Rae Lori's Blog, page 21

Blurb Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she’s never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in “the golden hills of the west”: California. 

Along the way she meets Jack, a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there’s also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very much aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.


ReviewDust Girl wasn't really what I expected when I got it. It started out pretty awesome and it engaged me with its interwoven story and complex characters. Then it went downhill as I kept reading on. Sadly, it was a little more realism than fantasy and I had hoped to see more of the fae realm and world. I would have loved a bit more worldbuilding and less cardboardy type characters. There was a death towards the end of the book that felt forced and a Native American character that felt like he was just tacked on without any care for his character or culture. I did love the 1920s atmosphere, music and the fact that our heroine was bi-racial with her AA father as the King of Unseelie Fae. It's a great twist with a diversity of characters we don't get much in this genre. Even though I didn't love Dust Girl, I still plan on continuing the series to see how the story arc and Callie LeRoux's fate turns out.

After reading and loving the Iron Fey series and coming from a fantasy reading background, I may be a bit biased in wanting more speculative elements but readers of historical fiction may enjoy reading Dust Girl.

A bride for a Broward?   If Brooke Palmer doesn't find a husband within thirty days, she will lose her family home forever. So she turns to the only man she trusts to save her…. Jameson Broward has only one true love: his vast and rugged ranch in Granger, Montana. But he understands the importance of protecting a family's legacy, so he agrees to a marriage of convenience to the woman he's cared about for years. As the stoic groom and his beautiful bride begin their businesslike union, they are confronted by the unexpected lure of their sensual and passionate chemistry. Is it possible for the sexy rancher and his pretend wife to turn their short-term arrangement into a lifetime of love?Review
I grabbed this thinking it was an IR read based on the simply gorgeous cover. I love that Kimani has opened up to IR books and I was hoping to find more than the wall to wall hot sex stories.

Engaging Brooke was a very welcome addition. I loved that the setting was on a ranch with a cowboy hero and cowgirl heroine. This book had the marriage of convenience trope which I love and a close knit family showcasing each generation as secondary characters.

Sadly the story still ended up falling flat. The writing was a bit stilted which kept stopping my enjoyment of the story. I didn't get an accurate description of the hero and heroine which made me forget what they looked like. And I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to be. Untimately the story was a letdown.

I want to keep supporting Kimani because its treated like the red-headed stepchild of the Harlequin lines and the potential is there to be an epic purveyor of multicultural & IR romance. Sadly, with Harlequin it's the only line open to diversity with its characters but I wish the stories and characters were more engaging. Although this was a bust for me, I'll keep supporting the line.

Engaging Brooke is available now from Harlequin and available May 1st from online stores.

The Epherium Chronicles: Embrace

Book one of The Epherium Chronicles

Hope. Captain James Hood of the Earth Defense Forces remembers what it felt like. Twenty-five years ago, it surged through him as a young boy watching the colony ships launched by mega-corporation Epherium rocket away. He, like so many others, dreamed of following in the colonists' footsteps. He wanted to help settle a new world—to be something greater.

Then came the war...

Hope. During years of vicious conflict with an insectoid alien race, it was nearly lost. Though Earth has slowly rebuilt in the six years since the war, overcrowding and an unstable sun have made life increasingly inhospitable. When mysterious signals from the nearly forgotten colony ships are received, Hood is ordered to embark on a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Could humanity's future sit among the stars?

Hope. Hood needs it now more than ever. As secrets about the original colonists are revealed and the Epherium Corporation's dark agenda is exposed, new adversaries threaten the mission, proving more dangerous to Earth than their already formidable foes…


Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo
iTunes * Google Play * Carina Press
Praise

From Laura (5 star reviewer on Amazon) "I was shocked about how fast the author sucked me into a new world, a world that I am impatiently awaiting the next in the series. I read from another reviewer that it would make a great television series and I would have to agree with that reviewer."

From Kathryn Svendsen of Kathryn's Shelf Full of Books Blog (4 star review) : "It was a delight to read. Mr. Wilson did an excellent job of introducing each of the many characters involved in this large crew. There were many people to keep track of, and like a movie we found out a bit about the character of each one as we went along."

 
Book Trailer



Excerpt

“I have an idea about that,” Hood said as he opened a channel to Engineering. “Mr. Whitaker. I need that shield of yours.”

Whitaker responded slightly out of breath. “Sorry, Captain. I can’t give it to you. That second rock that smacked us caused one of the reactors to scram, so we shut it down. Until we get that stable and some more juice in the batteries, I can’t power it up.”

Hood muttered under his breath as he pounded his fist on his chair. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly as he closed the channel. “Alright, our ace is out of commission,” he told Sanchez, “and even with the best of my contingency plans, we are going to have to do this the hard way.”

“You have multiple contingency plans for this?” Sanchez asked as he pointed to the viewport and the many asteroids floating nearby.

Hood looked at Sanchez and raised a single eyebrow.

“Forget I asked,” Sanchez said.
 
Author T.D. Wilson:

T.D. Wilson was born in 1968 in Troy, Ohio and has been an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy from a very young age. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and has supported the systems and networks in several of the largest Supercomputing data centers in the world. His early thirst for adventure in reading began as he explored many of the great stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As his reading scope expanded, Mr. Wilson was fascinated by strange new worlds from the magical of Middle Earth and Narnia to the far reaches of space in Star Trek and Babylon 5. As a science fiction author, he strives to integrate a realistic flavor to his worlds by providing his readers a feel for the real science in science fiction. A topic he loves to discuss with his friends and readers. Mr. Wilson still lives in Ohio with his wife and their two sons.

Website * Facebook * Twitter
Google+ * YouTube * Goodreads

 
 
 
Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadow Fire Blog Tour Schedule

Shadow Fire


Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords
Praise for Shadow Fire

"This book contains monsters, magic, majestic creatures, and a evil guy that wants to destroy the world. If you love hot guys.....Zane is all that plus a few tricks up his sleeve. Just read it!" Venture ~Amazon Reviewer
"Adventure, magical creatures, fun characters, and romance make this book a perfect read for all ages." James ~Amazon Reviewer

"I thought the writing was strong; it had me turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The characters were engaging and the dialogue well-written." Lisa Temple ~ Goodreads

"Oh, I truly loved this one! Shadow Fire, by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, is a snappy, sassy, sweet, all-that-kind-of-awesome-and-then-some YA read. I couldn't put it down." ~Sasha Hibbs ~ Amazon Reviewer



Excerpt When we reach the deck, everyone stops to stare at me. Trying to ignore the blatant curiosity, I follow Hanna down the aft stairs to the brig. Zane and Taranis occupy cells across from each other. They're both sitting on the floor glaring daggers at each other. Hanna hands the key to me and slips away. Inching closer, I'm careful to remain out of reach of the two prisoners. As soon as they see me, both men jump up and start talking over each other.

  "Ashlyn! How are you feeling, Love?" Zane asks.

"Ashlyn, my fiery angel, you are a ray of sunshine in this dank prison!" Taranis says.

"I'm gonna let you both out, if, and only if, you promise to behave," I threaten. Both men nod their agreement. "That means no fighting. It also means we never, and I mean never, speak of what happened last night." When I get no argument, I free Zane first and then Taranis.

"Do you even know what happened last night?" Zane asks, taking me into his arms. I stand rigid in his embrace, not sure if I'm ready to forgive him quite yet.

"Only what Hanna told me," I snap at him.

"I saved your virtue from this raving lunatic," Taranis says, pointing at Zane.

"Then you decided to take it for yourself!" Zane yells back at him.

"Did you not hear me?" I shout. Pulling myself from Zane's embrace, I back up and glare at both men. "No speaking of last night. Period. End of discussion."

"Yes, Love," Zane replies.

"Yes, virtuous virgin," Taranis replies.

"Taranis!" I release a menacing growl, and wince when my right eye starts to tic. "Yes?" he asks, eyes full of mock innocence.

"Run," Zane says.

Taranis listens to Zane's advice and takes off up the stairs to the deck with me hot on his heels.
 
 
Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.

She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.
 
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Blog 

Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/15/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the review for the previous book in the Elements of Mystery series, Carbon Copy, here.



 Body Of GoldBy: Terri Talley Venters
Even in this post-Bernie Madoff era, it’s surprising how easily investors unknowingly hand over their money to con artists, also known as money managers. Chelsea Lynn Cobb earned the title of the youngest hedge-fund manager at Trans World Investments in Chicago. This charming southern beauty proved a financial genius, but her workaholic tendencies hinder her free time to meet men who match her impossibly high standards. When she’s not kicking a** at the office, she’s kicking a** at her Taekwondo class where she falls for her new instructor, Troy Camden. With the exciting distraction of a new and passionate relationship, she spends less time at the office until she discovers financial scams operating at Trans World. Someone is stealing millions from investors, but the evidence points towards her.
Body of GoldAvailable fromFreya's Bowerwww.freyasbower.com


~*~
Body Of Gold excerpt
Chelsea looked at Troy with her big blue eyes. He stood so close to her. She heard his breathing. Their mouths were only inches apart. “Chelsea, now tell me how this feels,” Troy said. Then his mouth came crushing down on hers. Troy took complete control of her. His breath was hot. His lips moved so wonderfully against hers. His tongue glided smoothly inside her mouth. He separated his lips from hers, just long enough for her to catch her breath. Troy looked at her hungrily, like a predator ready to devour her. He moved in slowly this time, like he wanted to take his time and savor each second. Chelsea threw her arms around his neck and leaned into him. Their lips nearly touched. The longing to kiss one another again felt incredible. They stared at one another and breathed heavily. Troy pressed against her, and the warmth of his hot body consumed her. Her hands cradled his head as she took control this time. She pulled his mouth back to hers and slid her tongue into his mouth. Troy responded to her advance with much enthusiasm. His hands moved around her back as he hugged Chelsea closer to him. Their breathing intensified, and she moaned softly. Troy’s tongue moved faster inside her mouth and the pressure of his lips increased. Their rhythm synchronized perfectly with one another. He kissed marvelously. Chelsea felt Troy’s hardness grow against her belly. She moved her hands from his head to his shoulders. His skin felt so hot. She ran her hands over his strong muscles. Troy followed her lead and his hands began to wander over her body. He grabbed her ass and pulled her up towards his body. She felt his manhood pressing hard against her mons. Troy groaned at the sensation and his breathing grew frantic. She ran her hands over Troy’s chest. The tips of her fingers barely touched his skin. She moved them under his tank top and gently grazed his nipples. Troy’s hands then duplicated the move on Chelsea. He slid his hands under her tank top and he cupped her eager breasts. The kiss grew even more intense, if that were at all possible. Chelsea and Troy moaned as their breathing grew heavier. “Oh, Troy!” She moaned from the pleasure running through her body. Troy almost lost control, they both did. They knew they were seconds away from total abandon. Chelsea had never wanted anyone before in her life as much as she wanted Troy Camden at this very moment.Troy’s mouth broke away from hers. His lips moved over her ear and whispered. “If we don’t stop now. I am going to completely lose myself in you.”“I know, you’re right,” she said. But she didn’t care. She couldn’t tear herself away from Troy. She couldn’t stop. Her mouth crushed down on his again. Troy kissed Chelsea back with heated fever. Then he pried her off of his lips. He grabbed both of her hands and gently kissed her fingertips. Then he pulled her hands towards his chest, and his heart. He looked at her tenderly. His eyes looked glassy, like he was on the verge of tears.“Oh, Chelsea, I want you more than anything right now. And even though we just met, you are so special to me. I want to do everything right with you. I don’t want to mess this up. I just know we’re going to be great together. So I really think we should at least share a meal together before we share a bed,” Troy said. “Oh, Troy.” Chelsea held back her tears of happiness. Troy acted so sweet and so right. This felt like the beginning of something special.“I have an idea. If you don’t have any plans for tonight, how about I cook you dinner?” Troy asked.“Sounds wonderful. You can cook?” Chelsea asked. She wanted to cry at her good fortune. Not only had Troy behaved like a gentleman, he wanted to cook dinner for her.Troy looked at his watch. “Okay, it’s five-o’clock, now. How about I come back here in two hours with all the groceries and I’ll cook? Do you like steaks?” He asked.“I love them,” she said.“Great, I’ll be back soon.” Troy kissed her sweetly on the lips, and walked out the door.
~*~
Terri Talley Venters,Author of Carbon Copy, Tin Roof, Silver Lining, Copper Cauldron, and Body Of Gold
Terri received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of Florida. She is a licensed CPA and a Second Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She lives on the water in Florida, with her husband, Garrison, and their two sons.Terri is the daughter of Leslie S. Talley, author of Make Old Bones and Bred In The Bone which are also available from Wild Child Publishing.Please visit Terri’s website for purchase links and to read more about all of her books and free short stories. www.ElementsOfMystery.com

FULL JACKET COVER:



ABOUT SLEEPING JENNY...

As the daughter of multimillionaires, Jennifer has everything she's ever needed, except time. Diagnosed with a form of incurable cancer, she has only months to live, and her dreams of working for National Geographic to save African elephants and polar bears are shattered. Her only hope is an experimental cryogenic freezing program, which will keep her in stasis until doctors can find a cure. The cure comes three hundred years too late, and she wakes to a futuristic world where animals are all but forgotten.

Descendants of her brother adopt her, and she's thrown back into high school. Exara, the class beauty, calls Jenny the Neanderthal girl, and she becomes more of a sideshow than a member of the senior class. Only Exara's gorgeous boyfriend, Maxim sympathizes with her. Her developing feelings for Maxim are only the beginning of her problems. There aren't any more animals to save, so Jenny involves herself with a rebel group called the Timesurfers, explorers searching the galaxy for another planet to inhabit to clone long-dead animal species. Soon, she must choose between her blossoming feelings for Maxim and her lifelong dream.

This giveaway is open US ONLY. 
Check back daily for more entries! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation-favorite character was Data by far-, and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.

Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "A concert flutist" when she grew up. When she made that happen, she decided one career was not enough and embarked as a fantasy, sci fi author. Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.

 Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels of Love and Suspense Boxed set is only $.99 March 24th through March 29th.  
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * SmashwordsBreathtaking Book Trailer


Unbelievable by Sherry Gammon Deliah Dreser's in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but there's more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole's in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. Is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother's murders? Bestselling author Sherry Gammon's reviewers exclaim; "She has a gift for touching her readers with beautiful, gripping stories that you can’t put down."







Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt Nothing good ever happens after dark. Those were the words country singer Daleigh McDermott’s father always repeated. Now her father is dead, and Daleigh finds a hidden journal hinting that his death was no accident. Small town mechanic Ryan Shields is the only one who seems to believe Daleigh. As the two work to unravel the mystery, it becomes obvious that someone wants them dead. They must rely on each other—and on God—if they hope to make it home before the darkness swallows them whole. Award-Winning Suspense Novelist and Bestselling Amazon Author, touted as "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky" by USA Today.


  Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru Rachel Saunders is looking forward to her all-expense paid weekend trip to New York. But, when her luggage is lost and she is accosted by an infuriating Homeland Security agent, events take a dangerous turn. Amanda Tru, Bestselling Amazon Author of Romance and Suspense. Discover the author who, as an Amazon reviewer raves, “continues to impress me and dominate my time with a book I can’t put down even after it’s ended.”



Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss. In return, Cassie steals his heart… When Cassie is forced to join the witness protection program, she fears her life is over… but then she meets Shane Emerson — the hunky cowboy posing as her husband. Will this sham marriage turn into the real thing, or will a hidden danger put it all at risk? Kimberly Krey writes romance that’s clean without losing the steam. What’s Beyond Forks calls this Best-selling Western Romance author “the master of romantic tension.”




A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis Cami DiCarlo is not happy when her father forces her into heading up guest services at his newest five-star hotel and unveils the existence of four half-sisters at the same time, insisting they live together while they launch the new resort. When she meets Vince, the sweet, sexy landscaper her father would never have approved of, Cami can’t say no. If only she could be sure she is on the right track—and that they will be able to stop the person who is trying to destroy everything. 




  You Belong with Me by Shannon Guymon Layla Kendall is a burned out social worker one step away from a major depression. When she and her sisters inherit their grandmother's bakery, she doesn't know if she can trust her good fortune or not. But the chance to be with her sisters and get away from the heartache and pain she's faced day in and day out is a chance she's going to take. With Layla's new life, come new friendships, including Michael Bender, a single dad. She doesn't trust men but Michael's little girl grabs her by the heart and won't let go. Shannon Guymon is an Amazon Bestselling Author of lighthearted and clean romance who according to her many fans, has the ability to paint pictures of her characters so real that readers would know them if they saw them walking down the street.




  Blog This by Cami Checketts Devastated by the loss of her brother, Natasha Senecot exposes the dangers of Matthew Chrysler's violent video games, bankrupting and humiliating him. Chrysler sends a hit man after her. In a race against time, can Natasha expose Chrysler before his assassin murders her family and shatters her world? Bestselling author Cami Checketts has been touted as, "A genius! She writes about topics that aren't widely discussed, and she does such a brilliant job of crafting these things into wonderful stories that touch your heart and remain with you for days afterwards."

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Carbon Copy
(An Elements of Mystery Book)
by Terri Talley Venters
Now available from Wild Child Publishing

Lilly Allen has brains, beauty, and a trust fund. She's living in New York City and her career as a reporter is taking off. She's hoping the love of her life, Grier, will propose soon. She has it all, or so she thinks.

Grier Garrison, Create Life executive, is running the company while his father, Dr. Michael Garrison, is in the ICU awaiting a heart transplant. Grier knows the truth about Create Life and its shady side business. He fears Lilly and her twin brother, Luke, are in danger.

While working on two unrelated stories, stolen newborns and cloning, Lilly discovers a shocking connection. Horrific things are happening, but who is behind it all?

Carbon Copy combines a little bit of sci-fi (especially good for readers squeamish about dipping into the SF genre, this one's perfect for your start), a little bit of mystery and a lot of twists and turns regarding cloning. On the heels of watching Orphan Black, I was excited to read this and found myself turning the pages to find out who Lilly's twin was, what her story was and the details of her boyfriend Greer's plan with the Create Life company.

Ms. Venters presents a foreboding, chilling atmosphere through the characters while the reader is slowly given pieces to the puzzle regarding the kidnapped babies and the cloning of animals and humans. The villain Tom-Tom freaked me out (given the name because of his stuttering) and the possibilities of how close we are to technology really hit home at how easily it can be abused and manipulated.

This was a fun fast paced read with a little bit of everything for those looking for a bit of intrigue, romance and speculation in their reading.

A December Bride(A Year of Weddings Novella)By Denise HunterNow Available
What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart? Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart. A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.
I'm a sucker for marriage romances and being a Hallmark fan, I love the fake marriage/engagement trope. Couple that with a winter themed sweet romance and I'm hooked! 
I liked the way Seth and Layla interacted. Although I felt that Layla was a bit dim at times in not seeing Seth's interest in her, it helped to keep the conflict going and to see them draw closer to each other. Not to mention it added fuel to their cute back and forth banter. I must say my favorite part was when Murphy swooped in to save Layla in the first chapter. The encounter happened at the wedding and Layla was in a tough spot seeing her ex get married (to her snooty, plastic and self centered cousin worthy of any slap-worthy Hallmark villainess), so in order to save face Murphy takes Layla as a fake fiancee to save face. Layla is quick to end the story as she must keep the facade up but when a chance to make a big impact for her career presents herself, she asks Murphy (much to his excitement) to keep the facade up until she can nail the job.
While on the subject of Murphy, I love this character! He was sweet, caring and he would do anything for Layla even if it meant putting his own reputation on the line. Although he's not a stereotypical alpha (thank goodness, we need more sweet betas in romance) he was drawn in such a way that  I couldn't help cheering for him to get the girl. I also loved Ms. Hunters description of him being a strong, fit guy with a gentle heart. Swoon! 
The inspirational aspects were low key but there. For Christian romance fans, it delivers everything they are looking for in a short fiction format. Don't let the novella length fool you, there's a sweet and satisfying romance story between these pages and if you're a reader like me with a short amount of time on her hands, this one is a perfect sweet story you can finish in between things on your to do list. 
I'm looking forward to reading more of the stories in the series!

This is part of Zondervan's A Year of Weddings series which is described as thus:
Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at a December wedding.Every couple has a love story. Join us for a year of contemporary, seasonal wedding novellas, releasing in e-book every month. Each e-novella will include an excerpt from another wedding story in the Year of Weddings Collection as well as a list of the author’s full-length novels.

I'm happy to announce today's release from a good friend of mine, A Need So Insatiable by Cecilia Robert! Previously I posted a review for one of my fave works from Cecilia, Truly, Madly, Deeply You and (which has a sequel now available) and I'm so excited for her newest release. Here's a sneak peek!



**Mature Content Warning** 
Available March 9th, 2014
“You've owned me from the moment I walked into that music room. You've wrapped yourself in my heart and mind. I can’t get you out. I don’t want to.” ~ Rafael Van Rees

Sophie Fisher’s life is on fire. If she’s not ducking around corners or slipping out of windows to escape the debt collectors her father's death has left knocking on her door, she’s dealing with her rebellious, fifteen-year-old sister, Lilli. And, as if that’s not enough, Rafael Van Rees crashes into her life—literally—bringing with him a past the public has no idea of. Can she unravel his mysteries before he unravels her, or will his presence finally force her to face the demons she's trying to outrun?

Rafael Van Rees prides himself on being in control of his destiny, music and women. As far as he is concerned, his past is a black cloud in the distance--until he meets Sophie, that is, and his world spins out of control in more ways than one. He knows the darkest sins and secrets eventually reveal themselves, but when it comes to Sophie, he'll stop at nothing to protect her from his past. Even if it kills him.