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?

---

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 
Nook 
Kobo 
iTunes

---

 

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

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 *****

Winter Solstice Winter by EJ Squires

Title: WINTER SOLSTICE WINTER
(A Viking Blood Saga - Book I)
Author: E. J. Squires
Kindle Edition; 464 pages
Published September 2013

In the land where ruthless Vikings and ominous shape-shifters roam free Eiess usurps the Northlandic Throne and suspends the seasons on Winter Solstice. Lucia, heir to the Northlandic Throne, is taken prisoner and wastes away in one of the castle’s towers.
Ailia, a peasant girl, goes missing, and wakes up in a glacier cave months later with no memory of how she ended up there. Soren, one of the Sentinors sent to defeat Eiess, has failed in saving Lucia and in defeating Eiess.
As Eiess continues to amass her forces, preparing for the battle to end all battles, Ailia, Lucia and Soren are about to discover that their lives are intertwined behind a veil of family lies. Determined to take back the throne, they begin to form an alliance, but their mission to overthrow Eiess is stalled when the family lies surface.
And when a forbidden love flourishes between two, jealousy, anger and duplicity arises, causing one of them to betray the others – a betrayal which puts their lives and the lives of humanity in grave danger.

Welcome to Midgard! Allfather Odin is pleased to meet you. Now, let Odin take you a thousand years before… during the times when the Vikings roamed the world and where wolves and shape-shifters wreck havoc in the Northlandic Kingdom!

The story begins with Ailia having a mare dream. In her sleep, an evil empress was chasing after her. Ailia had no idea what the empress wanted from her but she was terrified. When she awoke from her dream, she told her aunt about it and was concerned. Truth is, Ailia was mocked and condemned by her own friends when she told them about her mare dreams. Soon, she no longer felt welcomed in her beloved town because they thought she was cursed.

In the Northlandic Kingdom, Lucia, sole heir to the throne was grieving the death of her Queen Mother. In accordance to Midgard’s tradition, upon her Majesty’s death, two maidens were offered as sacrifices, to help the queen cross to the other realm. I actually found this scene quite intriguing, I don't know if this had been a Nordic tradition, but the mere thought of sacrificing oneself was beyond me.

Anyway, the kingdom was under siege by the evil Eiess, and Lucia was taken prisoner, thanks to a traitor aunt. It took her a long time before she was able to escape and learn about her twin sister. Ailia, on the other hand, woke up in a cave with no previous memory and soon she met Soren, who rescued her from shape-shifters. Soon thereafter, the three characters crossed paths and became entangled in a web of lies, deceptions, treason and secrets.

The main characters, Ailia, Lucia and Soren played vital roles in this magnificent tale. The scenes and the secondary characters were likewise rich. I can’t believe this was EJ Squires' maiden writing venture. I adored Squires' writing style; rich, dreamy and action-packed. She unmistakably researched the setting, and definite delineations of Viking life. While I was reading the book, I felt like I was also a part of the story, I even imagined myself as one of Lucia's handmaidens!

Overall, let me just say that I had a very delightful experience reading Winter Solstice Winter (Viking Blood Saga). The story was a little long but I was so immersed with the characters that I was surprised I have already reached the last page. I loved the idea behind this engrossing book set in Midgard, during the time of the Vikings of the Norse Mythology. I'd like to call Winter Solstice Winter as one of the best Viking saga ever written, a cross between Lord Of the Rings and Legend of the Seeker. This book had me running through a handful of emotions. I highly recommend this romantically historical tale to everyone who yearns to go back in time. An instant 5***** to author EJ Squires.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Evelyn J. Squires was born in the land of the Midnight Sun. When she  moved to the USA with her family in 1992, she completed High School and studied Comparative Literature at Brigham Young University. She married in 2003, and now resides in Florida with her husband and three children.

Get to know more about her book at: www.norsevikingsaga.com

Facebook author page:- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evelyn-Squires/433410863398865

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/EvelynSquires / @EvelynSquires

A Wedding Story

A Wedding Story
by Dee Tenorio
ebook, 35 pages
Published June 13th 2011

Ruth Anne Barbellis—unhappily nicknamed "Rhubarb" by her lifelong enemy, Bobby Wichowski—is in Wedding Hell. Why?
Her sister is marrying Bobby's brother.
She's trussed up in a bridesmaid dress that must have been designed originally as a Victorian Torture Chamber.
To teach them a lesson, she and Bobby have been assigned to the Kiddie Table.
And that's only the beginning...

Short but definitely cute story between two mortal frenemies.. Or so they thought.

Ruth Ann aka Rhubarb was stuck in a tight-fitting, torture-laden bridesmaid dress and the only way to get out of it was to ask for help, from whoelse but Bobby.

Will Bobby help Rhubarb in her predicament, or would he rather stay with the ever-inquisitive kids at the Kiddie table? Will there still be a wedding when the bridesmaid had gone missing?

This is one of the short stories that definitely made me smile. You may think that being a short one, it should be lengthened or expanded. But not for me. I already enjoyed the quirky scenes and relentless banter between the two main characters. There were butterflies in my stomach while I was imagining their big “fight” in an uncomfortable bathroom waiting for someone to assist them. The ending? I loved it!

Truth is, while I was reading A Wedding Story, it was like I was watching one of the earliest episodes of Friends from Season 1, where Phoebe is Rhubarb and Bobby is Joey Tribbiani. Oh yes, they were actually my favorites from the tv series, so I thought of these two stars as Rhubarb & Bobby, and it definitely clicked!

Just imagine this dialogue from the book like the way Phoebe talks to Joey:

Rhubarb: You are the reason fungus exists! You are the slime that grows in swamps that even the acids can’t break down….

Bobby: How long do you plan to keep this up, Rhubarb?

Rhubarb: Why?

Bobby: Because I was going to hail down a bottle of beer, I figured you might be thirsty for having your mouth open so much…

Rhubarb: Make it white wine and I’ll keep it short..

 I don’t know about you but that scene was simply hilarious! This book is highly recommended if you want to take a quick nap or on the beach, or waiting for someone to show up. I assure you, after reading this, you wont get mad if the person you are waiting for arrived a little late.

4 **** for Dee Tenorio and A Wedding Story. ^.^.

Always The Last to Know

Title: Always The Last to Know
Author: Crystal Bowling
Kindle edition
Published 2009

Summary from Goodreads:
Wearing a Maid of Honor dress that very well may cause the South to want to rise again, Jess Reynolds is prepared to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding. It’s just that things keep getting in the way, like a sex-crazed coworker, an annoying brother-of-the-bride, and a handsome and horribly charming friend posing as the Best Man. As it turns out, Jess might just be the last one to know everything, including the workings of her own heart.

I got this ebook for free from amazon and I must say, for something free like this, I had fun time reading it.

Oh, who am I kidding? I actually enjoyed reading this wonderful mix of romance and comedy!

Jessica Reynolds is bestfriends with Carla Callahan who was going to get married to Evan Winters. I’d say that Carla is some kind of a bridezilla who wanted everything organized, wanted to be in control of everything. But she is definitely a great dear friend to Jess.

On the other hand, Jess had been tasked to do the duties of a Maid of Honor and make sure that the groom will not get cold feet, before the wedding bells ring.

Sometime before this wedding takes place, Jess met Matt Mancini, a delectable Italian guy who was not only buffed and gorgeous, but could also cook. A man who could literally make the ladies wag their tongue and drool. Could he be the One Jess has been destined to marry?

But what about her BFF’s brother? Jess and Riley Callahan had grown up together, had known each other through the years, and even had the same taste in music. Yet, they always ended up frogging or strangling each other or quarrelling over petty things. Then one day, he asked her to live with him. What’s up with that?

Actually, the story of Jess and her date to her bestfriend’s wedding was a bit predictable. The signs that she might be in love were very obvious, but then she was oblivious to the fact that the guy loved her back. It was only a matter of time before she realized that she was the last to know about her feeling, hence the title.

Although I knew that Jess and her lover boy would end up together, I continued reading the story because I didn't want to let go of the giddy feeling I was experiencing while knowing that sooner or later, Jess would finally come to her senses, thanks to her co-worker’s crazed & sex-infested mind.

This is surprisingly a very interesting book. It has funny aspects, as I certainly found myself laughing at several occasions. The writing was not hard on the eyes and I liked that it was based in Jess’ perspective, which was kind of easy to relate with. There’s also the wedding that I looked forward to because I was curious how the bride would react when his groom suddenly got cold feet.

I liked Jessica’s incoherent mumblings and smart ass remarks. The personalities of the other characters were not fully developed but it didn’t matter a lot to me since my focus was on Jess.

Overall, I am glad to have read this funny and quirky story. Recommended for your summer beach read. Expect lots of laughter and cringe-worthy scenes, in the most fashionably giggly fun way. 4 stars for author Crystal Bowling for successfully keeping me entertained until the end. ****

Champagne for Two

Title: Champagne for Two
Author: Patrice Wilton
Kindle Edition
Published September 2011

CHAMPAGNE FOR TWO is a tale about an upscale dating service in Palm Beach--fun and sassy!

Get ready to meet Christine as she embarks on a new journey in the world of dating service. After taking over the "Merry Matchmakers" from her mom and colleagues, she was surprised by a knock on the door, perfectly framing a gorgeous rugged man named Derek. Apparently, the dating service used Derek's photo to advertise the business but he was really not pleased with the idea. So he confronted the new owner, hoping to get his photo off the wall, but soon he found himself pining for Christine's attention and luscious body.

The outcome or ending was a little predictable, but I did enjoy reading it. The grandmoms' story was cute. The daughter's romance was a little too dramatic but her character was underdeveloped. I suggest Nicole's love story get a spin-off so I can understand her more and so we can see more of Jake, Brett and her. I also liked the characters of Jenny and Dr. Helga Weiss, the psychologist. She was so darn funny!

Overall, I had a pleasant time reading Champagne for Two. The author, Patrice Wilton, seamlessly captured the love scenes as well as the angst from a rejected romance. Perfect for a lovely evening read. :)

Fairy Tale Flirts

Fairy Tale Flirts 5 Romantic Short Stories (Flirts! Collection #4)
Author: Lisa Scott
Kindle Edition, 154 pages
Published January 17th 2012

As summarized at goodreads.com:

Five modern takes on classic fairy tales, and the only magic is the real-life kind. Each story can be read separately, but are linked together in the collection, and wrapped up in the perfect happily ever after.

.

Each sweet, funny, romantic short story depicts the life and love of 5 beloved fairy tale characters. These include:

“Cindi” - a Cinderella story

Cindi wants a perfect match—of designer shoes, that is. When her stepmother gets tickets to the Jiminy Shoes trunk sale, it looks like her dreams are coming true. Until her stepmother refuses to bring her along. With a little luck, Cindi finds herself at the sale with the shoes of her dreams, and a handsome man to boot. But when she dashes off with one of the pricey shoes by mistake, her life changes forever.

There is always something about shoes that makes a girl happy and contented. A perfect pair of shoes with a perfect gentleman easily swept Cinderella off her feet. Her fairy godmother is the last person you'd expect to help. Romantic ending guaranteed.

“Red” - The not so little Red Riding Hood

When Rose brings her Grandmother leftover goodies from her floundering health-food bakery, she realizes she has bigger problems than Grandma’s daily fiber intake—a hot, young man is prowling around her rich Granny’s apartment. Jack Wolff seems to be preying on elderly women, but despite Rose’s protests, Granny’s not willing to give him up. And the nerve of him, Jack’s hitting on Rose, too. Can Rose save her business and her Grandma’s heart before it’s too late?

Rose needed to make her bakery business grow and she needed her grandma to support her. But a wolfish character set her on the edge, and made her think of the worst from the man who was taking advantage of her grandma. How would she save her grandma and her business when the wolf stalks her all day, all night?

“Belle” - The Beauty and The Beast

Belle’s father is sidelined by a stroke, and she’s determined to save his job as a master carpenter for the mysterious Prince Maxim. Despite her training, completing work on the Prince’s library is harder than she imagined, with the elusive prince watching her every move from the shadows. Belle’s intrigued by the intelligent, kind man who won’t let himself be seen. Is Belle the one to help him move beyond his painful past?

Have you watched Beastly, the movie? Well, the film pretty sums up this short story. Cute and beastly.

“Snow” -Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Shawna White wants nothing more than to land a role in a musical, but she’s running out of cash while she chases her dream. Her stepmother, Veronica Midas, suggests she take a nanny job for the rich man she’s trying to land, and Shawna finds herself in charge of seven kids. But Veronica didn’t realize Shawna would be living there, enchanting Jeremy and his children. Now Veronica will do whatever it takes to win her man.

Snow finds herself taking care of seven youngsters and their handsome father. Everything was going fine, but her evil stepmom also has her eyes on the man of the house. Will she just chase her elusive dream of being a musical artist, or will she fight for her love?

“Goldie" - Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldie Lockston isn’t exactly homeless; she’s just a struggling artist who crashes with friends. When her pal asks her to take over vacation dog-sitting duties for a wealthy client in Grimm Towers, Goldie decides it wouldn’t hurt to move in for the week. But she wasn’t counting on being discovered when Blake Behr comes home early. Or posing as his girlfriend. Or having feelings for this grumpy, wealthy lawyer who’s unlike her in every way.


A perfect house, a handsome owner, a pretense love affair. Goldie almost have everything at the palm of her hand. Until she meets the parents. Whoaa! How long will she keep on pretending? How long can she hide her true feelings?

Five Fairy Tale Flirts... Five cute love stories.. No fairies roaming nor flying around. But definitely enjoyable and romantic! Definitely deserves a happily ever after ending... With 4 stars rating ;) Perfect for all in love!

Stuck With You

 

Title: STUCK WITH YOU
Author: Trish Jensen
Kindle Edition; 216 pages
Published January 2012

As lawyers on opposing sides of a messy divorce case, Paige Hart and Ross Bennett ought to have kept matters purely professional, yet Paige and Ross came to loathe each other with an intensity that was strictly personal. The bad blood between them takes on an unexpected new dimension when the infuriated pair is forced to share a hospital room, when they're quarantined after being exposed to the rare and highly contagious Tibetan Concupiscence Virus that's reputed to shift sensual desire into high gear. When symptoms (which a nonmedical person might mistake for pure and simple lust) start showing up way ahead of schedule, the lawyers' objections to each other are overruled -- and they enjoy every minute of it. But, after the doctors declare that the disease has run its course, Paige and Ross are still feverish with a longing for one another that they hope will never be cured. When the verdict comes in, will they be sentenced to life -- in love?

I found myself grinning from ear-to-ear while reading this book.

Although I firmly believe that this story is highly  unlikely to happen, I still braced myself for the unexpected. And boy, was I blown away!

There is sexual tension alright, and like magnets, extreme opposites Paige & Ross are actually attracted to each other as they emit sensuality to the highest level. The fact that these two lawyers practically hate each one's guts then end up on a home run makes me feel giddy and delighted at the same time.  They wont admit that they are sexually drawn during and after being trapped in a quarantined room for 2 weeks. So not cool. But after they got a clean bill of health, they still found themselves longing to see one another.

Stuck With You promises a story that would make you smile, think and chuckle at the same time. The intimacy between the two main characters, including the doctor and architect, was palpable and mind-blowing. I love how the author Trish Jensen developed Ross's character, making him one delectable sought-after guy with a heart.

I recommend this quick read for those who may have second thoughts about their special someone and are afraid to commit. Go on, enjoy life and enjoy being in love. You know you want to. ^.^

P. S.
I definitely love their scrabble game because they kept on forming words that are sexually stimulating to the senses.