Thursday, July 31, 2014

Review - Snow In July by Kim Iverson Headlee

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BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Snow in July AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee GENRE – Young Adult Paranormal Historical Romance PUBLICATION DATE – July 2014 LENTH (Pages/# Words) – 386 pages/94K words PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press COVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown

  Snow in July - Book Cover  

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate's Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people's lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.

Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.

Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman "squire." But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.

 

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  Snow In July - Full Sleeve  

EXCERPT

FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN and horses writhed across the valley below, appearing as toys in a children’s game.

Many might consider war a game, but Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre, knight of Normandy bound to the service of Duke William and commander of a unit in the cavalry reserves, did not number among their ranks.

Edward the Confessor, King of England via his Saxon father but Norman by his mother, was dead. This battle, raging near the coastal hamlet called Hastings, would decide the right of one man to wear the English crown: William the Norman, acknowledged by Pope Alexander to be Edward’s lawful successor; or Harold the Saxon, brother of Edward’s wife, the man alleged to be Edward’s deathbed choice.

Stroking his war horse’s glossy charcoal neck to calm her, Alain pondered Harold’s claim. It had to be true. This many men would not sacrifice their lives for a lie. Yet the vast majority of Harold’s supporters were Saxons harboring no wish to bear the Norman yoke. Perhaps such men might be desperate enough to fight for a lie that promised to restore Saxon rule.

A trumpet blared. He signaled his men forward, couched his lance, and spurred Chou to send her careening into the melee.

Harold’s shield wall, which had seemed impregnable, began to crumble under the onslaught of Alain’s unit, hastened by the desertion of men who no doubt decided they weren’t quite so willing to die. Their lord stood exposed just long enough for a Norman archer to sight his mark. Harold fell, screaming and clutching an arrow that protruded from one eye.

Harold’s supporters closed ranks around him, blocking Alain’s view and giving him more than enough to do as the Saxons redoubled their efforts to guard their lord’s body.

A familiar whirl of colors caught Alain’s attention. The saffron leopard prowling on a green field—Étienne! A Saxon knight, with a blue arm and fist blazing defiance across his gray shield, bore down upon Étienne with leveled lance. Étienne tumbled from his horse. He scrambled to his feet and retrieved his sword, putting it to good use on the Saxons surrounding him, although the knight who’d unhorsed him had already ridden in search of other targets.

Lance long since discarded and sword now rising and falling with fatal precision, Alain surged to reach his brother’s side. Protection of her youngest son had been their dying mother’s wish, and he had sworn on his own life to keep Étienne safe.

Before he could close the distance, another Saxon knight fought past Étienne’s guard to thrust a war-knife into his throat. Through the visor the knight’s eyes gleamed with startling, fathomless malice. Alain could only watch in stunned disbelief as he laid his hand upon Étienne’s chest for a few moments. Uttering a soul-freezing howl, the Saxon yanked out his seax and disappeared into the press with Étienne’s shield, denying Alain vengeance.

Shame and grief rent his heart asunder.

He had failed the two he loved most; failed them so utterly that he could never beg their forgiveness in this lifetime.

Pain slammed into his shoulder, toppling him from the saddle. Étienne’s body broke his fall. He tried to roll clear, but a spear through his chest pinned him to Étienne. His gut convulsed, and bile burned his throat. Blinding agony killed his struggle to free himself. Death’s stench invaded his nostrils.

He closed his eyes and waited for his final journey to begin.

                                                  Review

First off let me say that I'm not really a big fan of historical stories but this book made me think a little different from how I thought and felt about historical books. It started slow to me but as I kept reading I realized that this was a wonderfully written story. I loved the characters and the story line and how things fell into place like that is the way that it should have always been. I loved Lady Kendra because she was a fighter all the way trough and I couldn't help but love Alain. Once I really gave in I finished this book in one setting because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.

                                                                  Rating 


Snow in July - Book Spine

AUTHOR BIO

Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins -- the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century -- seem to be sticking around for a while yet.

Kim is a Seattle native (when she used to live in the Metro DC area, she loved telling people she was from "the other Washington") and a direct descendent of 20th-century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim's novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband's ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.

For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, and other novels under her new imprint, Pendragon Cove Press. She also writes romantic historical fiction under the pseudonym "Kimberly Iverson."

 

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

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GIVEAWAY PRIZES

• Ebook copies of Snow in July

(MOBI/Kindle file-EPUB/B&N file-or sent as a gift via Amazon.com/BN.com)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

• 10 Autographed copies (US residents only) of the print edition

via Goodreads (scheduled to run July 1-31, 2014)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Cover Reveal - Bronagh (Slater Brothers #1.5) by L.A. Casey

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Title: Bronagh (Slater Brothers, #1.5) Author: L.A. Casey Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Series: Slater Brothers Publication Date: August 15th, 2014

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Bronagh Murphy has been through a lot over the past few years, a hell of a lot, so when her 21st birthday rolls around all she wants to do is relax and spend the day with her family. Quietly.

Her boyfriend, Dominic Slater, doesn't do relaxed or quiet. He never has, and he never will. He plans out a day for Bronagh that is both romantic, and exciting. However, Dominic's version of exciting is very different to Bronagh's as she will soon find out.

When things take a turn for the worst, and a bad altercation leaves Dominic once again fighting for his girl, Bronagh will have to decide once and for all if she will fight in Dominic's corner or walk away and never look back.

Bronagh loves Dominic, and what Bronagh loves, Bronagh protects.

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  Black_scroll_with_transparent_background 3 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L.A. Casey was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She is a twenty two year old stay at home mother to an almost two year old German Shepherd named Storm and of course, her four and half year old (the half is apparently vital) beautiful little hellion/angel depending on the hour of the day.

Her first novel, Dominic, was released on March 17th, 2014, and on March 21st, 2014, it became an international Amazon bestseller.

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Teaser Tuesday

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Title: Torrent Author: Gemma James Genre: New Adult/Dark Erotic Romance Release Date: July 22, 2014
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Title: Without You Here Author: Carter Ashby Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: September 9, 2014
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Friday, July 18, 2014

Cover Reveal - Grinding in Greenville by V. Andrews, H. Harbour, M. Roberts

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Title: Grinding in Greenville
Author: Marley Roberts, Victoria Andrews, Hailey Harbour
Expected Publication: August 5th, 2014
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About Grinding In Greenville: Victoria Andrews Naïve Very Conservative Life hasn’t turned out quite the way she wanted Haylie Harbour Broken Soft with an indestructible core Believes in Happily Ever After Marley Roberts Untamable Fearless Sexually driven free-spirit. Three girls in college, who seem to have nothing in common, find friendship based on circumstance and their love of books. After college life takes them all in a new direction. Some directions are planned, others are not. Keeping their sister-like bond tight, they create the Boyfriend Bookstand Blog and continue to support each other through the good and difficult times of life – both real and fiction. Things get a little saucy when the girls decide to take a much needed weekend away to attend an author event in Greenville, North Carolina, especially with all the hot cover models there. Three long time friends, books and hot models. Saddle up girls and get ready to do some Grinding in Greenville.  
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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Book Blitz - Cowboy Town by Kasey Millstead




Title: Cowboy Town
Series: Down Under Cowboy #1
Author: Kasey Millstead
Release Date: July 18, 2013


SYNOPSIS
Ever since her parents passed away in a tragic car accident, Eden Cross has been living a quiet, stable and predictable life in inner Sydney – the total opposite of her carefree, relaxed, happy-go-lucky past. Her parents passing and the fact she’s an only child meant Eden was left with her best friend, Jules and Matt, her boyfriend of three years as her only family. That was until she discovered something about Matt that would turn her life upside down. Eden leaves Sydney in a hurry and begins an adventure that takes her across four Australian states before she lands in Pine Creek, Northern Territory.

Jackson Henley has lived in Pine Creek his entire life. He runs a massive cattle and cropping station with his twin brother, Jeremy, which they inherited when their parents retired. He’s had a bad experience with relationships courtesy of The Bitch - Dannika, so lately he’s preferred to play the field. That is, until he comes face to face with the stunning brunette beauty who’s behind the bar at the Cow and Calf. The problem is, she won’t tell him her name, she won’t give him the time of day, and she won’t give him a chance to prove himself.

What’s it going to take for Eden to give Jackson a chance? Does he have the patience to even bother fighting for her? How will he handle the competition?

In the end, will Jackson have what it takes to convince Eden to start living again, instead of just existing?




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#2 Sky Cowboy





#3 Cowboy Dreams





EXCERPT 

“Hey, gorgeous, can I get another beer?”  I turn my attention from the one-man show and spot Luke, the guy who was here yesterday, and he’s waving an empty glass at me.
“Sure thing,” I reply.  I grab a glass and pull his beer, hand it to him, take his money and return his change. 
“So, Dory’s put ya to work, has she?”
“Just helping her out for tonight,” I smile, then sweep my gaze along the bar checking that no one needs refills.  It’s during this exercise that I spot the man who has just walked in.  My breath gets caught in my throat as I watch him take a seat at the bar.  I see his lips move and he’s smiling at people but it’s too loud to hear what he’s saying.  I’m captivated.  He’s utterly gorgeous.  The epitome of Cowboy Hot.  His hair is dark and his jaw is square.  His body is built – broad across the shoulders and narrowing slightly at his hips.  He spots someone across the bar and hands them a fully-fledged, bright white, straight-toothed smile.  My breath leaves me in a whoosh, and then catches again as what has to be his twin slides onto the stool beside him.  Oh my fucking god. 
I’ve got a job to do.  I have to pull it together.  It’s not like I’ve never been in contact with good looking guys before.  I worked in one of Sydney’s hottest bars for four years for fuck’s sake.  I mentally slap myself across the face and tell myself to pull it together.  Then I walk across to where they’re sitting and set about getting their order.
“What’ll it be, boys?” I ask in my most relaxed I’m-not-affected-by-you-at-all voice.
Hotty One unashamedly rakes his gaze over my body.  Slowly.  So slowly, I feel my blood start to heat – just from him looking at me.  I must be going mad.  Perhaps it’s the heat up here.  I’m not used to it all.  I really should have worn some linen shorts instead of jeans.
“You, later,” he winks suggestively when he finally pulls his eyes to mine.  Now, don’t get me wrong – the wink was hot.  Fucking hot.  It was the way he said it that turned me off.  You know those guys that can get anyone they want?  Yeah, they’re not so bad.  It’s the ones who can get anyone they want, and they know it, and they show it – that’s the turn off.  Just with that line, Hotty One has shown me he’s a player, unfaithful, untrustworthy and most definitely not the kind of guy I want to get involved with – in bed, or out of.  But, as a woman, I’d rather die than have him know how he affected me, so I tilt my head to the side, smile my cheeky smile and say, “Not tonight, handsome. Or ever.  Drink?” 




AUTHOR BIO 


Kasey Millstead lives a quiet life in country New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and their four young children. She enjoys baking, singing (ridiculously out of tune) & spending time with friends and family. Kasey has always harboured a deep love for reading and writing, and she is now lucky enough to be living her dream of being an Author.

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Tour Review and Giveaway - Boomerang by Noelle August

Expected publication date: July 15, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?





Review

This is the first book that I have ever read by Noelle August and I must say that I liked it. It had that touch of  a love story gone wrong but it was not overly sappy. I loved the fact that Mia and Ethan meet one night and hooked up but since neither one can remember what happen it's hard to tell what really happened. The wake the next day to go to work only to discover that they are in competition with each other and the fact that they have this growing attraction to each other make this a funny and lovable story. I loved seeing them run around each other and fight their feelings that you be so caught up in the story that you never want it to end. If you are looking for a real sappy story this is not the book but if you are looking for a book that will keep you entertained than you most definitely need to read this.

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About Noelle August:
NOELLE AUGUST is an anagram for Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger. Just kidding, it's a pen name!

VERONICA ROSSI is the author of the New York Times Best-selling UNDER THE NEVER SKY trilogy for young adults. The books are available in more than thirty countries and the film rights have been optioned by Warner Bros. Veronica completed undergraduate studies at UCLA and lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons. She is fond of dresses with pockets, fluffy dogs, and cheese and chocolate -- but not together.

LORIN OBERWEGER began her storytelling career by captivating her first-grade class with tales of her summers on a kibbutz in Israel. Lorin had never been to Israel. While teacher/parent night put an end to her first experiments in fiction, she’d already caught the bug and eventually made a career of all things story. As a long-time independent editor and story development guru, Lorin's client successes range from small press publications to major bestselling novels. She's an award-winning author and has also worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter on a variety of projects. Her work has received starred Kirkus reviews and glowing mentions in The New York Times. Oh, she did get to see a kibbutz, eventually, and found out she had it pretty much right all along.

Veronica and Lorin met at a writing workshop and just knew they were destined to create awesome things together.

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