BOOKS AND BLOGGING PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is defined as a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought. Well, my theory is if I can add at least 10 new books to my Wishlist and move at least 5 older Wishlist selections to my TBR list every month, then life is a ice cream sundae. And if I can find those 10 books from at least 5 new blogs each month then that's the cherry on top.

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!
Well, I've made it almost 5 years now, so for better or worse, I continue on. I tend to blog in spurts as the urge to be creative erupts. As I don't have an artistic bone in my body, you will see very few changes in the layouts. Hey, I'm a reader not an artist like so many of the awesome bloggers I follow. I know you don't always have the time but if you stopped and looked, take a half a minute and say your piece. Recommend a book that you have enjoyed or hated for that matter. Thank you to all who visit.
Oh, and I moved my Google Friend Connect info and share this buttons to the top, as without our friends, who are we?


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Release Event & Giveaway For ABSOLUTE TRUST by Piper J. Drake

She wasn’t just a childhood friend; 
she was his reason for breathing.
Out Dec 20th – Absolute Trust, the third book in the romantic suspense series, 
True Heroes, by Piper J Drake.
Follow the tour and enter to win a True Heroes prize pack - the complete True Heroes series and swag pack or one of four print copies of Absolute Trust – US and Canada only

Title: Absolute Trust
Series: True Heroes #3
Author: Piper J Drake
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: Dec 20, 2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing - Forever
ISBN: 978-1455536085
FTC Disclosure: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the dogs who always have their backs. ABSOLUTE TRUST is the third book in a high-adrenaline romantic suspense series from Piper J. Drake.

LOVE IS THE GREATEST RISK OF ALL
After multiple tours of duty, Brandon Forte returns to his hometown on a personal mission: to open a facility for military service dogs like Haydn, a German shepherd who's seen his share of combat and loss. It also brings him back to Sophie Kim, a beacon of light in his life . . . and the one woman he can't have. But Forte's success means he's made enemies in high places. Enemies who are now after Sophie . . . 

When Forte enlisted and left without saying goodbye, Sophie did her best to move on. But with her first love back in town, looking sexier than ever, she's constantly reminded of what they could have had. Then after he risks himself for her, Sophie realizes she'll have to put her life in the hands of the man who broke her heart, knowing the danger -and the sparks between them- could consume them both.



A 5* read from start to finish.
Though I'd not read the earlier books in this series (and I will go back and indulge in them), I had no problem following this story. Loved Drake's characters, one of the main things that made this such a fun read. The other- the pacing-OMG, I felt like I was driving on black ice and had to keep stopping and flexing my fingers as I was clutching my Kindle so tight, my fingers would not let loose. I just love a story that has me clinging on for dear life. I've just started listening to audiobooks and this series if narrated by a strong voice would be awesome to listen to while driving.


Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Praise for Absolute Trust:
"With an action-filled plot riddled with suspense and tension, Drake’s latest in her True Heroes series is the best one yet.  Steady pacing, engaging storytelling and genuine, vulnerable characters (coupled with the endearing heroic dogs that protect and love them) make this romance shine." ~ RT Book Reviews

Excerpt from Absolute Trust:

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Spotlight Post For ENLIGHTENMENT by Liz Keel


Enlightenment

The Driel Trilogy
Liz Keel
Publisher: Fire Quill Publishing
Release Date: 21st Apr 2016
ISBN: 9780996974875

After losing everything, all seventeen-year-old Thea wanted was to be a normal teenager. Instead, she was attacked by a mysterious creature she thought only existed in fairy tales.
Now thrown into the unknown realm of Faey, Thea is forced to determine the difference between reality and fantasy, in a world ruled by a dark elite and a society wracked by intolerance and prejudice. With the support of her
new friends and a mysterious dark haired, blue-eyed guardian watching her every move, Thea will discover that when it comes to Faey, nothing is what it seems. Will her courage and desire to save this new world from darkness be enough? Or will Thea be the next victim to fall to the dark whispers of fate...

Spotlight Post & Giveaway For NINE Of STARS by Laura Bickle



Nine of Stars
A Wildlands Novel  
Laura Bickle
On Sale Date: Dec 27, 2016
ISBN: 9780062437662
Genre:  Contemporary Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Following on the heels of her critically acclaimed prequel novels Dark Alchemy and Mercury Retrograde comes the first installment in Laura Bickle’s dark contemporary fantasy series, Nine of Stars, a Wildlands Novel.
Winter has always been a deadly season in Temperance, but this time, there’s more to fear than just the cold…As the daughter of an alchemist, Petra Dee has faced all manner of occult horrors—especially since her arrival in the small town of Temperance, Wyoming. But she can’t
explain the creature now stalking the backcountry of Yellowstone, butchering wolves and leaving only their skins behind in the snow. Rumors surface of the return of Skinflint Jack, a nineteenth-century wraith that kills in fulfillment of an ancient bargain. The new sheriff in town, Owen Rutherford, isn’t helping matters. He’s a dangerously
haunted man on the trail of both an unsolved case and a fresh kill—a bizarre murder leading him right to Petra’s partner Gabriel. And while Gabe once had little to fear from the mortal world, he’s all too human now. This time, when violence hits close to home, there are no magical solutions. It’s up to Petra and her coyote sidekick Sig to get ahead of both Owen and the unnatural being hunting them all—before the trail turns deathly cold.

Amazon    HarperCollins      Kobo      GooglePlay      BN

 Laura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio,

reading entirely too many comic books out

loud to her favorite Wonder Woman doll.
After graduating with an MA in
Sociology-Criminology from Ohio State
University and an MLIS in Library
Science from the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the
public library and worked with data
systems in criminal justice. She now
dreams up stories about the monsters
under the stairs. Her work has been
included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State
Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016.
More information about Laura’s work can be found at www.laurabickle.com





 EXCERPT

She dreamed of an ache in the marrow of her bones, so much deeper than frost. In her dreams, Petra had dropped into Skinflint Jack’s hand-dug cellar, his underground

ossuary. It was cold and silent there, and her breath made ghosts in the darkness. Light emanated
from the bodies on the bed, from beneath their parchment-thin skin, moving like drifting fireflies underneath the surface. The bodies sat upright, heads turned toward her with empty gazes. Petra would have run away, but she was pinned to the wall. Bones laced over her body like shackles, splitting through the skin of the dirt to wrap around her wrists, ribs, and legs. She tried to turn her head, but it was enclosed in a helmet, the Stag’s skull, and she blinked through the eye
sockets of the Stag. What had he seen? What had he done? She struggled against the weight of the bones, torn
between wanting to know and wanting not to know.
Jack’s wife stood, walking across the floor to Petra in a dress of black lace. Bits of her skin fluttered to the floor, disturbed by Gabe’s autopsy efforts. In her hands, she held the Star of
Antimony, gleaming in the shifting low light. “What happened to you?” Petra asked, her tears blurring her gaze. The tears slid down her cheek, underneath the skull-mask.
The woman didn’t answer; only gazed at Petra with those empty, vacant eye sockets. And Petra realized that her mouth had been sewn shut.



Tour Giveaway

Signed print copy open to US Shipping

Monday, December 26, 2016

Book Blitz & Giveaway For SAY YES by Elle Christensen

by Elle Christensen
Publication Date: Dec 26, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Military, Novella



Sweet bakery owner, Lindsay Balewa, is content to brighten the lives of others with her confections and volunteering. With her business booming, she moves into a duplex nearby. Supposedly, the owner lives next door, but the mysterious man keeps odd hours and is often away, leaving her no opportunity to get to know him.

Pilot, Colton Black, is trying to accept his life outside of the Air Force after an injury forced him into retirement. Despite keeping himself in the air by running a private charter company, he feels lost. Until the night he spies Lindsay in a black dress, carrying a tray of cupcakes. Suddenly, he has a very clear purpose, sex and sweets.

Lindsay is uncomfortable starting a relationship with her landlord, but Colton is more than determined to convince her to take a chance on him. Unfortunately, someone else is laying claim to her, someone in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to tear Colton and Lindsay apart.

About Elle Christensen

I’m a lover of all things books, a hopeless romantic, and have always had a passion for writing. Between being a sappy romantic, my love of an HEA, my crazy imagination, and ok, let’s be real, my dirty mind, I fell easily into writing romance.

I’m a huge baseball fan and yet, a complete girly, girl. I’m an obsessive reader and have a slight (hahaha! Slight? Yeah, right) addiction to signed books.

I’m married to my very own book boyfriend, an alpha male with a sexy, sweet side. He is the best inspiration, my biggest supporter and the love of my life. He is also incredibly patient and understanding about the fact that he has to fight the voices in my head for my attention.

I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Friday, December 23, 2016

Book Blitz & Giveaway For MAYBE TOMORROW by Kim Golden

Maybe Tomorrow
by Kim Golden
Maybe…
Publication Date: Dec 9, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance



No such thing as love…
Eddy and Henrik don’t believe in love. At least, that’s what they keep telling themselves. They’ve been burned in the past, and neither wants to be that vulnerable again.
A summer fling…
That’s all it was ever supposed to be. So why can’t they stop thinking about one another? And for Eddy–who’s moving back to America in a few weeks–the worst thing that could happen would be to fall in love with the one man who could make her question her decision.
Out of his comfort zone…
Henrik never counted on trusting love again. He’s put all his energy into his career. So why does the thought of Eddy leaving Europe for good make him want to do everything in his power to make her want to stay…?
Maybe Tomorrow is a standalone novel in the Maybe… series.


KimGolden

I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and spent most of my childhood summers in Smithfield, Virginia. I’m not sure where my love of words comes from, but I’ve loved books since I was a child and I’ve loved writing stories for as long as I can remember.
My parents wanted me to do something practical–be an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant. But I always dreamed of doing something completely different. I knew I wanted to be a writer, even if it took a bit of time for me to get to that point.
It led me to spend more time writing stories than studying physics and chemistry in high school. It’s what led me study literature and then work on an MFA in Creative Writing at Virginia Commonwealth University. And when I finished my master’s degree, love led me away from the US and brought me to Sweden.
So what do I write? I write about relationships, about love. I often write about interracial relationships. I like reading stories about people who are different, who see past the differences and fall in love. And those are the stories I also enjoy writing. I write stories for people who know that love comes in many colors.

New Release For Lorelei Moone--ALPHA SQUAD: Boot Camp



ALPHA SQUAD: Boot Camp

by Lorelei Moone
Alpha Squad #1
Publication Date: Dec 23, 2016
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Bear Shifters
alpha-squad-cover

BUY:

 It has only been a few months since humanity has found out about the shifters that live in their midst. When the New Alliance leadership asks Eric King to join Alpha Squad, a joint taskforce supposed to promote cooperation between the shifters and human authorities, his loyalty to the cause doesn’t give him any choice but to agree. But is the squad actually supposed to be relevant, or is it just an eyewash, set up by the new Secretary for Shifter Affairs to make himself look good? And how is he going to concentrate on his training, when his inner bear is insisting that the squad leader is his true mate?
Major Janine Williams is not at all pleased when she is ordered to set up Alpha Squad. The initiative is just a gimmick, meant to pacify the shifter community, plus none of her male colleagues had wanted the job. But when she starts getting to know her team, especially tough East London bear shifter, Eric, she starts to wonder if perhaps it will be possible to make this task force a success, so long as everyone works together. And so long as she can manage to keep her relationship with Eric strictly professional...


EXCERPT

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Stay Warm Cover Reveal By M.C. Cerny !


COVER REVEAL - STAY WARM IN THOSE ARMS! I know I would!

★✩★ Love Under Construction (Book One) Love By Design Series ★✩★

Hunter Hart knows construction.
He knows relationships hurt after watching his parents self destruct.
Somehow he forgot all the warnings when Taylor Jane Bryant blasted through the crumbling foundation around his heart.

Taylor Jane Bryant knows home design.
Well... she thinks she knows based on marathon sessions of her favorite television show.
Now she's all grown up and ready to nail the last stud, Hunter Hart.


★✩★

A new romantic comedy by M.C. Cerny, Love Under Construction is book one in the Love By Design series. Come meet a sullen, stubborn hero with a 2x4 stuck up his rear about falling in love, and a heroine who has watched every episode of the Property Brothers ready to flip her dream house. Between every construction nightmare possible, animals that need to move out, and friends determined to interfere, what could possible go right? Step into a small town with a big heart, and laugh your way into love. Each book in the LBD series is a standalone HEA romance.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Release Week Blitz & Q&A For THE TROUBLE WITH DUKES by Grace Burrowes

Title: THE TROUBLE WITH DUKES
Author: Grace Burrowes
Series: Windham Brides, #1
On Sale: Dec 20, 2016
Publisher: Forever

“Sexy heroes, strong heroines, intelligent plots, enchanting love stories...Grace Burrowes's romances have them all.” –Mary Balogh, New York Times bestselling author

THE TROUBLE WITH DUKES has everything Grace Burrowes's many fans have come to adore: a swoonworthy hero, a strong heroine, humor, and passion. Her characters not only know their own hearts, but share them with fearless joy. Grace Burrowes is a romance treasure.” –Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author.

This first novel in a new Regency series from USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes is a spinoff of her highly popular Windham series.
THEY CALL HIM THE DUKE OF MURDER...
The gossips whisper that the new Duke of Murdoch is a brute, a murderer, and even worse--a Scot. They say he should never be trusted alone with a woman. But Megan Windham sees in Hamish something different, someone different.
No one was fiercer at war than Hamish MacHugh, though now the soldier faces a whole new battlefield: a London Season. To make his sisters happy, he'll take on any challenge--even letting their friend Miss Windham teach him to waltz. Megan isn't the least bit intimidated by his dark reputation, but Hamish senses that she's fighting battles of her own. For her, he'll become the warrior once more, and for her, he might just lose his heart.
GR
BUY THE BOOK HERE

Q&A

1.   Was there a specific part in the book that you had an especially difficult time writing? If so, why?

The middle of a novel is supposed to be the most challenging part to write, but for me, it was working out the ending of The Trouble With Dukes. Hamish and Megan are two fundamentally competent people, but both are lugging around problems that resulted from being too virtuous—too loyal, in Hamish’s case; too trusting, in Megan’s. And yet, I wanted them to realize that being loyal and trusting isn’t an issue in itself—they just had to choose the right people in whom to place their faithfulness and trust…. And that would be each other, of course. How to show that on the page wasn’t immediately obvious to me.

2.      Was there any particular research that you did for this book? 

            I spent some time trying to figure out what exactly formal Highland attire would have been in the 1820s, and that’s a hard question to answer. Fortunately, George IV’s visit to Scotland inspired not only interest in traditional Highland dress, but also a lot of portraiture portraying same. I found more variety than I’d anticipated, including some versions of the kilt that came perilously close to resembling miniskirts! 

3.      Where do you get your ideas?

From the problems in life I’ve had the hardest time solving, the betrayals that hurt the most. Romance is character-driven fiction, and what drives the characters is usually an unresolved wound. I can’t figure out how to corner a character into facing that wound unless I know what the hurt is. Ergo, personal experience is a useful point of departure. I start by asking myself, “Where and when did it hurt? Why? What would have helped?” and so forth. 

4. How much of the book, if any, is inspired by personal experience?

Great minds are thinking alike! I was born cross-eyed, like many babies, but I was severely cross-eyed. The pediatrician told my mother not to worry about it, but she was a mother of six at that point, also a registered nurse. She knew enough to ignore that advice and worry about it. Because Mom was tireless about finding me a competent ophthalmologist, I wore glasses from infancy on. I’m still all but non-functional without glasses now.  I know that sense of utter frustration when I can’t find my glasses, and the unease of seeing somebody handle them cavalierly. 

5. If you could give your hero and heroine any advice at the start of "THE TROUBLE WITH DUKES", what would you tell them and why?

I would tell them they are deserving of love and loyalty, and to never, never, never give up on their love. Not even on page
337.

EXCERPT

Release Day Blitz & Review For ABSOLUTE TRUST by Piper J. Drake


Title: Absolute Trust
Series: True Heroes #3
Author: Piper J Drake
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: Dec 20, 2016
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing - Forever
ISBN: 978-1455536085

FTC Disclosure: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the dogs who always have their backs. ABSOLUTE TRUST is the third book in a high-adrenaline romantic suspense series from Piper J. Drake.
After multiple tours of duty, Brandon Forte returns to his hometown on a personal mission: to open a facility for military service dogs like Haydn, a German shepherd who's seen his share of combat and loss. It also brings him back to Sophie Kim, a beacon of light in his life . . . and the one woman he can't have. But Forte's success means he's made enemies in high places. Enemies who are now after Sophie . . .
When Forte enlisted and left without saying goodbye, Sophie did her best to move on. But with her first love back in town, looking sexier than ever, she's constantly reminded of what they could have had. Then after he risks himself for her, Sophie realizes she'll have to put her life in the hands of the man who broke her heart, knowing the danger -and the sparks between them- could consume them both.
The True Heroes Series:
Extreme Honor, #1
Ultimate Courage, #2
Absolute Trust, #3

A 5* read from start to finish.
Though I'd not read the earlier books in this series (and I will go back and indulge in them), I had no problem following this story. Loved Drake's characters, one of the main things that made this such a fun read. The other- the pacing-OMG, I felt like I was driving on black ice and had to keep stopping and flexing my fingers as I was clutching my Kindle so tight, my fingers would not let loose. I just love a story that has me clinging on for dear life. I've just started listening to audiobooks and this series if narrated by a strong voice would be awesome to listen to while driving.
BUY THE BOOK HERE


EXCERPT