Book Review: A Cowgirl's Christmas

Title: A Cowgirl's Christmas
(Carrigans of the Circle C)
Author: CJ Carmichael
eBook from Tule Publishing
Pub Date   Oct 28 2014

For years Callan Carrigan has been her father’s right hand man, so when her dad’s will names city slicker Court McAllister the new owner of The Circle C Ranch, Callan feels betrayed on every level.

Then she and her sisters find their mother’s diaries, hidden from them by their father since their mother’s accidental death 18 years ago, and the shocking revelations explain a lot. Reeling, Callan seeks refuge in the local saloon, where it seems no one can reach her, until Court offers her a challenge.
If she agrees to be foreman at the Circle C for one year, he’ll deed the ranch back to her and her sisters. The deal seems too sweet at first—until Callan realizes Court has his eyes on something she protects even more than her family’s land—her heart.

Right from the start, I had tears in my eyes when the patriarch of the Carrigan family dies. But it also shocked me when he uttered the swear word "bastard" in front of her daughter before he met his demise. This immediately peaked my interest and had me reading A Cowgirl's Christmas until the end.

Luckily, I was able to read two of CJ Carmichael's Carrigans of the Circle C series, so I already had an idea about the Carrigan sisters. But this latest book takes the cake, because it further explains Callan's and her sister's true identity. It shocked me, really, to learn about their mother and respective fathers. Yes, you read it right, there is something much deeper and intriguing about the lives of the Carrigan sisters, but somehow, Callan's true parentage was the biggest revelation in the story. Callan spent all her life with a father who barely acknowledged or showed affection and love to her. Hawksley dying was bad enough to her, learning that he didn't bequeath the ranch to any of his daughters just rubbed salt into Callan's wound. Meeting Court McAllister, her father's distant relative from St. Paul, inherited Circle C ranch instead, and now, he is offering half of the ranch to her, provided that she stay with him for at least a year. This is an offer that made Callan even more furious. How could she ever accept that deal and how could she ever live with him?

A Cowgirl's Christmas is an entertaining and emotional read. Callan was the most affected among the Carrigan brood, having had to witness her father's death. That itself was tear-jerker to me. Coming to terms with the truth also made me realize that life isn't really fair. That life is full of surprises and the truth actually hurts. But above all these, Callan learned that finding one's self and moving forward with love and acceptance helps. THis is truly a wonderful read :)

About this author 

Rita Award nominated author C.J. Carmichael has published more than 30 books with Harlequin. Right now she's loving cowboys and Montana--those are the themes of the books she's writing for Harlequin American.

CJ likes to write stories about romance and intrigue with a strong sense of community and family. If you enjoy her Harlequin books, you might want to check out her self-published titles. The Gift is a short novella Christmas story and A Buried Tale is a puzzler of a mystery that will keep you guessing and shock you with the surprise ending.

You'll find both on Amazon, kobo and her website.

http://www.cjcarmichael.com

Review: His Frozen Heart by Nancy Straight

Author Nancy Straight will be touring His Frozen Heart from November 3-14, 2014.

Join us for reviews and more!

Author: Nancy Straight

Publisher: Self-published

Age Group: NA

Genre: Romantic Suspense

For best friends, Candy and Libby, money is tight with hardly enough to cover their living expenses. When they are desperate for grocery money, the girls bet on their pool playing skills to add to their income.A simple wager on a quiet winter evening has devastating results, with a stalker determined to kill them both. With Libby in the hospital after a vicious attack, and Candy being pursued by the same stalker, she vows to find Libby's attacker.
What she finds is Dave, an old friend with a secret past filled with misfortune. Will Dave’s past provide the answer to all of Candy’s problems or will it become Candy’s worst nightmare realized?

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I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read the latest contemporary romance novel penned by Nancy Straight and I am proud to say that I’ve read the whole story twice. I just can’t seem to get enough of Candy Kane, (the character, not the sweet candy treat I usually get every Christmas) and her one-of-a-kind man, Dave. I have indulged myself in this story, even imagined myself as Candy, and made me fall in love all over again.

The premise follows BFFs Candy and Libby breaking in. Actually, it was Libby’s idea to go to her professor’s house (Mr. Brink) and tee-pee the ground (wrap the lawn with rolls of toilet paper) and sneak out. But their plans went awry when an “Intruder Alert” boomed across the lawn. Cut to graduation day, Candy couldn’t take a look at their superintendent’s face while getting her diploma because the house they actually TPed was the superintendent’s house and not Mr. Brinks’. It was actually a cute scene.

Then Candy’s parents had to move to New Mexico and had to leave the house to Candy & Libby who would shoulder the rent. The two struggled financially, to the point that they no longer had anything to eat. So they resorted to sharking pool in a nearby bar, where Candy was awarded chicken wings and Libby hustled off $400 from two brothers. However, things didn’t go well with the guys; the older brother warned Candy & Libby to leave immediately after his younger brother reluctantly and violently paid them. Things got down harsher and dirtier when midnight came, after Candy went to her work at a gas station. She almost died when stranger attacked and shot at her. Good thing she was inside a bulletproof booth, so her life was spared. Before the attacker left, he told her about getting back the $400 that she and Libby had sharked from his friend and he told her that he had gone to their house and made sure Libby won’t be talking soon.

Candy’s life shattered after this. Her bestfriend was in the hospital in a life-and-death situation, her house was broken into and the attacker was waiting for her to come home, but thanks to her elderly neighbor, she managed to escape death again. But the one surprise she didn’t count on was seeing Dave, who was once her high school classmate. Dave had grown into a beautiful man, far different from what he used to be. But one thing that really worried and puzzled her was Dave’s involvement with the thug inside her house and with the brothers that they have hustled off in a pool game. Dave had always been mysterious in high school, and five years later, he still mystified Candy to no end.

I won’t divulge the rest of the story, but one thing for sure, this is one of the best and wonderfully written books I’ve read this year. Candy’s & Libby’s emotional life stories made me cry, Dave’s childhood had me sobbing and the ending really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a really sweet end that made me believe in happy ever after. Although there were still some questions left unanswered, I was left grinning from each-to-ear and had me dreaming about the characters at night. I seriously thought I was part of the book and I actually yearned to be in Candy’s shoes, except for those brush with death scenarios.

Nancy Straight has done it again! I’ve actually been a fan of hers from her first book, Missing Destiny, up to her Legacy series. Nancy Straight is a pure genius. She knows how to tickle a poor hopeless romantic like me. She describes the characters and the plot with vivid details. From the first page all the way to the last, I never got bored with her writing. The story was something that would stay on my mind for the next weeks or months to come. Those nights that I stayed up late just to be able to finish His Frozen Heart was all worth it.

Amazon 
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Author Nancy Straight Bio: 
I LOVE Starbucks’ White Mocha Latte and Mountain Dew, (but not together). I have a lead foot so I set cruise control when I drive, even in 25 MPH zones. I almost never win when I play Angry Birds, but have my 9 year old close, so he can clear the hard levels for me. I grew up on a farm and am opposed to eating fresh chicken (not opposed to meat - just opposed to any meat that was alive a few hours before lunch). I am a huge fan of the show, Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I share my life with two fantastic sons, three rotten dogs and a husband that I adore. 

Twitter: @NancyStraight
Blog: www.NancyStraight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Straight/243616005687882
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114202.Nancy_Straight

promo tour courtesy of WordSmith Publicity

Review: Kelly's Quest

Title: Kelly's Quest (NYC Love #2) 

Author: Jennifer Ann

Age: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: October 14, 2014

Publisher: Treetop Fantasies

Goodreads

Shunned by her family back home, she followed her best friend to New York with aspirations to start over. Now broke and homeless with two guys vying for her affection, she realizes she made a colossal mistake. If she gives in to her desires, will she only be breaking the rule she set for herself, or will she also be proving she’s the disappointment her family sees her as?

Kelly Cavenaugh is a lot of things: intelligent, sexy, vivacious, and a great friend. But the one thing she’s determined to prove to herself and others is that she’s not promiscuous. So why do a spoiled rich boy with a dark past and a former Marine with a high-powered job have to come along and try to break her resolve?

Theo Roberts and Erik Murphy only have two things in common: they’re both dangerously gorgeous, and have their sights set on Kelly. Everyone tells her Erik isn’t someone she wants to get involved with, however, and Theo seems to be the total package. If Kelly allows herself to be with one of them, the choice should be easy. But it’s complicated, and she’ll find herself struggling to separate passion from reality while trying to establish her new life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1yq-VPM11U

My Review:
★★★★★

Kelly's Quest is the second book in the NYC Love series and I'm happy to have read the first one Adam's List a few months ago. The 2nd book is another "hard to put down" and I don't know how Jennifer Ann does it!

When Jewels and Adam Murphy decided to move to New York after the couple battled with their own dark secrets, Jewels' best friend Kelly Cavenaugh decided to come along with them to help them move. Then she met Theo, the hottie guy next door, and there's also Erik, Adam's equally handsome brother with a dark past. Just when they all thought she was just in NYC for a couple of days, she surprised all of them when she declared that she won't be coming back to their place in Wisconsin, because she got a one-way ticket to NYC and stay for good.

Things got a little tense between Kelly and her bestfriend when she thought Jewels was selling her out to ex-Marine hunk Theo for a one-night stand. And there's the issue of Adam's brother Erik whom everyone seemed to hate because he was obnoxious and playboy. She further made things worse when she decided to be Erik's room mate, much to the disappointment of everyone who advised her to stay away from him.

And then there's her problem at home. The main reason why she moved to New York in the first place. The one reputation that she tried to uphold, only got shattered because of sick rumors and one cheating bastard. When she decided to find herself in another place, she told herself she's gonna change. The more she tells herself to stop thinking about sex with random men, the more she was drawn to them.

I liked this second book. I actually had expected it to be good but after reading it, all I can say is wow! I wasn’t prepared for all the emotions it entailed. Kelly Cavenaugh may not have been the ideal girl I envisioned her from Adam's List, but in her quest for true love, I've grown to like her more. All the characters have their distinct personalities, which made this story much more appealing. Jennifer Ann's writing is great, I'm glad I was able to read her first book, and now this! I can tell she puts so much passion in her writing and I know she has a lot more surprises up on her sleeves. I'm so looking forward to her next book in the series.

About the Author:

When Jennifer Ann isn't writing heart wrenching romance novels with hot scenes or chasing her children around southern Minnesota, she either has her nose stuck in someone else's book, is curled up watching a movie, can be found taking pictures of other people (not in a creepy way), or is rocking out at a concert.

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJennif...
Pinterest: https://www.Pinterest.com/AuthorJenni...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5765367.Jen_Naumann
Jennifer also writes YA paranormal under Jen Naumann.

The Lost One

Title: The Lost One (End of Days #2)
Author: Meg Collett
.mobi, Kindle edition (ARC)

They say some things must be broken before they can be fixed. But when Michaela hoped to cast doubt on the Aethere, she never thought things would fall apart like they did. Now the Aethere have turned their attention to the End of Days, and they won’t rest until they obtain the tools of Earth's final destruction: the Seven Seals.
The world is falling apart at the seams, and Michaela finds herself clutching the threads. She alone understands what will happen if the Aethere ever get the seals, and it’s the one thing she will fight to the death to prevent if she has to.
Even amidst the devastation on Earth, Michaela struggles to restore her faith in Gabriel. Together, they'll need to decide if their love is strong enough to erase the line she had fought so hard to draw between holy and fallen.
Michaela said she wanted a war, but when the End is looming, what will she fight for?

This isn't one of those good vs evil themes that I usually read. This isn't your average fallen angels gone rogue type of story. This is a masterpiece that must be read and spread. This is a wickedly fantastic book that I devoured in one night )a rare feat since I usually finish a book in two days).

My heart cried out for Clark; no, he isn't the lost one but it seemed that he was the one who lost everything. My favorite fallen arcangels, Michaela and Gabriel truly deserved each other and the sacrifice they made tore me apart. Meg Collett drove me crazy, but in a good way. I liked how she weaved romance and paranormal in an angelic setting. I liked how her writing is at par with this generation's bestsellers. Now I can't wait to read the next book!

Masked Encounters

Title: Masked Encounters

(Intoxicating Passion #1)
Author: Felicia Tatum
ebook, 43 pages

Published October 25th 2013

Synopsis:

Korah Daniels has been through a lot in her nineteen years. Broken hearts, abusive relationships, and horrid dates have caused her to doubt love. When her friend talks her into attending the local frat house’s Halloween party, will she find the one person who can change her outlook on life?
Dane Davidson is the worst kind of playboy. The ultimate frat boy, drinking and ending up with a different girl every night. When his frat house throws a masked Halloween party, a certain angel catches his attention and may just turn his life upside down. Masked Encounters is the first in a five part novelette series. 

Masked Encounters is an exciting and sexy short story by Felicia Tatum! She had impressed me before with her first book, The White Aura and now with her newest offering; I couldn't help but agree with the other readers/reviewers. This novella is intriguing, captivating and really intimate. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Korah’s character is as mysterious as Dane’s. In this book, we get to meet Korah who had built an entire wall around herself because she got hurt from a previous relationship. Despite this wall, her best-friend Leela still set her up with blind dates, which turned disastrous in the end. And one night, during a masked Halloween party, Korah let out her inhibitions, wore a sexy angelic dress and captured the eye of Dane. Unbeknownst to her, Dane had seen her before and had unnerved him with her uneasiness and aloofness to the guys. And when the barefoot Korah was tended by a gorgeous masked man, she retaliated and ended up doing the unthinkable. Whatever it was, I’m not telling…

This book is really engaging. No boring scenes, no dull dialogues, just pure blissful reading! Thanks so much, Felicia for trusting me with your book. Gonna read the next one now!

P.S. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5 stars *****

Steel Lily

Title: Steel Lily (The Periodic series)
Author: Megan Curd
Kindle edition

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.
She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Three: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.
Or so she thinks.
That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Three. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.
But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.
…Which means digging deeper.
When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom.
Some secrets are better left concealed, but humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

I received this Advance Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review. As a bookworm, I keep my reviews honest and sincere.

Steel Lily is perhaps the best steampunk-dystopian novel I have ever read. Once again, the author Megan Curd blew me away with her creative and imaginative mind. Not only did she take me to the future, she showed me a whole new world that reeked with greed, betrayal, lies and love.

The story had a futuristic setting (2077 I think) and the events that happened therein were from the aftermath of World War III. The war had caused the Earth to crumple, radiation damaged the atmosphere, caused people to use oxygen masks in order to breathe. We meet Avery Pike, one of the Elementalists who had the ability to manipulate steam that powered the Dome they were living in. She was the reason the people were able to breathe clean air and experience better days. She was the best among the three steam producers and because of that, most people abused or took advantage of her.

She was surprised one day, when she was being followed by an influential man who soon promised her of a better dome, cleaner air, the opportunity to enhance and wield her power and the chance to see her long-lost parents. Although doubtful at first, she consulted her friend Alice about this possibility and soon after, they discovered what it was really about. This was made possible when their savior Jaxon showed up during a Polatzi chase and took them to the mysterious dome.

Cameras everywhere. Holograms covering the ugly truth. A group of other talented people persuaded and gathered for a secret mission.

Such is the situation Avery found herself in. She knew that everything she was offered was too good to be true. It is up to her and Jaxon and their small group of friends to discover the truth and do something right.

I loved Avery! She was, right from the start, a strong, determined and capable heroine. Fierce and loyal, everything you would want in a bestfriend. Jaxon? Ohh, the dreadlocks were to die for! My first time to read something about the main male character having dreads and could still look gorgeous even though he was so annoying and obnoxious. He and Avery were like magnets, exact opposites but definitely attracted to each other. Honestly, my cheeks hurt whenever I read scenes that included both of them. Ha! The other characters were also lovable. I liked Sari a lot. And Legs too!

I enjoyed this book a great deal! I simply cannot compare Steel Lily to anything else because this Megan Curd masterpiece is unique and original. The steampunk-dystopian combo kept me entertained from start to finish. Megan Curd is a talented author who knows her world extremely well; her creative style and uniqueness shone from every page. She had become the Master of Twists and Surprises, a talent I have always admired in Sidney Sheldon and Phillip Pullman (The Golden Compass).

To sum this up, I tell you, this is one book that you must own. I highly recommend this to all steampunk fans, dystopian lovers, YA and even New adults. Basically recommended to everyone! Go put this on your TBR List an get the book when it will be released!

Here's a cocktail toast with 5stars ***** for mega author, Megan Curd and her excellent book! Clearly, Steel Lily is the next book sensation!