Release Day: Kristen Ashley's First Traditionally Published Book

Every time a Kristen Ashley book is released is a good day. Today, April 2 is the official release day for Own the Wind. It's the first book in the Chaos series and it's also the first book that is traditionally published. You may have seen all the buzz regarding her indie books and I'm not surprised - they are really, really good. I love the blurb for Own the Wind and can't wait to start reading it. I am curious to see how they will compare to her other books, particularly because this book will now have the benefit of being well-edited. As long as the way she tells a story is there, I'm all for it!

Happy Book Birthday!

Too hot to handle . . .

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos-the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship . . .

Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more-much more-he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn . . . 

Here's the cover for the next book in the Chaos series, Fire Inside. 

Review: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

I think I would like to live in a town like Friday Harbor because it's a small island full of magical and sweet things. There is everything from the picturesque sights, the waters, a bit of magic and a toy shop. Everything is quaint and welcoming. It's the perfect place to fall in love, the perfect place to heal the soul. That is exactly what Lucy and Sam find there. I liked the first book in this series, Christmas at Friday Harbor but I liked this book even better. Lucy has such a unique occupation and the way it's described throughout the story is stunning. It's more than art because there is a bit of magic involved. It was semi-believable and not intrusive on the story. The way the romance started out was a bit unconventional and I wasn't sure I would like it (Lucy's ex asks his friend to romance her) but their relationship worked out nicely. It's a tender romance in a beautiful town.

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Friday Harbor #2

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy's bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.

Review: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

I think this was my second book by Kristan Higgins and My One and Only is one of my favorite contemporary romances. It's sweet, funny and entertaining, which sums up all of Higgins's books. I especially adored this one because of Harper and Nick. They had their chance at love, it didn't work and now in this story it's their second chance. I definitely wanted them to find their happily ever after. Harper seems so cynical when it comes to love, whereas Nick easily expresses his love. He needs her and lets her know it. He also gets her and that scares her. Despite their imperfections I did see them being right for each other and enjoyed their journey towards love. Expect fun moments and lots of cool characters.

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Genre: Contemporary Romance


Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

 Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.

A Random Giveaway

Happy Monday!

I know a new year started two weeks ago but already it feels like it's flying by. That's a scary thought! So, I woke up today, found some pretty good deals that I picked up (can't resist those) and wanted to share them with my followers. Normally, when it comes to buying books I try to stick to a budget. I regularly check out books from the library, try to buy used and refrain from buying books that I won't read in the near future. But when I see a good deal I have to snatch them up and the deals I found today is one of the best ones I can recall.

Have you guys heard about Harlequin's new imprint? The Harlequin Kiss line? I love the covers. They are so vibrant, fresh and evoke the Summer season. They are category romances which tend to be on the price-friendly side but I think the publisher is having a promotion with this new line because the prices are really, really good. And these are for print copies!

You can pre-order them from The Book Depository and shipping is free worldwide.

The One that Got Away

How To Get Over Your Ex

The Downfall of a Good Girl

Hitched

 

They all sound sweet and romantic but the one that caught my interest the most is The One That Got Away by Kelly Hunter. I'm a fan of second chance stories. 

Giveaway

Speaking of budget, deals and giveaways...I will be giving giving away a Kindle copy of Secrets of a Lost Summer by Carla Neggers. This is open to anyone who can receive a Kindle version. I have read many books by Carla Neggers and she is one of my favorite authors. She writes great mysteries with some romance. I find them really atmospheric because she creates such good settings. Want to win it?

To enter, follow my blog and leave a comment one telling me if you have read Carla Neggers's books before or if she is a new author for you. 

- Please leave your GFC name and email address if it's not already located in your profile. 

- I will use random.org to select a winner. Good luck!

Review: Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

When I need a funny and romantic read, I know I can always turn to Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books. She can make me really care for the characters and enjoy seeing them fall in love. One of my favorite books by her is Kiss an Angel. The heroine, Daisy is so friendly, though a bit too soft but it's a nice contrast to the hero, Alex, who is very much jaded and bitter. Ah, you can definitely see the potential for entertaining dialogue here! I also found the story entertaining in other ways. There's a circus on hand, some adorable animals and a couple you'll want to root on. In this setting I met a lot of unusual characters and learned a thing or two about the circus business. It's a hard life and one Alex is determined to introduce to Daisy. Thankfully, she continually surprises him and herself. It is a very heart-warming story.

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Genre: Contemporary Romance

How did pretty, flighty Daisy Devreaux find herself in this fix? She can either go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has chosen for her. Alex Markov, however, has no intention of playing the loving bridegroom to a spoiled little featherhead with champagne tastes. As humorless as he is deadly handsome, he drags the irrepressible Daisy away from her uptown life and sets out to tame her.

Except it won't be as easy as he thinks. This man without a soul has met a woman who's nothing but heart. Will vows spoken in haste shatter . . . or offer the promise of love everlasting?

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas / Christmas with Holly (movie)

Christmas with Holly is a TV movie from Hallmark which is based from the book, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas. It originally aired last week and I definitely watched it. Did you? I was curious to see how the characters would come to life and visit Friday Harbor. Like all films adapted from a book, there were some changes. The Nolan brothers from the book became the Nagles. with Sam becoming Scott. I thought that a little odd, but overall the story was there and it was a sweet movie. I remember the funny turkey scene! It did capture the small town feel and Holly was a cute little girl. You can learn more about the movie and watch the trailer on the Hallmark site here.

Before reading Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, I was already a fan of Lisa Kleypas's books. She writes historical and contemporary romances. Some of my favorites by her are contemporaries so I was excited to read this one. Christmas Eve at Friday is the first of the Friday Harbor series. The series is set in Friday Harbor and centers around three brothers. The first book introduces all this nicely and lets us get to know the character. Mainly it's about Mark, Maggie and Holly. Mark is left to care for his niece when she is left and orphaned and he meets Maggie who comes into their lives and bonds with Holly. It was short and sweet, and I only wished it was longer. Love the town, the characters, and Maggie's magical toy shop.

There's now a Christmas with Holly book, which I believe is the same as the original but with a change to the title to reflect the movie tie-in. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie. I hope you do and take a home a bit of the holiday spirit.

Information from Amazon
Christmas with Holly by Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Paperback:  224 pages
Publication Date: Movie tie-in ed. October 30, 2012 (Original: October 26, 2010)

Now a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie (December 2012), CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY (previously published as CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR) is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas’s new series, which begins during the most magical time of year...

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC…
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

…TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home…

Oh, and did I mention the movie will air again tonight? Go watch it!

Photo credit: http://www.hallmark.com/

If You Like Kristen Ashley, then try...

Own the Wind is here! The first in the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley.

 I love discovering new authors and earlier this year I came across Kristen Ashley's books. I found out about her books because they kept popping up as recommendations based on books I've read and enjoyed or added to my wishlist. Her covers were okay, not the best but I've seen worse. I try not to judge a book by the cover but when there are so many books out there, I can't help but do. Also, at that time I didn't read a lot of self-published books. I figured I might as well see what the buzz was all about. So, I caved in and read her books and I was HOOKED! She rocked my world and aptly has a series called the Rock Chicks. The first thing I noticed when opening up her book was that they were long, around 7,000 and higher in terms of Kindle locations. The ones I've read by her are about 7,000-11,000. I enjoy long books so I didn't mind. If a story is good I definitely don't want it to end too soon! It was different and unique and fun. It's hard to explain but when you read her books you'll see what I mean about her voice. It's not easy to find a book like hers or at least told in a way like hers.

I haven't read all of Kristen Ashley's books yet but the ones I have I loved. Her heroes are alphas. They are demanding, bossy, aggressive and protective! If you're looking for an over the top alpha then I recommend reading her books. A couple of my favorites are For You and Sweet Dreams.

Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town.

Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together.

Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe.

As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together.

Kristen has several titles releasing later this year including Raid, Own the Wind, Fire Inside and Jagged but while you're waiting check out these books...

Earlier I mentioned that it was hard to find a book that was told in a similar way to Kristen Ashley. Well recently I read a book called Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan and it reminded me of her books. Not the exact same but if you enjoy Kristen Ashley's books I recommend you try this book. It is very dark and not what you'd expect a romance to be. That's because it's not a romance for me but a story with romance in it. There are disturbing scenes and the male protagonist is far from perfect. The voice is also unique. It was a nice change for me and I'm glad I discovered it. It sort of reminds me of Creed by Kristen Ashley. Creed is part of the Unfinished Heroes series which is erotic romance and darker than her other series.

Warning: This is not a typical love story. This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.

Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.
This is Eva and Deuce’s story.

It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything.

I recently read Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore and while I wouldn't say it has a voice like Ashley's, there was something about it that reminds me of her. Its a good story and if you like heroes who are very flawed and damaged then you have to meet this hero. There's a suspense in it too so it's not just a contemporary romance. 

 Ember Walsh was always the quiet one, enjoying a book and a glass of wine over the noise and crowds of a club. When her best friend asks her to come out on the town and meet the guy she likes, Ember's world is turned upside down. He appears like a mythical, avenging angel: inked, gorgeous and completely out of her league. After one look, Ember no longer wants the quiet; she wants him.

Trace Montgomery has buried his damaged past with the help of women and fighting until one day he suddenly meets an angel and wants more; he wants her. To have her, he's determined to overcome his demons but will the dark secret that links their pasts bring them closer or will it tear them apart?

If you like alpha males bikers, check out Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde. For me this also had a Kristen Ashley vibe to it. It features an alpha who's strong, scary but also head over heels over the heroine. There are points of views from both the hero and heroine. Marie is likeable because she's not afraid to say what's on her mind and face Horse. 

Sweet Valley High ebooks

I remember the days when Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and their family and friends dominated my reading world. Each month I would run to the bookstore or library to snap up the latest installment in the series only to finish reading that book in a few hours. It wasn't just the SVH series that kept me entertained but also the other ones like Sweet Valley Kids and Sweet Valley University. I miss those days! They were entertaining without being racy and they are books I hope a new generation of readers can discover. I read the new Sweet Valley Confidential but I wasn't impressed. It didn't have the same "feel" or "voice" but with a new e-serial spin-off (The Sweet Life #1) I may give the new ones another chance. Right now I'm happy the old SVH books have been released as ebooks. The covers appeal to me because of their classic look, being very similar to the originals with slight changes.

Only $2.99 each!  Just click on the covers and you can find more information.

Amazon.ca is also offering these books.

I also remember rushing home after school to catch SVH on television. I admit the TV shows weren't as good as the books, but then again when aren't books better? To this day, the TV characters still represent my visual of the book characters.

I hope more of my old favorites are re-issued whether as ebooks or books. I used to own most of the books and gave them away in a move. That is a regret because they weren't easy to find but now I can start the series again. If it's true that a Sweet Valley movie is in the works I'm definitely going to want to take a walk down memory lane.