PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Buried Secrets by Barbara Cameron

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Gilead Publishing in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Buried Secrets by Barbara Cameron was a sweet Amish fiction story.  I have read so many books in this genre, but I don’t know that I have read a ton of books by this author.  I really enjoyed this story, but I do wish that they would have put the list of Amish words that are used in the book at the start because I know what they all mean but people new to this genre won’t know what the words mean.  I would never have thought to look at the back of the book for the list, so I would have put it right before the first chapter of the book.  I fell in love with Rose and Luke right from the start and I spent the book hoping that they would end up together in the end.  I was also able to read this book in a couple days because it is an easy read and not one that takes awhile to get through at least it wasn’t for me.  If you love Amish fiction than I would recommend this book to you because I am sure just about everyone will enjoy it.

About The Book

Family secrets could get in the way of a second chance at love

After her husband dies, Rose longs to be near her family—especially her twin sister, Lillian—so she packs up her young son and leaves their life in Ohio to move back to Paradise, Pennsylvania.

Luke Miller is ready to settle down in Paradise. He soon forms a partnership with Rose to help farm her land. He finds that he’s enjoying the company of the quiet, modest widow and she may be just the woman he’s been waiting for. But is Rose hiding a secret beneath her reserved exterior—one that could keep her from having a future with Luke?

And Rose isn’t the only one concealing something. Luke has a secret of his own, and it could threaten their partnership—and their chance at love.

About The Author

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

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Coming Home To Crimson by Michelle Major

“We’re not friends. We’re not going to be friends.”

No, they’ll be so much more…

It is time to go back to Colorado in COMING HOME TO CRIMSON by Michelle Major

About COMING HOME TO CRIMSON

Escaping from a cheating fiancé in a “borrowed” car, Sienna Pierce can’t think of anywhere to go but Crimson, the hometown she swore she’d never go back to. And Crimson sheriff Cole Bennett has a lot at stake in keeping the town on an even keel. On the surface, they have nothing in common. Unfortunately, there is nothing superficial about their feelings for each other! 

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Christmas on Crimson Mountain won the 2017 RITA for Short Contemporary Romance

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Read and exclusive excerpt from COMING HOME TO CRIMSON:

“I’m sorry, officer,” she said automatically, fanning her hand in front of her face. “I was having a bit of trouble taking off my jacket around the seatbelt. I’ll be more careful.”

“License and registration, ma’am.”

The rumbly voice gave her pause and she sat back, glancing up into the face of a man who could have been the direct descendent of some Wild West lawman. The firm set of his jaw and rugged good looks seemed like a throw back to the era of John Wayne, although he wore a modern law enforcement uniform of a beige button down and black tie, khaki pants and a gun clearly tucked into the holster at his waist.

The button clipped above his shirt pocket read ‘sheriff’. Okay then, the real deal.

And not feeling all that friendly if the tight line of his mouth was any indication. She couldn’t see his eyes behind the mirrored aviator sunglasses but imagined he was glaring at her.

“Of course,” she said and pulled her wallet out of the Louis Vuitton purse on the passenger seat.

“You know texting and driving is against the law,” he said as she handed him her driver’s license.

“I was having some sort of bizarre hot flash,” she blurted. “Not texting.” Even now she could feel the silk tank top clinging to her skin. “Anger induced, not hormonal,” she felt compelled to add, her cheeks flaming.

One thick brow lifted above the frame of his sunglasses, and Sienna resisted the urge to fidget.

“You were also driving twenty miles above the speed limit.”

“I certainly was not.” Sienna rolled her eyes. “I’d never drive that fast.”

“Ma’am—”

She pointed a finger at him. “I don’t like your tone when you call me ma’am.”

“I clocked you at eighty-five and it’s a sixty-five mile an hour zone that drops to forty-five as you come into town.” He paused then added, “Ma’am.”

Sparks raced across Sienna’s skin. Somehow his tone had gone from patronizing to sexy-as-hell in one word. She had no idea what had possessed her to try to goad this small-town sheriff into a reaction, but her body’s response to him was totally unexpected.

And bothersome.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “This isn’t my car so I’m not used to how it drives.” The truth was she’d been too preoccupied with mentally trash talking her cheating ex-boyfriend to realize she was driving recklessly. Kevin’s fault as well.

“Who does the car belong to?”

“I don’t know.” She flipped open the glove compartment. “I assume it’s a rental. I took it from my ex-boyfriend.”

The sheriff leaned forward, his hands resting above the driver’s side window. The fabric of his shirt pulled tight across his arms, revealing the outline of corded muscles. “As in you stole it?”

“No,” she answered immediately. “I…it wasn’t quite like that.” She closed her eyes and drew in a breath. In fact, it was exactly like that.

She’d taken a private shuttle from the Aspen airport to the upscale hotel where Kevin had made a reservation. She’d originally been scheduled to come on this trip with him, three days in the mountains of Colorado with a few meetings thrown in to make it a legitimate business expense. Sienna hadn’t been back to Colorado in almost two decades, and to make a trip so soon after her estranged brother’s visit to Chicago last year…well, it had been too much to even consider.

Yet in the end she couldn’t stay away. Kevin had acted so disappointed she wasn’t coming, dropping subtle hints that he’d planned to pop the question in Aspen. So she’d taken a red-eye into Denver then a commuter plane to Aspen, thinking how fun it would be to surprise him.

She’d surprised him all right, in bed with another woman.

Could it get more cliche than that? Her life had been reduced to a cliche.

“How about we start with the registration?” the sheriff asked, his voice gentling as if somehow he could sense what a mess she was on the inside.

That infuriated her even more. Sienna didn’t do vulnerable. People around her saw what she wanted them to see, and the thought that this mountain-town Mayberry lawman could see beyond her mask made her want to lash out at someone. Anyone. Sheriff Hot Pants, for one.

She dipped her chin and looked up at him through her lashes, flashing a small, knowing smile. “How about I write a healthy size check to the police foundation or your favorite charity…” She winked. “Or you for that matter and we both go on our merry way?”

“Are you offering me a bribe?”

She widened her smile. “Call it an incentive.”

The sheriff took off his sunglasses, shoving them into his front shirt pocket. His eyes were brown, the color of warm honey, but his gaze was frigid. “How’s the thought of being arrested as an incentive for you to hand me the registration?”

He smiled as he asked the question. His full lips revealed a set of perfectly straight teeth in a way that made him look like some sort of predator. “Or perhaps you’d like to step out of the car and I’ll handcuff you? Another viable option, ma’am.”

 

Author Bio:

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at http://www.michellemajor.com.

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Dangerous Places by Susan Hunter

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Dangerous Places by Susan Hunter was an interesting book.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I know that I will go back and read the other books in this series in the future because I really enjoyed Leah and the writing in this book.  I have been big into cold cases lately, so this book was one that was either going to be great or horrible and I am glad that I really enjoyed this book.  Even though this is the third book in the series I wasn’t super confused, but I did wish that I knew the back stories of the characters, but I was still able to follow the story, so you don’t have to read them all.  I would recommend that if you are planning on read the first two books than I would start with the first book so that you know who everyone is.  I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen so that was a great thing because more times than not I am able to figure it out before it ends but that didn’t happen with this book.  The author did a great job of making me feel like I was there with the characters.  I think anyone who is into crime/mystery books will enjoy this book just as much as I did.

About The Book

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Himmel River Press
Publication Date: November 2016
Number of Pages: 348
ISBN: 1540356477 (ISBN13: 9781540356475)
Series: Leah Nash Mysteries #3 (Each is a Stand Alone Mystery)
Purchase Links: Amazon  | Barnes & Noble  | Google Play  | Goodreads

When teenager Heather Young disappeared from the small town of Himmel, Wisconsin everyone believed her boyfriend had killed her—though her body was never found. Twenty years later, his little sister Sammy returns to town. She begs her old friend, true crime writer Leah Nash, to prove her brother Eric isn’t a murderer.

But Sammy has no new evidence, and her brother doesn’t want Leah’s help. Leah says no—but she can’t help feeling guilty about it. That feeling gets much worse when Sammy is killed in a suspicious car accident. That’s when the independent, irreverent, unstoppable Leah takes up her cause. Her investigation takes her to some dark and dangerous places, and the truth she finds has an unexpected and shattering impact on her own life.

About The Author

Susan Hunter is a charter member of Introverts International (which meets the 12th of Never at an undisclosed location). She has worked as a reporter and managing editor, during which time she received a first-place UPI award for investigative reporting and a Michigan Press Association first place award for enterprise/feature reporting.

Susan has also taught composition at the college level, written advertising copy, newsletters, press releases, speeches, web copy, academic papers and memos. Lots and lots of memos. She lives in rural Michigan with her husband Gary, who is a man of action, not words.

During certain times of the day, she can be found wandering the mean streets of small-town Himmel, Wisconsin, dropping off a story lead at the Himmel Times Weekly, or meeting friends for a drink at McClain’s Bar and Grill.

Catch Up With Susan Hunter On:
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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Real Kind of Love by Sara Rider

In REAL KIND OF LOVE by Sara Rider, Clem and Jake have one week to convince her quirky, overbearing family that their relationship is real during a summer vacation at a lakefront cottage. Fans of ACT LIKE IT by Lucy Parker and ACTING ON IMPULSE by Mia Sosa will love this spicy, lighthearted contemporary romance novel featuring a grumpy hero and introverted heroine. Find out what happens when a fake relationship turns into a real kind of love.

Title:  Real Kind of Love

Author: Sara Rider

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Publisher: Self-published

Series: Books & Brews #1

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Page Count: 242

Format: Print & Digital

 

As an audiobook narrator, Clementine Cox has no trouble mastering the voices of space aliens, elven warriors, or even demon-possessed cats. But the moment she tries her hand at an erotic romance, she’s stumped. With her deadline looming, she books a week at a secluded cabin to restore her inner muse, telling her loving-but-overbearing family it’s a romantic getaway with her not-so-existent new boyfriend to keep them from worrying. She never expects them to invite themselves along to meet the new guy. Now, she has less than twenty-four hours to find a pretend boyfriend in order to save her job and, potentially, her sanity.

Workaholic Jake Donovan isn’t interested in a real relationship. After a broken engagement, all he wants to do is focus on keeping his brewpub, the Holy Grale, afloat. But when he finds out his favorite customer is in need of a fake boyfriend, and his business partners insist he take a long overdue vacation, he has no choice but to help Clem out. All he has to do is enjoy the sunshine, play nice with her family, and keep his hands to himself for the week.

But Jake’s not prepared to like waking up next to Clem every morning as much as he does. Or to feel so welcome by her quirky family. And as the line between real and fake starts to blur, he realizes one week might never be enough.

 

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REAL KIND OF LOVE Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Sara Rider

With a deep breath, she opened her eyes to see Jake standing in front of her with his arms crossed. She swallowed the bile rising in her throat, reminding herself that if mortification could actually kill, she’d have been a pile of ashes by now.

“Tomorrow?”

“Thanks for playing along. For the record, you die of Ebola tonight. Or dysentery. Whichever one works faster.”

“Clem.” He tilted his head toward her, voice deepening to a low growl. “Why do your sisters think we’re dating?”

“I kind of told them I was going on a romantic getaway this week so they wouldn’t tag along on my vacation. Except instead of giving me space, they booked the cabin right next door and now I need you to use that hammer to build me a tiny little coffin while I curl up and die.”

“Wait a second,” Julia said from the dining room doorway with Eli standing next to her, grinning. “You lied to your family about having a boyfriend and now they think Jake is coming with you on vacation tomorrow?”

“Of course you and Eli overheard,” she mumbled. “I know it was a terrible idea but—”

“It’s a great idea!”

Clem wiped her clammy palms against the ugly pair of basketball shorts she was still wearing and tried to fathom the reason for Julia’s wide grin. “Sure, if you think watching me dig myself into a deep hole with no escape is fun.”

“You don’t need an escape. You need Jake.”

“What?” Her and Jake’s gazes met like a head-on collision.

Eli rubbed his palms together. “I don’t know what devious idea is churning in your brain, Sis, but I have a feeling it’s going to be good.”

“It’s simple. I need Jake to get out of my hair for the next week before he micromanages the wedding I’ve been planning to death, and you need a fake boyfriend. It’s perfect.”

It would be perfect, the devil on Clem’s shoulder whispered. Her family was so desperate to see her in a relationship, they’d probably actually give her some space this week. Maybe even enough that she could focus on the recording she needed to turn over to the publisher two weeks from now.

But it was a ridiculous idea. There was no way Jake would go for it. He had a business. A life. A fiancée. Crap. “You can’t be serious?”

“Sorry, man,” Eli said, raising his palms. “My vote’s with Julia. We outnumber you.”

Jake’s jaw clenched so hard, Clem could see the pulse point ticking in his neck. Her heart thumped against her chest as she waited for him to laugh at her. Or shake his head in disgust. Because there was no way he would actually go through with this.

She braced herself for rejection as he turned toward her, expression grim. “I’m game if you are.”

Holy shit. 

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About Sara Rider:

Sara Rider writes contemporary romance full of heart, heat, and happily ever after. She lives in British Columbia with her husband and daughters. She spends far too much time in public libraries and never leaves the home without her e-reader stuffed in her purse.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Uncovering Lily by Rene Webb

Are you ready to spend a night with Xavier?

New Erotic Romantic Suspense from Rene Webb – Uncovering Lily out June 7th!

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Title: Uncovering Lily

Author: Rene Webb

Series: MacKay International

Genre: Erotic Romance

Release Date: June 7, 2018

Length: 33,000 words

Format: Digital

Businessman, Xavier Finch was at the brothel to meet with a potential investor. He never intended to spend the night. When he sees Lily he instantly recognizes her, but she doesn’t remember him.

Now Xavier has only one night to make her his.

Are you ready to spend the night with Xavier?Virgin, Lily MacKay has been drugged, kidnapped and imprisoned in a Hong Kong brothel with no way of escaping. And she’s tried. Will the man she’s been given to for the night be her worst nightmare or her rescuer?

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Excerpt

During the several hours we were all downstairs, I found myself watching him closely and making a mental list of everything I learned. One discovery I made was that he likes his scotch with only one ice cube, not the three or four that usually fill a glass. He also seemed to enjoy the mini crab cakes, if the amount of them he ate was any indication. Having stolen several of them myself, I would have to agree they were delicious. The house has an amazing restaurant-style kitchen and a chef that caters to any of the client’s tastes, no matter the time day or night.

The man also seemed to only be on friendly terms with the short, pudgy man who had accompanied him. The rest of the gentlemen, like the girls, he mostly ignored, though several of the gentlemen clearly wanted to impress him. The man’s face had been a cold mask of indifference the entire evening.

I had briefly wondered if he was married, not that it stopped any of his companions from enjoying themselves. When I handed him his drink, I noticed a lack of a wedding band. This could mean nothing, since not all men wear bands, but if my husband looked like this man, he would be wearing a huge one—telling the world he is taken. Maybe he’s gay?

This is the first time that any man has requested me, and I never imagined it would be this man stepping through the door. I’m surprised. The entire time we were downstairs the only words he said to me was a polite “thank you” as I served him. He barely even looked at me. Why did he request a room with me?

If I’m honest with myself, I’m a little—a lot—relieved. He’s at least not old, fat, or a disgusting combination of the two. And I admit, begrudgingly, that he is sinfully attractive. The thought of this man touching, kissing, and penetrating me doesn’t make my skin crawl or my stomach bubble with acid. It scares me, but maybe if I close my eyes, I can pretend we met during a night of clubbing and this is all my own choice. Or maybe not.

Author Bio:
Rene Webb, a former Catholic schoolgirl and child of the ‘80’s, is a recovering Soap Opera addict who grew up watching General Hospital. She became weary with the relentless drama and sought out stories with happy endings that lasted. Now, Rene is an contemporary romance author, where there is always a happily-ever-after!

A graduate of The George Washington University in Washington DC, 05’, with a BA in History. Rene went on to get her Masters in Film Studies, 09’, from Chapman University, Orange CA.

She founded and runs the book blog Lit. 4 Ladies (a joint venture with her sister) and has self-published both a novella and full-length contemporary romance novel.

Authors such as Jane Austen, Kristen Ashley, Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright, Donna Fletcher, Jennifer Ashley, and Bianca Giovanni have inspired her. They all create strong female characters, swoon-worthy men, and stories that leave their readers with the hope that you, too, will find your own H.E.A.!

Rene also enjoys reading, baking, seeing movies, going to museums, and spending time with her friends and family.

Rene lives in Arlington, VA.

You can visit her online at the following places: Website Facebook | Twitter Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook Reader Group

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

Legends: Catori by Maggie Adams

It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town….

Out June 2nd – The first in a new Paranormal Romance series from Maggie Adams – Legends: Catori!

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Title: Legends: Catori

Author: Maggie Adams

Series: Legends

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: June 2, 2018

 

It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town…

It’s even harder to keep a secret that could expose not only your family, but an entire species. That’s what Frankie Cavanaugh must do. As the daughter of the leader of the Wisdom Council, it’s up to her to step into her father’s shoes until another leader is chosen.

It’s also up to her to continue her lineage within the species.

She wants to do neither. She considers the shifter gene a curse rather than a gift, robbing her of a normal life. Unfortunately, the Council doesn’t see it that way and is determined to wed her to their next leader – by force, if necessary.

Tanner Coalson is fresh out of college and ready to tackle whatever life has in store for him. First item on his to-do list is marrying the woman he has loved for years. He knows Frankie will baulk at the notion because she’s fifteen years older and was his childhood sitter. He’s no longer a young boy, but a man who is determined to win her heart, and he is prepared to do just that.

But convincing her they are destined to be together gets much harder when she is kidnapped by an old enemy. In order to survive, Frankie may have to reveal her secret, and Tanner may have to accept what seems impossible, or reject the love of his life.

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Prologue Excerpt:

Talon Cavanaugh stood on the grassy knoll above the cemetery, watching the procession as it wound through the cracked tombstones to the final resting place of the Wisdom Council’s leader, Leonard Cavanaugh. He smiled in satisfaction as the urn was laid into the dirt pit next to where his human wife would someday reside. Soon, he thought, soon all would be in place and he could claim his birthright.

“Son, I know how much you loved your uncle. Are you sure you don’t want to go down and join in the ceremony?” his father asked.

Well, the man he had called ‘father’ for most of his life, inquired. It was only on his mother, Sylvia’s, death bed, that Talon had learned the truth. He was the son of Leonard Cavanaugh, the owl leader of the Wisdom Council, who had died never knowing he had fathered a son. Sylvia had wanted to ensure the bloodline stayed pure when it became apparent that the old fool was planning to wed that woman, Paige, an inferior human. Sylvia had slipped a potion into his wine as the family celebrated her engagement to the leader’s brother, Lester, Talon’s assumed father.  Leonard Cavanaugh had mated with Sylvia that night, the potion making him hallucinate that he was with his beloved Paige.  Sylvia’s plan worked, and she gave birth to Talon, who was a pureblood shifter, keeping the bloodline intact.

Glancing over his shoulder, Talon shook his head in the negative at Lester. He had no need to go down there. He was the true heir to the leadership position of the Council. He knew the death procedure –  one year of grieving for the widow and the family. He looked to Frankie Cavanaugh. She was a beautiful woman, despite her human blood. Her red hair glowed like flames in the sunlight. She was appropriately dressed in black, her cultural brooch, made of gold and the feathers of her father, pinned to her breast. She was crying quietly into a handkerchief, hugging her mother, in solace. It was almost a pity she would have to die, but there could only be one true leader.

And that position would be filled by him.

 

About Maggie Adams:
Maggie Adams is an Amazon Best Selling contemporary romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November, 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the Amazon best seller 5-star list with Leather and Lace, Something’s Gotta Give, and Love, Marriage & Mayhem. She is also the recipient of the Dayreader Review’s Best New Series Award for 2015. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into International recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK.

Back home, she resides in the Midwest, with her high school sweetheart, Ned, and their children, Katie (Kyle) and Ross (Valerie) and first granddaughter, Lorelei, otherwise known as “The Boss”
You can connect with her online at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret