Banished Threads by Kaylin McFarren

June 30, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from PUYB 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.

Banished Threads by Kaylin McFarren was an interesting book, to say the least. This is the third book in the series and the first one that I have read. I don’t think you need to read the other books to understand this book, but it may help you understand the back story, but I was able to figure out what was going on without having to read the other two books. I enjoyed this author’s style of writing and how she was able to make me understand what was going on and give just enough of the back story from the other books so that you know what is going on but not so much that people who would have read the other books would have been bored. I enjoyed this author writing, but I don’t think I will pick any of the other books in this series because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot of the book. I may check out other books by her though in the future.

About The Book

Title: Banished Threads (Book 3 – Threads Series)
Author: Kaylin McFarren
Publisher: Creative Edge Publishing LLC
Pages: 258
Genre: Romantic Suspense

A valuable art collection disappears turning a treasure-hunting duo into crime-stopping sleuths committed to vindicating family members in Kaylin McFarren’s action-packed suspense novel, Banished Threads.

While vacationing at the stately Cumberforge Manor in Bellwood, England, Rachel Lyons and Chase Cohen attend an elegant dinner party hosted by her uncle, Paul Lyons, and his aristocratic wife, Sara. Before the evening ends, a priceless collection of Morris Graves’s paintings are stolen from her uncle’s popular gallery, throwing all suspicion onto his wife’s missing granddaughter. Determined to clear Sloan Rafferty’s name and, in the process, win Paul’s favor, Chase scours the countryside looking for answers. In his absence, the police accuse Rachel’s uncle of an unsolved murder and secrets surrounding her grandmother’s death and the deaths of Sara’s former husbands turn his wife into the most likely suspect.

With the true villains hell-bent on destroying Paul Lyons and his family, solving both crimes while ensuring her uncle’s freedom not only endangers Rachel’s life but that of her unborn child. Will Chase save them before the kidnappers enact their revenge or will the ultimate price be paid, as predicted by a vagabond fortuneteller?
First place – 2016 Hudson Valley RWA Hook, Line & Sinker Contest

About The Author

Kaylin McFarren is a California native who has enjoyed traveling around the world. She previously worked as director for a fine art gallery, where she helped foster the careers of various artists before feeling the urge to satisfy her own creative impulses.

Since launching her writing career, McFarren has earned more than a dozen literary awards in addition to a finalist spot in the 2008 RWA Golden Heart Contest. A member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers, she also lends her participation and support to various charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

McFarren currently lives with her husband in Oregon and visits her second home in California once a month. They have three grown daughters and two grandchildren, and look forward to having more.

Her latest book is the romantic suspense, Banished Threads.

For More Information

Visit Kaylin McFarren’s website.
Connect with Kaylin on Facebook and Twitter.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

Gift Basket Giveaway!

Kaylin McFarren is giving away a Gift Basket (Value $135)!

This gift basket includes Collectible English tea cup & saucer set, nautical compass, rare Morris Graves’ artwork catalog, and Cadbury English toffees.

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the gift basket.
This giveaway begins May 9 and ends on June 30.
Winners will be contacted via email on June 31.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

(more…)

Wild Within by Christine Hartmann

June 30, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book 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.

Wild Within by Christine Hartmann was a fantastic book. I enjoyed this book right from the start. I saw a lot of myself in Grace, and I felt like I knew her even though she was just a character in the book. Even as I write this, I am not sure what it was about this book that I liked so much other than Grace, but I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished with it. This was a book that I would get upset if I had to put it down and do something other than work. I felt like I was there with Grace as she was hiking the PCT and I could do everything that happened to her to happen to me. At times, I felt the book moved super quick, and it felt like they cut things out that should have been left in. I was confused right at the start when she met Lone Star for the first time, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. I can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out. This book is going to be added to my collection of books because it is one I could see myself reading again. I think this is a book that anyone who loves mystery and romance novels will love.

About The Book

Title: WILD WITHIN

Author: Christine Hartmann

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Pages: 274 Genre: Romantic Suspense

A year after a family tragedy, Grace Mori embarks on the journey of a lifetime…

Two thousand, six hundred miles of blistering heat, wilderness, and soul searching—that’s what Grace signed up for when she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s not a voyage for beginners, but with no husband and her family still recovering from her brother’s death, Grace is more alone than ever.

This trail meant something to her brother, and she’ll hike it in his memory, but she can’t do it alone. So with her brother’s gear and a small group, Grace takes the most important first steps of her life.

Grace finds something more than peace and magic on the trail…

When her first day of hiking ends in heat stroke, Grace is rescued by a handsome, red-haired hiker who calls himself Lone Star. Grace has an immediate connection with him, and their brief encounter leaves her fearing her soul mate has slipped through her fingers. Although he vows to keep in touch, Grace doubts she’ll ever see him again.

When fears become reality, the only people Grace can rely on may be killers…

Grace is surprised to find notes left at supply posts along the trail. Lone Star’s eloquent letters keep Grace going, clinging to the hope she’ll find him—and happiness—at the end of her journey. But as the trail becomes more perilous, menace grows within the group. And when Lone Star’s letters mysteriously stop coming, Grace fears the worst.

As tensions flare and a killer emerges, Grace must battle to survive…and reunite with the man she’s sure is her future.

About The Author

Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her night/weekend avocation (writing romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction as well as non-fiction books). Her husband Ron Strickland is a well-known long-distance hiker, trail guide writer, and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, a German shepherd at her side, and Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

The Average Girl by Angelina Goode

June 29, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book 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.

The Average Girl by Angelina Goode was a fun chick lit book. This was a great book, and I loved that the premise of the story was different from any other book that I have read lately. I usually am not a huge fan of this type of book but this author hooked me right from the start, and I didn’t want to put it down until the book was done. I enjoyed Olivia because she seems like someone that I would get along with in real life. I can say that this book was predicable but I still really enjoyed this author’s style of writing. She was able to make me feel like I was there with the characters. She also made me feel like I was a part of the story and I enjoyed that about this book. If you love chick lit or and looking for a fun book to read this summer, I would for sure recommend this book to you.

About The Book

Sometimes being average can lead to wonderful things…

Olivia Fowler, helper of the star-struck, runs a successful business helping average people meet celebrities in everyday ways. She is so good at what she does, the celebrities don’t have a clue they’re part of a pre-planned meeting. Business is booming and Olivia knows everything there is to know about Hollywood’s famous and their behavior. Her clients trust her because she is just like them, not famous.

But when Olivia accidentally meets the uber-famous Alexander Young at the grocery store, her world is flipped upside-down. She can’t possibly resist those charming eyes and sexy arms. As their romance blossoms, Olivia learns she may not know as much as she thought she did about celebrities and their ways.

Then Olivia’s most important and loyal client requests to meet Alexander. Suddenly, Olivia is forced to choose between her love and her business.

Will Olivia be able to keep her booming business a secret from her soon-to-be boyfriend? Will her clients still trust her if she is no longer the average girl?

About The Author

Angelina Goode began writing as a teenager. Though her first works were poems about love-struck teenagers, she grew her craft while earning her degree in Journalism and Creative Writing. A former grade school teacher that loved teaching children to write, she enjoys finding creative ways to present everyday events. Now she primarily writes light-hearted contemporary women’s fiction. She lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys the occasional celebrity sighting and year-round sun.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

The Silver and Gold Deception by Brenda G Bradley

June 28, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Killion Group 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.

The Silver and Gold Deception by Brenda G Bradley wasn’t the right book for me. From the description of the book, I thought it was going to be a book that I would like, but it just didn’t work out for me. I felt like the book was rushed and I felt like I couldn’t connect with any of the characters in the book. It was written well, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me. After I was finished with the book I saw that is a romantic comedy and I was wondering how I managed to miss that while reading the book. I know that this will be a book most people will probably like, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

About The Book

Dee thinks her life is finally perfect; she’s found her “Mr. Right” and she has a great job. Things are going great until four masked men rob the store where she works—then things start to go horribly wrong. Bad luck seems to follow her everywhere, and when she finds a corpse in her bed, she knows she needs help. Agent Derek Branch sees the evidence pointing to the sexy Dee Carter, but his heart doesn’t want to believe this woman capable of murder. When evil targets Dee, will Derek’s duty to the FBI keep him from following his heart? Or will Dee go down for the crimes?

About The Author

I am a former employee for the state of Maryland. I have been married for more than thirty years to the same man. We have two adult sons. Reading and writing love stories is my passion.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

Holding Smoke by Elle Cosimano

June 22, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley 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.

Holding Smoke by Elle Cosimano was a book that I surprised by how much I liked it in the end. When I started the book, it was one that I didn’t want to put down until I was at the end of the book. This isn’t a book that I would usually pick up but once again I am glad that I did because in the end I enjoyed the story and I am for sure going to check out other books by this author in the future. I enjoyed the characters and the setting of this book. I am not usually into YA books but like I said I enjoyed this book. It is one that I am sure most people would enjoy, and it is a super easy read as well.

About The Book

John “Smoke” Conlan is serving time for two murders but he wasn’t the one who murdered his English teacher, and he never intended to kill the only other witness to the crime. A dangerous juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y, is Smoke’s new home and the only one he believes he deserves.

But, unlike his fellow inmates, Smoke is not in constant imprisonment. After a near death experience leaves him with the ability to shed his physical body at will, Smoke is able to travel freely outside the concrete walls of the Y, gathering information for himself and his fellow inmates while they’re asleep in their beds. Convinced his future is only as bright as the fluorescent lights in his cell, Smoke doesn’t care that the “threads” that bind his soul to his body are wearing thin-that one day he may not make it back in time. That is, until he meets Pink, a tough, resourceful girl who is sees him for who he truly is and wants to help him clear his name.

Now Smoke is on a journey to redemption he never thought possible. With Pink’s help, Smoke may be able to reveal the true killer, but the closer they get to the truth, the more deadly their search becomes. The web of lies, deceit, and corruption that put Smoke behind bars is more tangled than they could have ever imagined. With both of their lives on the line, Smoke will have to decide how much he’s willing to risk, and if he can envision a future worth fighting for.

About The Author

Author of NEARLY GONE, NEARLY FOUND, HOLDING SMOKE, and THE SUFFERING TREE (Disney*Hyperion, 2017). Represented by Sarah Davies of The Greenhouse Literary Agency.

Buy A Copy

Add-On Goodreads

Jilted by Varina Denman

June 20, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse 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.

Jilted by Varina Denman was a great book. I did get the other two books in this series with one, but I haven’t had the time to read them yet so I hope I will get to those sometime soon, so I can review them for you. I enjoyed this book and the story so I can’t wait to check out the other two books that take place before this book. I was able to understand this book, so you don’t have read the other books before this one. I enjoyed this author’s style of writing and how I was able to understand where the characters were coming from throughout the entire book. At times I felt like I could relate to Lynda because I think a lot like she does throughout the book. I enjoyed this book and the author’s style of writing, and I can’t wait to check out other books by her in the future.

About The Book

Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago.

Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must—once and for all—leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

About The Author

Varina Denman is author of the Mended Hearts series and a native Texan. She spent her high school years in a rural town and now writes stories about the struggles women face in similar small town settings. She and her husband live near Fort Worth, where they enjoy spending time with their five mostly grown children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest