Blog Tour Grand Finale: Dearest by Alethea Kontis

A themed tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're launching the BOOK TOUR for
Dearest
By Alethea Kontis

Did you miss any of the magical posts and reviews for this tour?
Go check them out now! You can also grab the 20th Chapter of Dearest, 
not previously released, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Lilac Reviews - Tips for Writing a Series
The Arilland Easter Egg Page: I’ve always been a big fan of DVD extras, so I created a page on my website where I list handy links to essays, videos, stories, articles and the like that are some how connected to the series. You can find it here: http://aletheakontis.com/about/arilland
Wishful Endings - The Wild Swans Rant
"The Wild Swans", along with "The Little Mermaid" and "The Little Match Girl" has always been one of my favorite stories by Hans Christian Andersen. (It's also, notably, one of the only HCA stories in which the main characters DON'T DIE.)

Special post @ Waterworld Mermaids - Learn some fun facts about Alethea!

The Book Lovers' Lounge - Review
I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves their fairy tales and romance books.

Review Briefs: Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg, Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh, and Pierce by Love by Laura L. Walker

These all really deserve their own review posts, but I've just been so busy 
and need to get reviews up, so briefs is what they'll get...

Here to Stay (Where Love Begins, #2)Here to Stay
(Where Love Begins #2)
by Melissa Tagg
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback364 Pages
May 6th 2014 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

Witty and Heartwarming Contemporary Romance by an Up-and-Coming Author

Blake Hunziker has played nomad for five years and landed in his fair share of trouble too. But now he's finally returning to his hometown--the Lake Michigan tourist town of Whisper Shore. Counting on a not-so-warm welcome, he's surprised at not only a positive reception but also a job offer. Determined to settle down and prove himself responsible, he agrees to the catch that comes with the job offer--coordinating the annual Christmas festival--even though he has no idea how he'll pull it off.

Autumn Kingsley, inn owner and experienced organizer of the Christmas festival, has always dreamed of traveling the world. Now she has a job opportunity in Paris and a surprise potential investor coming to town who just might take on her family's inn and finally leave her free to go. The only problem is that she has just two weeks to whip the inn into shape.

Their families have a long history of not getting along, but when Blake comes to Autumn for help with the festival, she actually agrees...in exchange for his help with the repairs to her inn. They may have struck a simple deal, but complications are quick to pile on when the guy who's had enough of running away and the woman who can't wait to leave join forces.

  

My Review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Here to Stay! It had that small-town charm, relate-able and fun characters, a sweet romance, some soul searching, plenty of humor and swooning, and a perfect ending.

I really loved these imperfect characters and the whole feud between the two families. It was fun to see the sparks fly (in more than one way) and see two people work together to make Christmas for their little, picturesque town one that they'll never forget. There were so many sweet, heartfelt moments as well as some that made me lough out loud. Who would ever think a bathroom tub would land in a dining room? And then the way Blake stepped up and was there for Autumn... Yep. Love them both.

If you enjoy reading Christian romance or romance in general, definitely grab this one. It definitely left a smile on my face.

Content: Clean

Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.

Paper Hearts
by Courtney Walsh
Christian Contemporary Romance
Kindle384 Pages
February 1st 2015 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Summary

Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she’s poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.

When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn’t come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail’s new landlord, and he’s threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.

As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail’s doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?

  

My Review

I so loved the whole town focused on love and Valentines and the stringing of paper hearts. It was sweet and heartfelt and hilarious, while also being a little heartbreaking. The small town had some great characters, some more radical than others, but great all the same. Great setting with the old vintage buildings and characters. Plus the romance was right on.

The women's group cracked me up with all their plotting. Seeing them interact with Abigail and Jacob. Abigail was a character I loved from the first page. I mean she loves books... What more can I say? She is imperfect, real, cute, and I was so happy to see her pulled out of her shell. Jacob's dealing with a lot. He's a gentleman, tough-working, loyal, a great dad, and actually great to Abigail even though it's a tense situation. I wish he would have had more of a backbone with his business manager, but he redeems himself in the end. And his daughter was so cute and fun.

If you enjoy Christian romance then I'd definitely recommend this one. I loved it! I've adopted the paper hearts idea and am looking forward to sharing it with my family years to come.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Edelweiss, which did not affect my review in any way.

Pierced by LovePierced by Love
by Laura L. Walker
LDS Contemporary Romance
Paperback224 Pages
December 9th 2014 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

Summary

Noelle Jensen doesn’t want to like Pierce Logan. After her boyfriend breaks up with her for her sister, Noelle is done with love. Plus Pierce Logan has commitment issues because of his parents’ divorce and a strained relationship with his dad. But as Pierce and Noelle inadvertently help each other to open up their hearts, they also rediscover the importance of family and love.

   

My Review

This was a sweet, but difficult read. Noelle, the heroine, thought she had it pretty good and then, Wham!, she really doesn't. Not only does life become almost unbearable, her best friend/sister is part of the reason. Pierce was such a good friend. I liked how slowly the romance developed and what good friends these two were before anything else. Thank goodness that both characters have issues that keep them grounded and fearful, but allows them something to overcome. The ending was truly sweet.

I have to admit that this was a tough start for me. I was so upset at the main character's sister! I mean. So. Upset. Enough so that I felt like throwing the book or reaching in and shaking her. I have this thing about cheating in any way, shape, or form and it just totally rubs me the wrong way. I didn't like how a lot of people reacted to it as well and how Noelle gets so much flack from it all when she's the innocent party. Once the story go to the half-way point and started moving on than I finally started to enjoy the story.

If you enjoy reading LDS romance than I would give this a chance. I wish I would have connected with the characters better initially, but overall I enjoyed reading this.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.

Have you read any of these or do you plan to?

Excerpt Reveal: Hunted by Ami Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal! Today I'm participating in revealing the second chapter of...

Hunted
(Sinners #2) 
By Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
To be released April 28th, 2015 by Month9Books, LLC.
add to goodreads
Available for Pre-order:
amazonB&N

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Letters to My Future Husband by Lisa McKendrick

Letters to My Future Husband blog tour

I've been in a romance mood lately and this one hit the spot...

Letters to My Future HusbandLetters to My Future Husband
by Lisa McKendrick
LDS Contemporary Romance
Paperback240 Pages
February 10th 2015 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

Summary

Sophie doesn’t know what kind of man she’s looking for, so her father suggests she write letters to her future husband—and come to know him in the process. But Sophie soon learns her letters aren’t the most reliable key to her heart. This hilarious coming-of-age novel is a guaranteed laugh-out-loud read you’ll want to share with all your friends.

  

Blog Tour Excerpt & Giveaway: Asking for Trouble by Anna J. Stewart

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

Asking for Trouble (Tremayne Family, #1)Asking for Trouble
(Tremayne Family #1)
Anna J. Stewart
Adult Contemporary Romance
February 17th 2015 by Berkley InterMix


Summary

The Tremaynes are one of the most prosperous families in Lantano Valley, California. But money can’t buy everything—especially when it comes to love…

Morgan Tramayne has a heart of gold, but to keep her children’s charity afloat she’s had to resort to some less than legal means: donations from a notorious cat burglar who targets the wealthy. It’s only a matter of time before Morgan’s criminal connection blows up in her face—especially since her undeniable attraction to the man heading the investigation keeps putting her in tricky situations.

Former police detective-turned-investigator Gage Juliano has two goals: salvaging his career and nabbing Lantano Valley’s present-day Robin Hood. But when he meets a beautiful, curvaceous woman who’s more interested in helping others than amassing a fortune like the rest of the town’s residents, Gage finds his desires pulled in an unexpected direction…

Note: This novel contains some mature content.

   

Next in the Series Read-a-Thon

Next in Series

I'll be participating in the Next in the Series Read-a-Thon hosted by Fantasy is more fun and Because Reading as part of the COYER Challenge (which I have already met my goal for - woop!). You can find all of the info here. This runs from February 26th - 28th, so just three days. I would love to get a book read for each of these days, but if I get just one I'll be happy with that. Here are the books I have arcs (as well as physical) copies from publishers of and will choose from:

The Enchanter Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #4) Death by the Book (Drew Farthering Mystery #2) Murder at the Mikado (Drew Farthing Mystery, #3)
Not in the Script (If Only . . . #3) Wild Hearts (If Only . . ., #4)

It seems we all have series to catch up on or finish. Are you reading a book from a series right now? Are you participating in this?


Waiting on Wednesday: Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins & The Truth About Us by Janet Gurtler

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

I read Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins last year and really loved it. I actually feel that it has grown on me even more since then. I'm really looking forward to the sequel! Then my second book choice just sounds really good. Troubled girl from the right side of the track falling for the boy from the wrong side of the track? Yep. I like those stories.

Review: The Trouble with Flirting by Rachel Morgan

The Trouble with Flirting (The Trouble Series #2)The Trouble with Flirting
(The Trouble #2)
by Rachel Morgan
NA Contemporary Romance
Kindle332 Pages
September 9th 2014

Summary

Labelled a nerd for most of high school, Livi sees her first year of university as a chance to redefine herself. She can finally enter the popular crowd and maybe even land herself a super hot boyfriend. But Livi’s about to discover that the price of popularity may be more than she’s willing to pay, and that what — and who — she wants most has always been right in front of her.