of course) happily-ever-afters.

Find Melody Grace

Website: http://www.melodygracebooks.blogspot.com

Twitter: @melody_grace_

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6926290.Melody_Grace

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melody.grace.771

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Double Promo: Just for the Summer by Jenna Rutland and The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

JUST FOR THE SUMMER: Dani Sullivan has come to Lake Bliss to write her latest cookbook and to see if the baby she gave up for adoption eight years ago is happy. When she’s done with her reconnaissance, she plans to return to Detroit without any doubts about past decisions. But when she sees her little boy—indeed happy despite living with his single dad—she finds she can’t keep her promise to stay away from her son or from his flirtatious father, who has no idea of her true identity.

 

Recently divorced sheriff Matt Reagan is ready for a new relationship, but he doesn’t want short-term—his son needs permanence, and so does Matt’s heart. Unfortunately, it’s the smart-mouthed and sinfully sexy Ms. Sullivan who catches his eye. But when Matt learns Dani’s secrets, will he still want her to stay? Or will her chance for love last just for the summer?

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THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL: Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is.

 

Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked.

 

When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever?

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Book Review, Interview & Giveaway: Seven-Night Stand by Nicole Helm

  
Today I welcome Nicole Helm, author of Seven-Night Stand, which is an amazing romance that I had a hard time putting down.  So go grab your favorite cuppa, snuggle up if you are in certain parts of the country and learn a little more about Nicole and then check out my review of Seven-Night Stand and enter the giveaway to win your own copy of Seven-Night Stand.  

What three things do you need in order to write?

My Ipad, something or someone occupying my children, and the Internet so I can procrastinate
when I get stuck.

What's your favorite season?

I love spring. I have a spring birthday and when I was a kid spring meant I usually got to spend
a week at my grandma's where we would search for the first signs of wildflowers. My absolute
fondest memories.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I'd love to see New Zealand, I think. Or Alaska. Somewhere with very few people, but a
gorgeous landscape. :)

What's the first sentence of Seven Night Stand?

"Vivvy Marsh stepped out of the car and saw nothing but flat, barren land and sky."

Tell us what is Seven Night Stand about.

Here's the blurb: Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she'll lose it if she doesn’t find
a hit. When she’s sent to Demo, Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust. It’s flat, boring, and
she's not inspired...until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington.

Nate can’t deny his feelings for Vivvy. She’s beautiful, and doesn’t blink an eye at his crazy
family. He could get used to her...but her Hollywood lifestyle doesn’t fly in his small town.

Their feelings deepen, but they’re going to have to part ways at the end of seven days, or one of
them is going to have to make a sacrifice that’ll change their lives forever.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

That is tough. I love them all for different reasons. (Except for Nate's parents. They're awful, of
course). In the end though, I'd have to give the edge to Nate. He's kind of rough and tumble, but
he's got a soft spot for Vivvy. He likes that she evens out the crazy in his life, and I love that he
likes that about her.

Do you watch Reality TV? If you do, what is your favorite show?

I watch some, though I used to watch a lot more before I had children and watching any TV
became an exercise in which is louder...TV or my kids? Right now my favorite is probably either
The Voice or Pawn Stars. I like competition shows like The Voice because I think it's fun to root
for someone, and I love listening to music. I also think Adam and Blake are hilarious. Pawn
Stars is nice because it's the only reality show my husband will watch with me, and they have a
bunch of fun history facts for the history nerd in me.

Did Seven Night Stand go the way you thought it would when you started or did it take on a life
of it’s own as you wrote?

I spent most of Seven-Night Stand whining to my critique partner that I couldn't write it. And then
she would tell me I could, and I'd write a bit more. Spicy contemporaries were new for me at
the time. Still, more changes happened in the revision process with my Entangled editors than
did when I was actually writing it. In the end, it's still the same story it was supposed to be. A
woman afraid of connecting with anyone, and a man she does just that with, even with all his
crazy baggage.

What can we expect next from you?

Late this summer I'll have a release from Samhain Publishing titled Flight Risk. Then, if all goes
well, there will be two more Harrington books. Book 2 will feature Nate's twin, Ryan, and Book 3
will feature a heroine readers will meet in Book 2.

Thanks Nicole!

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


My Review:
From the first page I was drawn right into the story of Vivvy and Nate in Seven-Night Stand.  Ms. Helm has written a wonderful and believable romance that's fun to read and hard to put down.

I loved Vivvy, loved getting to know her and understanding her and Nate and seeing how they work together and fall for each other.  And Nate is a wonderful make something of himself despite his family type man and I really like him. And I like his protective streak. He wants to protect his grandfather, the business and his brother.  He's a good man with a tough exterior.  Vivvy is a Hollywood woman who's not really a Hollywood woman. Vivvy's tough, she's trying to make it, but she won't sacrifice people and ideas to do it.  Watching Nate and Vivvy together made this a perfect romance.  And yes there is conflict, how does a man who is made for a small town and a woman who is very use to travel and loves her job plan to make a seven-night stand into more?

The story revolves around the week that Vivvy is in town trying to get Nate to agree to the reality show.  And that morphs into their "seven-night stand"  So the storyline revolves around these two plots, the romance and the convincing to do the reality show.  Both bring about conflict that make the story interesting.  Of course the romance brings about quite a bit of interest as well.  I found the story moved at a great pace.  I was drawn right in and felt I was right there with the characters.  Ms. Helm does a great job with pacing and creating a realistic story that the reader both believes and wants to keep turning the page to find out what happens next.  The reader cares about the characters and what is happening in the story.

I found Seven-Night Stand to be a realistic and delightful story.  It was a great romance between two characters that I really cared about. I also loved that it introduced some secondary characters that will be in future books (I'm so glad she answered that in the interview, it was something I was wondering about when reading).  The book really came alive for me.  The romance, the story, the characters were all wonderfully written and I look forward to reading more Nicole Helm books in the future!
 
My rating: 5.0/5.0    

About the book:

Title: Seven-Night Stand
Author: Nicole Helm
Genre: Category - Contemporary Romance
Length: 183 pages
Release Date: February 2013
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-005-6
Imprint: Indulgence

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she'll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust...until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.

Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family's business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

About the Author:
I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream.

I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing.

I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn.

You can contact me at NicoleTHelm@gmail.com. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.

Social Media:
Website

Twitter
Facebook
Blog 

Giveaway:
Thanks to the publisher is for one ebook copy of Seven Night Stand and is open internationally, ends 3/13.  Enter through the Rafflecopter.  



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FTC Notification: I received this book from Entangled Publishing for review.  I was not compensated in any other way than receiving a free book.

Interview, Review & Giveaway: The Valentine Challenge by Marisa Cleveland

  
Today I welcome Marisa Cleveland, author of The Valentine Challenge, which is a fast, fun romantic read that will make you remember why you love Valentine's Day, sigh . . .  So go grab your favorite cuppa, snuggle up if you are in certain parts of the country and learn a little more about Marisa and then check out my review of The Valentine Challenge.  

What three things do you need in order to write?
Oh, that's a tough one! I need... champagne to loosen my fingers, tissues to clean the blood
after pouring it onto the page, and an even sense of humor.

What's your favorite season?
Spring

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Wherever my husband goes. We like the Caribbean. If it's anywhere, maybe the center of the
universe or Mount Olympus...

What’s your ideal Valentine’s Day gift?
Time alone with my hubby.

What's the first sentence of The Valentine Challenge?
"Anyone but her."

Tell us what is The Valentine Challenge about.
Because it's a novella, it's short, so it's really about a moment. That moment when two
people realize they are friends, and then they realize it's more than anything else they've ever
experienced with anyone else. It's more than attraction. It's that moment when they need
someone most - that shoulder to lean on or cry on or bounce an idea off of - and that other
person is there in the most complete way possible. Yeah. That's what it's about.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?
From the novella or ever? From the novella, it's Simon. He's the CEO of Dimistar Enterprises,
the company that champions local businesses in South Beach. Favorite character ever is likely
to change depending on when it's asked, but right now and for a while now, it's been Fitzwilliam
Darcy.

What was your inspiration for The Valentine Challenge?
So many different situations inspired me to write the novella, and it's difficult to pin down, but I'm
inspired by love and couples in love and office romances.

What can we expect next from you?
Thanks for asking! My Entangled Indulgence, South Beach Serenade, is releasing this summer!

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


My Review:
Novellas are hit or miss for me. I imagine it's hard for authors to write them. It's hard to get a full story in so few pages and really interest the reader.  But Marisa Cleveland manages to do just that in The Valentine Challenge.

She brings us two characters that I cared about from the start.  She starts us off on the very first page with conflict.  Marsh doesn't want Stacey as his assistant, he finds her attractive.  Stacey needs this job, she has an issue we don't know yet.  Yes, something to find out.  The attraction is immediate.  I felt it.  It zings on the page.  Ms. Cleveland makes the reader feel it and makes you care about the characters.

The conflict grows and I honestly was starting to wonder how it could possibly resolve. It got much bigger than I thought possible in a novella (and I loved it).  And then it did and when it did, wow.  I can only say wow.  You just have to read it.  Romance, love, hearts, Valentine's Day, more romance.  It just has it all, and it all started with conflict.

All I can say is buy it.  It's worth it.  You will enjoy the time spent reading this if you enjoy contemporary romance.  If you enjoy romance with a challenge in it.  Heck if you just enjoy romance period.  It will make you believe in love again if you don't already.  

My rating: 5.0/5.0    

About the book:

Stacey Bradford believes in love, but when her hot boss, Marshall Royce, decides to close her best friend's flower shop - days before Valentine's Day! - Stacey declares war.

Intrigued by Stacey's devotion to her friend, the hearts and flowers holiday, and belief in true love, Marsh issues a challenge - prove love exists or deliver the closing documents to her friend herself.

Stacey never could resist a challenge, but when Marsh makes Valentine's Day the deadline for their deal, Stacey must decide how far she's willing to go for love.




 

About the Author:
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Giveaway:
I have two giveaways today.  One thanks to the publisher is for one ebook copy of The Valentine Challenge and is open internationally, ends 3/12.  Enter through the Rafflecopter.  


a Rafflecopter giveaway


The second is the tour giveaway, and is for a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate!  Enter through the Rafflecopter below.  


a Rafflecopter giveaway