3.5 Wine Glass #Audio #Review of Kilt at the Highland Games by Kaitlyn Dunnett

Title: Kilt at the Highland Games
Series: Liss MacCrimmon Mystery #10
Author: Kaitlyn Dunnett
Narrator: Tanya Eby
Format: Unabridged Audiobook, 7 hours and 45 minutes
Published: 26 July 2016 (Dreamscape Media, LLC)
ISBN-10: 1520017464
ISBN-13: 978-1520017464
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N| Audible
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Audiobook Jukebox
Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 Wine Glasses

It's July in Moosetookalook, Maine, and Scottish Emporium proprietress Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin is prepping her wares for the annual Celtic heritage festival. But as a sinister crime wave washes over the quiet town, this year's celebration might prove a wee bit more eventful--and deadly--than tartan and bagpipes . . .

When a fire ravages the local bookstore late one evening, Liss immediately fears the worst for owner Angie Hogencamp and the two young children who live above the shop. After the terrible blaze dies down, however, the family is nowhere to be found among the ruins. It's as if the three just vanished into smoke. Or even stranger--like they never existed at all.

Disturbed by Angie's disappearance and suspecting arson, Liss counts on the weekend-long Western Maine Highland Games--complete with a parade and fireworks display--to offer a temporary distraction from the countless questions filling her head. But when the sound of a gunshot leads Liss to selectman Jason Graye's dead body on opening day, she's drawn into a full-blown homicide investigation like a moth to a flame.

Is Moosetookalook suffering from a streak of bad luck, or are the two grim incidents connected? Unable to shake the notion that new victims are being targeted around town--and despite her worried husband's best protests--Liss races to nab the killer. And with her own life on the line, she'll need to act swiftly. Because when it comes to this kind of game, somebody has to lose . . . 

Linda's Thoughts:
An overweight Maine coon cat dozed in an open bedroom window, his bulk pressed against the screen so that the gentle breeze of the summer night could ruffle his long yellow fur. With a start, he went on alert. A moment later, he leapt from the windowsill to the top of the dresser and from there to the foot of the bed. He landed squarely on Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin's bare legs. The impact, not to mention the slash of sharp claws, jerked her out of a sound sleep. …

Cautiously, she sniffed. A tantalizingly familiar smell teased her nostrils. After a second, even in her groggy state, she identified it as wood smoke. Odd, she thought. …

Dreading what she would see, Liss looked out. She made an inarticulate sound of distress at the sight that met her eyes. It was a fire, and it was the bookstore on the far side of the square that was burning…  Angie! Where was Angie? Where were her children? The bookstore owner lived in the apartment above her shop with sixteen-year-old Beth and twelve-year-old Bradley.

#Interview with Kerrelyn Sparks of How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

Kerrelyn Sparks has a new series! That’s all I can say because Kerrelyn Sparks has a new series!! And she’s here at our blog today to talk about it!!

Lexi: Welcome, Kerrelyn! We are incredibly excited for book one of The Embraced series. A twist on Beauty and the Beast…written by you?! Bring it on! Please tell us you have a plethora of books already prowling around in your head for this series.

Thank you for inviting me, Lexi!  I’m so happy to see all this excitement over the new series.  It’s a new world, and that opens up a whole world of possibilities.  The series is called The Embraced, named after a group of people who are The Embraced.  On this new world, there are two moons, and twice a year they eclipse (or embrace). Any child born on the night the moons embrace will have a magical power. I’m having a great time coming up with all sorts of magical powers! There are other paranormal elements, too, such as ghosts, dragons, witches, elves, and shifters. And of course, there is plenty of romance.  For now, I am planning five books in the series, a book for each of the five sisters.

Happy #BookBirthday to The Hot One by Lauren Blakely + #Giveaway

The Hot One 
(One Love)
by Lauren Blakely 
Paperback, 300 pages
Published February 27th 2017 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 1539969665

A sexy new standalone romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely...

Ever notice that sometimes a guy will do something really stupid, like let the love of his life slip through his fingers?

Yeah. I'm that guy. But the moment I run into the woman I once loved madly, I’ve got one goal and one goal only—a second chance. The plan? Go big or go home.

Fine, at first glance, stripping naked at my ex-girlfriend's place of work might not seem like the brightest way to win her heart again. But trust me on this count—she always liked me best without any clothes on. And you've got to play to your strengths when you're fighting an uphill battle. As a lawyer, I know how to fight, and I'm prepared to fight hard for her. Because sometimes you need a second chance at first love.

He's the one who got away . . . 

The nerve of Tyler Nichols to reappear like that at my job, showing off his rock-hard body that drove me wild far too many nights. That man with his knowing grin and mischievous eyes is nothing but a cocky jerk to saunter back into my life. Except, what if he's not . . .? I've tried like hell to forget him, but maybe I'm cursed to remember the guy I fell madly in love with eight years ago. Lord knows I’m not over him, so what's the harm in giving him a week to prove he's changed in the ways that matter?

After all, how do you resist the hot one… 

AMAZON | B&N

Read an #Excerpt from Blush for Me by Kristen Proby + #Giveaway

Blush for Me 
(Fusion #3)
by Kristen Proby
Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: March 7th 2017 by William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN 0062434799

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby continues to delight the senses with the latest novel in her delectable Fusion series.

As the take-charge wine bar manager of Seduction, Portland's hottest new restaurant, Katrina Meyers is the definition of no-nonsense, and she isn't afraid of anything. Well, almost anything: she hates to fly. When she's forced to travel on a death trap with wings, the turbulence from hell has her reaching for any safe haven—including the incredibly handsome guy sitting next to her.

Ryan "Mac" MacKenzie hasn't been able to get his sexy seatmate out of his head. The way she clung to him stirred something inside him he didn't think existed: tenderness. As the owner of a successful wine touring company, Mac thinks he's got a handle on what life can throw at him and he's not prepared for any surprises, especially in the feelings department. And when he brings a tour into Seduction, he sees the petite spitfire he just can't forget.

Mac is determined to discover what else they have in common besides fine wine and the inability to keep their hands off each other. But what will it take for two stubborn people to realize that what they have is so much more than a hot chemistry between the sheets and to admit to falling in love…?

AMAZON | B&N

#Giveaway of Courting the Cowboy by Carolyne Aarsen

Courting the Cowboy
by Carolyne Aarsen 
Paperback, 224 pages
Published January 17th 2017 by Love Inspired
ISBN 0373622562

Meeting the Cowboy's Family

Looking for inspiration, artist Ella Langton rents a cabin in the isolated Porcupine Hills of Alberta. She didn't count on having neighbors, but rancher Cord Walsh and his three children are just a stone's throw away. Still healing from a tragic accident, Ella has no plans of reaching out, but she's having a hard time keeping them out of her yard...and her thoughts. And when little Suzy ropes Ella into helping her with an art project, she can't help her growing feelings for the girl's rugged daddy. With three persistent children, Cord and Ella may find their fenced-off hearts opening up sooner than they thought!

AMAZON | B&N

Saturday Sangria: Blackberry Ombre Sparkler (#wine #sangria #cocktail #recipe #ombre)

Welcome to Saturday Sangria, where ever Saturday you will find a delicious sangria recipe to go with your weekend reading! Have a recipe of your own? Join the fun and leave us a comment or a link to your own post!  

Blackberry Ombre Sparkler
A gorgeous cocktail that will have you looking forward to spring!

#Spotlight on Stealing Mr. Right by Tamara Morgan + #BaubleBar #Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Stealing Mr. Right on March 7th, Sourcebooks is giving away a $150 gift card to BaubleBar - so you don't have to steal precious jewels like Penelope Blue :)

Stealing Mr. Right 
(Penelope Blue #1)
by Tamara Morgan
Kindle Edition, 416 pages
Expected publication: March 7th 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ASINB01LXMJZ6T

I'm a wanted jewel thief. 
He's FBI.
What's that saying? Keep your friends close...and your husband closer. 

Being married to a federal agent certainly has its perks.

1. I just love the way that man looks in a suit.
2. This way I always know what the enemy is up to.

Spending my days lifting jewels and my nights tracking the Bureau should have been a genius plan. But the closer I get to Grant Emerson, the more dangerous this feels. With two million dollars' worth of diamonds on the line, I can't afford to fall for my own husband.

It turns out that the only thing worse than having a mortal enemy is being married to one. Because in our game of theft and seduction, only one of us will come out on top.

Good thing a cat burglar always lands on her feet.

AMAZON | B&N

A Favorite Scene with Christina McKnight of The Mistress Enchants Her Marquis + #Giveaway

A favorite scene from The Thief Steals Her Earl

My favorite scene I’ve ever written happened in The Thief Steals Her Earl (Craven House Series, Book One). It captures a moment with Simon and Jude when they are both extremely vulnerable. Simon, Lord Cartwright, feels betrayed by Jude. Jude has no idea how to make him believe she didn’t mean for their lives to spiral so out of control.

The problem is, Simon is trouble with face-to-face interactions. He’d not versed in displaying emotion nor understanding what another is trying to convey. I took one sensory element away from my characters—sight. I put a solid door between them. They needed to express their emotions in a way that gave Jude the ability to say all she needed to say and Simon time to process her words and correlate his own love for her.

Here is the scene...

#CoverReveal of Mister Moneybags by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Mister Moneybags

by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward

Paperback, 300 pages

Expected publication: April 10th 2017 by Everafter Romance

ISBN 1682309797

Happy #BookBirthday to Royally Matched by Emma Chase

Royally Matched 
(Royally #2)
by Emma Chase
ebook, 276 pages
Published February 21st 2017 by Emma Chase, LLC
ISBN 0997426233

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to help her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora agrees to give him "space"—but while the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit... and her naughty sense of humor.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

AMAZON | B&N

Happy #BookBirthday to Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye + #Giveaway

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

Mastering Her Senses 
(Blasphemy #2)
by Laura Kaye 
Published February 21st 2017 by Laura Kaye

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

Cassia Locke hasn’t played at Blasphemy since a caving accident left her with a paralyzing fear of the dark. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

AMAZON | B&N

Happy #BookBirthday to Rookie Moves by Shelly Alexander + #Giveaway

Rookie Moves 
(Checkmate, Inc)
by Shelly Alexander 
Kindle Edition, 182 pages
Expected publication: February 20th 2017 by A Touch of Sass, LLC
ASINB01NAEQLBF

"'Rookie? She'll be an expert when I'm done teaching her." --Dex Moore

Smart guys make the best lovers. We’re curious and want to learn as much as possible, especially when it comes to women. Women are the most fascinating and complicated species on the planet, right? So when we meet a lady who piques our interest, it drives our curiosity to soaring heights. We want to study her. Figure her out.

Lucky SOB that I am, I’ve built a career on this very thing. As a founding partner of Checkmate Inc., a company that’s grown into a multimillion-dollar business, I’m a quasi-celebrity. It’s a role I never expected, and out of all three Checkmate partners I’ve somehow been labeled the jet-setting playboy.

I don’t mind the smokescreen. I can’t commit to a serious relationship while I trot around the globe to oversee our expansion, a venture that could bankrupt Checkmate if I don’t keep my eye on the prize. Besides, the only woman I’d like to study, figure out, and unlock her ear-splitting cry of ecstasy is the one woman I can’t have. And since she’s one of my closest friends and my business partner’s sister, a jet-setting playboy image is the perfect facade to hide my true feelings.

AMAZON | B&N

Read this #Excerp from The Passion Season by Libby Doyle + #Giveaway

"A tale about Lucifer's son that deftly draws in readers with engrossing characters." 

-- Kirkus Reviews

Solo Medalist Winner for 2016 in the Fantasy category of the New Apple Annual Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing!

The Passion Season

(Covalent #1)

by Libby Doyle

Kindle Edition, 428 pages
Published March 20th 2016 by Fairhill Publishing LLC
ASINB01CCE4U8E

A gruesome crime brings them together. Will his secrets rip them apart?

He is Barakiel. Warrior. Exile. Hopeless romantic. Barakiel is Covalent, a race of ancient beings who use their great power to keep the elemental forces of Creation and Destruction in Balance. The Covalent Council exiled Barakiel to the Earthly Realm as the price of the treachery of his father, Lucifer, who wages perpetual war against it. Lucifer also relentlessly pursues his son. The Council thinks Lucifer views his son’s power as a threat, but Barakiel knows his father seeks to destroy even the memory of love.

She is Alexandra “Zan” O'Gara. FBI Agent. Army veteran. Recovering drunk. Zan’s troubled past left her with little interest in men, but she had never encountered anyone like the stunning Rainer Barakiel. Zan believes Rainer is a wealthy businessman with expertise in edged weapons who can help her with a case. From the moment she meets him she wants him more than she’s ever wanted anything, but her intense attraction is as frightening as it is thrilling.

This is their love story. As Zan’s deepening feelings for Rainer lead her to confront her emotional damage, he struggles to meet the demands of his home world so he will be free to love her, and to reveal his true nature. Through the gruesome crime that first brought Zan to his door, Barakiel learns that his presence in the Earthly Realm has placed some of its most vulnerable citizens in danger. Compelled to protect them, he undertakes a series of duties he may not survive, even as Zan rescues him from centuries of a deadened heart.

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Saturday Sangria: Winter Sangria With Citrus Ice Ring (#Recipe #Wine #Sangria)

Welcome to Sangria Saturday, where ever Saturday you will find a delicious sangria recipe to go with your weekend reading! Have a recipe of your own? Join the fun and leave us a comment or a link to your own post!  

Winter Sangria With Citrus Ice Ring 

A new, winter twist on the sangria!

Main Character Inspiration from The Amaranthine Chronicles Complete Series by Tiffany Shand

What inspired my main character?

A lot of different things inspired my main character for this series, Kaylan. After my last series, Excalibar Investigations, I was excited to write about someone completely different.

Read an #Excerpt from Tempt Me: A Stark International Novella by J. Kenner

Tempt Me: A Stark International Novella
by J. Kenner
Kindle Edition
Expected publication: February 14th 2017 by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
ASINB01L7Q54NI

Sometimes passion has a price …

When sexy Stark Security Chief Ryan Hunter whisks his girlfriend Jamie Archer away for a passionate, romance-filled weekend so he can finally pop the question, he’s certain that the answer will be an enthusiastic yes. So when Jamie tries to avoid the conversation, hiding her fears of commitment and change under a blanket of wild sensuality and decadent playtime in bed, Ryan is more determined than ever to convince Jamie that they belong together.

Knowing there’s no halfway with this woman, Ryan gives her an ultimatum – marry him or walk away. Now Jamie is forced to face her deepest insecurities or risk destroying the best thing in her life. And it will take all of her strength, and all of Ryan’s love, to keep her right where she belongs… 

AMAZON | B&N

4.5 Wine Glass #Review for Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Title: Wintersong
Author: S. Jae-Jones
Format: Kindle/Hardcover, 448 pages
Published: February 7th 2017 by Thomas Dunne
ISBN: 1250079217
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

Crystal's Thoughts:
S. Jae-Jones sweeps readers away on a enchanting journey through the court of the Goblin King where nothing is at it seems, and reality is but an illusion. Where time passes in years, not in hours, and a young woman must battle her way through the darkness in order to find the light within her, and the song that lives in her heart.

A Romantic Scene from Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders + #Giveaway

Every year, as Valentine’s Day approaches, I think about what it means to be romantic. We’ve all got different perceptions. For some, romance is a sweeping off your feet type of thing and for others it’s more of a long, slow burn. I’ve known people for whom marriage was the romantic summit and others—like me—who were more interested in the little things.

In Under Her Skin, Ivan wants Uma in ways he’s never experienced. He wants to care for her, cherish her, maybe spoil her a little, but he has no idea how to go about it. In this scene, Ivan’s spent the day getting ready to have her over for dinner. He’s nervous and excited and totally out of his element. It’s adorable and I’m so excited to share it with you!

Happy #BookBirthday to Riveted by Jay Crownover + #Giveaway

Riveted 
(Saints of Denver #3)
by Jay Crownover
Paperback, 368 pages
Expected publication: February 14th 2017 by William Morrow

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the next installment in the Saints of Denver series.

Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael's life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that's become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she's going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.

Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it's time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.

When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he's all wrong for you.

AMAZON | B&N