Monday, March 31, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Cole's Redemption

Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack - Book 5) by J.D. Tyler

Publication Date: 03/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0451417232
ISBN-13: 978-0451417237

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

J.D. Tyler on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Alpha Pack

1. Primal Law
2. Savage Awakening
3. Black Moon
4. Hunter's Heart
5. Cole's Redemption

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Cole's Redemption, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature. 

Synopsis:

Once, they were Navy SEALS. Now they are the Alpha Pack: a top secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers who take on the darkest dangers on Earth. But sometimes the greatest danger lies within their own hearts....

Healer and black wolf shifter Zander Cole has survived horrors that would have broken a weaker man. But when a battle leaves him deaf and his powers dimmed, Zan is devastated. Believing himself to be a burden to his team, he sees only one option: leave the Pack forever.

White wolf shifter Selene Westfall knows pain—she is certain her father was responsible for her mother’s death. And she lives to exact revenge. So when she is challenged by a savage black wolf, she puts up a vicious fight—only to become the black wolf’s Bondmate as a result of his bite.

Two damaged souls—one filled with hatred and one who’s lost his reason for living—are forced together as they come to terms with their unlikely, turbulent bond. A love neither expected may be all that stands between them and a killer trying desperately to keep the past dead and buried....


Thoughts:

J.D. Tyler returns with the fifth book in the Alpha Pack series, Cole's Redemption. Readers and fans of the series are treated to Zander Cole's story in this installment of the series. After being seriously wounded Zander debates his effectiveness and his loyalty to the pack. Tyler introduces new paranormal characters to the series while still focusing on the shifters of the pack. One of the things that sets this series apart is the fact that these shifters have other abilities as well. But when Cole can no longer use his healing ability, what good is he to the pack? Another great book in this engaging series.

What I liked:

J.D. Tyler has gone to a lot of trouble to create the world of the Alpha Pack. A group of shifters, previous military, who take on the jobs that nobody else wants. She has given this group a close knit kind of society that thrives on brotherhood and cooperation. When Zander is injured so severely that he can no longer provide the pack the kind of healing he once could, he begins to doubt his use to the pack. I thought Tyler did a fantastic job of giving the background in this book and letting the reader understand why Zander was so bothered by this. The fact that he was considering leaving the pack was huge and I thought it was handled in a very realistic way.

In the process of protecting the pack Alpha, Nick, Zander inadvertently finds his bondmate. She happens to be the one who is trying to kill the Alpha, which turns out to be his daughter, who believes he killed her mother. Sound a little confusing? It sounds as if is should be, but it's really not. Tyler does such a good job of balancing the love story between Zander and Selene against the relationship between Selene and her father. Readers who are new to the series won't feel lost at all. Tyler is a master at keeping each book interwoven but still singular and able to stand on it's own. 

The romance between Zander and Selene isn't like most shifter romances. They don't fight their attraction to each other. They don't try to run away and they don't have hidden agendas. Everything is out in the open with these two and that was really refreshing. Their romance flowed easily and created a kind of smooth landing for this book, because of all of the other turmoil surrounding Nick and his daughter. I liked the fact that I didn't have to wonder what was going to happen with them when everything else was so up in the air.

What I didn't like:

I'm not completely sure I liked the addition of the vampire characters. So far the series has not gone that direction and I'm not sure how this will change the coming books. It provided a good story line for this particular book, but may change the overall feel of the series. I'll reserve judgement for now...

Bottom Line:

This is another great book by J.D. Tyler. She continues to amaze with this series. Giving readers characters that are three dimensional and have a depth that characters often don't have. Give this series a try you won't be disappointed.

Cole's Redemption is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! 




About the Author:


J. D. Tyler has a Master's degree in Education and spent sixteen years in the public school trenches before she left teaching to pursue her dream of writing full time. An active member of Romance Writers of America, she's been a finalist for Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, has captured the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and has one book optioned for a major motion picture.


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Cole's Redemption by J.D. Tyler.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 14th.

1. Please leave a comment about your favorite kind of shifter.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Blog Tour Stop: Ghost of a Gamble by Sue Ann Jaffarian (Guest Post, Review and Giveaway)

Please join me in welcoming Sue Ann Jeffarian to Debbie's Book Bag today. Sue Ann is here promoting her latest book, Ghost of a Gamble. Book 4 in The Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery series. Enjoy her guest post, along with my review and a giveaway for one copy of her book, Ghost of a Gamble.


Ghost à la Road

When I sat down to write the Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series, I wanted to make sure it was very different from my already established Odelia Grey mystery series. This wasn’t just to avoid reader confusion, but to keep the premises and characters straight in my mind. After all, I write two novels a year, one in each series, one right after the other. It would be so easy for them to lose their individual identities in the process.

I decided to write the Granny Apples books in third person since the Odelia Grey books are written in first person. I made the main protagonists, Odelia Grey and Emma Whitecastle, very different. Odelia is sassy and flawed, married, short, plus size and will brake for Ben and Jerry’s or a good burger. Emma, on the other hand, is tall, slender, wealthy, divorced with a grown child, and a vegetarian. The only similarity is that they are both middle-aged and their series are both humorous.

Another difference is that Odelia remains mostly in Southern California, while Emma and her sidekick, the ghost of Granny Apples, hit the road fairly often.
In Ghost à la Mode, the first book in the Ghost of Granny Apples series, I took Emma and friends to Julian, California, where Granny once lived. The second book, Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini, takes place on Catalina Island in California. All fun places within close proximity of my Los Angeles home. A weekend here and there and the research was complete.

When it came time to develop the story for Gem of a Ghost, the third book in the series, I knew it would be about a haunted gem and had planned for it to be based in Southern California. Then a funny thing happened. I was looking at a map, plotting my drive from Oakmont, Pennsylvania, to my family in Massachusetts where I was going to spend a week after a couple of big book events. I knew the drive would require an overnight and since I’d never been in that area I wanted to plan the stop somewhere nice and interesting. I had pretty much picked my stopping point when my eyes settled on a town called “Jim Thorpe.”

Whoa! Wait a darn minute! Who in the world names a town Jim Thorpe? And, knowing that Thorpe was originally from Oklahoma, why is this place in Pennsylvania? After a bit of internet research, I knew I HAD to change my course to visit this town, and not because it was named after a famous Olympic athlete. 

Turns out Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was originally named Mauch Chunk and was one of the sites of the infamous Molly McGuire trials and executions in the late 1870s. More importantly, it had a haunted prison where the executions took place.

A haunted prison that was now a museum. Sign me (and Granny) up!

I arrived in Jim Thorpe just before Memorial weekend when the museum officially opened for the summer season, but had written to the owner prior to my arrival and arranged for a private tour of the prison. It was great! And I knew that after walking around the town and seeing the prison that Gem of a Ghost had to be set there, at least partially. And it worked beautifully!

For the 4th book in the series, I took Granny on another road trip. This time to Las Vegas. Hey, research is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it! I had to make a couple of trips to Vegas to check out places, hotels, surrounding geography, etc. The first time the story sort of presented itself, but it wasn’t until my second trip when I took a tour to the Grand Canyon and spent hours in a small tour van going through the desert that I got inspired for the rest of the story. Between those trips and watching hours of video on the history of Las Vegas, Ghost of a Gamble came alive and found its way to the page.
  
Ghost of a Gamble will also be finding its way into readers hands on April 1st!

So what’s next for Granny?

For book five I’m sticking closer to home. It takes place in and around Los Angeles but there will be plenty of historical information. The working title is Ghost in the Guacamole.


After that book, I’m considering another trip east for Emma and Granny, another historical look at Los Angeles, and possibly an adventure in Hawaii, but who knows. Right now those are just possibilities and I haven’t bought any plane tickets yet.

Book Information:


Ghost of a Gamble (Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery - Book 4) by Sue Ann Jeffarian

Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425262170
ISBN-13: 978-0425262177

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Sue Ann Jaffarian on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Ghost of Granny Apples

1. Ghost a la Mode
2. Ghost in a Polka Dot Bikini
3. Gem of a Ghost
4. Ghost of a Gamble

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Ghost of a Gamble, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Spiritual medium Emma Whitecastle knows a good ghost when she feels one—like her own sweet Granny Apples, long gone but still as famous for her apple pies as she is for helping her great-great-great-granddaughter get to the core of the most baffling mysteries...

When Emma gets word of a sticky spirit problem in Las Vegas, she and the ghost of Granny Apples hit the road for Sin City. The spooked one is Dolly, a former showgirl. Dolly is haunted by Lenny, a dead Vegas hood worried about an aging mobster named Nemo coming after the leggy old bombshell. Dolly’s playing dumb, but Emma’s making a blind bet that she knows more about Nemo than she admits.

When Nemo is found dead, Dolly goes missing—and lands herself on a short list of suspects. Emma, Granny, and their pals comb Las Vegas to find her, only to discover the truth behind a casino heist gone bad, a hidden stash of stolen loot, and a missing wise guy who’s not letting death come between him and setting things straight. And Emma and Granny Apples aren’t about to fold until they save Dolly’s neck and put her past to rest.


Thoughts:

Sue Ann Jaffarian brings readers the fourth book in her Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series, Ghost of a Gamble. Emma and Granny are off on another road trip in this book, this time to Sin City, Vegas will never be the same. This humorous mystery series featuring paranormal elements will have readers sitting on the edge of their collective seats. Jaffarian has an over the top writing style that is appealing and full of surprises. Readers never know what is going to happen next in a Granny Apples mystery and Ghost of a Gamble is no different. A great addition to the series.

What I liked:

Sue Ann Jaffarian is one of those writers that can give you a totally unbelievable idea and make you believe every word of it. Her stories are written with a flamboyant style that draws the reader in and has them giggling under their breath in no time. Jaffarian's use of humor is excellent and almost as entertaining as the mystery itself... almost!

Emma is a great cozy heroine. She is a medium and is used to dealing with spirits and their issues. She has a humorous outlook on life that is contagious and she knows how to solve a mystery. I love the fact that her sidekick is the ghost of her great great great grandmother. It adds a great paranormal aspect to this mystery series that will draw in a whole different audience. Emma is a cross between The Ghost Whisperer and the Long Island Medium, serious at times and hilarious at others. A very versatile character.

I loved the Los Vegas setting for this one. I have enjoyed the fact that the Granny Apples mysteries tend to take place in different areas and are not limited by a stagnant setting. Jaffarian does a fantastic job using the history of Vegas to add to the details of this mystery. It's obvious that she did her homework and the city really comes to life for the reader. I liked the whole mobster idea and how it played into the outcome of the mystery as well.

Granny Apples once again steals the show in this mystery though. I love her character and how each time Emma finds herself in the middle of another mystery, it somehow involves Granny. I like the fact that Granny can move around and travel to different places, which gives each mystery more versatility. But the humor and comic relief that Granny adds to every book is the best part of all. I think Jaffarian has done a great job with this series and I look forward to seeing where Granny and Emma turn up next.

What I didn't like:

I thought this one was a fun romp in Las Vegas that happened to center around a murder. The mystery itself was a little long in coming to a head, but once readers get past that, it is a great read, that is original and full of surprises.

Bottom Line:

This is a great series with a lot of humor and it always features a great mystery that makes the reader do a little thinking to figure it out. I love the paranormal aspects of the book, featuring Granny Apples and the charismatic lead character, Emma.

Ghost of a Gamble will be available to readers on April 1st, but can be pre-ordered NOW.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:

Sue Ann Jaffarian is the critically acclaimed author of three mystery series: the Ghost of Granny Apples Mysteries, the Odelia Grey Mysteries, and the Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries. In addition to being a writer, Sue Ann is a full-time paralegal for a Los Angeles law firm and a sought-after motivational speaker.


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Ghost of a Gamble by Sue Ann Jaffarian.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 14th.

1. Please leave a comment about another cozy series featuring a ghost that other readers might want to try.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Reaper's Vow

Reaper's Vow (Shadow Reapers - Book 2) by Sarah McCarty

Publication Date: 03/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0425247708
ISBN-13: 978-0427709

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Sarah McCarty on the WEB: website, blog, goodreads

Books in the series

Shadow Reapers

1. Reaper's Justice
2. Reaper's Vow

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Reaper's Vow, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

A breed of werewolf soldiers engineered to kill on command, The Shadow Reapers went rogue at the end of the Civil War. Now, exacting justice by their own code, they long to feel human as they contain the beast within… 

Ever since his cousin Adelaide disappeared, Cole Cameron has been searching for her—and for Isaiah Jones, whom he blames for her kidnapping, after a hellacious fight in town involving—if the stories of drunken saloon goers were to be believed—men who changed into wolves. Being a practical man, Cole doesn’t believe it.

Then he is rescued from a pack of strangely intelligent wolves by none other than his quarry, Isaiah, who brings him to a hidden valley where the Shadow Reapers have settled, where he is reunited with Adelaide—and where he finds the beautiful Miranda.

Miranda was once a captive of the enemy pack of Rogues. Now a werewolf herself, all she wants is to protect her daughter and try to forget the husband she lost. But Cole’s not about to give up the greatest desire he’s ever felt in his life. And he’s vowed to make Miranda his—no matter what stands in his way…


Thoughts:

Sarah McCarty returns to the Shadow Reaper series with her latest installment, Reaper's Vow. Readers have waited a long time for this one and won't be disappointed. McCarty takes the Civil War era and turns it on it's ear by inserting paranormal characters who are forging a new life for themselves, after a tragic beginning. History and the paranormal mix in this book to give readers a unique reading experience that they can't find too many other places. McCarty's Reapers are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to protective, alphas. And readers won't be able to get enough.

What I liked:

It's been almost two years since Reaper's Justice, the first book in the Shadow Reaper's series hit shelves. Readers have faithfully waited for Sarah McCarty to take them back and now she finally has. But this one may not turn out exactly like they thought it would. With a mix of paranormal and human characters, the world building was diverse and difficult to pull off, but McCarty does it with style. This was just what I was looking for in a good paranormal historical.

The Civil War has always been one of my favorite historical genres to read about. It has so many avenues that the author could use to take readers on a one of a kind journey. And when the paranormal is added to the mix, you just can't hardly go wrong. McCarty uses all of the elements of the times and adds that little paranormal twist which changes the story completely. I liked the fact that McCarty made her werewolves fierce and determined to make a good life for themselves after being turned in order to make them into weapons. That was such an usual premise that it worked. It really worked! 

Cole is a great alpha hero, but he is all human. He finds him getting in a bit over his head when he has to be rescued by the Shadow Reapers. I loved his fighting spirit. He was determined to find his cousin and to seek justice from those who he thought kidnapped her. It was interesting to watch him when he realized he had been wrong. I thought he showed a lot of character development throughout the book. McCarty took Cole's character in a totally different direction than I was expecting. In fact I was a bit shocked by the ending, but not in a bad way. She just really surprised me.

Miranda is a great female lead. As a Reaper she hasn't had a lot of choices about what has happened in her life. She only wants to protect her daughter and move on with her life, since her husband's death. Meeting Cole changes everything for both of them and I liked how they were so good for each other. They brought out the best in each other. He was strong and self-assured and he gave her the courage to move on. She was warm and caring and showed him how to love. The relationship between them was poignant and very believable. Cole's relationship with Miranda's daughter was also a joy to read about.

What I didn't like:

Like most other readers of this series, I thought the wait between books was too long. It caused a sort of disconnect between the reader and the series itself. I found myself trying to relate this book back to Reaper's Justice when it was totally different. I think there needed to be more of an interwoven thread between the two books that didn't seem to come across.

Bottom Line:

This one was good but I liked Reaper's Justice better. The end was certainly shocking. I thought it would go down in a much different way, but perhaps that's a good thing and it is setting up the next book in the series. We shall see...

Reaper's Vow is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:


Sarah McCarty is a bestselling erotic romance writer.


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Reaper's Vow by Sarah McCarty.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 13th.

1. Please leave a comment suggesting another great erotic paranormal series for readers.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Blog Tour Stop: Murder on Bamboo Lane by Naomi Hirahara (Guest Post, Review and Giveaway)

Please join me in welcoming Naomi Hirahara to Debbie's Book Bag today. Naomi is here promoting her book Murder on Bamboo Lane. Please enjoy her guest post. Also check out my review and a giveaway. 


Finding Ellie Rush

By Naomi Hirahara

For the past five mystery novels, I’ve been in the head of a man significantly older than me (although as the years pass, that gap is closing in!).  His name is Mas Arai, a gardener in Southern California, Hiroshima survivor, and, of course, a reluctant detective.  Mas was modeled after my father and men like him – working class and seemingly ordinary on the outside, but with intricate secrets and strength within.

In April of this year, I’m embarking on a very different mystery protagonist, Ellie Rush.  She’s, well, first female and considerably younger, 23 years of age.  And the biggest challenge for me – she’s a bicycle cop with the LAPD assigned to downtown Los Angeles’s central core.

Don’t ask me the last time I’ve ridden a bicycle, but take my word for it, I can.  And in terms of shooting a gun, I have.  In 2011, the same year my beloved father was battling terminal stomach cancer, I participated in a Southern California-based ATF Citizens Academy once a week for two months.  There we learned about the hidden perils of cigarette smuggling (usually this crime is linked to more dangerous international gang syndicates), the adventures of going undercover, and how to follow an arson trail.  

Providing a brief break from sharing caregiving duties with my mother, these sessions let me escape into the shoes of someone completely different from me.  We even donned earpieces and stuffed wireless radios in our jackets to do surveillance at a local mall, wore bulletproof jackets and aimed pellet guns inside an abandoned office which, for our pretend purposes, was supposed to be harboring suspects, and finally went to an outdoor gun range, where we shot firearms of various sizes.

The biggest eye-opener for me is how essential it is for law enforcement officers to work together as a team.  But what about the lone rogue detective that we see so much on TV, the movies, and novels?  In crashing a drug pad, often the Number Two ATF man or woman has to pull the collar of the person in front.  “Hey, not so fast!”

As a lover of basketball, I could totally relate to team coordination.  Everyone has a certain role and purpose.  I had always viewed law enforcement as powered by adrenalin and emotion, but for it to work properly, quite the opposite is true.

During that same year, I also agreed to step in as an instructor of a UCLA undergraduate writing workshop.  As I gazed at the beautiful, fresh faces of these 15 young people, I was transported to my college days, when despite a sluggish economy, we also remained optimistic about our futures.

Somehow these two experiences – the ATF Citizens Academy and the UCLA writing class – intertwined in my brain.  The following year, my father passed away in a hospital bed in the room where he had watched his favorite samurai and Japanese soap opera programs on TV for decades.  As I struggled with this great loss, I grappled with focusing on something new and young.  Slowly this young woman, Ellie Rush, emerged – vibrant and enthusiastic, yet still wondering how she would make her mark on this world.

While the tone of the Office Ellie Rush mysteries are much lighter and breezier than my Mas Arai mysteries, there are still some common elements.  I still want to take my readers on a tour of lesser known areas in my “homeland” of Los Angeles.  And family and friends are important to both – although cranky Mas will not admit it publicly.


Ellie has her first mystery adventure in Chinatown, so the first book is titled MURDER ON BAMBOO LANE.  Hope you might want to take a ride with her, and it won’t matter when you were last on a bicycle.

Book Information:


Murder on Bamboo Lane (Officer Ellie Rush - Book 1) by Naomi Hirahara

Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425264955
ISBN-13: 978-0425264959

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Naomi Hirahara on the WEB: websitetwitter, facebook, goodreads

Synopsis:

Trouble awaits rookie LAPD Officer Ellie Rush as she patrols the mean streets of Los Angeles on her bicycle…

Bike cop Ellie Rush dreams of becoming a homicide detective, but it’s still a shock when the first dead body she encounters on the job is that of a former college classmate.

At the behest of her Aunt Cheryl, the highest-ranking Asian-American officer in the LAPD (a source of pride for Ellie’s grandmother, but annoyance to her mom), Ellie becomes tangled in the investigation of the coed’s murder—with equal parts help and hindrance from her nosy best friend, her over-involved ex-boyfriend, a smoldering detective, and seemingly everyone else in her extended family…only to uncover secrets that a killer may go to any lengths to ensure stay hidden.  


Thoughts:

Naomi Hirahara begins a new series with her book, Murder on Bamboo Lane. Set against the urban background of Los Angeles' Chinatown, this is a mystery that will appeal to many different kinds of readers. With a lot of ethnic diversity and a protagonist that happens be a bicycle cop with the LAPD, how could readers go wrong? Hirahara is an Edgar Award winning author who knows how to set the tone and make readers believe in her characters. Ellie Rush may be one of her best yet.

What I liked:

Murder on Bamboo Lane is the first book I have read by this author and I will have to say that I was really surprised at the depth the author went to with mystery. Her voice is fresh and original to the genre. Hirahara has a knack for writing about a setting and about characters that the reader finds easy to relate to. She was able to create her own distinctive niche with this novel. It is unlike any other cozy I have ever read and that's saying something. I've read a bunch of them!

Hirahara's setting was vibrant and colorful and let the reader in on the things that make Los Angeles and especially, Chinatown unique and different from other areas of the country. Hirahara weaves details about the city into the chapters of her story with ease, drawing the reader in and captivating them with her sense of community and place. The setting actual takes on the characteristics of a character, because it is so much a part of the fabric of the story. The author made me want to know more about LA and more about the rich diversity that is shown throughout this book.

Ellie Rush is a young protagonist at 23 years. I think a lot of cozy readers fall into a range that is a bit older than that. So this could provide a new audience for the genre that may not have discovered cozies yet. Ellie is tenacious and determined. I can't imagine being a bicycle cop. It just seems so improbable, though I know they exist. But this book actually made me reevaluate how I looked at the LAPD in general and especially this particular part of their force and how instrumental and important they are in the grand scheme of things. I admired Ellie's desire to become a homicide detective and thought that this case being so close to home for her, was a brilliant idea. Hirahara made me want to know more about this young woman, from her desires for her career to her love life and relationship with her family. She was a great lead character.

Hirahara also brings the readers a culturally diverse cast of characters from the lead character to the secondary characters. I liked seeing the dynamic of how Ellie interacted with both her co workers and her family. I liked the relationship that was brewing with the detective and her issues with her ex. It all added together to make a group of characters that were engaging and full of surprises. 

What I didn't like:

For the most part I really liked this one. It was very unique and not what I was expecting at all. Hirahara made me take notice with this book and look forward to more installments in the series.

Bottom Line:

Naomi Hirahara is obviously no stranger to the cozy genre. She has a strong voice and her characters are reflective of her cultural heritage. Murder on Bamboo Lane is also a testament to her love of Los Angeles and Chinatown. A great first book in a series with lots of potential for more great characters and stories in the future.

Murder on Bamboo Lane is available April 1st from your favorite bookseller. Pre-order is available NOW.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:

Naomi Hirahara is the Edgar® Award-winning author of the Mas Arai Mysteries. Born and raised in Pasadena, Naomi received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and studied at the Inter-University Center for Advanced Japanese Language Studies in Tokyo. She worked as a reporter and editor of The Rafu Shimpo in downtown Los Angeles. She is also the author of 1001 Cranes and has written, edited, and published several nonfiction books, largely about the Japanese American experience. She lives with her husband in Southern California.


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Murder on Bamboo Lane by Naomi Hirahara.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 13th.

1. Please leave a comment about when you last rode a bicycle.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Feel the Rush

Feel the Rush (Hard Feelings - Book 2) by Kelsie Leverich

Publication Date: 03/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 416
ISBN-10: 0451466667
ISBN-13: 978-0451466662

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Kelsie Leverich on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Hard Feelings

1. The Valentine's Arrangement
2. Feel the Rush

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Feel the Rush, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier....
 
Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful— and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads. It’s time to find Mr. Safe....
 
Army captain Reed Porter lives for the thrill—an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not on his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid.…
 
As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill?  Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?


Thoughts:

Kelsie Leverich continues her Hard Feelings series, with the second book, Feel the Rush. Most readers can identify with the idea that life doesn't always turn out the way we think it will or want it to and this book takes that idea and runs with it. The main character is reaching a milestone in her life and realizes that life isn't how she wants it to be. She decides it's time for a change and readers are taken along for the ride. Leverich does a spectacular job of wringing emotion from the reader, whether it's happiness or sadness or longing, this author knows how to draw it out of you! A great addition to the series.

What I liked:

I will have to say that I wasn't sure going into this book whether I would like it or not. The Valentine's Arrangement was a good book, but perhaps not a favorite of mine. The heroine was a bit too feisty and used a lot of unnecessary language and that sort of thing. I'm happy to say that Leverich has turned it down a little bit with Feel the Rush. I liked this one much better than the first book. Meagan is a great heroine, who is sweet and kind and just wants change in her life. I felt like I identified much better with her and really enjoyed this book. 

Meagan is turning thirty and realizes that life isn't going the way she imagined it. She has been going from one failed relationship to the next, always ending up with the wrong kind of guy. The one who only wants one night or the one who has no interest in settling down. And now she wants more. I think a lot of readers can identify with that. She wants a fresh start and she gets it by moving to Georgia, but she also comes into contact with a man from her past, Reed, who was a former one night stand and totally not the kind of guy she is looking for now. Leverich portrays Meagan as woman on a mission. She is independent but she doesn't want to be. She wants to settle down and have the perfect life she dreams about. I totally get that and I thought she was a perfect character.

Reed is the epitome of Mr. Wrong where Meagan is concerned. He's an Army Jumpmaster. A thrill seeker. He lives on the edge and has no intention of changing his trajectory until he and Meagan re-establish a relationship. He doesn't even remember her. That was kind of ego-busting, but it worked. Leverich knows how to write a sexy male lead. He has all the qualities that women like, but doesn't want to settle down. He's strong and capable. He has a love for his friends and his country. He is handsome... but he isn't looking for a stable relationship, or so he thinks. I liked seeing him change his idea of what he wanted out of life. Not necessarily because of Meagan but because of the changes she brings about in his life.

One of my favorite parts of this book, was the blending of Meagan and Reed's friends. The chemistry between this couple is phenomenal and they may be opposites, but the attraction is palpable. What was interesting was how Leverich took Reed's Army buddies and Meagan's friends and used them to bring these two together. They created a family for both characters that helped the book to flow and move at a good pace. I look forward to possibly seeing some of these characters get their own stories. 

What I didn't like:

The build up to an actual relationship between these two characters, was a slow process. The love scenes were hot and spicy and readers get to see them together physically a lot, before their emotions kick in. I know that's generally how it goes in real life, but I wanted a more soulful connection between these two early on. However, when it did come, it was amazing so, I can't say I have much to complain about.

Bottom Line:

Leverich has a knack for bringing the reader to tears, both of joy and of pain. There is a lot more going on in this book, than just your typical love story. I don't cry often where books are concerned because I am a bit jaded and think I've read it all. Kelsie Leverich proved that I hadn't. A very good book!

Feel the Rush is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!



About the Author:


Kelsie Leverich lives in Indiana with her husband and two adorable monsters that are better known as her kids. Her life revolves around her family (to include three dogs and a cat) and most of the time, actually all of the time, it's a crazy mess--but that's the way she loves it! When Kelsie's not writing, you can usually find her snuggling on the couch with her kids and a good book or out on the lake with friends and family. Kelsie is not a morning person, has a soft spot for animals, loves musicals, hates seafood, and thinks laundry is the source of all evil.

Kelsie loves stories that can make you fall in love, break your heart, and heal your soul.



Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 9th.

1. Please leave a comment how long did it take you find Mr. Right? Did you get it right the first time or did it take a time or two?
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Carolina Man

Carolina Man (Dare Island - Book 3) by Virginia Kantra

Publication Date: 03/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 042526887X
ISBN-13: 978-04205268872

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Virginia Kantra on the WEB: websitetwitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Dare Island

1. Carolina Home
2. Carolina Girl
3. Carolina Man

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Carolina Man, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

A heartwarming new novel in New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra’s beloved series about family ties, second chances, and the power of love…

Marine Luke Fletcher is determined to do his duty—first to his country and now to his ten-year-old daughter, the unexpected legacy of a high school girlfriend. But his homecoming to Dare Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks challenges his plans for the future and forces him to face everything that's missing in his life. He wasn't prepared to lose his heart to this child he never knew. Or to fall hard for coolly reserved small town lawyer Kate Dolan.

Former military brat Kate knows Marines can make lousy fathers...and she's got the scars to prove it. Giving her heart to a man who's bent on leaving seems one sure way to have it broken.

Now, no matter what it takes, Luke must prove to Kate and to his daughter that Semper Fi is more than a motto—and to himself that there’s more than one way to be a hero.


Thoughts:

Author Virginia Kantra continues her popular Dare Island series, with her latest book, Carolina Man. The Outer banks is a perfect backdrop for this series about family and the ties that bind. Kantra draws the reader in with stories of everyday people and how they live their lives. Her fictional family the Fletchers have been through a lot and now their son, Luke must deal with learning he is a father with a ten year old daughter he never knew about. This a great feel good novel and a great romance all wrapped up into one.

What I liked:

First, let me say that I think Virginia Kantra is fast becoming one of favorite contemporary romance writers. I used to be fond of saying that I really didn't like contemporary romance, that I preferred a historical setting or a paranormal setting for my romance, but lately I have reviewed a ton of this kind of novel and I'm finding that maybe I made a snap judgement based on the few contemporary novels I had read. Virginia Kantra's book are going a long way toward changing my view of what makes a novel set in today's time period exciting and readable. 

The Dare Island series, is one of my favorites. The Fletchers are such a great family. Readers would probably enjoy the latest book Carolina Man, much more if they have read the previous two books in the series, Carolina Home and Carolina Girl, primarily because of the relationships developed between all of the characters. Several make appearances in Carolina Man and there are several threads that are a part of the book that began in other books. It's my personal advice to read them in order. Not to mention the fact that all of the books in this series are feel good romances that have realistic characters and story lines that readers won't want to miss.

Kate Dolan is the attorney that gets in touch with Luke Fletcher, serving as a Master Sargent in Afghanistan, to let him know that he has a ten year old daughter. Kate is a hard nosed lawyer with her chip on her shoulder where military dads are concerned because her father was not the best example. She expected Luke to be sharp tempered and bitter, but she was got was a tender and expressive man who wants to know his daughter and bring her into his family. I loved watching Kate's walls begin to crumble as she realized that the entire Fletcher family made her long for that kind of a life and that Luke was not at all what she expected. I think Kantra really got to the heart of the matter with this one and I loved every part of it.

Luke is like all of the other Fletchers. He is the epitome of a good man. He loves his family, his country and now he wants to love the daughter he has never known. He is like men, he doesn't start too well but he eventually warms up where Taylor is concerned and develops a deep love of her. The relationship between Luke and Kate forms the romantic side of the story, but the love he has for Taylor is the real shining aspect of the book. Kantra gives readers a very real character in Luke, a man who wants to be a good father, but doesn't really know how. I loved watching him learn how to navigate the treacherous waters of parenthood and how his relationship with Kate developed as well.

What I didn't like:

Not one thing. This is a great book. It's a tender story about not only falling in love with a woman, but falling in love with a child as well. You can't beat that!

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a great romance about real people and a real family, this is it. Virginia Kantra gives readers everything they are looking for when it comes to a tender romance and a great love story featuring a father learning to love his new daughter.

Carolina Man is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! 




About the Author:


New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra has written over twenty books of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Her deeply emotional stories have won numerous writing awards, including Romance Writers of America's RITA Award and two National Readers' Choice Awards. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of three kids, she is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love. 

Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.



Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Carolina Man by Virginia Kantra.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 8th.

1. Please leave a comment about how you think the military affects the family unit.
2. Please fill out the FORM.