The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett (Guest Post, Trailer & #Giveaway)

http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2018/01/blog-tour-sign-up-boat-house-by-jana-d.html

Welcome to my stop! Check out all the fun stuff, including a giveaway, below...

The Boat House
by Jana D. Barrett
Adult Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 271 Pages
October 1st 2017

Summary

Genevieve Vandermere-Anderson lives in an elite world carefully crafted by her stepfather. While other girls her age revel in the freedom of their first summer break from college, Genevieve has no choice but to return to her childhood home in Hilton Head, South Carolina to play sidekick to her vindictive stepfather. Forbidden from social media and isolated from her peers, she returns home disheartened and oppressed by the actions of her past, governed by secrets.
   
Though she is fearful of the repercussions, Genevieve decides it is time to start making her own choices. She sneaks out of her fortified house to attend the annual beach bonfire. There she meets a handsome stranger and follows him to an abandoned boathouse hidden in low country marshes. Little does she know that this small act of rebellion will be the catalyst for unraveling the truth about her regretful past, and the layers of deception her stepfather has masterminded.

When she begins to investigate the boating accident that tragically killed her mother and two other people, she discovers that her stepfather's suspicious behavior and control tactics are all part of a greater agenda.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)



Favorite Suspense Books & Movies
  1. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
  2. The Turn of The Screw by Henry James
  3. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  4. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
  5. The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
  1. Seven
  2. The Silence of the Lambs
  3. Flatliners
  4. What Lies Beneath
  5. Mystic River
  6. The Fugitive

Trailer

About the Author


Jana was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. An avid reader, she loves to travel, cook and try exotic foods. She is a self- proclaimed 'city girl' who fell in love with a country boy. Jana, her husband and their daughter live on a retired pasture, with a lovely farmland view. An animal lover she has Siberian Husky named Blizzard, a barn kitty named Winter and an impolite group of wild turkeys.


Tour-Wide Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I Can't Wait for... Over Raging Tides by Jennifer Ellision (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday)


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I became a fan of this author after reading and absolutely loving Threats of Sky and Sea. I'm ecstatic about this new series with pirates (of the female kind at that), sea monsters, and romance. What's not to love? It's my pick this week...

Over Raging Tides
(Lady Pirates #1)
by Jennifer Ellision
YA Fantasy
ebook, 157 Pages
March 20th 2018

Summary

The pirate crew of the Lady Luck lives by many rules, but chief among them is this: they do not allow men on board.

That’s a rule that quartermaster Grace Porter is willing to break when a shipwrecked young nobleman offers her information of an omniscient map, stolen from his warship by an enemy vessel. Until now, the map was only the stuff of legend… but with its help, Grace may finally be able to hunt down the Mordgris, the sea monsters who stole her mother away from her.

Unfortunately, some members of her crew have other plans...

To find the map and face the Mordgris, Grace will have to confront her past, put the Luck between warring nations, and uncover treachery aboard the ship. And ultimately, her revenge and the destruction of the Mordgris will come at a hefty price: the betrayal of her crew.

Grace promised them they wouldn’t regret this.

She just isn’t sure that she won’t.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)


Will you be reading this one?

Forever a Father by Lynne Marshall (Interview & #Giveaway)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Launch for
Forever a Father
By Lynne Marshall

Author Interview

Q. What is your motivation behind FOREVER A FATHER? Why did you want to write it?

A. When the Delaney Brothers story first came to me, it had strong paranormal elements. This is not at all the romance subgenre I write in, yet I was intrigued and excited about the idea. Three brothers on a deep-sea fishing trip get capsized in the ocean. Each thinks he is going to drown, but something mysteriously lifts them from the depths of the sea and saves them. After that extraordinary incident, each brother realizes he has a special power. Daniel, has the gift of healing, Mark, the gift of acute and specialized hearing, and Conor, the gift of telekinesis. The original premise was that each brother would have this special power until he saved someone else, because, as they were saved from the ocean, they were each meant to save another.

As you can imagine, this premise doesn’t work for contemporary romance, and I was hoping to get another contract with my usual publisher, so something had to give. As much as I loved the paranormal scenario, I knew it had to change, but I still wanted a touch of magic in the stories. So, working within the parameters of my Harlequin Special Edition romance line, I made some major adjustments. That’s part of the fluidity when brainstorming and creating a story. The fishing trip changed from a near-drowning experience to one where the Delaney brothers save a seal from a pod of Orca looking for a snack. By the way, I based this on a personal experience my family and I had on a trip out to Santa Cruz island off the Ventura, California coast. We became part of a National Geographic moment, and it was tough to watch. Unlike my story, we were not able to intervene, and I could not bear to watch the last moments.

But back to the story. Padraig Delaney, the patriarch of the family, upon hearing the news, claims his grandsons have saved a selkie. With his being from Ireland, the brothers are used to his occasional fanciful logic, and let him decide whatever he wants, what did it matter? Until Padraig insists that since Daniel, Mark, and Conor saved a selkie, they’d each soon find the love of their lives. Of course, the brothers write that off as typical magical thinking from good old Grandda, until…

As the stories turned out, there are three brothers, three wonderful romances, and three happily-ever-afters in this trilogy, so you can decide for yourselves if Grandda is a bit touched in the head, or simply in touch with the workings of fate.

Q. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

A. I hope readers understand that past struggles may hold us back, but it is possible to move on and enjoy life and love again. Hope is the word I’d love for readers to remember. No matter how tough things may be, never give up hope, because hope can sometimes work miracles. It did for Daniel Delaney and Keela O’Mara, oh, and little Anna, too.

Q. Do you have a favorite scene that you can share with us?

A. While Daniel is still trying super hard not to get involved with his employee, Keela, he finds out that her little girl Anna is having a birthday, and her father has forgotten it. As hard as it was for him emotionally, Daniel goes to a toy store and heads for the girl’s aisle and buys little Anna a cartload of gifts. He then stops by his family’s restaurant and takes a cake and some ice cream and heads to Keela and Anna’s house.

I loved writing the scene with the three of them having a birthday party. I loved the surprise of Anna, the heartfelt thanks from Keela, and the silly but heroic act of a guy showing up wearing a kid’s party hat and blowing a party favor. He did it without any ulterior motives, all he wanted to do was make a little girl happy. The gesture made a huge shift in the relationship between Keela and Daniel. I loved that part.

Q. If you could sum the book up in one sentence, what would you say?

A. One sentence? That’s impossible. Lol Okay, here goes: With the support of family and one special employee, Daniel Delaney lets go of the past and is gifted with a future more amazing than he could ever imagine.

Q. Share something about you that is unique - maybe about how/where you write... or favorite snack foods?

A. I never realized I was a writer until I was fifty years old. I’d been a wife, mother, and RN for twenty-five years, and had been very happy with my life. Then one day this yearning hit me. Hard. I called it my late-life crisis when I secretly sat down to write my first book. Don’t worry, that book is safely tucked away and will never see the light of day, but it taught me that I could start and, more importantly, finish a book if I put my mind to it. It took me five more years and several more books before I sold my first to Harlequin. My personal motto is: It’s never too late to start something new, and life it too short not to try.

Forever a Father
(Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach #1)
by Lynne Marshall
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 224 pages
March 1st 2018 by Harlequin Special Edition
GoodreadsAmazonB&NBook Depository
iBooksKoboGooglePlayHarlequin

“Will you be my dad?”

Ask me anything but that.

Once upon a time, Dr. Daniel Delaney had it all. But he lost it in the blink of an eye, and he won’t let himself fall again—not even for his dedicated new assistant, Keela O’Mara, and her adorable, lonely little girl, Anna. Resisting a starry-eyed four-year-old is tough enough. Denying her perfect, loving single mom may be more than Daniel can handle…

Tour Schedule

Other Books in the Series (coming soon)


About the Author


Lynne Marshall has been traditionally published with Harlequin as a category romance author for more than ten years with over twenty-five books, and more recently with TULE Publishing, she has also gone hybrid with self-publishing. She is a Southern California native, has been married to a New Englander for a long time, and has two adult children of whom she is super proud. She is also an adoring grandmother of two beautiful little girls, a woman of faith, a dog lover, a cat admirer, a meandering walker, a curious traveler, and an optimistic participant in this wild journey called life.


Tour Giveaway


3 winners will receive print books of Lynne Marshall's Home in Heartlandia series: A DOCTOR FOR KEEPS, HER PERFECT PROPOSAL, and FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE (if US, winner will receive signed books)
Open internationally
Ends March 7th

Romance is in the Air Feature: Last $25 Amazon/PayPal #Giveaway!


I hope you have enjoyed the Romance is in the Air Promotion! There are $500 in Giveaways as part of this event. Be sure you have entered all 17 giveaways (direct links below)!

Be on the lookout for our next clean author event “Love in Bloom” which will take place in April.


















*Blogger $100 Giveaway Rafflecopter (for bloggers who signed up and post about this event)


$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 3/13/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Fair Aussie by Jennifer Griffith (Review)

My Fair Aussie
by Jennifer Griffith
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 357 Pages
December 5th 2017

Summary

There’s more to this Aussie cowboy than meets the eye. 

Former grad student Eliza works as a nanny for a self-absorbed trophy wife looking to trade up for a new husband and ditch her child. Eliza will do anything to protect the little girl and open her boss’s eyes. Even if it requires an elaborate hoax.

Then fate hits Eliza with Henry, a bewildered, dirty guy at the bus station. He’s got amazing teeth, cowboy swagger, and an accent to swoon for. Everything is falling into place for a rags-to-riches-style bait and switch. But will it deliver a slice of humble pie to Eliza’s boss—or get Eliza fired?

Worse, refining him might mean losing her heart.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

My Review

MY FAIR AUSSIE is a chick-lit with a charming leading man who plays the one in distress and a heroine who finds herself unable to stop herself from falling for him. It's a fun twist on the classic movie, My Fair Lady. Highly recommended to chick-lit and sweet romance fans!

I wasn't quite sure about this book at first. I'd seen it around, but then when I saw blogger friends loving it, I thought I'd give it a try since I was in the mood for romance. Hands down, this is definitely full of fun and romance. The chemistry was fabulous as was the humor. The characters were great and I adored them. I also liked the little twists and the very sweet ending. I laughed, felt my heart twist, and enjoyed plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is the perfect book to curl up with. It's full of laughs, friendship, misconceptions, and romance that will create plenty of sighs. Pretty much the perfect romance.

Content: Clean
Source: Purchased

Have you read this one or any of this authors other books? This was so fun, so if you're looking for fun and romantic, definitely check this one out!

Weekly Update #253, in which my week rose to a new level of business...


Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week!

I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This week was so busy! I have several projects to do around the house and have been trying to get those done, and then my youngest caught the croup this week too and was home from school, and had books that were supposed to be reviewed and book tour things that I needed to do, and am still helping my parents with their move... Add all that to the usual homework and cub scouts and volleyball practice for one of my kids... As well as trying to keep on top of the Olympics (I love, love, love the Olympics and have been recording everything and then watching them when I'm doing other things). I'm tired. This weekend is also busy as we had a volleyball tournament Saturday and are celebrating birthdays with my family and my parents are actually staying with us while they're down here. See, it just goes on and on. Lol! Next week will be slightly less busy. I have a bunch of reading to get caught up on so hopefully tomorrow I'll get that started and fly through the books I need to, while also enjoying them and being able to stay awake while I do so. I think that might be a record for run-on sentences, but it's how it came out. :) Have you been watching the Olympics?


Here are the books you'll be seeing...

This Week

My Fair AussieKeturah (The Sugar Baron's Daughters, #1)Prancing Around With Sleeping Beauty
The Boat HouseForever a Father (The Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach)The Marriage Pact (Loving an Aldridge, #1)

Giveaways

There are a couple of giveaways running right now:

Other Things of Note

I've been hosting a meme this year called Can't-Wait Wednesday that is taking over for my Waiting on Wednesday posts since the host, Jill over at Breaking the Spine, went inactive in August 2016. You're welcome to join in or link up your Waiting on Wednesday posts each week. Find out more here.

Last Week

Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan (Review)

Love in Three Quarter Time
by Rachel McMillan
Adult Contemporary Romance, Novella
ebook, 109 pages
February 14th 2018

Summary

A romantic waltz through a city filled with music, passion and coffee.

Evelyn Watt fell in love with Austrian marketing director Rudy Moser the moment he stepped into their Boston firm. With his ice blue eyes and chocolate-melting accent, he is as refined as she imagines his home country to be. When Evelyn finds herself unexpectedly unemployed right before Christmas, she is left with an unknown future until Rudy steps in with a job appraising, assessing and cataloging heirlooms, lending her American vernacular to the translated descriptions to give each item international appeal. Evelyn will live in Vienna for the months leading up to a grand auction at a party held in conjunction with the Opera Ball—on Valentine’s Day.

Vienna is a magical blend of waltzing, antiques, and bottomless cups of Einspanner coffee at the Café Mozart. When a secret from Rudy's family's past blows in with the winter chill, Evelyn is forced to confront how well she knows the object of her affection. Her café tablemate, the gruff and enigmatic Klaus Bauner might be the only person who holds the key to Rudy’s past. But could that key also unlock her future? In the days leading up to the Opera Ball, Evelyn finds herself in the middle of the greatest romance of her life…as long as she doesn’t trip over her two left feet.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

My Review

LOVE IN THREE QUARTER TIME is a story with an almost lyrical quality as the heroine experiences Vienna for the first time. It's full of romance, new sites and tastes, and new experiences. Readers will feel like they are experiencing Vienna as well, easily getting caught up in this charming place where so much could happen. Recommended to fans of Eva Ibbotson and similar styles of writing.

This was such a charming story! It was beautiful in prose and in setting. It was a little surprising because this is definitely different from this author's other books, but I got over that pretty quickly and just fell into this story. The main character is still trying to figure out who she is. She has a crush on her boss and thinks she wants one thing, but finds, as she finds herself, that maybe what she wants has changed. I had some moments of frustration with her because I wanted her to not screw anything up. Thank goodness she figures it out! I loved all the sweet moments that made this story special. There were some lovely friendships as well.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed this story! It was delightful and refreshing. This author continues to surprise and delight and I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes next!

Content: Clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way, but also purchased a copy.

Have you read this or any of this author's other books? The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder is one of my favorite reads.

Focus On Love by Candee Fick (Grand Finale & #Giveaway)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for
Focus On Love
By Candee Fick

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Author Interview

Q: What do you hope readers take with them after they've read it?

A: Since it's a sweet romance, I want readers to leave with a sigh, a sappy smile, a warm fuzzy feeling, and a new book boyfriend in Ryan. I want readers to have experienced the highs and lows of the journey along with Liz and then participate vicariously in her victory. But mostly along the way, I hope readers feel the tug toward a deeper or new relationship with the Creator of everything who still wants to be their personal Friend.


At least she’d finally seen Jerry’s true colors. But was it too late to fight for her place? If she needed to stay, completing her degree would have to wait.

She squared her shoulders and faced her dad. “Logo designer aside, do these shirts mean I can finally start working with you? Because I’d love to see us expand into new areas and revamp our website.”

Dad waved a hand dismissively. “Jerry’s full of ideas for doing all that. What we really need is office support.”

More of Jerry’s words came flooding back to her. “You don’t need a business degree to answer the phones and stuff envelopes.” Liz’s stomach clenched along with her fists.

Better to know the truth than to cling to hope. “Are you ever going to give me a chance to step behind the camera?”

Remembrancy - Review

"This book does exactly what the title suggests. It focuses on love. . . .the love of family as well as friends, . . and a healthy helping of God’s love are all represented within its pages. . . .

I was a bit disappointed when I reached the end of this book. Liz and Ryan are people I could have hung out with for another hundred pages. But I will take comfort in the hop of another excellent read from Candee Fick in the future."


Can You Really Find Love on the Job?

My husband and I met while working at a private high school. He taught math while coaching football and baseball. I taught chemistry and coached cross country and track.

We might never have talked outside of polite conversation at staff meetings, except for the fact we had a handful of matchmaking students in common. Have you ever been around hormonal teenagers especially near Valentine’s Day? They latched onto the idea that the single teachers at the school really should get married and brought up not-so-subtle hints about every other week.


“You look happy.” The man’s intense gaze swept over her face and she resisted the urge to squirm when he nodded, as if he had her figured out.

“I just got a miracle. Didn’t think God did those anymore, at least for me.” She really needed to thank Dani for praying.

The man smiled, and the serious expression on his face transformed into a look of one who enjoyed life. Laugh lines emerged beside his eyes, along with a deep dimple to the right of a crooked smile reminiscent of Grandpa O’Neill. “I believe He’s got a few more miracles up His sleeve. At least I hope so. Actually, that’s why I’m here.”

“Are you an actor?” With this handsome man around, the theater could get interesting.

His eyes widened in surprise and then shifted toward the ticket window with its display of show posters. “No.”


"Focus on Love is the first book I’ve read by Candee Fick and I really enjoyed it. Set in the Wardrobe Dinner Theater world of Colorado, we meet Liz and her two roommates, Dani and Gloria. Dani’s story was told in the previous book, Dance Over Me (which I’m eager to read), and Focus on Love is Liz’s story, which stands alone. . . .

The ending felt a little rushed, but hopefully we’ll see more of Liz and Ryan in the next book. Focus on Love is a sweet and entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed."


“So is this guy any good, or does he just have a business card?”

Liz reached under the bed for her laptop and turned it on. “He has a website listed, so he might have a portfolio online. We’d better check him out and save Mr. Sheridan the hassle.”

“Sure.” Dani whacked her with a pillow. “Check him out or check out his work?”

Heat rose in her face. Curse her pale complexion. “Both?” Except, after Jerry the Jerk, the last thing she needed was to date another photographer.

I Am A Reader - Guest Post

Ten Workplace Romances On the Big Screen

In fiction—and in real life—romance can blossom in the middle of a working relationship. Come to think of it, each of my previous two novels have also featured couples falling in love while keeping up with the day job. But rather than discuss specific books with workplace romances—which perhaps not all of us have read—I started thinking about other stories we romance-genre-lovers can talk about. The stories on the big screen. The “chick-flicks” that make us smile.

So, without further delay, here are ten popular movies (including two classics) where two lonely hearts working together find love.


"Another sweet romance from Candee Fick! The warm characters move right into your heart, and the dinner theater atmosphere (with its delightful nod to C.S. Lewis’ Narnia) is vivid and unique. In fact, the photography and theater elements in Focus on Love give readers a fascinating picture into each of these creative worlds. Ryan and Liz are very relatable characters, and their attraction is palpable. (Some great kisses too!) Overall this is a heartwarming story of love and grace in various forms, and a great choice any time of the year!"

Colorimetry - Excerpt

Within minutes, she had almost tripled the number of pictures on her memory card with a variety of solo and group shots. One of the actors suggested they silently sneak onto the stage itself since the curtain was down and the audience was making plenty of noise while eating their dinners. Soon she had close to live-action images, taken with the large props and backdrop, to add to her collection.

The buzz of energy grew each time the shutter clicked as Liz sank deeper into a creative zone. How was it possible to have such laser-targeted focus on her subjects that her camera almost became a natural extension of her imagination?

She hadn’t felt such freedom in years.

Paulette's Papers - Guest Post

Liz Foster’s Practical Tips to Balance Work and Love (and Life)

Today I’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Foster. In addition to acting at The Wardrobe Dinner Theatre, you’ll often find her with a camera strapped around her neck. Still, since it’s February and love is in the air, I thought I’d ask Liz about mixing romance with the theater.

Theater romances are unique. Of course, there’s the typical proximity factor because the cast spends so much time together during rehearsals and performances. However, sometimes an onstage romance between two characters bleeds over into a backstage attraction too, but those usually don’t last because it’s hard to tell when the acting ends and reality begins.

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

About a hundred feet from the front doors, she spotted the tall cowboy exiting a large truck parked nearby, and her stomach whirred like her fast-action shutter.

Of course, it had to be nerves about showing her pictures to the Sheridans in front of the professional photographer—nothing to do with how handsome he was.

Ryan grinned as his long stride brought him quickly to her side. “Fancy meeting you here this morning. Liz, right?”


"This author has been recommended to me by a couple of my dearest bookish friends so I had high expectations for this story yet Focus on Love did not disappoint! I’m so happy with this experience and I look forward to reading the author’s backlist and future works."

Cafinated Reads - Excerpt

Liz nudged her camera bag out of the way of her feet and swiveled to face Ryan during the drive.

Of course, from this angle she could easily admire the muscles in his forearms below the rolled-up sleeves of his dress shirt as he steered into traffic. A suit jacket hung on a hook behind his seat.

“My mom served on the foundation’s board for several years.”

“Wait a minute… I didn’t think you were from around here.”

“I’m not.” He glanced over with a grin. “I grew up on a ranch in Montana.”

Among the Reads - Review & Guest Post

"I simply loved Focus on Love! It is such a lovely story of faith, love and learning the incredible love that God has for us."

Ryan Callahan’s Version of “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

Today, I’d like to introduce you to award-winning photographer Ryan Callahan. My first question is how did a Montana cowboy like you end up working for the Bricker Communications empire?

Glad to be here. (Tips his hat) My adventure started because of a photo contest I saw advertised in my uncle’s camera shop. The grand prize was a trip to tag along with a famous photographer on a shoot. Well, he looked past my inexperience and eventually lobbied to get me an internship with the company. I’ve since moved up the ladder and my mentor is now the CEO. You could say it all started with a lucky break, but I know it was a God-thing.


“I should have guessed you’d be out here with a camera.”

She turned to face Ryan as he leaned out the open window. “You should have seen it. It was magical. And gorgeous.”

“Yes, I see.” He eyed her rather than the trees.

A sudden warmth flooded her cheeks as she swung her camera bag around to her side and hurried around to the passenger side of his truck. She’d be wise to remember that while flirting was fun, it was too soon to feel anything more than friendship for Ryan, no matter how tempting.


"I would highly recommend this book to other readers. It is a sweet love story and also has several life experiences that the characters have to make decisions about and then endure them."


“Do you want to help me with the middle?” Liz grinned as the little girl nodded like a bobblehead doll. Soon she straddle-walked behind Hannah as they packed the snow tight, then angled their path to intersect where the guys smoothed out the giant base. The activity tugged at memories of the year Grandpa O’Neill had helped her build a snowman and stole Grandma’s scarf for a decoration.

“Hannah, that’s the best middle I’ve ever seen.” Ryan’s praise brought a sweet smile from the precious little girl, filling more of the lonely spots in Liz’s heart. “But do you think Liz can lift it up here?”

“You could help, you know.” Liz paused to straighten a kink out of her back.

“I could.” He waggled his eyebrows, then moved to face her.

With his arms under hers, they lifted the middle section and then sidestepped toward the base. One could imagine they were almost hugging … if not for the icy mass between them.

And only if one were prone to imagining the start of a romance where friendship grew.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven't already...

Focus On Love
(The Wardrobe Dinner Theater #2)
by Candee Fick
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 192 pages
February 13th 2018 by Bling! Romance

Free-spirited Elizabeth Foster turned her back on her father's photography business to pursue musical theater, but a career on the stage remains second to a career behind the camera. The possibility of a one-show contract means she's a few weeks from unemployment forcing her home, and her dreams of pursuing professional photography reemerge. With photography and theater opportunities unfolding before her, Elizabeth faces her biggest challenge yet—listening to her heart.

Meanwhile, sought-after photographer Ryan Callahan has put his career on hold to help his sister's family, but the promise of a bigger assignment could lure him away so he can begin building a family of his own. With professional opportunities and personal obligations pulling at him, Ryan faces his toughest challenge—balancing family, relationships, and work.

If given the choice, what dreams would develop for Elizabeth and Ryan? And will they learn to trust each other enough to focus on love?


Other Books in the Series

Dance Over Me
(The Wardrobe Dinner Theater #1)
by Candee Fick
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 268 pages
September 2016 by Bling! Romance

Danielle Lefontaine, a fledgling actress raised to the lullaby of Broadway, searches for her long-lost brother and her place on the stage, but a jealous cast member and numerous fruitless leads threaten to drop the curtain on her dreams and shine a spotlight on her longing for a place to belong. 

Meanwhile, Alex Sheridan is living his dream except for someone to share it with. When Dani dances into his life, he hopes he’s found the missing piece to his heart but fears the bright lights of the stage could steal her away. Will the rhythm of dancing feet usher in their deepest desires or leave them stranded in the wings?

About the Author


Candee Fick is a multi-published author in both fiction and non-fiction. She is also the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy with her day job, writing, or coaching other authors, she can be found cheering on the home team at sporting events, exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.


Tour Giveaway

There are two specific prizes below for this tour. You can also find a giveaway on Goodreads here and another release celebration giveaway here.


1ST PRIZE: 1 winner will receive autographed copies of Catch of a Lifetime, Dance Over Me and Focus On Love, as well as a $25 Shutterfly gift card
2ND PRIZE: 1 winner will receive an autographed copy of Focus On Love
US only
Ends February 28th

Active Memory by Dan Wells (Review & #Giveaway)


Welcome to my stop! I reviewed the first two books in this series hereCheck
out my review of this third book and the other tour information below (if you've
read this series, you will totally want the t-shirt included in the giveaway)...

Active Memory
(Mirador #3)
by Dan Wells
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Hardcover, & ebook, 400 Pages
February 13th 2018 by Balzer + Bray

Summary

From Dan Wells, author of the New York Times bestselling Partials Sequence and the John Cleaver series, comes the third and final book in the dark, pulse-pounding, sci-fi neo-noir series that began with the acclaimed novel Bluescreen.

For all the mysteries teen hacker Marisa Carneseca has solved, there has been one that has always eluded her: the truth behind the car accident in which she lost her arm and a mob boss’ wife, Zenaida de Maldonado, lost her life. Even in a world where technology exists to connect everyone’s mind to one another, it would seem that some secrets can still remain hidden.

Those secrets rise violently to the surface, however, when Zenaida de Maldonado’s freshly severed hand shows up at the scene of a gangland shooting. If Zenaida is—or was—still alive, it means there’s even more about Marisa’s past that she doesn’t know. And when she and her friends start digging, they uncover a conspiracy that runs from the slums of Los Angeles to the very top of the world’s most powerful genetic engineering firm. If Mari wants the truth, she’s going to have to go through genetically enhanced agents, irritatingly attractive mob scions, and some bad relationships to get it.

Dan Wells’s widely acclaimed series continues with his most shocking, pulse-pounding, and visionary story yet.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

My Review

ACTIVE MEMORY is a crazy roller-coaster ride of emotions and adrenaline as these group of friends try to save the ones they love. The characters continue to be diverse and lovable, with a family dynamic easy to relate to, and a plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Fans of the series will love this one!

I still love these characters! They're fun, crazy, smart, loyal, and willing to do all they can for each other and for those they love. I also love that they're so very humanly imperfect. Marisa continues to develop as a character and to uncover quite a few of the secrets that have plagued her the entire series. It's nice to finally have some answers! Although, the door is still open for a few more confrontations for a fourth book. I still adore Marisa's family and wished there would have been a little more of them. I love Marisa's relationship with her dad and seeing that developed more.

Moving on to the plot... it was insane and impossible with just enough crazy mistakes and successes to make it work. It made sense to me, especially considering how much the outcome would affect Marisa and others, as the plot thickened and as the characters figure out each piece of the puzzle. There were some intense moments, making this really hard to put down. Definitely a book you could read in one sitting.

In the end, was it what I wished for? A fantastic addition to this series! An intense story with characters readers can root for and a plot that was engaging from beginning to end. I'm looking forward to seeing what Wells has for readers next!

Content: Some swearing, gay references, crude descriptions/dialogue, and violence.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

Other Books in the Series

Bluescreen
(Mirador #1)
by Dan Wells
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, & ebook, 352 Pages
February 16th 2016 by Balzer & Bray

Los Angeles in 2050 is a city of open doors, as long as you have the right connections. That connection is a djinni—a smart device implanted right in a person’s head. In a world where virtually everyone is online twenty-four hours a day, this connection is like oxygen—and a world like that presents plenty of opportunities for someone who knows how to manipulate it.

Marisa Carneseca is one of those people. She might spend her days in Mirador, the small, vibrant LA neighborhood where her family owns a restaurant, but she lives on the net—going to school, playing games, hanging out, or doing things of more questionable legality with her friends Sahara and Anja. And it’s Anja who first gets her hands on Bluescreen—a virtual drug that plugs right into a person’s djinni and delivers a massive, non-chemical, completely safe high. But in this city, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, and Mari and her friends soon find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that is much bigger than they ever suspected.

Dan Wells, author of the New York Times bestselling Partials Sequence, returns with a stunning new vision of the near future—a breathless cyber-thriller where privacy is the world’s most rare resource and nothing, not even the thoughts in our heads, is safe.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

Ones and Zeroes
(Mirador #2)
by Dan Wells
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, & ebook, 416 Pages
February 14th 2017 by Balzer + Bray

From Dan Wells, author of the New York Times bestselling Partials Sequence and the John Cleaver series, comes the second book in a dark, pulse-pounding sci-fi-noir series set in 2050 Los Angeles.

Overworld. It’s more than just the world’s most popular e-sport—for thousands of VR teams around the globe, Overworld is life. It means fame and fortune, or maybe it’s a ticket out of obscurity or poverty. If you have a connection to the internet and four friends you trust with your life, anything is possible.

Marisa Carneseca is on the hunt for a mysterious hacker named Grendel when she receives word that her amateur Overworld team has been invited to Forward Motion, one of the most exclusive tournaments of the year. For Marisa, this could mean anything—a chance to finally go pro and to help her family, stuck in an LA neighborhood on the wrong side of the growing divide between the rich and the poor. But Forward Motion turns out to be more than it seems—rife with corruption, infighting, and danger—and Marisa runs headlong into Alain Bensoussan, a beautiful, dangerous underground freedom fighter who reveals to her the darker side of the forces behind the tournament. It soon becomes clear that, in this game, winning might be the only way to get out alive. 

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

About the Author


New York Times bestselling author Dan Wells is best known for his horror series I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, of which the first book is now an award-winning movie through IFC Midnight. His other novels include THE HOLLOW CITY, a supernatural thriller about schizophrenia, EXTREME MAKEOVER, in which a beauty company destroys the world, and two young adult science fiction series: the post-apocalypse PARTIALS and the cyberpunk MIRADOR. He has written for television, on the upcoming science fiction series EXTINCT, and wrote and produced the horror comedy stage play A NIGHT OF BLACKER DARKNESS. He cohosts the Hugo-winning podcast for aspiring writers called Writing Excuses, which has expanded to include its own writing conference. He also writes short fiction and game fiction, and edited the anthology ALTERED PERCEPTIONS to help raise funds for and awareness of mental illness. Dan lives in northern Utah with his wife, 6 children, and more than 400 boardgames.


Tour Schedule
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Hardcover set of the Mirador series (Bluescreen, Ones and Zeroes, & Active Memory) by Dan Wells & T-Shirt (T-Shirt is pictured above)
US only
Ends March 3rd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you read this series or will you be?