Aug 8, 2016 | August 2016, Blog, Uncategorized
With the summer in full swing and less time in the “taxi” schlepping everyone around it’s the perfect time to sort out my organizer. Does it work? Do I need something better? Will I even use it? The bottom line is that it needs to be portable, functional and make my life easier. If I can manage to find a system that does all of that my year is guaranteed to start off great.
For the past few months I’ve been hooked on bullet journaling. What is bullet journaling? It’s a system you create and to help you figure out what style works best there are templates, design ideas and even a tutorial or two on Pinterest.
While browsing on Pinterest can lead to a sudden loss of hours for this it’s worth the investment. I have never been more satisfied and happy to find a way to keep from missing anything.
The concept is really simple – you enter all of your important information, appointments, tasks and lists the way that works for you. The page layout/design can change daily, weekly or monthly.
While I’ve tried the expensive planners, filler pages and even the trusty iPhone calendar…I am hooked on this new way of keeping my life sorted and organized.
I’d love to know what works for you…how do you keep it all together between work, family, school and hobbies? Do you have more than one planner or do you have a system within a system to make it work?
I tip my hat off to all the authors who post their journaling system so we can learn from them.
I am raising a glass now to toast a productive and successful year to all!
(**picture from Yahoo Clip Art)
Aug 3, 2016 | August 2016, Blog, Samantha Chase, Uncategorized
**** Congratulations Keri B. you are the winner of the e-book ****
You have 24 hours to comment or e-mail
Happy Reading
Waiting For Midnight by Samantha Chase is the perfect must read to kick-off your holiday reading today.It delves into emotions that most of us have experienced at least once in our lives, the ones that sneak in sometime between Halloween and New Years Eve.
Samantha has once again has let us peek into the lives of two amazing characters who must tackle a few obstacles while navigating the holidays. Even the BFF has some fantastic dialogue, gotta love the emphasis on friendships too!
Maddie is not ready to think about her New Year’s Eve plans as she’s munching away on Halloween candy. That elusive midnight tradition involving a kiss will just need to be on hold and hopefully things will work out.
When Maddie finally gets her sexy neighbor Noah’s attention, will they survive the encounter? I love that scene and found it charming and oh so real. I laughed and cried ;)!
For those that have read her backlist you know how amazing her books are and that every story has characters who push through emotional struggles. They all have tension, sexy characters and the intimacy is perfect! This bite sized treat is a dash spicier, and I loved it! Our hero has a few hurdles to overcome and it’s exciting, it was perfect for these characters and this novella!
From our first encounter with Noah I was hooked and blasted through this book. It’s a fast, flirty and a little bit spicy must read. Enjoy an early start to your holiday season dear readers!
This book is for mature readers, 18+. 
*************************************************
Check out this EXCERPT and see for yourself!
Maddie frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. Noah was big. And tall. He easily towered over her by nearly a foot and he was built like a linebacker, but she wasn’t easily intimidated. “First of all, there’s nothing wrong with my ladder. And secondly, I avoided the bad step. I need to see out here, and no one at the management office is taking me seriously. It’s been three months.” She shrugged. “I was handling it just fine until you scared me.”
“I saw you trembling from the parking lot, Maddie. Don’t bullshit me.”
Okay, fine. So heights weren’t her thing, but if Noah hadn’t shown up, she would have gotten through it and changed the bulb. Rather than respond, she continued to stand defiantly and watch him.
“Look, I highly doubt you saw any trembling,” she said, trying to sound confident, “I was doing fine. I’m annoyed that I have to be doing this when I’ve asked repeatedly for it to be taken care of.” Then she studied him for a moment. “Doesn’t it bother you? You come up these stairs to get to your apartment. Isn’t it annoying that things have been let go for so long? I mean, we pay rent – not cheap rent either – and no one maintains the property!”
“I really didn’t notice.”
She rolled her eyes. It figured. The man was up and out the door at the crack of dawn and normally came home late. A normal person would notice the lack of light or the creak of a broken step, but not Noah. Granted there were only three steps and they weren’t very large so chances were he probably skipped over them with his long legs. Unable to help herself, she snuck a glance at him and then slowly let her gaze go over him until she was looking him in the eyes.
And saw what could only be described as a smirk.
Busted!
“Well, I notice,” she said, doing her best to ignore what he was probably thinking about her for checking him out. “I had a friend here earlier and when I walked her out, it suddenly seemed like too much. I had the bulb, I had the ladder…” She shrugged. When Noah didn’t respond in any way, Maddie began to wonder if her babbling had been too much for him.
“Give me the bulb and I’ll change it,” he finally said after a long, awkward moment.
“It’s not necessary,” Maddie said, not liking the way Noah was glaring at her.
His only response was to hold his hand out.
“Fine,” she mumbled and put the bulb in his hand. Stepping back, she watched as he dropped his duffle bag on the ground – must have been at the gym – and then moved the step ladder into position. It was on the tip of her tongue to mention that maybe he should grab his own ladder since he thought hers was so flimsy, but she held her tongue.
Actually, she imagined how at Noah’s height, he almost didn’t need a ladder at all. But as she watched him, she realized the light was higher up than she thought. She had to be on the top step and even then she was stretching. Noah was on the second step and seemed to be at the perfect height.
While he was busy, Maddie let her gaze linger on him again. He was perfection. So perfect she almost sighed with appreciation. Tonight he was in his standard attire – sweatpants, a hoodie and sneakers. That’s how she knew he was at the gym. In the mornings he left in normal street clothes but every night, he came home dressed like this. She almost kicked herself for knowing these details. Watching the man through the blinds definitely put her in weird, stalker-girl territory and it wasn’t a place she was proud to be.
“Here, take this,” Noah mumbled as he handed the burned out bulb to her. Maddie took it and then took a step back.
In an instant, the porch area was flooded with light. She let out a little cheer and clapped, and for a second, it seemed like everything was fine. The next thing she heard was a loud snap, and watched in horror as the ladder seemed to crumble and Noah fell backwards onto the concrete walkway.
Get your copy here:
Waiting for Midnight
$0.99
****************** GIVEAWAY *******************
I’ve got ONE e-book of Waiting for Midnight up for grabs today!
(Amazon Kindle & US winner only)
For a chance to win tell me when you start talking about New Year’s Eve plans? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Christmas? or that morning?
Contest runs from 8/3/16 – 8/4/16 12 noon. The winner will be posted here.
Be sure to follow me on the blog, FB and Twitter so you don’t miss those posts!
Once winner is announced they MUST contact me with their e-mail within 24 hours or a new winner will be drawn.
Mar 28, 2016 | Amy Andrews, Blog, Jackie Braun, March 2016, Rachel Lyndhurst, Robin Covington, Roxanne Snopek, Sarah Ballance, Uncategorized
Happy Book Birthday Men of the Zodiac! This Spicy Latte collection sizzles with stories from must read authors. Twelve men are ready to make your toes curl and your dreams come true.
Impulse Control by Amanda Usen
The Millionaire’s Deception by Wendy Byrne
The Millionaire’s Forever by Amazon Bestselling author Sonya Weiss
Ten Days in Tuscany by Amazon Bestselling author Annie Seaton
The Millionaire Daddy Project by USA Today Bestselling author Roxanne Snopek
Revenge Best Served Hot by Jackie Braun
The Prince’s Runaway Lover by USA Today Bestselling author Robin Covington
The Colonel’s Daughter by USA Today Bestselling author Amy Andrews
One Night with the Billionaire by Sarah Ballance
The Greek Tycoon’s Tarnished Bride by Rachel Lyndhurst
Blurring the Lines by NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Marisa Cleveland
Her Sworn Enemy by Theresa Meyers
I will be posting additional reviews from the other books later this week. Here are a few that I’ve previously reviewed and are posted in full.
I received each book from the publisher for a fair and honest review. I look forward to surprising a few friends with this celestial collection!
*****
Sign: Leo
The Millionaire Daddy Project (Men of the Zodiac) by Roxanne Snopek is a sexy, emotional and full of rich characters. I love when a great read has a cover that draws you in, and this most certainly does!
Dane Bergman is a power hungry business man that hates secrets and abhors lies even more! When his employees push for an internal daycare he balks at the idea. It’s not until he discovers the truth regarding a child he never knew existed, that the daycare option doesn’t seem so terrible.
While this alpha male can run a mega corporation, he has no clue what to do with a child. Roxanne is brilliant when she tackles the simple task of cooking a child dinner. For those who have had the pleasure – it’s brilliant and raw!
Tired of how he’s handling his personal life, his personal assistant Pamela Atwater has a 30 day plan to turn this stiff and dodgy man into a hands on dad. In order for this plan to work, he needs to make his daughter a priority. Dane is one step ahead of Pamela and has a few conditions for her too. Will she accept? Can he win over a four year old? Will he find out that he’s capable of loving and being loved?
I received this ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review. I enjoyed reading this book (the Men of Zodiac Series) and look forward to the next one soon! I love when I find a new author to read and will be downloading another book from Roxanne soon!
Author Info:
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Roxanne Snopek writes contemporary romance both sexy and sweet, in small towns, big cities and on secluded islands, with families and communities that will warm your heart. She also drives a fast car, lifts heavy objects and repels department store greeters with a single glance. Her fictional heroes (like her own real-life hero of 25+ years) are swoon-worthy, uber-responsible, secretly vulnerable and occasionally dough-headed. Animals love them, too, which is a huge plus! Her books have hit the Kindle Top 100 and the Barnes and Noble Top 10 list numerous times, and have been shortlisted for various awards.
Avid gardener, soup-maker and bread-eater, Roxanne writes from British Columbia, Canada, surrounded by dogs, cats, deer, squirrels and occasionally bear and bobcat. When she thinks of it, she does yoga and cleans the house. Well, not that last thing.
*****
Sign: Virgo
Revenge Best Served Hot (Men of the Zodiac Novel) by Jackie Brun is a fast paced romance full of corporate takeover, revenge and unexpected twists and turns.
Brody Flynn has vowed revenge on business tycoon Jonathan Douglass after his parents died. What better than a corporate take-over from the man who destroyed his family. There’s just one glitch, he’s seriously attracted to Jonathan’s daughter and she’s not happy with his plans.
Katherine Douglass is more than just a pretty face, in fact she’s a sharp business woman who has her own ideas of how the corporation should run. Too bad no one listens to her. Will Brody finally appreciate her mind or fall for her body instead? Her talents surprise him and send his libido into overdrive.
Corporate takeovers are usually messy and this one is no exception. When Kate’s father asks her to go too far in helping him win back his former company she has a decision to make. Will Brody find saistcation once he gets what he wants? Both of them have issues to work through.
While this is part of a series it can be read on it’s own. I received this ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review. I look forward to more great reads in this series soon!
Author Info:
Jackie Braun is the author of more than 30 romance novels. Over the years, her books have been nominated for three Rita Awards, four National Readers’ Choice Awards and won a Rising Star Award. Among other honors, she is a past nominee for Series Storyteller of the Year by RT Book Reviews.
Jackie has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked at newspapers and other publications for more than two decades. For the past several years, she has freelanced as both an editorial writer and a copy editor.
Jackie is an avid gardener, a wannabe chef and a hoarder of traditionally published books, even though she loves her Kindle. She is the secretary/vice president of her book club, which boasts more than 170 members. (And no, they don’t all read the same book each month. The club brings in speakers–mostly authors–to discuss a variety of topics.)
Jackie was born, raised and educated in Michigan. With the exception of a couple of briefs stints in New York—as a college intern for Good Housekeeping magazine in Manhattan, and as a copy editor at The Niagara Gazette in Niagara Falls—she has lived in the Great Lakes state her entire life.
She is happily married to her hero, Mark, and the proud mom of two sons. She also is “mom” to an adorable, if needy rescued miniature poodle mix.
She loves to hear from readers, who can find her on twitter and facebook or contact her through her website at https://www.jackiebraun.com.
*****
Sign: Libra
The Colonel’s Daughter by Amy Andrews is another sizzling Men of the Zodiac novel that you must read. If you’re looking for a contemporary romance story that has chemistry, adventure and lots of surprises you must download this book now.
Ivy Danforth is tired of her father controlling everything she does. Convinced that she can survive on her own she sets off with her best friend for a summer she won’t forget. Little does she know how far her father will go to keep her under his control.
Seth Rodrigo is former Special Forces and owes Ivy’s father a favor. All he has to do is watch out for his little girl and his debt will be fulfilled. Can he do it without revealing his true identity and compromising his mission?
A gunshot, a drug dealer and an unexpected getaway will bring these two together. Will they admit they have feelings for each other or will they ignore the brewing attraction?
As with all Men of the Zodiac series this sizzlin’ romance is full of action, romance and lots of surprises.
I received this ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
Author Info:
Amy is an award-winning, best-selling Aussie author who has written over fifty contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She loves good books, fab food, great wine and frequent travel – preferably all four together. She lives on acreage on the outskirts of Brisbane with a gorgeous mountain view but secretly wishes it was the hillsides of Tuscany.
*****
Sign: Sagittarius
One Night With The Billionaire by Sarah Ballance is a hot must read Zodiac romance. A perfect “getaway” with lots of passion, beautiful scenery and lot of surprises in this sultry contemporary romance.
When Zoe Davenport discovers her fiancé has done the unthinkable, she decides to end their engagement. Unfortunately her decision affected her family and has left them divided. Now she needs time away to figure things out, away from the paparazzi and her family. If she’s going to recover she needs to put herself first, if she can.
Ryder Nash owns a private and exclusive resort that is days away from it’s grand opening and his island is the perfect solution. There is just one glitch to Zoe’s “secret” getaway, they aren’t exactly strangers. Can Ryder control himself or will the situation prove to be more than he can handle?
While they haven’t seen each other since high school, there is a secret that could destroy them both. Ryder could lose everything if he gives in to his feelings. Will he confront the issues and risk it all to have the one thing he wants the most? Will Zoe discover the real reason he left town all those years ago?
Zoe has decisions to make that could change everything she’s worked so hard to achieve, will she push it all aside to finally pursue the one thing she needs?
As with all the Zodiac books, there is intense heat and a fabulous story in this two peppers hot delight. There is just enough sizzle to make you tingle and for mature readers 18+. 
A fantastic book about second chances and family conflict make this a must read. If you’ve never read a story by Sarah Ballance she’s fantastic and worth every penny! After reading this Zodiac adventure you will find yourself in need of a flight to a private island immediately. I’m thinking I need to book a holiday now 😉
I received this ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
Author Info:
Sarah and her husband of what he calls “many long, long years” live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they’re asleep. She never dreamed of becoming an author, but as a homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes fiction because if she wants anyone to listen to her, she has to make them up. As it turns out, her characters aren’t much better than the kids, but nevertheless, you’ll find her writing sexy contemporary romance for Entangled Publishing until they throw her out. To learn more, visit https://sarahballance.com.
*****
Sign: Capricorn
The Greek Tycoon’s Tarnished Bride by Rachel Lyndhurst is all about surprises and adjustment when the unexpected happens.
A tragic accident has changed Tito Makris and it’s time to deal with what happened. When Erica Silver discovers the reasons her boyfriend has been MIA she’s shocked and confused. Even more unsettling is when she is told that she is no longer safe and must return to Greece with him. But, there is a catch.
Can Erica come to terms with the proposal? Will Tito find love as a result? Will he realize his feelings before it’s too late?
This book has it all – tragedy, mystery, love and surprises. A fantastic story of self discovery and love in the most unexpected places.
What would you do if you lost everything and discovered a door to endless possibilities in the same moment?
Take a journey to Greece with Tito and Erica and find out what happens when their worlds collide.
A must read contemporary that doesn’t disappoint!
I received this ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review
Author Info:
Rachel lives, and writes, surrounded by laundry and old newspapers most of the time with her daughter, son and The Exec in Fareham, on the south coast of England. When not working, she does love a good rummage through a decent antique shop. Oh, and wine and expensive lipstick are non-negotiable .
